Bike Tours in Sardinia: Fun and Fascination on 2 Wheels

Would you like to discover your holiday destination in harmony with nature in an environmentally friendly way? Perhaps far away from the tourist crowds, in peace and at your own pace? Then a cycling tour in Sardinia, either individually or as a guided group tour, is just right thing for you.

You may ask: “Why a bike tour in Sardinia?”

Around 1.6 million inhabitants on an area of a good 24,100 km², and a third in the 11 larger towns on the island. No wonder, Sardinia offers a lot of unspoilt nature, fascinating landscapes along the approximately 2,000 km long coastline and especially in the mountainous interior of the island. Many popular cycling routes lead along the varied coastline, with occasional side trips into the often hilly island interior. There are exciting day trips to explore the popular holiday destinations, easy tours from 5 nights, which are also suitable for families with kids, and more challenging 8-day tours, which involve longer distances and yet some altitude metres. In addition to trekking, MTB and racing bikes, also e-bikes can be rented.

The optimal seasons for a cycling holiday in Sardinia are certainly spring and autumn. On the one hand, the island is not yet or no longer overcrowded and the roads are emptier; on the other hand, the air temperatures are very pleasant. If you come in autumn, you are also lucky to be able to swim in the sea, which is still warm. At the same time, the travel costs for flights and ferries and the prices of accommodation are lower than in the summer months, which are still very much in demand.

Have we convinced you yet? Then we recommend a few selected tours below, a larger selection, which can of course be adapted to your wishes, can then be found in our active holiday offers.

3 Routes for cycling enthusiasts in Sardinia

The following tours are graded according to their level of difficulty. So let’s start with the easiest one:

From Alghero to Castelsardo in 3 days / 2 nights.

The charming town of Alghero, which was conquered by the Catalans in 1354 and whose influence can still be felt today, is located in the northwest and is the starting point for this easy and about 105 km long tour.
The first stop is the Regional Nature Park of Porto Conte, which lies on the sea and is about 15 km away. From here, the route continues to Stintino (45 km), where one of the most beautiful beaches in the world awaits you, La Pelosa.
The next day, you can take a leisurely drive to Porto Torres (25 km), which lies on the Gulf of Asinara. Here we recommend a visit to the archaeological site of Monte d’Accoddi, which is at least 5,000 years old and where, among other things, you can admire an extraordinary pyramid-shaped structure.
After an overnight stay in the area, we continue along the coast to Castelsardo (35 km), which offers a beautiful old town perched on a rock with many winding alleys.
Trained riders can of course do this tour in 2 days with an overnight stay near Stintino.

From Chia to San Vero Milis (from 5 days / 4 nights)

This 220 km long tour starts in Chia, the southernmost point of Sardinia, and leads north along the coast to Cabras in the province of Oristano. A coastal route where you can admire some of the most beautiful beaches in Sardinia as a reward! Along the way, you’ll come across beautiful places like Porto Pino, cycle along the famous Costa Verde, known for its dune beaches at Piscinas, and admire the view of the Pan di Zucchero rock from Masua. Arriving in the nature reserve of the Sinis Peninsula, you finally reach your destination.
This tour is not only much longer, but also more demanding, as there are some metres of height to climb, especially between Buggerru and the Costa Verde.

From Cala Gonone to Arbatax (from 5 days / 4 nights)

This tour on the east coast of Sardinia is not long (140 km), but it is particularly strenuous due to the difference in altitude that has to be overcome (from sea level to over 1,500 m and back to sea level!!!). You start in the coastal town of Cala Gonone, famous for the Grotta del Bue Marino (Sea Ox cave) and its aquarium, and ride along winding roads that wind through the impressive Supramonte mountains to Nuoro, Oliena and Orgosolo, where you can admire the beautiful murals that make the town so impressive through its combination of art and rusticity.

But our destination is not Barbagia, but Ogliastra: this is the moment when your temperament is tested by the 1,500 metre altitude difference, but don’t despair, when you reach Santa Maria Navarrese you can breathe a sigh of relief: you are almost there! Your destination is Arbatax: a pretty little town where you can fortify yourself with fresh fish dishes to recover from the journey on two wheels.
A shorter version of this tour (70 km) leads you from Cala Gonone into the mountains via Urzulei and Baunei to Arbatax, a tour that very sporty cyclists might even manage in one day!

Why it’s nice to go by bike ;-)

More and more people are opting for cycling holidays. and the reasons for this are manifold. There is the idea of an active holiday, because exercise is good for us and can only improve our health. And if you are a gourmet and can’t resist the delicious Sardinian dishes, you don’t need to have a guilty conscience. And of course, the bicycle is the first choice as a means of transport, because it is environmentally friendly and thus helps to protect nature.

Sardinia by bike: a holiday for the whole family

An active but also child-friendly holiday: thanks to the numerous routes possible in the green coastal strip, children can also discover new places in a fun way, admire the local fauna and flora and learn more about an eco-friendly lifestyle.

The Molentargius Park near Cagliari is popular with young and old alike: without cars driving around, you can pass the lagoon lakes, famous for their pink flamingos. This route also takes you to the beautiful sandy beach of Poetto, a good excuse to take a refreshing swim here and relax in one of the beach kiosks!

Other areas suitable for a longer cycling holidays with children are the southwest coast from Pula to Sant’Antioco and the exploring rides you can do around Cabras on the west coast of Sardinia