Best Things to do in Alghero

Alghero is one of Sardinia’s medieval towns, built by the Doria family in 1102, its original name “Alquerium” comes from “algae”seaweed. It was under Spanish rule for over 300 years and you the street names are written in Italian and Catalan. It’s just ten minutes drive in you hire car from Fertilia Airport.  Alghero is an all year round resort even when the temperature drops in the winter it’s still a great place to come to visit in northern Sardinia, Italy.

Historic Interest

Wander around Alghero’s wonderful old historical centre with its narrow cobbled streets and you can revel in lots  of Italian & Spanish architecture and monuments. Amongst some the main attractions are the “Cattedrale de Santa Maria” which was built in the 16th century, the “Torre Porta”, and the “Chiesa di San Francesco”. The old town is enclosed within fortress walls and from the “Lungomare” that run along these you can enjoy the wonderful views of the Mediterranean  sea and the old town.  There’s also a Museum and Art Gallery to visit.

Shopping

Alghero is on the coral coast (Costa Corallo),  so here you can find traditionally produced coral items available in many shops. The jewellery is beautiful!  The turquoise jewllery and the Sardinian crystal is worth looking for also.  You’ll find lovely Italian leather shoes for everyone here, (you can never have enough shoes, right?)  There is a nice local wine called Dolce Misti Esca which comes in a pretty bottle which could be used as an ornament after the contents have long gone!!

Leisure Activities

Ocean Tribe Windsurfing Center in Alghero, close to the beach of Camping La Mariposa , via Lido 22. Beginners, advanced, junior courses. Surf equipment and kayak rental.

Adventure Diving, located in Alghero it’s the oldest organization of the area with more than 40 years of experience in scuba diving activities. They have comprehensive scuba diving services including snorkelling, dive trips, and diving courses and cavern/cave diving too. Because of the many caves in the Capo Caccia and Punta Giglio areas in Porto Conte and the experience of the owner Marco Busdraghi, it’s possible to visit fantastic locations rich in marine life and geological wonders!  Try to visit Neptunes Grotto by boat trip it’s impressive.

You can also go horse riding if you like that, explore the countryside south of Alghero in the midst of olive groves and the Mediterranen “macchia”.  They have guided treks or even private lessons.

Tennis courts are available in both the town centre and at the Maria Pia Tennis club near the Maria Pia beach just north of Alghero.  You will never be short of an activity in Alghero and having hired your car you have the easiest access to all of them.

There are also vineyards to visit here.  You will be able to taste the wines and champagne and of course get a case or two to stick in the hire car!!!!

Eating Out

In Alghero there are loads of restaurants, bars and cafés to suit everyone!  Naturally you can expect great seafood and the local lobster is superb.  At the port area is a lovely spot for the evening “passeggio” or just watch the world go by after an evening meal.

The Mabrouk restaurant is a great seafood place near the marina.

The Casa Blanca serves really good pizza as well as other meals.

The Al Vecchio Molino in the Old Town for pasta and pizza.

The Al Tugari is 3 floors of restaurant space, quality Mediterranean/Catalan food.

Be sure to go to the Jamaica Inn for an evening drink!!

The ice cream is something not to miss and try all the wonderful flavours!!

Beaches

Alghero has two long and sandy beaches, Spiaggia di San Giovanni and Spiaggia di Maria Pia  Driving further north close to Stintino and the national park on Isola Asinara is the famous beach La Pelosa and lots of little coves along the coast.. Boat trips and excursions leave from the Alghero port  too if you fancy a sail!  Sailon the Andrea Jensen a perfect way to explore the spectacular coast and Marine Reserve around Alghero. We anchored in  beautiful clear, calm bays for swimming and snorkeling (equipment provided) Also a delicious lunch with good local wines. There’s plenty of deck space for relaxing and sunbathing. If you’re lucky you might catch sight of the dolphins.  This is a great day out and a break from the driving before you set off again in your hire car in and around Alghero.

Places Nearby to Drive To

Get in to your hire car, arm yourself with a phrase book and you can then discover how much variety this area of Sardinia offers!!   Drive south along the beautiful coastal road to visit Bosa a historic coastal town it’s about 45km from Alghero. Bosa is certainly worth a day trip from Alghero.  It is smaller than Alghero and it’s a different sort of experience — tradionally Sardinian.  It sits surrounded by hills, with a castle high above the town.  The historic centre has cobbled streets, coloured medieval tower houses, 19th century palazzos with wrought iron balconies and many interesting shops, cafes and bars.  There are numerous beaches in the area.  There is Bosa Marina and Porto Alabe, both sandy beaches.  There are  many little coves too, some sandy some rocky with natural swimming pools.  Top that with festivals, jazz concerts, dancing etc and a journey in your hire car from Alghero is well worth it.

