Spring is right around the corner, and if you’ve been keeping an eye on Google Flights for the flight deals going to Europe, you won’t want to miss this.
Let’s face it, it’s been a rough winter, with either incessant rain or cold snaps, particularly for those living along the East Coast, and chances are you’ve been dreaming of somewhere sunny.
Sure, Mexico’s a quick 3 to 4-hour flight away, but if you don’t mind the long-haul, there’s soon something arguably more exciting on offer:
From May 20, 2025, Americans will be able to fly nonstop to the Italian island of Sardinia, in the heart of the Mediterranean, straight from New York (JFK), thanks to Delta.
No more layovers in Rome, Milan, or other mainland Italian destinations, and no wasting precious vacation days in airports either.
Is Sardinia The Last Truly Unspoiled Major Mediterranean Island?
Sardinia is the second-largest island in Italy (after Sicily), roughly the size of West Virginia. It’s best known for its white-sand calas, which look like they could easily belong in the Caribbean, beautiful coastal towns that exude ancient charm, and laid-back living.
Now, the new Delta flights don’t go straight to Cagliari, Sardinia’s capital, straddling its southern coast:
They touch down in Olbia (OLB), a small town in the north of the island. You’re probably wondering what the reasoning is behind this bold, yet unusual choice, given the fact that Cagliari is Sardinia’s cultural heart, as well as home to its busiest airport.
Though it’s not somewhere you’d want to stay longer than a single night, Olbia is in fact the gateway to the most beautiful stretch of coast anywhere on the island, the aptly-named Costa Smeralda: think powdered-sugar sandy strips hugged by teal-colored seas, colorful villages and island-hopping.
This time, Delta’s banking not on the obvious cultural behemoth in the room, but the wilder side of Sardinia. We’re literally called Travel Off Path, so needless to say, we’re here for it.
Flights are available every Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from May 20, and if you’re wondering what are northern Sardinia’s most exciting spots, here are 5 we wouldn’t want to miss out on ourselves:
Top 5 Sardinian Destinations To Visit In Spring 2026
Santa Teresa Gallura
A small coastal village on Costa Smeralda, Santa Teresa Gallura is the perfect Sardinian destination if you’re keen on beating the crowds.
Granted, the famous Spiaggia Rena Bianca, known for its white sands and clear shallow waters, can get quite packed during peak season, but a short drive away from town, Spiaggia Porto Quadro is equally stunning and far more peaceful.
Santa Teresa is also within easy reach of Capo Testa, a rugged headland 10 minutes by car, distinguished by its wind-sculpted rock formations, which have created small, sea-fed pools you can swim in at low tide. They’re incredibly scenic, with none of Costa Smeralda’s usual buzz.
While it’s true the town primarily serves as a base for exploring the wider coast, its Centro Storico is rather charming, with a handful of pedestrianized streets, aperitivo spots, and gelato shops that embody the very essence of Sardinia.
Oh, by the way, Santa Teresa directly faces Corsica, a French island, which is only 7 miles away by ferry. If you have time, you can take a day trip to Bonifacio, a historic medieval village in the neighboring island, known for its clifftop, rock-hewn houses.
La Maddalena Islands
A group of islands lying just off Costa Smeralda, the La Maddalena archipelago is a must-see for beach lovers heading to North Sardinia this spring.
With over 60 islands and islets to pick from, each boasting secret coves, white-sanded bays, and the most turquoise seas known to mankind, this is not a part of Sardinia you want to just barely scratch the surface.
Ideally, I’d recommend you stay at least 3 stays in the area to allow for plenty of island-hopping and sunset catamaran cruises, starting with the largest island of all, the eponymously-titled Maddalena: home to a colorful harbor town, distinct for its rich fishing heritage, and hiking trails that lead down to unruffled beaches, it is the cultural heart of the archipelago.
Connected to Maddalena by a bridge, the island of Caprera is a protected national park known for its beautiful coves (look up Cala Napoletana), and it’s also the site of Giuseppe Garibaldi’s house and tomb.
Budelli is where you’ll find the iconic Pink Beach, or Spiaggia Rosa, though it’s not inhabited and the easiest way to get there is by booking a spot on a multi-island tour, and if you love wild nature and remote places, Razzoli is that lighthouse-equipped, northernmost, rugged landmass.
If staying in the archipelago, Maddalena (town), on the main island, is where you should base yourself. Most ferry routes start from there, and with the exception of the tiny fishing villages, it’s the only proper settlement ’round these ends.
Alternatively, Palau on the Sardinian mainland is a 20 min crossing to the islands.
