Our Family Summer Trip to Sardinia
- cmterner
- 27. Juli
- 11 Min. Lesezeit
This year’s summer vacation with the family, my wife and our two sons, ages 6 and 9, took us to Sardinia for two weeks. But first, a little background.
Because our younger son’s kindergarten was being renovated and closed for the summer, and since it was his last summer there before starting school, we started planning our vacation much earlier than usual. At first, we were ready for a full-blown adventure. Since our older son is a huge sushi fan, his dream was a trip to Japan. And we actually got really close to booking it, I had already filled in all the details on Austrian Airlines, and we had found a great price.
Then we changed our minds.
My wife had just started a new job and was feeling more in need of rest than adventure. Plus, with the current geopolitical situation, the return flight from Tokyo to Vienna would’ve taken 14 hours non-stop. So we paused and reconsidered. Where could we spend two peaceful, beautiful weeks, somewhere a little closer?
Coincidentally, I had just returned from a short business trip to Sardinia. I had seen a bit of the south, around Pula, and really liked it. So I suggested Sardinia. And sure enough, we found a great deal with Austrian Airlines in Business Class, direct from Vienna to Cagliari, and booked it right away. That was back in November 2024.
But then, we took our time with booking the actual accommodation. Partly because we weren’t entirely sure what we were looking for, partly because we were both busy, especially with my wife adjusting to her new job, and also because we had other travel plans happening in the meantime. For example, I took our youngest to Chicago in April. So time passed, and it wasn’t until February that we finally booked a place to stay.
We had looked at all kinds of options, hotels, resorts, larger complexes, in the north, east, west, and south of the island. One thing became clear quickly: all-inclusive resort vacations in Sardinia can get very expensive.
After chatting with a good colleague of mine who’s actually from Sardinia, we narrowed our search to the south, especially the area south of Cagliari. We decided to go with the freedom of self-catering. No fixed breakfast times, no dress codes, no buffets, just the ability to eat what we wanted, when we wanted. Whether it was at home or somewhere along the way, it didn’t matter. And more importantly, the kids could just be themselves without anyone raising an eyebrow.
That kind of freedom was exactly what we were craving this year. So we found a lovely little townhouse on Airbnb in Santa Margherita di Pula, just 150 meters from the beach. Sure, we didn’t have a pool, but we had the entire Mediterranean Sea right outside our door. And renting a private home instead of staying at a big hotel gave us much more space, two bedrooms, a kitchen-living area, and a secluded garden that was entirely ours. Plus, we were only 10 minutes by car from Pula, where I had stayed during my business trip and already discovered some great local restaurants.
And to be honest, I don’t mind doing a bit of laundry or dishes while on vacation. There are no meetings to attend, no emails to send, no deadlines to stress about. Just life, the way it should be.
To make it up to our oldest son for not flying to Japan, we promised him sushi in Sardinia, and we kept that promise. One evening in Pula, we took him out for sushi, and it turned out to be the best he’s ever had. More on that later.
Fast forward to July 6th at 7:10 AM, we were already on our way to beaches, sunshine, island life, and Italy. The day started early, our taxi picked us up at 5 AM. But our kids are used to that. If they know we’re flying somewhere, they practically leap out of bed with excitement.
By now, a proper travel send-off includes a visit to the Austrian Senator Lounge in Vienna, part of the routine, and everyone’s happy and ready for takeoff. The flight was actually full, but that didn’t bother us. Breakfast on board made for a smooth start to our adventure. Austrian’s service is always excellent and warm.
After about 1 hour and 40 minutes, flight OS9423 landed safely in Cagliari-Elmas. And yes, we felt it immediately. Even walking through the jet bridge into the terminal, the climate was completely different, warm, like we know it from Asia. It was vacation, and all within just two hours of flying.
After a quick stop at baggage claim, we picked up our rental car. And really, you can’t go to Italy without driving a Fiat. We instantly loved our Fiat 600.
Flights – Getting There and Back
We flew round-trip with Austrian Airlines, nonstop. The entire process was smooth and surprisingly relaxed, especially at the airport. From check-in, through the fast-track security, and a comfortable place to wait before boarding, things felt easy and stress-free. This was particularly welcome on the return leg, when uncertainty around waiting times can otherwise be draining. Boarding was quick, even though the flight was completely full, and we arrived feeling refreshed.
