Costa Smeralda

Costa Smeralda is a famous resort area in north-eastern Sardinia.

Understand
This area was developed in the 1960s by the Consorzio Costa Smeralda led by Prince Karim Aga Khan. With white sand beaches, golf clubs, private jet and helicopter services, and exclusive hotels, the area has drawn celebrities, business leaders, and other affluent visitors.

Strictly speaking, the Costa Smeralda is only a 20 km stretch of land in the commune of Arzachena. Tour operators often tend to denote the whole north-eastern coast of Sardinia as Costa Smeralda which isn't quite correct. The nearby villages of Poltu Quatu, Baja Sardinia, Cannigione and Porto Rotondo are sometimes associated with the famous coastal stretch, whilst they are located in its vicinity, they are a part of it.

The heart of the Costa Smeralda is Porto Cervo (Deer’s Port) where the dolce vita reaches its peaks. The other locations include Romazzino, Capriccioli, Cala di Volpe, Pevero Gulf, Pantogia and Liscia di Vacca.



By plane
The nearest airport is in Olbia, Aeroporto Costa Smeralda, one of Sardinia's three international airports. All international flights are seasonal, and they operate to dozens of European cities and even Dubai. Only a handful of domestic flights operate outside of the tourist season.

By boat
Ferries to Olbia from the Italian mainland.

By bus
Regional buses from Olbia, Arzachena, Santa Teresa Gallura (for ferries to Bonifacio in Corsica).

By boat
Ferry connects the Porto Cervo with the Marina Nuova across the harbour: every 1/2 hour from 08:30 (Marina) and 9:00 (Porto Cervo). The last ferry from Porto Cervo is at 22:00.

By car
In order to have access to remote (some say the best of the) beaches you will probably need to hire a car (mopeds are not so good on the bumpy tracks down to the beaches). Driving on the coastal roads gives great views over the yacht lined Costa Smeralda coastline (or it's rather better to hire a yacht then?). There are a number of car rental offices at Olbia Airport where cars can be rented for affordable prices.

See
You can get up close to the super yachts when they come in to Porto Cervo in the evening.

Do
The best of the beaches are Liscia Ruia, Capriccioli, Romazzino and Cala Petra Ruja. The beaches are the area's main leisure attraction and are well worth discovering. The white sand beaches are soft and sheltered and the water changes between extraordinary shades of light blue and green. Some beaches like Capriccioli are easily accessible on foot, but more remote beaches like Petra Ruja lack public transport and must be travelled to by car. Google Maps navigates to this beach well. For parking there are the usual manned parcheggios which charge a few Euro per hour, but if you can park on the side of the road safely, then you may do so.

Buy
If you want to be as stylish as the rich tourists of Costa Smeralda you may go to Porto Cervo for expensive shopping.

Eat
Most restaurants on the Costa Smerelda are overpriced. For authentic Sardinian cuisine try the campsite restaurants where all the locals go.

Sleep
It can be quite difficult finding accommodation in the Costa Smeralda as the area is mainly serviced by Italian tour operators but some local operators provide detailed accommodation information online. If you don't have your own private yacht to stay on and can't afford the £300 per night prices of the exclusive hotels then you might want to hire a villa through a website. Alternatively you can hire bungalows at a number of the campsites on the coast.

Stay safe
No special precautions need to be observed here. Wear sunscreen and find shade during the hottest parts of the day. Drink plenty of water. Do not leave valuables on the beach or in your car when you go for a swim: leave them at the hotel.

Go next

 * Maddalena archipelago -- take a trip from the Sardinian port of Palau. Nice views, great snorkelling.