Car hire in Sardinia

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Thinking About Renting a Car in Sardinia? Find All the Details Below:

Sardinia is a picturesque island located in the Mediterranean Sea. It is located west of the Apennine Peninsula and evenly removed from the coasts of Africa and Europe. Sardinia is part of Italy, but only as an autonomous region consisting of 8 separate provinces. This place attracts tourists with its medieval architecture, modern beaches and thermal spas.

General information

Sardinia is considered the second largest island in Italy. In the waters of the Mediterranean Sea there is a lot of sardine fish, after which it got its name. The local population is 1.6 million people.

Archaeological finds confirm the fact that people have lived on the island since ancient times. Some monuments date back to the 4th-2nd millennium BC. Unique antiquities testify to the fact that the inhabitants of Sardinia were in close contact with other peoples of the Mediterranean.

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The capital of Sardinia is Cagliari is located on the young coast of the island, which is washed by the Tyrrhenian Sea. Thanks to the peculiarities of the administrative hierarchy of Italy, the island managed to become an autonomy with a special status that guarantees a certain independence to local administrative bodies. This allowed the islanders to preserve their language and other cultural values ​​for many years.

In the bowels of the island of Sardinia there are deposits of coal, as well as various precious metals. The unique climate has a positive effect on the health of the local population, among which there are many centenarians.

There are many nature reserves, national parks, and natural attractions on the island. Incredible natural sculptures were formed as a result of the erosion of rocks and caves. Sardinia's sandy beaches are said to be the best kept in Italy. There are a lot of secluded places suitable for a beach holiday, which can only be reached by water. To see all the interesting places on the island, you can rent a car.

What to see in Sardinia?


The sights of Sardinia annually attract a huge number of tourists from different countries. To make it easier to navigate the island and not to miss the most interesting, travelers plan a route in advance.

Neptune's Grotto

By visiting this amazing place, you can see the beauty of the underworld with your own eyes. Neptune's Grotto is rightly called Sardinia's natural gem. Tourists are waiting for mysterious intricate caves, which are located at a depth of 110 meters.

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Bizarre stalactites and stalagmites in the form of stone sculptures allow you to appreciate the beauty of this incredible sights created by nature itself. In these unique interiors, the film "Island of the Monsters" was filmed.

The grotto is located 25 km from the city of Alghero, in a bay called Cala Dragunara. You can get to it by boat. To get into the caves, you can enter the grotto from the sea or walk up a very steep staircase.

National Archaeological Museum of Cagliari

This place is a must-see for lovers stories. The National Archaeological Museum is located in the ancient quarter of the capital of Cagliari. Here is the largest unique collection of exhibits on the island, which covers the period from the Neolithic to the fall of Byzantium. The most significant exhibit of the museum is the collection of bronzetti. These figurines are the legacy of the Nuragic civilization.

Cathedral

In Cagliari, there is a unique ancient repository of Christian relics - Cathedral. This majestic monument looks very impressive. A masterpiece of medieval Italian architecture rises above all other elements of the architectural ensemble on the Royal Square of the Cathedral of St. Mary. The interior decoration of the cathedral is made in the medieval Romanesque style.

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Pilgrims from all over the world are attracted by the most important relic - the thorns from the crown of thorns of the Savior Jesus Christ. Important objects of a tour of the cathedral are the numerous halls, decorated with columns, frescoes, arches and chapels.

Where to go nearby (for 1-2 days)

In the immediate vicinity of Sardinia, there are many interesting places where you can go for 1-2 days if you are traveling time left.

La Maddalena National Park

This is one of the most visited tourist sites, which is located in an archipelago off the northern coast of Sardinia. It consists of 62 extraordinarily beautiful islands, each of which is of particular value for history.

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The most memorable islands of the La Maddalena National Park are considered:

  • Caperra. Giuseppe Garibaldi spent more than 25 years on this island. This place will be of interest to travelers who prefer to study historical facts and sights.
  • Santo Stefano. Once on this island, you can immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the prehistoric life of ancient settlements.
  • Isola Maddalena. On this island you can see outcroppings with the most bizarre coloration, which is very rare.
  • Tavolara Island This giant rocky island rises above the sea surface, resembling a huge sea monster. It looks very impressive and attracts the attention of individual travelers and tourist groups. Here you can relax on the beautiful white sand beach and splash in the clear water. To see mainland Sardinia from above, you can climb the rocky mountains of Tavolara. On this island there is a small cemetery where the tomb of King Tavolara is located. This title was coined in 1848 by the king of Sardinia, whose name was Carlo Alberto. He came to the island to hunt goats, which ended very well.

Gulf of Capo Carbonara

Excursions around the suburbs are very popular among travelers Villasimius. Capo Carbonara Marine Park is a 15-minute drive from the city. This place is often called magical because it is surrounded by the crystal clear waters of the Mediterranean Sea. This is a real paradise for divers who can enjoy the picturesque scenery of the depths here.