This time, we flew out on flight OS9423, departing Vienna (Schwechat) at 7:10 AM to Cagliari, and returned on OS9424 from Cagliari back to Vienna. These flights are chartered, not part of Austrian’s regular schedule, and only available during the summer months. Still, we booked them directly through austrian.com.
I always book directly with the airline. The reason is simple: when something goes wrong, and if you fly a lot, things do go wrong, you’re far more likely to get quick and direct help. With third-party booking sites, you’re often just bounced back to the agency. Good luck with that.
Our outbound flight was super punctual, even though the airport was quite busy that morning. The check-in area we used at Vienna Airport was nearly empty when we arrived at 5:30 AM. Outside, it was already packed.
Thanks to my Lufthansa Senator Gold status, we were able to use the Fast Track security lane, which was completely clear. We made it to the lounge in no time and were enjoying breakfast by 5:45 AM. That’s part of our flying routine by now. We know the lounge well and really appreciate what it offers. It’s consistently good, with a surprising amount of variety. The recent refresh of the lounge, after more than 10 years in service, was nicely done, and it gives off a distinctly Austrian atmosphere, which I personally love.
On board, we were served a solid breakfast along with drinks. I opted for coffee and orange juice. The purser was very friendly, and the food was good, not over the top, but genuinely good. After about 1 hour and 40 minutes, we landed ahead of schedule at Cagliari-Elmas Airport.
The return flight, OS9424, was just as smooth. We departed Cagliari-Elmas on time and arrived in Vienna punctually as well. The crew was once again lovely, warm and welcoming. Breakfast on this flight was even a bit better than on the outbound leg, fresh, flavorful, and nicely presented. The only downside came after landing: our checked luggage took what felt like forever to appear. In fact, I checked my watch once we were in the Uber on the way home, it had taken exactly one hour from touchdown to stepping into the car.
Driving and the Sardinian Way of the Road
Our drive from the airport to our Airbnb wasn’t long, only about 50 kilometers, but it still took us about an hour. There aren’t really any highways in this part of Sardinia, and the route led us through several small towns. That said, the scenery more than made up for it. Just a few minutes after leaving the airport, we spotted flamingos in the wild. Our youngest was the first to notice them, laughing at how their heads were often underwater while they fed. It was one of those unexpected, magical little moments.
Now, as for the driving style in Sardinia... well, let’s just say it takes some getting used to. The speed limit is often just 50 km/h, and you really should stick to it, fines can be steep. But if you do follow the rules, you’ll find yourself tailgated or aggressively overtaken in ways that feel borderline dangerous. You definitely need a bit of nerve behind the wheel here.
Eventually, we got used to it. I always reminded myself: “I didn’t make the rules, and I didn’t hang the signs. If the locals want to laugh at the tourists, let them.” In the end, we made it through just fine.
Our Accommodation
We stayed in a fantastic little terraced house in Santa Margherita di Pula, which we rented through Airbnb. The house was around 80 square meters and had everything we needed: two bedrooms, one bathroom, a fully equipped kitchen-living room with a washing machine, a large terrace, and a private, secluded garden. Oh, and the whole place was air-conditioned, which made a huge difference during the hot afternoons.
Because we had decided on a more relaxed, slow-paced vacation, we ended up spending a lot of time at the house. The terrace and garden were perfect for lazy afternoons. The kids often read in the swing chair, and we played games together at the outdoor table.
Choosing a private rental over a resort was absolutely the right call, not just because it saved us a ton of money (we looked at one hotel that would’ve cost €12, 000 for 14 nights, and no, it wasn’t a luxury resort), but because it gave us the freedom to just be ourselves.
We could live our own rhythm, cook or not cook, relax or explore, without anyone telling us when breakfast was served or what time the pool closed. And of course, we had far more space than we would’ve had in a hotel room.
Beach Life
Our beach was just 150 meters from the front door of our Airbnb. Sardinia has countless beautiful beaches, and we got several recommendations before the trip. But in the end, we stayed right where we were. As our older son put it: “It’s water everywhere, we just want to swim.”
And he was right. We had everything we needed just steps away: we could enjoy a slow breakfast, get ready at our own pace, and walk down without packing half the house into the car. If we forgot something? No problem, we just ran back.
There was a small beach bar nearby where we could get ice cream, sandwiches, or cold drinks if we wanted. They also rented out sunbeds and umbrellas for €26–32 a day, depending on the day of the week. We decided to skip that. Instead, we brought our own umbrella and set up camp in a different spot every day. It worked beautifully. The kids were in the water almost nonstop anyway.
