Need to Know
Currency
Language
Visas
Money
Mobile Phones
Time
When to Go
High Season (Jul & Aug)
ACrowds flock to coastal resorts and room rates skyrocket.
APrices also rise over Easter and school holidays.
ARoads are at their most congested.
AHot days good for the beach.
Shoulder Season (Apr–Jun & mid-Sep–Oct)
ARoom rates are significantly lower.
AThe weather is changeable and the sea chilly.
AExcellent for hiking, cycling and climbing.
ASights and beaches are less crowded.
Low Season (Nov–Mar)
ADays are shorter, weather is colder and wetter.
AMany sights, hotels and restaurants are closed.
APrices up to 50% less than high season.
ACarnevale is reason to visit in February.
Useful Websites
Sardegna Turismo (www.sardegnaturismo.it) The official tourist board website is your first port of call for activities, culture, itineraries, events and accommodation.
ENIT (www.enit.it) The Italian State Tourist Board has some background on what to see, do and eat.
Lonely Planet (www.lonelyplanet.com/sardinia) Destination information, hotel bookings, traveller forum and more.
ARST (www.arst.sardegna.it) Regional transport; find timetables and plan your journey.
Trenitalia (www.trenitalia.com) For timetables and prices of rail journeys in Sardinia.
Sardegne.com (www.sardegne.com) The lowdown on accommodation, restaurants, transport and weather.
Important Numbers
To dial listings from outside Italy, dial your international access code, Italy’s country code and then the number (including the 
%‘0’).
| Country Code | %39 |
| International access code | %00 |
| Europe-wide emergency | %112 |
| Ambulance | %118 |
| Fire | %115 |
| Police | %113 |
Exchange Rates
| Australia | A$1 | €0.66 |
| Canada | C$1 | €0.66 |
| Japan | ¥100 | €0.80 |
| NZ | NZ$1 | €0.63 |
| UK | UK£1 | €1.14 |
| US | US$1 | €0.89 |
For current exchange rates see www.xe.com.
Daily Costs
Budget: Less than €120
ADorm bed: €20–25
ADouble room in a budget hotel or B&B: €60–100
AFixed-price lunches: €15–20
ATakeaway pizza: €4–7.50
Midrange: €120–250
ADouble room in a midrange hotel: €100–200
ADinner in a local restaurant: €25–45
ACocktail: €5–8
ABoat tour: €15–30
Top end: More than €250
ADouble room in a five-star hotel: €200–350
ATop restaurant meal: €50–60
ABoat/yacht charter: €800 per day
Opening Hours
Opening hours vary throughout the year. We’ve provided high-season opening hours; hours will generally decrease in the shoulder and low seasons.
Banks 8.30am to 1.30pm and 2.45pm to 4.30pm Monday to Friday
Bars 7pm to 1am Monday to Saturday
Cafes 7am or 8am to 10pm or 11pm Monday to Saturday
Clubs 10pm to 3am, 4am or 5am Thursday to Saturday
Post offices 8am to 6.50pm Monday to Friday, 8am to 1.15pm Saturday
Restaurants noon to 2.30pm or 3pm and 7.30pm to 10pm or 11pm
Shops 9am to 1pm and 4pm to 8pm Monday to Saturday
Arriving in Sardinia
Cagliari Elmas Airport Trains run from the airport to Cagliari station (€1.30) approximately every 20 to 30 minutes between 6.37am and 11.07pm. The journey takes six to 10 minutes. A taxi will set you back around €20.
Aeroporto di Olbia Costa Smeralda Local bus lines 2 and 10 (€1, or €1.50 if ticket is bought on-board) run half-hourly between the airport to central Olbia. The journey takes 10 minutes. A taxi costs around €15.
Alghero Airport Hourly buses run from the airport to Via Catalogna (€1, or €1.50 on-board) between 5.20am and 11pm. The journey takes about 25 minutes. A taxi from the airport will cost around €25.
Cagliari Ferry Port Tirrenia ferries link Cagliari to Civitavecchia (€53, 13 hours), Naples (€50, 13½ hours) and Palermo (€50, 12 hours).
Etiquette
Hospitality Accept offers of a glass of wine, beer or mirto when offered.
Dress Don't go around dressed scantily for the beach in mountain areas where people can be quite conservative.
Language Remember that Sardo is not a dialect of Italian; it is a separate language.
Greetings Shake hands and say buongiorno (good day) or buona sera (good evening) to strangers; kiss both cheeks and say come stai (how are you) to friends.