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There are also secluded bays with beaches of quartz white sand. They are surrounded by majestic cliffs covered with wildflowers and Mediterranean shrubs.

Food: the best restaurants in Sardinia

Sardinia has a lot of fish restaurants serving a variety of seafood dishes. There are also many establishments where you can taste delicious Italian and Mediterranean cuisine. In many cities of the island, chefs cook according to old recipes, which combine sausages, cheeses, seafood and meat baked on fire in an original way.

According to the rating compiled from the reviews of tourists who have visited Sardinia, the best restaurants on the island are considered:

Where to park in Sardinia

In order to quickly move around the cities of Sardinia, many tourists prefer to rent a car in companies that offer a fairly wide range of car rentals. When driving around the island, you need to be aware that special parking rules apply here.

In Sardinia, paid and free parking spaces are indicated by stripes of different colors (blue, white and yellow). Paying attention to the horizontal signs, one should not lose sight of the vertical ones, which indicate at which hours you will have to pay for parking, and at which you can leave the car for free.

Line colors indicate the following features of parking spaces:

  • White - free.
  • Blue - paid.
  • Yellow - for the disabled, public transport, and for loading and unloading.

There are many paid parking lots in the cities of Sardinia, here are a few of them:

  • Autonoleggio Cara (Cagliari ) - Piazza Attilio Deffenu, 13
  • Saba (Sassari) - Via Enrico Costa, 62.

Good to know

Most Popular Agency

Hertz

Most popular car class

Standard

Average price

25 € / Day

Best price

18 € / Day

Monthly price chart. Approximate prices for 7 days rental

January
€83
February
€93
March
€98
April
€136
May
€149
June
€226
July
€240
August
€142
September
€98
October
€85
November
€79
December
€150

* Prices are based on orders processed over the previous 2 years.

The best month to rent a car in Sardinia is November. There are fewer tourists and a lot of available cars. You can book a compact class model at a price from €23. This is 31% cheaper than the average during the year.

The best time to rent a car in Sardinia is November. This month, rental prices are minimal, below the annual average by 34%, and start from €23 for a Compact car.

In the summer, you should be prepared for an increase in the cost of rent. Price growth can be about 30-50% with a simultaneous reduction in the range of available offers. For example, the average price during July for Audi A4 starts from €47 per day.

Alternative car rental offices

Nearest airports

Cagliari Airport
6.1 km / 3.8 miles
Alghero airport (Fertilia)
172.4 km / 107.1 miles
Olbia airport (Costa Smeralda)
190.4 km / 118.3 miles

Nearest cities

Olbia
192.8 km / 119.8 miles

Estimated prices for 1 day rental:

4x
2x
A/C
3x
Citroen C1
Citroen C1
€14 / Day
4x
2x
A/C
4x
Ford Fiesta
Ford Fiesta
€18 / Day
5x
3x
A/C
4x
Audi A4
Audi A4
€32 / Day
5x
4x
A/C
5x
Ford Foxus Estate
Ford Foxus Estate
€33 / Day
4x
3x
A/C
5x
BMW X1
BMW X1
€33 / Day
4x
3x
A/C
4x
BMW 5 series
BMW 5 series
€45 / Day
8x
4x
A/C
5x
Ford Tourneo
Ford Tourneo
€55 / Day
4x
2x
A/C
2x
BMW 4 Cabrio
BMW 4 Cabrio
€65 / Day

We offer a wide range of vehicles to suit every budget:

  • Economy cars - a great solution for everyday trips;
  • Premium segment - for those who love quality and comfort;
  • Business class is ideal for people who are used to being first.

Convertibles, SUVs and station wagons, as well as minivans and sedans are in demand among customers. The choice of car depends not only on personal tastes, preferences and its cost. Rental conditions are important, which in some cases should be taken into account in the first place.

The cost of renting a car depends, first of all, on its class and period of use. The longer the rental, the lower its daily rate. The price for economy class cars in high season starts from €22 per day, for a medium class car you will have to pay €37-€49, for a business class car - €98 and above. In summer, during the high season, the cost of renting increases significantly, especially convertibles and rare models. For example, the minimum daily rental price for Mini Couper Cabrio, a very popular in Sardinia, would be around €68 per day.

In recent years in Sardinia the demand for electric rental cars has been growing steadily. Their popularity is due to the presence of numerous free parking lots and recharging stations. You will be able to rent Tesla Model S in Sardinia by selecting start and end dates of the rental in the search filter.

List of required documents

Driving license
Credit card
Voucher
Passport
Attention!

A valid international driver's license is required!