Drive nothwards to Porto Torres. There’s a excavation of the ancient Roman colony of Turris Lybisonis.The Turris Lybisonis had thermal baths and  a temples, dedicated to Fortuna, goddess of Luck, Chance and Fortune. The Antiquarium Turritano has many of the artifacts found by peopleof the city, many times during their work and everyday lives. We were most impressed by the many mosiacs painstakingly reassembled by the patient historians assigned to this important project. Those guys are crazy patient.  Because the excavation ongoing, they don’t allow tourists to walk on the ruins, for obvious reasons but we sneaked over the rail tracks of the nearby station to get the best views!!!!!

One of the most fascinating attractions of Porto Torres is the 1st century Roman bridge over the Mannu River. It has remained in use down through the centuries to present day. The bridge is a main reason people decide to visit Porto Torres to see its seven arches. The length of these arches are astounding and the blocks of stone used were enormous!!.

You can’t visit Porto Torres without sampling the most amazing cookies! They are works Find the bakery owned by Trincas M Chiara, a very nice Sardinian man.  His shop is loaded with cookies. The smell of fresh baked goodies decorated for every occasion.  The lovliest of them were the traditional wedding cookies, dolce della sposa or sweets of the bride. The owner told us that each of the cookies were handmade.  The time and attention put into each one of these little cookies is amazing. Buy lots and get in the car and head to the beach to eat them!!!!!

Alghero is ace!

Top Things To Do In Alghero

9 seater mini van hire at Alghero airport

If you are looking to hire a larger car that is suitable for more than 5 people then it is worthwhile considering a 9 seater mini van. Pronto has a wide selection of 9 seater mini vans at Alghero airport that can carry all your family and friends and their entire luggage.

Pronto offers a wide range of mini vans ranging from your smaller mini vans such as a Volkswagen Touran right through to 9 seaters like the Ford Focus Stationwagon.  Pronto have all of these vehicles at Alghero airport in Sardinia and they will be waiting for you as soon as you come through departures.

There are a couple of things to consider when booking a mini van or 9 seater at Alghero airport in Sardinia. The first thing is that mini vans are not in endless supply – so book your 9 seater early at Alghero airport to avoid disappointment.

The next thing to consider is the size you need. Always go for a car rental that is a size bigger.  If you thought it was tight with two kids and some luggage, imagine what it is like with 7 adults and their luggage. Don’t be the person that arrives at Alghero airport in Sardinia trying to buy bungees to get all of their luggage on the roof. We have included a few options below for your information.

Please be aware that age restrictions apply with some of these vehicles because of their size and cost. As a rule of thumb the driver needs to be over 25 years old.

Finally, and we will say it again, we find that these vehicles are always booked early, so do place your car hire booking for Alghero Airport as early as possible.

As you can see we have a wide range of mini vans available for rent at Alghero airport in Sardinia:

Hire a Ford Focus Stationwagon at Alghero airport

Hire a Volkswagen Touran 5+2 Seater at Alghero airport

Hire a Mercedes Sprinter 9 Seater at Alghero airport

Hire a Toyota Minibus 9 Seater at Alghero airport

Hire a Mercedes Viano at Alghero airport

Hire a Volvo XC90 at Alghero airport

Hire a Mercedes Vito at Alghero airport

To place your booking for Alghero Airport, you can either use the search engine on the right or if you have any questions, you can call one of the numbers provided to speak to a member of our call centre staff.

So much to do in Alghero

You can do so many things when you visit Alghero. Like every other tourist destination, this Catalan speaking town is a brilliantly designed work of art. Its astonishing sites can make locals and foreigners alike realize the wonders of the past. Your Sardinian adventure can start at the airport. Once you arrive, you can always get an Alghero car hire. There’s no need to worry about these services because there are a number of Alghero car hire companies you can choose from. Once you have kicked off your journey with a great ride you can start by carefully driving around town and familiarizing its culture. Through your drive, you can grasp the idea that the town is a mecca for marine enthusiasts and sun worshippers.

Alghero car hire is the perfect way to enjoy your freedom in Sardinia. Alghero, being host to Sardinia’s most popular resorts, is made up of narrow cobbled streets. Its streets can make your Alghero car hire adventure much more fun. This resort town is everything you can wish for in an Italian vacation. The low cost of living in it attracts tourists from spending on their local products. Pastas, seafoods, and cheese are the Alghero’s specialties that can make foreigners come back for more. The strong Spanish influence of this town has also made way to great dishes like paella and crema catalana.

