Are you traveling to Sardinia for a spring break or a beach holiday? or are you just coming to feed yourself with the best Italian seafood or porchetta – suckling pig as I usually do? Whatever your reason for visiting Sardinia is, you are very probable to land either in Alghero, Olbia or Cagliari. These 3 are the busiest airports on the second-largest island of Italy. And because I usually fly to Alghero for its direct flights to Bratislava – Slovakia (That´s where I come from), I can share my top 5 places with you, which I love to visit, while being in this stunning historical Italo-Catalan harbor.
In April 2018 I took 4 days off and flew with my mom to the beautiful island of precious nature, good food, and stunning beaches.
1. Have a drink (or 2) in Maracaibo Beach Cocktail Bar
I don´t know how about you, but I don´t enjoy flying very much. It is quite stressful for me even if I know that at the end of the day I will be eventually sipping on a glass of prosecco (the most probably) in my dream destination.
For this occasion – sipping on a glass of cold prosecco I don´t know the better location in Alghero than the Maracaibo Beach Cocktail Bar on the Lungomare Barcellona. This bar is situated next to the beach “Spiaggia del Lido di Alghero” with one of the most stunning views of the old harbor, Capo Caccia and the Cathedral of Santa Maria. Just like the locals, you can watch the life goes by sitting there too, drinking a chilled glass of Aperol spritz or a good Italian coffee.
This would be the Number 1 of what I´do love to do in Alghero.
2. Dinner in Trattoria La Saletta
Trattoria La Saletta. Only to think of eating in this restaurant when planning my trip to Sardinia, always forces me to book 1 extra night to stay in Alghero. Even if I have plans to head more to the south of the island. Yes, right – Just because of having 1 dinner there. I have always loved to go there for dinner. The reason is simple. Local, fresh & hearty food. Also, the restaurant staff is very friendly, experienced and it is always a pleasure to talk to them. There are no words to describe how food tastes there. They specialize in making porcheddu – suckling roasted pig, usually served on mirto littered cork tray. A very interesting and local way to serve a roasted pig! They have the best selection of pecorino cheese, guanciale bacon, and local salami, too. Do not forget to taste the “Sevadas”, traditional Sardinian sweet dish made of pastry filled whit pecorino cheese inside, drizzled with local honey. This is THE MUST PLACE to visit while in Alghero. I don´t need to mention the selection of white wine Vermentino or the red one – Canonau, do I? 😀
3. Taking a boat to “Grotta di Nettuno” (Cave) under the vertical cliffs of Capo Caccia
There are few ways how to get to Neptune´s Cave – one of the most popular tourist places to visit in/near Alghero. If you´d like to visit the Cliffs of Capo Caccia which stands above the Neptune´s Grotto, you can do so by car, bus or boat. I would recommend taking the tourist boat at the price of 16€/p.P., departing from the Harbour of Alghero, or by taking a car (if you have one rented). Make sure, if you come by car or bus and want to see the stalactites and the stalagmites of the Neptune´s Cave, you have to be fit enough to climb more than 650 stairs down and the same back up the hill. If visiting Sardinia in the middle of hot summer, make sure, you are not entering Grotta di Nettuno at midday where the temperatures rise to 35 degrees Celsius. My recommendation is to see the Neptune staircase from the top, just before the sun goes down and climbing a few steps down for taking some stunning shots of surroundings with your Fuji camera. I cannot say if it is worth going to the cave itself – I have never been inside. There are surely admirable things to look at inside, but make sure you have enough cash with you. The ticket to see the cave itself costs about 13€ per Person extra.
But even if you do not enter the cave, it is worth visiting the stunning, breathtaking cliffs of Capo Caccia and its looong staircase.
4. A glass of Wine with the best view of Alghero in Sky Bar – Hotel Catalunya
Is it raining and you want to sit down, relax and have a good glass of wine with the best view of a town, not to be soaking wet? Then this is surely the spot to go to. 10th floor of the 4* Hotel Catalunya. The best view of all. To visit the Sky Bar on the 10th floor, you need to enter the lobby of the hotel, turn right and call the elevator. Once you have chosen the table to sit at, you can start enjoying the stunning view of Alghero. I don´t think there is any higher building in Alghero than Hotel Catalunya. So yes, this must be the best view of Alghero. The drinks in the Sky bar are at an average price, I would say. Nothing outrageous. I paid for a glass of Aperol Spritz 6€ which is less than you would pay in a good restaurant in the middle of Vienna. Drinks are served with a bowl of potato crisps and mini tramezzini . Yumm!
5. Taking a stroll around the old town, just before the sunset
The old historic town of Alghero has been fascinating me since I have first visited Sardinia. Its ancient walls surrounding the gothic Catalan buildings, including the Cathedral of Santa Maria and Chiesa di San Francesco from the 14th century, are the most remarkable attributes of the town. You can endlessly walk around and take pictures of beautiful architecture, yachts, the sea, people sitting in bars sipping on cocktails, etc. If you are lucky enough, you will experience a wonderful sunset which you will never forget..
