Driving in Sardinia: Traffic, Roads & Rental Car Tips
Without your own car or a rental, getting around Sardinia is difficult – public transport outside the bigger cities is sparse. A few things worth knowing before your first drive.
Drive times are easily underestimated
Sardinia looks compact on a map – in reality, many coastal roads are winding and narrow, and villages slow traffic further. For 100 kilometres outside the SS131 expressway, plan on 1.5 to 2 hours rather than one.
The SS131 as the island's backbone
The "Carlo Felice" (SS131) is the only continuous expressway connecting Cagliari in the south with Sassari/Porto Torres in the north, and is usually the fastest link between the major cities. Away from it, many roads are single-lane in each direction, winding, and without a median.
Practical rental car notes
- No toll roads: unlike mainland Italy, Sardinia has no toll motorways.
- Prefer small cars: a compact rental pays off in narrow old-town lanes and on tight country roads.
- Watch speed limits consistently: speed cameras are common, especially through towns.
- Plan your fuel stops: petrol stations are sparser inland and away from the main towns, and many close at midday or on Sundays.
- Wildlife crossings possible: especially at dusk, wild boars can cross roads suddenly (see our dedicated article).
Getting around without your own car
Intercity buses (ARST) run between the larger towns, serving coastal towns more frequently in peak season. But for flexible exploring of beaches and inland destinations, a rental car remains by far the more practical choice.