If you stay in Alghero, you do not have to worry about accommodation because it has everything you need in one jam-packed adventure.

The Sardinian resort of Alghero

Alghero is a wonderful destination in Sardinia, Italy. Its beautiful beaches can captivate your hearts. If you visit this place, the best way to explore it is by renting an Alghero car hire. With these services, you can rummage around its historical past and bask on its perfect sandy beaches. If you are the traveler who has the appetite for French cuisine, then you will be lucky to enjoy Alghero’s fresh seafood. Alghero car hire can help you visit everything there is to see in Sardinia.

Alghero is a place packed with architectural and archeological wonders. It is a town where you can find relaxation and adventure in equal measures. Everything about it is worth exploring especially when you avail of an Alghero car hire. This can make your adventure quicker and easier. With the Alghero car hire, you can appreciate the glory of Sardinia’s past and present.

The top 5 sites for Italy lovers

We have spent the last couple of days looking for the best sites that review Italy. As the editor we are pleased to encourage you to visit all of these sites to get the very best from what Italy has to offer.

The first is the innocuously named “2 Baci in a Pinon Tree” - this is a peach of a site and Valerie Ascoli Piceno should be really proud of her site - we rate it 5 out of 5 (with a cherry on top).

In second place is the immensely informative “Dream of Italy” - the depth of content and articles dating back to 2005 reinforce why we moved to Italy and why we are in love with this Country.

In third place is the superb “Italylogue” - it should probably be first for its depth and all round knowledge of Italy but was only pipped by the other two because of their intimacy and unique individual approach.

In fourth spot is one of our regular surfing destinations is the beautiful Katie Parla (sorry Katie) - He down to earth knowledge and style of writing for the last 6 years is an absolute joy to read (and look at - sorry again Katie) - Please visit this site

And in 5th place - well we want this to be your choice. So tell us!

All the best from us

Car Rental in Italy

We have been looking for other sites that can give our visitors advice about visiting Italy. We came across an excellent site called Italylogue. It has a wealth of fantastic articles and the one on car rental in Italy is superb! Why not have a look at this site as it also allows you book hotels, flights and also reviews of many places in Italy.  Enjoy the site!

A slow week in Alghero and Sardinia

We spend a lot of time trying to tell all our visitors what is Alghero and Sardinia is like to visit. While we know it personally we were doing some research and came across this great article entitled - “A slow week in Alghero and Sardinia”.

The reason we liked it so much as it encapsulated the way, speed and outlook of Sardinia. Also coming from the UK and loving the Cotswolds, we loved the parallel. So we highly recommend that you spend a few minutes reading this entry, having a look at some of the wonderful photography and we hope it conjures up some of the experiences that we (perhaps not as good as these guys) have been trying to tell.

All the best

Alghero is the place to be

Car hire in Alghero is not a big problem even if it is quite a small town. There are several companies and dealers that offer several packages to tourists. However, as in any situation, you need to look around deals and packages so you get the best price possible. Try to get your travel agent to help you out and look for a trusted company offering car hire in Alghero. Another option is to go online before your trip and look around for such companies. Try to compare prices and deals so you can get the best one that fits your budget as well as your itinerary.

With just a few searches, car hire in Alghero is one of the easiest things you would do during your trip. Perhaps, the hardest part would be choosing where to go as this place has several areas that you would want to check out, especially if you are after a lot of good vacation photos.

Going around this town in Sardinia can be a breeze. Plan your trip during the day and look around for ads or signs for a car hire in Alghero and you are on your way to an unforgettable, off the beaten path kind of trip. Make a list of the things and places you want to see in Alghero as well as the restaurants or cafes you would want to dine in or just pass by. With maps, maybe some on the road snacks in hand, you will see another side of Italy that will make you want to come back for more.

Seeing Alghero’s Sights

If you are planning a trip to Europe, you might as well see the smaller picturesque towns that have as much history as with any other city with the help of car hire in Alghero. In Italy, one picturesque town of Alghero in Sardinia Italy is a must destination if you are in Southern Europe. Though you can walk around town, it is highly recommended that you have a car hire in Alghero. With your own car hire in Alghero, you do not have to adapt your schedule with a tour group or with the time limit of a hired driver.

With your own car, you can go to more remote places in the town. By having your own car hire in Alghero, you can schedule a trip that would allow you to see as much of the place as you can. Remember, though, that you need a small car with a modest engine so you can skirt around the smaller and older roads that branch into the more remote areas of town.

Next Page »