Sardinia with kids: all you need to know to plan a trip you’ll love

How to plan a trip to Sardinia with kids: a beginners’ guide to the best places to go, best family beaches in Sardinia, kid-friendly things to do and practical tips [Updated September 2026]

Sardinia is one of the best beach vacation spots for families in Italy and the Mediterranean in general. Many say it has the best beaches in the whole world and honestly, it is easy to see why!

Unlike most of the Italian coast on the mainland, Sardinia has beaches reminiscent of those in the Caribbean: Sardinia’s waters are crystal clear, with hues spanning from almost white to aqua to deep sapphire blue.

Its beaches have light colored sand, many have shallow waters perfect also for small kids and many are still pretty wild, devoid of the rows and rows of umbrellas and lidos so common in other regions.

Of course, Sardinia has more than beaches. As well as these stunning stretches of sand, Sardinia has some lovely towns, beautiful hikes, opportunities for boating and very ancient archaeological sites worth seeing.

That said, there is not doubt that for families with kids, the biggest attraction here are the beaches and Sardinia comes into its own for families in the summer, when you can swim, boat, eat outside and enjoy the summer resort atmosphere of many of its towns.

Sardinia is a very large islands and there are many areas worth seeing, each with different characteristics.

Some areas are very developed and basically an upscale resort with stunning families and little authenticity (Emerald Coast), others are more local and mix local charm with good tourism facilities (Cagliari, Costa Rei, Alghero, San Teodoro), others are rugged and secluded.

In this post, I focus on what I believe to be the best areas in Sardinia for families with kids, selected for kid-friendly beaches, hospitality, accessibility and of course beauty, based on my own experience. I hope this overview helps you getting started planning your trip to Sardinia with kids!

I am sure by the end of this article, you will agree Sardinia is one of the best places to visit in Italy with kids, if you love the sea and the sun!

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Why visit Sardinia with kids

Sardinia is a stunning island with many beautiful, kid-friendly beaches with crystal clear, shallow waters and soft sands

Sardinia is a very well established tourism destination and has great facilities, including upscale resorts with all comforts for families.

Sardinia has pretty, family friendly towns that make for a lovely summer vacation ‘home’

How to visit Sardinia with kids – common errors and easy solutions

Sardinia is a very large island and the most common error I encounter when chatting to parents planning a trip here is underestimating how big the island is. The second one is not getting a car.

Tip 1 – don’t underestimate distances

Sardinia is the second largest island in the Mediterranean and stretches about 168 miles from North to South and about 90 miles east to west.

Looking at these data, many thing the distances are very manageable and try plan itineraries that cover north and south in a week or less or even roads trips around the island in a matter of days or a weekend, but the reality is that distances here are not only big but also slow.

I can give you a practical example. The distance between Olbia and Palau (a common stretch people cover to take a boat tour around la Maddalena) is only 40 km on the map but by car, it takes the best part of an hour to get from one to the other without traffic; by bus, it took us the best part of a morning! And this is in a part of the island with reasonably good roads and we are staying in the North Easter part of Sardinia, imagine what it is like to go from Cagliari to Olbia, hoping to stop along the coast – it basically takes a full day

So my first tip is: unless you have several weeks, plan longer stretched of time in fewer destination, don’t try to see it all

Tip 2 – rent a car

As well as being very big and with slow roads, Sardinia is also not particularly well equipped with public transport and having a car here is paramount.

Unless you literally come to stay put in your report or beach of choice, having a car here is paramount to visit beaches, country restaurants, go town hopping etc. If you stay a very limited number of days, you may potentially do without, if planning accordingly (see below) but having visited Sardinia with and without a car, I can tell you: a car is always the way to go.

Not renting a car unfortunately is a common mistake and can really affect how much you enjoy your stay. Thankfully, can rental options are plentiful here (see also below the relevant paragraph about renting a car and driving in Sardinia)

The other thing to consider is that beaches are natural and therefore subject to changes in conditions depending on sea currents, wind, etc, they will not always, not all be picture perfect. So especially with kids, that may not be ok with posidonia on the shores or similar (I am sure I am not the only one with picky kids), having a car to change beach depending on daily conditions is useful.

Tip 3 – understand weather

Sardinia is seasonal and both its land and its waters go through 4 seasons: winter, spring, summer and autumn.

You can visit Sardinia any time of the year, but your experience will be very different depending on when you come.

For instance, if you come for beach time, which is usually the top focus for families with kids here, you have to come in summer and specifically from July to September, up to mid October, or the water will be too cold. We were here last summer mid June and I even found the water too cold at that time (manageable, but definitely on the cold side). So if you want to swim and see good deals for Sardinia in April or May… do consider the good deal is there for a reason: you may not be able to swim then!

