With a motorhome or camper in Sardinia and Corsica

Sardinia & Corsica – a paradise for campers?

Sardinia - Everything you need to know about the island

Sardinia - a paradise for campers?

The island of Sardinia with its miles of white beaches, turquoise bays and slightly mountainous landscape captivates many holidaymakers. Have you been enchanted by the pictures of Sardinia and are you desperate to find out more about this beautiful travel destination and would like to jump into your camper and go straight away? Then you are exactly right here! Below we want to tell you more about the island: How easy is Sardinia to explore in a camper and what are the absolute highlights that you definitely shouldn't miss?

Camping in Sardinia

1. When is the best time to travel to Sardinia?
2. What is the best way to get to Sardinia?
3. North, East, West, South - Where to go to Sardinia?
4. Our 8 insider tips for Sardinia
5. Is wild camping possible in Sardinia?
6. How easy is supply and disposal in Sardinia?
7. Sardinia - Conclusion

When is the best time to travel to Sardinia?

We recommend that you come to Sardinia in spring or autumn, as the beaches and cities are completely overcrowded during this season and the costs for campsites or other accommodation are significantly higher. It also gets very hot in summer, so you can't do much more than go to the beach during the day because of the heat. However, you should also note that not all restaurants and shops are open in the low season. But the quieter seasons are ideal, especially when looking for a parking space.

What is the best way to get to Sardinia?

The easiest and fastest way to get to Sardinia is by plane. You can then rent a camper on site. But if you prefer to set off directly with your own camper, you can also get to the island quite easily, albeit with a slightly longer journey. There are various ferry companies that depart from different cities on the Italian mainland. The fastest connection from Germany is via Livorno. After about 6 hours of driving, you can roll back into the country in the city of Olbia, hundreds of kilometers from the mainland. But where now? Where are the most beautiful beaches and the most impressive nature? What should you definitely not miss?

North, East, West, South - Where to go to Sardinia?

Sardinia offers an incredibly great and varied landscape, where there is something for everyone. If you have enough time, we recommend taking a look at the entire island. However, if you only have a limited time window available, it makes sense to focus on one side of the island. The choice of region depends largely on what you want for your vacation. Would you rather discover beautiful beaches, green mountains and valleys or would you rather discover the most beautiful cities on the island?

Our insider tip: We personally particularly liked the south-west and the inland of Sardinia.

Below we will introduce you to the best corners depending on your preferences:

	1. The city explorer If you want to see as many great cities as possible, you're better off in the south and west, as the east is less populated. In the south you will find, for example, the capital Cagliari, which is well worth seeing and has a very special flair thanks to the huge ponds in which hundreds of flamingos bathe in front of the big city backdrop. In the west there are small towns like Sant' Antioco, Bosa and Alghero, which delight with beautiful, small streets, many cozy cafés and their very own, charming style.
2. The beach lover If, on the other hand, you want kilometers of beaches with turquoise blue water, you will feel particularly comfortable in the south and east. Here you will find, for example, famous beaches such as the Spiaggia di Costa Rei, the Spiaggia di Porto Giunco ​​and the Spiaggia di San Giovanni. But you should expect that you won't be alone by the sea, especially in summer.
	3. The peace seeker If you long for peace and solitude, the Middle East and the often forgotten inland will probably be something for you. In the east you will find huge beaches in sparsely populated areas with very little tourism offerings and therefore not much going on. A good place, for example, is the Spiaggia di Murtas, where a huge military area borders the beach, but this does not detract from the beauty of the beach, but rather increases the feeling of seclusion. Inland, you can find peace on mountain peaks with beautiful views or in valleys with no network coverage. The only people who might interrupt you with the tinkling of bells here are the many free-roaming goats and cows.
4. The mountain lover You will find high mountains mainly in the interior of the island. Here you can go on long hikes through the mountainous landscape with wild horses and cows, visit the ghost town of Gairo Vecchia or simply enjoy the beautiful views. Some of the mountains extend to the west and east coasts, which is why you can go on great hikes there with a view of the sea. If you would like to go on long hikes, spring or autumn are more suitable, as the area is greener and the temperatures are more pleasant at these times. There are also more waterfalls to discover where you can cool off and which usually dry out in summer.

Our 8 insider tips for Sardinia

1. The Calla Luna & other callas
2. The ghost town "Gairo Vecchia"
3. The capital Cagliari
4. The city of Sant' Antioco - Best ice cream in the world
5. The natural pools on Sant' Antioco
6. The Lost Place “Laveria Lamamora”
7. The city of Bosa - city of colorful houses
8. The city of Alghero

 

	1. The Calla Luna & other callas Unfortunately, the Calla Luna is no longer one of the absolute insider tips, which is why there will probably be some other people there with you. We can still highly recommend a hike there (duration: approx. 4 hours). The route is super beautiful and once you get to the Calla, you can swim in the cool water or go explore the huge caves right on the beach. If you don't want to hike, boats also go directly to the beach, which is probably a better solution when the temperatures are higher, as the hike does go up and down quite a few times. But if you prefer to be alone, there are some less visited callas in the area, such as Cala Mudaloru, but they are also more difficult and can sometimes only be reached by boat.
2. The ghost town "Gairo Vecchia"  The ghost town of Gairo Vecchia is a little further inland. But this detour is worth it just because of the beautiful mountains and the completely different nature that you can see here. We recommend that you visit the city at sunset because there is hardly anything going on at this time and the light creates a particularly mystical atmosphere. But no matter what time it is, you immediately notice that there is something sad about this place. A few years ago there was a mudflow here that made large parts of the village uninhabitable and caused many residents to flee to the coast. However, some of the buildings are still in use, so please be respectful if you visit the site and do not try to force open closed doors.
	3. Hiking with wild horses and cows If you head inland, sooner or later you will come across cows or horses. They run around completely freely everywhere. You should therefore drive very carefully, especially on the winding mountain roads, as it is not uncommon for a small herd to be on the road and there is hardly any opportunity to avoid them. Once you have found a good spot to park, you can go on a beautiful hike with the cows or horses with great views and photo opportunities.
4. The town of Sant' Antioco - Best ice cream on the island Sant' Antioco is located on the island of the same name, which is located in the southwest of Sardinia. The small, tranquil town not only has a beautiful city center with some sights, but in our opinion the best ice cream in Sardinia. The shop that sells the ice cream is a real insider tip! Rather inconspicuous and with not quite as much selection as some other ice cream parlors, it does offer a number of more unusual varieties, such as chocolate with orange pieces or Ferrero. In our opinion, definitely worth a visit!

