How To Travel and Enjoy Sardinia on a Budget

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The Broke Backpacker is supported by you. Clicking through our links may earn us a small affiliate commission, and that's what allows us to keep producing free content 🙂 Learn more.

Of course, any Sardinian adventure starts with getting there — well luckily, there are several low-cost options.

Budget Flights

Ryanair, EasyJet, Volotea, and WizzAir all offer cheap flights from major European cities to Sardinia’s three main airports:

• Cagliari Elmas (south)
• Olbia Costa Smeralda (northeast)
• Alghero Fertilia (northwest)

Off-season flights (especially midweek) can dip as low as €15–€30, depending on where you’re flying from.

Just keep in mind that carry-on allowances tend to be stingy as hell these days and your air fare will double if you need a checked bag. We have a whole post about budget airline carry on bags you an check out.

Scenic & Smart: Take the Ferry

If you’re coming from mainland Italy or from one of the nearby countries, taking a ferry is one of the smartest (and most scenic) ways to travel — especially if you’re bringing a car or traveling in a group. Ferries also let you avoid strict baggage limits and offer the added charm of watching the island emerge from the sea at sunrise.

With platforms like Ferryhopper, you can easily compare routes, check prices, and book online without hidden fees.

Example: an  overnight ferry from Livorno to Olbia can cost as little as €30 per person — thats less than a flight, and you save on accommodation for the night too!

Popular ferry routes include:

• Livorno – Olbia
• Civitavecchia – Cagliari or Porto Torres
• Genoa – Arbatax or Olbia

While opulent, luxury resorts may be the island’s calling card, budget-friendly accommodation options are much more plentiful than you’d expect — especially if you book smart and skip the hotspots.

Affordable Options:

• Hostels in Cagliari, Alghero, and Olbia offer beds from €20–€30/night
• B&Bs and guesthouses in smaller towns can cost €40–€60/night
• Agriturismi (farm stays) offer authentic countryside experiences and homemade meals — often at better value than hotels
• Camping is popular and scenic, especially along the coast or in national parks

Budget Tips:

• Avoid staying in glitzy resorts like Costa Smeralda. Instead, stay in Oristano, Bosa, or Nuoro — all far more charming and much more affordable.
• Visit in the shoulder seasons (May–early June or late September) for lower prices and fewer crowds.
• Consider Couchsurfing if you’re open to meeting locals and saving even more cash.

Is This the Best Backpack EVER???

We’ve tested countless backpacks over the years, but there’s one that has always been the best and remains the best buy for adventurers: the broke backpacker-approved Osprey Aether and Ariel series.

Want more deetz on why these packs are so damn perfect? Then read our comprehensive review for the inside scoop!

View on Osprey

You don’t need to dine at a Michelin-starred restaurant to eat incredibly well in Sardinia. Local food across the island is flavourful, hearty, and generally budget-friendly — especially if you go where the locals go.

Eat Like a Local:

• Bakeries and street food offer panini, focaccia, and seadas (fried pastries with cheese and honey) for just a few euros.
• Trattorie and osterie serve daily set menus (menu fisso or menu del giorno) with 2–3 courses for €10–15.
• Visit local markets like Mercato di San Benedetto in Cagliari for fresh fruit, cheese, and picnic supplies.

Try These Sardinian Staples:

• Culurgiones – ravioli stuffed with potato, mint, and pecorino
• Pane carasau – crispy flatbread
• Pecorino Sardo – famous sheep cheese
• Malloreddus – gnocchi-like pasta in tomato-sausage sauce

One of the best things about Sardinia? Its natural beauty doesn’t cost a cent to enjoy.

Beaches

Many of the island’s best beaches are free and public:

• La Pelosa (Stintino) – postcard-perfect, white sands
• Cala Goloritzé (Baunei) – hike in, swim out
• Spiaggia di Piscinas – stunning golden dunes
• Buggeru – Great Sardinian surfing beach.

Nature & Hiking

• Hike Gola Su Gorropu, one of Europe’s deepest canyons
• Explore the Parco del Gennargentu for mountain trails and some epic views

Culture & Villages

• Stroll through cobblestone villages like Bosa, Castelsardo, and Orgosolo
• Discover murals, ancient churches, and traditional festivals (many of which are free to attend)

Free Walking Tours

Cagliari and Alghero both offer free city walking tours – these are great for orientation and for getting some local insight (tips appreciated, of course).

Travel with peace of mind. Travel WITH a security belt.

Stash your cash safely with this money belt. It will keep your valuables safely concealed, no matter where you go.

It looks exactly like a normal belt except for a SECRET interior pocket perfectly designed to hide a wad of cash, a passport photocopy or anything else you may wish to hide. Never get caught with your pants down again! (Unless you want to…)

Hide Yo’ Money!

Public transport works well between larger towns, but Sardinia is a big island — and sometimes you need to get creative.

Buses & Trains:

• ARST buses cover most of the island and are cheap, though not always frequent
• Trenitalia runs trains between cities like Cagliari, Sassari, and Olbia
  (Tickets from €5–€15, depending on distance)

Other Transport Hacks:

• Rent a car if you’re traveling with others — off-season rates start around €25/day
• Car-sharing apps like BlaBlaCar can be a fun way to meet people and save
• Scooters or bikes are great for short distances or small towns

Here are some quick wins to help you stretch your euros even further:

• Visit in the shoulder season – fewer people, lower prices, perfect weather
• Bring a reusable bottle – Sardinian tap water is both safe and clean
• Use local SIMs or get an Italian eSIM to avoid roaming charges (or download maps in advance!)
• Pack smart – sunscreen and gear are pricier on the island
• Join Sardinia travel forums or Facebook groups for local deals and hidden gems

Don’t Forget Your Travel Insurance

ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing.

They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.

SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!

Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.

So there we have it. You really don’t need a five-star hotel or a luxury yacht to fall in love with Sardinia. With a little bit of research and the right timing, this Mediterranean gem is really accessible. Indeed its arguably more magical when experienced through local food, quiet hikes, and down-to-earth adventures.

So skip the high-end hype. Go slow, go smart, and discover the real Sardinia — without draining your wallet.

A couple of you lovely readers suggested we set up a tip jar for direct support as an alternative to booking through our links, since we’ve decided to keep the site ad-free. So here it is!

You can now buy The Broke Backpacker a coffee. If you like and use our content to plan your trips, it’s a much appreciated way to show appreciation 🙂