The best places to visit in Sardinia with kids – my top picks

Since Sardinia is so big and time consuming to explore, I give you my very short list of what I consider the best places for kids, those I recommend as a base for a few nights stay.

San Teodoro

San Teodoro is probably my favorite place of all, when I go to Sardinia with the kids. San Teodoro is a small town on the Western Coast of Sardinia and it is simply perfect for families.

The town is safe and kid friendly. It has a lovely center with pretty corners, cascading flowers and many shops, restaurants and cafes. For the most part it is flat and stroller friendly, it is easy to reach from Olbia airport and has something that truly makes its stand out: a wonderful sandy beach, La Cinta, just in town! No car needed to reach this one!

On top of this, San Teodoro is close to other sandy beaches such as Lu Impostu and Cala Brandichini, among the most beautiful in Sardinia, and it is a lovely base to explore by car, since from here you can reach pretty towns, beaches, wineries (kid-friendly) etc.

The town has a lovely buzzy atmosphere at night, with a night market in summer and while there is also music as younger visitors, it is a very family friendly place, safe and pleasant to call home for a while.

The best things to do in San Teodoro with kids are strolling the city center and its market in the evening, go to La Cinta, explore the beautiful beaches of the area, take a boat tour to Tavolara

Alghero

Again in the north of Sardinia, but on the Western Side of the island sits Alghero, one of the most fascinating towns in Sardinia and another one of my favorite for kids.

Alghero is a very peculiar place as it is historically a Catalan town and still very much retains peculiar atmospheres that make it stand out from almost all others.

The town is very pretty and super easy with kids: it is flat and stroller friendly, it has a wonderful promenade, playgrounds, restaurants and facilities and nice beaches nearby that make it perfect to mix town life with time on the beach. Alghero is a historic town, while San Teodoro less so: both are gorgeous northern Sardinia destinations for families with kids.

In Alghero with kids you can enjoy the town center, going the beaches of the area of course, taking a tour of the Grotte di Nettuno, bring the kids to the local adventure park and just enjoy the simple, beautiful vacation life!

Villasimius and Costa Rei

Villasimius and Costa Rei are contiguous areas in the south of Sardinia, immediately to the East of Cagliari. The area is absolutely stunning: as you drive here from Cagliari, you have views that are somewhat reminiscent of Pacific 101 for vastness and beauty, but with an unmistakable Mediterranean feel.

To given you an idea, there is a locality here called Mari Pintau (‘Painted Sea’) that truly is so beautiful and perfect, it seems to perfect to be real – except it is!

This area is lovely with kids: the town of Villasimius is pleasant and well served, beaches vast and sandy and the area is really easy to reach as it is close to Cagliari – as I mentioned above: car is mandatory here.

The vibe of the place is relaxed and local. While there are many hospitality resources here and resorts, this is not like the Emerald Coast, which is basically a playground for the rich. This is still very much a real place, with second homes of locals as well as tourism businesses.

I really love this area. When I was little, my aunties lived in Capitana for few years and I was lucky enough to come visit her, so you may say I am biased. But really, between what Cagliari has to offer (well worth seeing!), the beaches and the beautiful waters, it is hard not to love it!

Olbia area

The area of Olbia is another fantastic area to visit with kids, ideal if you want to go towards San Teodoro but also explore beautiful Galleria and the famous Emerald Coast, playground of the rich and famous (and with fab beaches!).

The town of Olbia itself is nothing to write home about and not my top choice to stay, but the area around it is, as truly you have great options for beach trips, you can go to La Maddalena from here, which is stunning, and a some nice options for towns to visit, for instance San Pantaleo and Arzachena.

This area is ideal for a resort stay with a car and perfect if you are looking for a luxury stay especially.

The best things to do in Sardinia with kids

Go to the beach: of course!

Since we recommend Sardinia for a family sun vacation, of course we start our list of things to do in Sardinia with kids with the recommendation to go to the beach!

Sardinia is full of wonderful beaches and making a list of kid friendly ones is not really possible as there are so many! Pretty much not matter where you are, you can be sure there is a wonderful beach near you.

Some of the most famous, lovely kid friendly beaches in Northern Sardinia are La Pelosa, La Cinta, Lu Impostu, Cala Brandichini, Spiaggia Rena Bianca, Cala Granu, Grande Pevero, Capriccioli, Cala Sassari, Porto Istana. And in the South, Su Giudeo, Chia, Simius, Porto Giunco, Punta Molentis and the beaches of Costa Rei, just to mention the most famous!