10 Essential Tips for Hassle-Free Car Rental

Download Google maps for offline access

Download the map in the Google Maps mobile app in advance. Select the desired area, type "OK MAPS" in the search box and start the search. Then wait for the map to save. Ready! Navigation will work even without an internet connection - thanks to the GPS function. It is present in all modern smartphones. You can not only find the desired address, but also build a route. And all this is free.

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Book a car in advance

Sardinia is a popular tourist destination, so car rental is consistently in demand. The earlier you book a car, the more options there will be and the lower the prices will be. Choose transport online at least 6 weeks before your visit. Better yet, do it as soon as you start planning your vacation. If plans change, you can cancel your booking without penalty up to 48 hours before it starts.

Which car to choose

Tourists who expect to drive only around the city and its immediate surroundings prefer to rent compact cars, Fiat 500 or VW Polo. For trips to the mountains, you need a car with increased power. You should go on such a trip with a full tank, as fuel consumption in the mountains increases one and a half to two times. An all-wheel drive crossover would be the ideal car for this. Renting Opel Astra Estate in Sardinia will cost €47 per day.

What you need to pay attention to when receiving a car

Before picking up, you are required to carefully inspect the car and point out to the rental company manager for scratches, damage and defects, such as dirty seat upholstery. You should check the ignition and the fuel level in the tank. You need to know the conditions for returning the car - where exactly, with what amount of fuel to return the car.

The rental agreement must include a telephone number to contact the rental company. It is designed so that customers can get help in emergency situations, such as when a car breaks down or in the event of an accident. A call to the rental company should be done first, even before the arrival of the police.

Insurance advice

Rental companies in Sardinia may offer different insurance options. They differ in price and set of options. Here are the basic types:

  • Third Party Liability (TPL)/Third Liability Protection (TLP). This is a third party liability protection. If you are the culprit of an accident, the insurance will compensate for the costs of the victims for you.
  • Collision Damage Waiver (CDW). This is to protect your vehicle from any damage. She works with a franchise. This is the amount that you will have to pay in case of damage in any case. The company will cover anything over the limit. The insurance does not cover theft.
  • Theft Insurance (TI)/Theft Protection (TP)/Theft Waiver (TW). This is car theft protection. Operates with a franchise.
  • Super Loss Damage Waiver (SLDW)/Theft Protection+Collision Damage Waiver (TP+CDW). Full protection against theft and damage, even if you are the culprit of the accident.
  • Personal Accident Insurance (PAI). This is medical insurance for the driver and passengers.

If you want to save money and choose the cheapest insurance, carefully inspect the car upon receipt. Make sure the machine is not damaged. Sardinia 7

Check out the fuel policy

When renting a car, you should pay attention to the fuel policy of rental companies. Often, when renting, tourists have to pay the cost of a full tank of fuel. This option is suitable for long-term rentals and long trips. But if you're only renting Sardinia for a day or two, or if you're only planning short trips, such as to a small island, then you probably won't need a full tank. You can get acquainted with the fuel policy in the "Important information" section of the car you have chosen.

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Rent without mileage limit

The rental company may set a daily mileage limit. You will have to pay extra for exceeding the limit. Please check this condition before booking. It is possible that a more expensive rental option will turn out to be more profitable in the end: it will not require any additional expenses. To filter cars with unlimited mileage - use the "Mileage" filter in the search results.

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Compare conditions of different rental companies

When choosing a rental car in Sardinia, you should carefully read all the terms of the rental. This is due to the fact that different companies may differ not only in rental prices, but also in conditions for limiting mileage, the cost of additional services, and the amount of the deposit. To compare rental conditions, it is convenient to use the search and booking system on our website.

How to choose a rental company

It is recommended to rent a car in trusted companies, that is, in those whose services you have already used. You can also focus on the rating of our site, which is displayed next to the name of the company in the search results.Sardinia 10

Ceteris paribus, preference should be given to larger companies that have a high level of service and a large selection of cars. The best rental companies in Sardinia are sixt with an average rating of 9.8 points and budget (rating - 9.7).

Getting a car at a rental office

Getting a rented car in Sardinia is as follows: You show the manager a voucher, as well as the necessary documents - a passport and an international driver's license. The manager draws up a lease agreement, after which the agreed amount of the security deposit will be blocked on your bank card. Before receiving the car, it is necessary to inspect it, fix the existing damage and inform the manager about them.

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Car rental reviews: Sardinia

Based on 8255 reviews
Rate 4,8/5
Based on 8255 reviews
Tony
4,8
Without a doubt, I will continue to use Bookingautos on a regular basis. Thank you very much for your assistance!
Michael
4,7
Excellent value for money. The pick-up process was a little confusing, but I would use it again!
Luna
4,5
The search was very simple to use, the price was really low, and there were no problems with the rental car company.
Jody
4,9
Everything proceeded as expected. The complete coverage compensation really worked.

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