Tempio Pausania
Sardinia is not all beaches and sun-kissed shorelines: nestled in the lush hills of the island’s mountainous north, Tempio Pausania is a well-preserved medieval town with a cooler climate and that, unlike your average Disney-fied Italian village, feels truly lived-in.
The Old Town looks like something you’ve seen in a movie before, with winding alleys flanked by gray-granite houses, typical of the Sardinian mountains, family-owned osterie, and picturesque plazas, and you might notice some of the streets are paved with rainbow patterns.
No politics, just aesthetics.
As it’s not on the coast, Tempio Pausania receives only a small fraction of the tourism Costa Smeralda gets, and I’m betting on the fact that most Americans getting on that Delta flight won’t be taking a detour up here, either.
If you play it smart and you spend the night in Tempio Pausania, you can have a lively, café-flanked Piazza del Popolo all to yourself in the early mornings, admire the interior of its beautiful Cattedrale di San Pietro, and explore the timeless streets without running into a single fellow tourist.
For a local restaurant with a zero-frills, rustic vibe, try Ristorante di montagna Li Mulini: their gnocchi is heavenly, and the Gallurese cheeses are a tourist attraction in their own right. Expect to pay $24–35 per person.
Alghero
Did you have any idea there was a town in northwestern Sicily where locals spoke their own unique dialect of… Catalan?
Settled by Catalans—yep, the same Catalan people who hail from Barcelona in Spain—in the late Middle Ages, Alghero is one of the most unique cultural getaways Sardinia has in store, and shockingly enough, it seldom makes blog headlines.
Now, Italian and Sardinian are the main languages spoken here, but walk into any pasticceria early in the morning, where the clientele is aged 60 and over, the decor is 60s-coded, and the smiles are genuine and free, and you might just catch a word or two of the beautiful Algherese Catalan dialect being spoken.
Language isn’t the only thing locals inherited from their Iberian ancestors: Alghero’s Historic Center, with its winding cobblestone streets, striking Gothic churches, and Spanish-style plazas, feels like it was plucked straight from a medieval village on Catalonia’s Costa Brava.
Alghero Cathedral, locally known as Cattedrale di Santa Maria, is one of the most prominent examples of Catalan-Gothic architecture in town, with minimal ornamentation and the usual pointed arches and buttresses.
Alghero is right on the coast, and the sea is every bit a part of daily life as the timeless streets, bustling markets, and sun-soaked café terraces that give the town its ancient allure.
Stroll the seaside promenade starting from Lungomare Dante, all the way to Lungomare Valencia (yep, the Spanish references are everywhere). Then, swing by Maria Pia Beach, a dune-dotted stretch backed by a pine forest.
For lunch, make it a top priority to book a table at Nautilus. Their served-cold, olive-oil-heavy lobster à la catalana game is strong, and you can’t beat the local selection of wine, or the stunning views of the coast from their terrace.
Stintino
You’re hitting the home stretch of your Sardinian adventure, and all you can think about is kicking back, devouring local treats, and slipping into the sea, without ever glancing at your watch or worrying about the next thing on the itinerary.
That’s where Stintino comes into play.
With pinkish-white sands that seem to slowly fade into gatorade-like waters, and an imposing historic tower for a backdrop, this is the live postcard that inspires people to fly thousands of miles to an offbeat island in Italy.
I’m not kidding: if you look up Sardinia on Google Images, chances are it’s La Pelosa (the beach in question) that will pop up first.
I’m usually wary of touristy spots myself, but I’ll be honest with you, this one is 100% worth all the hype. The waters truly look like they’ve been Instagram-filtered, the soft, warm sands will make you want to sink into them, and with the plethora of seafood eateries available, it’s basically impossible not to indulge.
One of the most-loved restaurants in the vicinity, Ittiturismo Antares dishes out daily Mediterranean catch and other Sardinian specialities. It’s on the pricier side, with meals averaging $47 per person, but sometimes, you just have to treat yourself a little.
For pasta and meat dishes, Trattoria Opera Viva is yet another great spot, and meals here are somewhat cheaper, too ($35 on average).
Now, for the absolute best seafood linguini you’ll ever have in your life, hit up Ristorante Lina.
Stintino itself is an adorable coastal village primarily associated with tuna fishing, so it’s not like there’s an awful lot of things to do here other than beaching and trying different restaurants. Fine by me.
Again, that’s Sardinia for you, and if the idea of slowing things down a notch and breathing in the salty, oceanic air, with no strict itinerary or a non-exhaustive list of museums to visit sounds like your kind of vacation, then Stintino is right up your alley.
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