Alghero lies on the North West coast of the island and is a historic walled town with pretty harbour and fabulous coastline. Alghero is famous for its stunning landscapes and crystal clear waters and white sands.
If you're considering buying a holiday home or relocating here you'll probably be asking "what's it really like to live in Alghero?" Here are some of our thoughts on why we like living here.
The Climate
Well, for a start, we have the most sunny days in Italy averaging over 300 days per year! The weather is usually good right through from May to the end of October. Winter is mild, although we do experience some Mistral winds which usually last for about 3 days at a time.
Way of Life
The way of life is much more relaxed than, for example, in the UK. Shops open from 09:30 until 13:00 and then from 16:30 to 20:00 in winter or until as late as 22:00 in summer. Lunchtime here means lunchtime! Everyone goes home for a decent sit down lunch and a break, you won't see anyone trying to cram a sandwich into a 45 minute slot!
A typical 'take-away' is a big slice of freshly made pizza with gorgonzola and bacon or a freshly roasted chicken and roast potatoes to take home. You definitely won't find many 'ready prepared' meals here! The Sardinians take pride in their local produce and meals usually consist of what's in season. The whole place is a Local Farmers Market on a grand scale!
Perhaps the most noticeable aspect of living here as a foreigner is the local sense of community. On your way to work or while doing the shopping you are bound to say 'ciao' and stop for a natter at least 3 times as you bump into friends or acquaintances. If you're used to the anonymity of a big city it's quite a big change! Neighbours here actually talk to each other and they'll collect your post or offer you freshly picked figs or olives from their 'campania' or their place in the countryside.
With the warmer climate it's natural to spend time outside and enjoy the fresh air. There are lots of sporting activities on offer here with swimming, sailing, windsurfing and cycling being the most obvious choices.
Things To Do
The 'Centro Storico' or 'Old Town' is the hub of Alghero and is called Barcelonetta or 'Little Barcelona' with its streets named in both Catalan and Italian. In fact, you'll often hear the locals shouting out to their neighbours in the guttural local Catalan dialect. Surrounded by the ancient walls or 'Bastioni' overlooking the sea, Alghero's narrow cobbled streets are the perfect place to explore and unwind.
The magnificent Santa Maria Cathedral and the churches of San Francesco and San Michele are an architectural delight whilst the many piazzas offer the chance to simply sit and sip a cappuccino and watch the world go by. Shop till you drop in the boutique filled streets with all the 'big names' in both clothes and shoes and then chill out with some 'slow food' in one of the many restaurants. On Sunday evenings it's obligatory to don your shades and designer clothes, buy an ice cream (the best in the world) and join in the 'passeggiata' or 'stroll' along the seafront together with the rest of the town!
There is also plenty to see and do in the vicinity of Alghero. You can sail to Neptune's Grotto on one of the boat excursions from the harbour or go diving in one of the idyllic secluded bays. White sands and crystal clear waters are the norm in this part of the world! Hire a car and drive along the north coast from Alghero to Capo Caccia stopping off at the natural marine park of Porte Conte, the famous Nuraghe of Palmavera or just enjoy the views: the stunning mediterranean landscape of macchia, olive groves and vineyards or the glorious beaches of Bombarde or Lazzaretto.
Restaurants & Cuisine
Alghero is a gourmet's dream. The food is relatively simple and healthy with seafood, grilled meat and pasta being the 'norm'. The healthy diet here is reflected in the number of people who live to be over 100! Local Agriturismos offer the chance to enjoy a long lunch or dinner of home made cheeses, ham, salami and olives followed by the traditional Sardinian barbecued roast pork and dessert.
Airport & Travel
Getting to Alghero is very easy. The city has an international airport located to the east of Alghero, approximately 7 miles (12km) from the centre of town. The airport is well served by both scheduled and charter flights by a number of airlines including Ryanair and AirOne.
The airport hosts a number of car rental desks in the Arrivals Hall and a bus service departs every 30 minutes from the airport terminal to Alghero town centre. Alternatively, there are plenty of taxis available to take you on the 15 minute journey into town.
Direct Flights to Sardinia
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| Ancona (IT) | |
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| Billund (DK) | |
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| Cuneo (IT) | |
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| Dortmund (DE) | |
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| Dublin (IE) | |
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| Eindhoven (NL) | |
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| Frankfurt Hahn (DE) | |
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| Girona Barcelona (ES) | |
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| London Luton (GB) | |
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| London Stansted (GB) | |
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| Madrid (ES) | |
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| Memmingen (Munich West) (DE) | |
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| Milan Bergamo (IT) | |
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| Milan Malpensa (IT) | |
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| Oslo Torp (NO) | |
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| Paris Beauvais (FR) | |
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| Parma (IT) | |
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| Pescara (IT) | |
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| Pisa (IT) | |
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| Rome Ciampino (IT) | |
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| Turin (IT) | |
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| Venice Treviso (IT) | |
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| London Stanstead - Olbia | |
Easyjet | ||
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| Edinburgh / Leeds Bradford | |
Jet2 | ||
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