Food – Cooking, Shopping, and a Few Excellent Meals Out
Most of our meals on this trip were cooked right at home in our Airbnb. Breakfast was always at home, and one of the things we loved most was that we could sleep in as long as we wanted, without having to rush down to a hotel buffet. And yes, more than once we slept past 9 a.m. without guilt.
We ate out a total of five times, three times for lunch, twice for dinner. Given the heat in the afternoons, the local custom is clearly to eat late. Many restaurants that aren’t open for lunch don’t even begin serving until 7 p.m. We always showed up right when they opened, and for the first hour or so we were often the only ones there.
Supermarkets – A Small Adventure of Their Own
One of my personal highlights when traveling is visiting local supermarkets. It’s always interesting to see what the local food culture offers, and there’s a bit of fun in trying to find what you actually need. We visited four different supermarkets, and Crai, which seems to be a larger Italian chain, stood out by far. It was spacious, modern, and had a great selection.
Supermarkets stay open quite late here, probably because nobody shops in the middle of the afternoon heat. Our main Crai store was open daily until 11 p.m., and more than once we stopped by after dinner to pick up groceries. Though I will say, on Sunday evening around 9 p.m., the shelves were starting to look a little empty.
Our Simple but Delicious Home Meals
At home, we mostly cooked pasta with tomato sauce, adjusting the ingredients based on what the kids felt like that day. Shrimp, mushrooms, onions, or bacon made regular appearances. We typically only cooked one hot meal per day, which was more than enough in the summer heat.
Our second meal was usually light: fresh fruit and vegetables, melon, tomatoes, cucumber, plus prosciutto or similar cold cuts. It never got boring!
Where We Ate Out
S’Incontru, Pula (Lunch, twice): Pizza and pasta in the center of Pula. The pizzas were solid, but our oldest wasn’t thrilled with his pasta dish, so Mom stepped in and helped finish it. Affordable, but nothing particularly special. Link: https://www.leggimenu.it/menu/7dr43eip75s2/
S'Incontru Pizza Nomad Sushi, Pula (Dinner): This was the compromise for not flying to Japan, and it absolutely delivered. Our oldest son, a sushi lover, declared it the best sushi he’s ever had. Not exactly traditional Italian cuisine, but highly recommended. A bit on the pricier side, but hey, we were on vacation. Link: https://www.leggimenu.it/menu/7drk1d2h81t1
The best sushi ever Monang Steakhouse, Pula (Dinner): You’d expect more seafood on a Mediterranean island, but Sardinia also knows how to do steak. I had eaten here on a business trip last fall and wanted to bring the family back. It didn’t disappoint, lots of meat, very tasty, and surprisingly affordable. Link: https://www.leggimenu.it/menu/monang
Mixed grill Mirage, Chia (Lunch): We were craving seafood pasta, so we asked our host for a recommendation. That led us to Mirage, a lovely spot in Chia. This time we played it smart and arrived around 2 p.m., fully embracing Sardinian lunch hours. The food was spot on, seafood, spaghetti, and a beautifully Italian vibe. We even treated ourselves to a Tiramisu for dessert. Fair prices and definitely worth a visit. Link: https://www.miragechia.it/en/home-2/
Seafood spaghetti
Final Thoughts
I’d go back to Sardinia in a heartbeat.
This year, we chose a slow-paced, beach-centered vacation, and it was absolutely the right call. That said, it’s clear there’s so much more to explore on the island. Maybe in a future year, when we’re in more of an adventurous mood, we’ll dig deeper into what Sardinia has to offer beyond sun and sand.
We really appreciated the simplicity of this trip. Staying in a private rental and handling everything ourselves turned out to be a great decision. It gave us flexibility, freedom, and a sense of ease. No timetables, no dress codes, no crowd control, just doing things our way.
People had warned us that July was a very busy time in Sardinia. But in our case, that wasn’t a problem at all. The beach near our place was often quiet, and we always found a good spot without any stress. Even the neighborhood we stayed in was calm and peaceful. There were plenty of restaurants and supermarkets nearby, so we had everything we needed without going far.
What really stood out was how effortless the journey felt. With just a short, direct flight from Vienna, we found ourselves in a warm, relaxed, almost exotic-feeling place, all still within Europe. That combination of ease and escape is hard to beat.
So yes, we’ll be back.
And no, Japan isn’t off the table forever. When the spirit of adventure returns… we’ll book those flights!
Kommentare