There are many islands in the Mediterranean, but Sardinia, which is territorially part of Italy, is different from most. This is truly the perfect place to relax. It has literally everything to spend your vacation unforgettable: excellent beaches, fascinating tourist routes, historical sights, unusual natural places and its own special mentality. The best beaches are concentrated in the South of Sardinia, in the central part there are interesting places for excursions. Entire open-air archaeological museums, including amphitheatres, temples, original ancient fortresses and villages, will gladly open their doors for you.
But it's not easy to travel around Sardinia without a car. That is why the best option for any tourist who decides to visit this island is to rent a car on the spot. Today we will tell you how to properly and safely rent a car in Sardinia so that you can see all the interesting places of the island in one vacation and have a great time.
What you need to know to rent a car in Sardinia
As in the whole of Europe, there are quite a lot of car rental companies in Sardinia. One of the best options is to book a car in advance, even before your departure, however, even if you decide to find a car upon arrival, no one will forbid you to do so. Fortunately, companies offering cars of various price categories are located literally at all airports and coastal cities where there is a shipping port.
To get a car without any problems, you will need a small list of documents. First, prepare a driver's license, preferably an international one, since in recent years it is not always possible to find a company on the island that is content with a national certificate. However, if you order a car in advance, you can find a company that is not too meticulous about this issue.
The second condition is the presence of a bank card with a certain amount of money. Some rental companies “freeze” a small amount when making a lease, which is, in its own way, a pledge. After you return the whole car back, this amount will again become available to you. Collateral funds can be of various sizes, but be prepared for amounts up to five hundred euros. At the same time, the cost of renting is different everywhere, but on average it does not exceed thirty euros per day.
Pay special attention to the insurance when signing the lease agreement. The best option is full insurance, which covers literally all the unpleasant events that can happen to you on the road, from a simple tire puncture to a traffic accident. However, you can only take out insurance against serious cases, but then you will have to pay extra for minor damages, if any, when you return the car.
The most convenient option is to book a car in advance via the Internet, using, for example, the most popular online car booking service rentalcars.com. This is convenient because upon arrival on the island, the car you have chosen will be waiting for you right at the airport, you do not need to waste precious time looking for it.
Road rules and fines in Sardinia
You will be surprised, but the road rules in Sardinia are not too different from the post-Soviet space. First, let's talk about the most obvious of them.
Outside the city, be sure to turn on the dipped beam headlights. The level of alcohol in the blood while driving should not exceed 0.5 ppm. If you are under 21, then there should not even be a hint that you were drinking. You can talk on the phone while driving on the road, but only if you use a Hands Free device, that is, a regular mobile headset.
Separately, about the speed limits that operate not only in Sardinia, but throughout Italy. There are three types of country tracks: A, SS and SP. On highways marked A, you cannot drive faster than one hundred and thirty kilometers per hour. On the SS tracks, the speed must not exceed ninety kilometers per hour. On provincial SP-class highways, it is forbidden to move faster than seventy kilometers per hour. In cities and any other settlements, a strict speed limit for all cars is 50 kilometers per hour.
There is a well-established schedule of fines for breaking the speed limit. Up to 75 euros for exceeding the speed limit by 10 kilometers, up to 300 euros for exceeding the speed limit from 10 to 40 kilometers, up to 750 euros for exceeding the speed limit from 40 to 60 kilometers. If you have significantly exceeded the speed limit, then at the discretion of the patrol policeman, an appropriate fine will be issued, which will be at least 500 euros.
Be careful with the speed, as there are quite often cameras on the tracks that record the movement of all cars. Less often, but still there are ordinary police patrols.
It is also worth mentioning some other fines, which sometimes, admittedly, can be scary. For example, for driving through a red traffic light, you can be charged more than a thousand euros, however, even the locals do not believe in this. More often than not, if you slip through the red by accident, you will only be charged around eighty euros. You can also pay a lot for overtaking or driving in the oncoming lane – at least 100 euros.
Equally important are the rules for parking in Sardinia. If you have already traveled by car in Italy, then you are well aware of them. White parking spaces are free, yellow ones are exclusively for public transport and private taxis, blue ones are paid, green ones are available only at night, and black ones are exclusively for city services – it is strictly forbidden to park a car there. You can also get a serious fine for incorrect parking – up to 80 euros.
Lastly, insurance. If your rented car does not have it, then the amount of the fine can reach 1,500 euros.
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Gas stations in Sardinia
With gas stations in Sardinia, everything is simple. Be prepared for the fact that only suburban speakers are round-the-clock. In cities, gas stations are usually open until 20:00 local time. In addition, on holidays, sometimes it is impossible to refuel in the city at all, and the streets are blocked for various festive events. But parking on holidays almost all become free.
It is also impossible not to mention the varieties of gas stations in Sardinia. The system is all-Italian. There are self-service gas stations where there are machines that accept bank cards, as well as gas stations where refuelers work. At gas stations of the second type, you can pay by any available method.
If you need a transfer from Sardinia airport, for example, to a hotel, use the online booking service for transfers around the world Kiwi.Taxi. What it is? This is a comfortable car, the driver of which meets you with a sign right at the exit from the airport and takes you carefully and accurately to your destination. No need to look for a car and spend your nerves negotiating a price, the whole process takes a couple of minutes, and you can pay for the trip immediately on the site.
What to see in Sardinia
Sardinia is not the largest island, especially considering that you are going to travel by car. Only eight provinces, which stretched for 270 kilometers. If you want to go around the entire coast, then the length of your path will be approximately 1800 kilometers. But, there are a lot of great places to travel on the island. Next, we will tell you where you should definitely go when you are in Sardinia, even though it is unlikely that you will be able to fully explore the island in just one vacation.
Most of the major cities are located on the southern coast of Sardinia, including Cagliari, which is considered the administrative center of the island.
In Cagliari, pay attention to the Cathedral, located in the central square of the city, be sure to drop by the large Botanical Garden and take a look at the ancient Amphitheater, which once witnessed the most real gladiator fights. It will also be interesting to visit the old fortress of Cagliari, built in the twelfth century.
In the town of Villasimius, which is located just three dozen kilometers from the capital, there are the best places for diving.
In the northwest of the island is the city of Alghero, quite aptly nicknamed “Local Barcelona“. A real piece of Spain in Sardinia. One of the oldest towns on the island, it has many attractions, including cathedrals, medieval castles, as well as the ruins of ancient buildings of the Greeks and Romans.
In the East of the island, the wildest and most deserted places of Sardinia await you, where you can hide from the bustle of the city and a large number of tourists. Look at the grottoes of Dorgali and be sure to visit one of the local beaches, which are considered the cleanest among all the islands of Italy.
Well, just before leaving, do not forget to pick up island souvenirs. You can buy most of them literally in every locality. In the South, for example, some villages live directly from the sale of souvenirs to tourists. So, Sardinia has been famous for quite a long time for its high quality woolen products, delicious cheese, unusual varieties of local wines and various coral products.
The most interesting excursions in Sardinia you can choose and book online.