Things to Do with Your Children in Sardinia: 15 holiday experiences combining nature, play and discovery

A trip to Sardinia with children offers a fresh perspective on the island. It’s not just a destination for those seeking the sea and relaxation; it’s also a special place for family holidays that awakens the curiosity of little ones and engages adults too.

This Mediterranean holiday island offers a wide variety of nature experiences, fun and educational activities and adventure parks. Below, we’ve compiled some of the most interesting destinations for families looking for more than just the beach and sea.

Theme parks and open-air museums

Let’s start with experiences that combine play, nature, and knowledge.

• Sardegna in Miniatura, located in the municipality of Tuili at the foot of the Giara and near the Nuragic site of Su Nuraxi in Barumini (about 50 km north of Cagliari), is a theme park that uniquely combines history, science, and nature. The main trail features scale models of the island’s most iconic monuments, including nuraghi, Domus de Janas, Romanesque churches, castles, and traditional villages. As well as its historical features, the park has a planetarium, life-size dinosaur models, an area dedicated to Leonardo da Vinci and a botanical garden. Shaded paths, refreshment areas and accessible routes ensure that the whole family can enjoy the visit.
• A visit to the Su Nuraxi nuraghe is also an exciting experience for children of moderate age, as you are led through narrow passages and steep staircases into the interior of the nuraghe. Here, adventure and history combine perfectly.
• The S’Abba Frisca Museum Park near Dorgali on the east coast is a place where children can discover life in Sardinia in earlier times in a playful way. They can wander outdoors among farm animals, aromatic plants and ancient tools used by farmers and craftsmen. Visitors can tour a working watermill, explore traditional huts and hear exciting tales about everyday life in the past. It’s a perfect blend of nature, culture, and play!
• Dinosaur fans will love Dinosardo, a theme park surrounded by nature in the town of Milis near Oristano on the west coast. Here, you can walk among life-size replicas of prehistoric reptiles. Children can listen to dinosaur sounds, learn interesting facts from interactive panels, and enjoy the playgrounds. It’s an educational experience that stimulates imagination and the desire to explore.

Discovering Nature and Animals

For animal lovers, there are places that offer close encounters in a safe environment, providing a sense of wonder and fascination.

1. One such place is the Cala Gonone Aquarium, which overlooks the Gulf of Orosei. It’s not a large aquarium, but precisely for that reason it’s accessible and child-friendly. Well-organised tours and themed areas tell the story of Mediterranean ecosystems. The tanks are home to seahorses, jellyfish, turtles, moray eels and sharks, and are accompanied by simple, clear information panels. The interactive touch pool, where children can observe small sea creatures up close under the guidance of experienced staff, is particularly recommended.
2. For a more exotic experience, visit the Butterfly House in Olmedo near Alghero in north-west Sardinia. Here, you enter a tropical greenhouse where colourful butterflies fly freely. After watching an introductory video and observing exotic insects, you will be taken on a journey through colourful plants and butterflies that land everywhere. Outside, there is a playground, a swimming pool and green spaces, providing the perfect way to end a day full of wonder.

Outdoor Play and Adventures Among the Trees

Playgrounds and adventure parks are ideal for active children who love climbing and jumping.

• In Porto Cervo, Gregoland is a large outdoor playground surrounded by lush greenery, offering magnificent views of the harbour. It has slides, swings, balancing courses, ship-shaped structures and even a zip line. As there are no shade trees in the park, it can get very sunny, so it is recommended that you bring water, hats and snacks, especially during the hottest hours of the day.

For a more dynamic experience, adventure parks offer exciting treetop courses, zip lines, Tibetan bridges and games for all ages. All of these parks provide excellent opportunities for an active and adventurous experience in Sardinia.

• The Sardegna Avventura Park in Santa Lucia near Nuoro in the northeast is located in a holm oak forest and offers activities for adults and children alike.
• The Koala Park near Domusnovas in the south-west guarantees safety and variety, with instructors always present and customised courses for younger visitors.
• Further south, near Pula, the Pula Adventure Park combines play and nature with an exciting high ropes course set in a pine forest on the Costa del Sud. Spanning 13,000 square metres, it has courses for all ages, including baby courses for children under 110 cm tall and more challenging routes for adults with zip lines.
• The Parco dei Pini, also known as ‘Le Ragnatele‘, is an adventure and recreation park located in a pine forest near the Spiaggia delle Bombarde in the northwest of Sardinia. It offers climbing and high ropes courses in the trees with elements such as suspension bridges, wooden passages and small zip lines. The various courses are colour-coded according to difficulty, ranging from child-friendly to challenging.

Water parks for cooling off

There’s nothing better on hot days than cooling off at a water park. Sardinia offers a wide selection:

• Acqua Dream, located in the northeast near Baja Sardinia, is a family-friendly park offering slides, pools, relaxation areas and water games for children. Thanks to its green and tranquil surroundings, it’s ideal for those seeking a relaxing break.
• If you’re looking for an adrenaline-pumping experience, Diverland in Quartucciu near Cagliari is the perfect place — it’s one of Italy’s largest water parks. It has a wave pool, all kinds of slides, play areas, green spaces with sun loungers and whirlpools. It’s an ideal place for fun, refreshment and relaxation, and is suitable for all ages.
• BluFan Park is also in the south, close to Pula (actually near Sarroch, only about 2 km from the coastal town) and is Sardinia’s most popular water park. It has slides, a wave pool and children’s areas. Its main attractions include the RollerCoaster, the fastest and most extreme slide experience on the island intended for daredevils aged 16–55 (weight 50–90 kg); the Kamikaze, two gigantic free-fall slides as high as a four-storey building; and the Big River, a gentle white-water ride on single or three-person rubber tyres through lush greenery and blue pools — ideal for relaxation and fun.
• A similar experience is offered by Acquafantasy in northern Sardinia. This exciting water park is situated on a hillside overlooking the Gulf of Asinara, just 1 km from the centre of Isola Rossa.

From discovering dinosaurs and observing butterflies to diving into the past and having fun on the treetop adventure course, Sardinia is a country that can surprise even children. Far from the classic postcard image, the island offers a variety of experiences for all the family.