Take a kid-friendly boat tours

As well as beautiful beaches, Sardinia also has stunning rugged coastline, spendid waters and minors islands you enjoy best from the water. Boat tours abound and the areas I mentioned above have lovely ones suitable for kids – my favourites are the tour of Tavolara from San Teodoro area and the tour of Maddalena from Palau/Olbia area.

Go kayaking

Another fun way to enjoy the water for kids is by going kayaking – several options available in several parts of the island, including the area of Cagliari, Olbia and Alghero, with or without guides and on single or double kayaks, depending on age/ experience

See flamingoes

Sardinia is a natural habitat for flamingoes and they are easy and cool to see for kids! A wonderful area to spot them in and around Cagliari: they are in the town itself and they are also easy to see driving in the beautiful countryside near it.

Have fun in a theme parks

Sardinia has several amusement parks that are great for days when you want to take a break from the beach. Check out:

Aquafantasy – fun water park with slides, lazy rivers, pool, etc

Sardegna in Miniatura – Miniature Sardinia is a theme park with plenty to see and do for kids. Here you can see the whole of Sardinia in miniature, visit the aquarium, see dinosaurs in the biggest dinosaur park in Italy, visit the astronomy museum and planetarium, all in fantastic natural settings.

Le Ragnatele Adventure Park – with tree top adventure course and ziplining

Explore cities and towns

Sardinia is famous for beaches more than cities but it has some lovely ones that are worth seeing, some big, some small!

Lovely cities and towns to visit in Sardinia are Cagliari (playgrounds, beach, beach waterfront etc), Alghero (beaches, lovely city center, cycling routes etc) and smaller cute centers like Bosa, Castelsardo, Stintino, Villasimius, Sant’Antioco, all in the areas above and all pretty to visit.

Go snorkeling with kids

Sardinia is a lovely place for beginners snorkelers and this includes kids! gear them up with goggles and water shoes and let them explore. Great snorkeling places in Sardinia for kids are La Carbonara, Villasimius, Stintino and Budoni .

See wild horses in Parco della Giara

Parco della Giara is a large natural area famous for being the last place in Europe where you can see wild horses in their natural environment. The horses here are of a peculiar species ‘cavalli della Giara’, bigger than ponies but smaller than other more common horse species. The best way to visit is with a guide: bring decent walking shoes and sun protection if visiting in summer

Take a ride on Trenino Verde (Little Green Train)

If you have a little one who loves trains, then you should take a ride on Trenino Verde, Sardinia’s Little Green Train.

The vintage train offers a tourist service that allows families to discover some areas of Sardinia otherwise hard to reach. You can choose between several journeys/destinations and it is fun for little ones: prepare yourself for a vintage rickety ride! perfect for toddlers and young primary school kids. Official site: treninoverde.it

Visit a prehistoric Nuraghi

Nuraghi are prehistoric remains unique to Sardinia. The best place to see them is by Nuraghe Losa or UNESCO’s Nuraghi Village of Su Nuraxi (best for older kids due to some steep passages – bring good shoes).

Visit a mine with kids

Sardinia has important mining history and some of the old mines are now tourist sites easy to visit with kids.

The famous Porto Flavia Mine is unique and scenic: here, you visit the mine tunnel, find a wonderful belvedere but also learn about Porto Flavia’s incredible suspended port, an engineering marvel and a stunning sight!

You can visit on your own or with a tour from Cagliari or a tour from Chia.

What to pack to visit Sardinia with kids

If visiting Sardinia in summer, you need your Sardinia packing list to include all your essentials for a beach vacation, plus an extra layer for days when the wind picks up and good walking shoes/sneakers for excursions.

Do not forget:

• Swimsuits for the whole family
• Kids snorkeling gear
• Water shoes
• Beach essentials: towels, sun screen, sun hat, beach toys
• Sunglasses for the whole family

How to get to Sardinia with kids

You can get to Sardina with kids by plane or ferry.

Main airports in Sardinia for the areas I recommend the most with kids are Olbia (for the north East especially), Alghero (North West) and Cagliari (South).

The main ports for ferry services are:

Arbatax – access point for west Sardinia

Porto Torres – access point to north-west Sardinia

Olbia – access point to Sardinia’s northeast

Cagliari – entry point to south Sardinia

The most popular departure points for ferries to Sardinia are Civitavecchia, Livorno, Piombino, Genoa, Marseille (France) and Barcelona (Spain).

If you are planning on visiting more than one location, I highly recommend you rent a car: by far, the best way to travel around Sardinia as a family especially!

I hope you enjoyed this beginners’ guide to Sardinia with kids and it helped you get started planning a trip. Safe travel planning!