5. The natural pools on Sant' Antioco

Not far from Sant' Antioco, in the west of the small island, you will find well-hidden sea pools where you can swim and snorkel, even if the sea is a little choppy. The way there leads through very narrow streets (so maybe check the route first if you're traveling with a large motorhome). The pools themselves can only be reached on foot with good shoes. 

6. The Lost Place “Laveria Lamamora” Laveria Lamamora is an old mine that has been disused for many years and is located right on the sea, giving you great views while exploring. To get there you either have to walk down a steep, longer staircase or climb down a slightly longer path. But the effort is worth it when you reach the bottom and can look at the beautiful old buildings (best at sunset).
	7. The city of Bosa The small town of Bosa with its colorful houses is probably already known to some people, but it was relatively quiet for us and we were able to relax and walk through the small but beautiful old town. The colorful houses are a nice photo opportunity. There is also a small, inexpensive pizzeria in the town that we can highly recommend (Pizzeria Civicouno).
8.Alghero Alghero is a bit bigger and more touristy, but we really liked it. The city center is super beautiful and you will come across one or two shops in the beautifully decorated streets with typical wine and delicious cheese. There are also often musicians in the parks whose music you can listen to while relaxing on a bench.

Is wild camping possible in Sardinia? 

In Sardinia there are quite a few beautiful places where you can stand alone with a beautiful view by the sea or in a quiet place. Officially, wild camping is not permitted, as is the case on Italy's mainland. Nevertheless, it is largely tolerated by most residents as long as you do not set up your camping table and chairs. And there won't be any problems with the police if you don't stand where it says "camping prohibited". The only exception is that there are stricter controls on reservoirs for drinking water production, especially inland. In addition, due to the higher mountains, it is also more difficult to find parking spaces that are not directly on the sometimes very narrow mountain roads.

How easy is supply and disposal in Sardinia?

In Sardinia, supply and disposal is not a problem for campsite visitors, as there is a large selection of well-equipped sites here. For wild campers, however, this is a little more difficult. Disposal is almost impossible without driving to campsites and is often only permitted against payment. Disposing of garbage is also not that easy in many places because there are not public garbage containers in every place. You should therefore be prepared for either a longer search or slightly higher costs. Water supply is a lot easier as there are public fountains all over the island, which are easy to find with Park4night. The only thing to note here is that not all wells have drinking water quality, but this can easily be found out by looking in the comments or asking the residents.

Sardinia - Conclusion

Sardinia is great for exploring in a camper, both for wild campers and campsite goers.

You will only have to make some compromises when it comes to supply and disposal, otherwise nothing will stand in the way of your camping adventure.

 

Corsica - Everything you need to know about the island

Highlights	white beaches, crystal clear & turquoise water, snorkeling paradise, mountains, city strolls, adventure tours
disposal	OK: public dumpsters, in campsites (€)
Fresh water supply	medium: public fountains, on campsites (€)
Transport network	in the east: good (federal highway) in the west: bad (mountain roads, long roads)
Search for a parking space	medium (wild camping rather difficult, many campsites)
toll	no
Outdoor options	Rafting, canyoning, hiking, waterfall tours, snorkeling, swimming, kite surfing, wind surfing
Feeling safe when camping	medium

1. When is the best time to travel to Corsica?
2. What is the best way to get to Corsica?
3. North, East, West, South - Where to go to Corsica?
4. Our 8 insider tips for Corsica
5. Is wild camping possible in Corsica?
6. How easy is supply and disposal in Corsica?
7. Corsica - conclusion

What is the best way to get to Corsica?

Corsica is a lot further north than Sardinia and can therefore be reached more quickly from Germany. The best way to get to the island is by plane or ferry. One of the shortest ferry crossings from Germany starts in Genoa and takes you directly to Bastia. You can find out which areas you can now explore in the following section:

North, East, West, South - Where to go to Corsica?

Corsica is a lot smaller than Sardinia, so you don't need as much time to explore the whole island. In general, Corsica offers a great mix of mountains and sea and the short distances mean you can switch back and forth between the two relatively quickly.

However, if you would still prefer to explore a specific region, here is a brief classification of the areas:

north In the north of Corsica there are beautiful beaches and some larger towns such as Calvi and l'île-Rousse. You can also take a few beautiful hikes through the barren landscape with great viewpoints and make a few detours to small towns like Pigna. At the end of a hike you can cool off in beautiful, clear rivers in some places. But it's also worth going there just for a beach trip. Fango is particularly popular for this.
	east The East is very touristy, which is why you will often find large tourist accommodations on the beautiful, spacious beaches and there is a correspondingly wide range of activities such as jet skiing, stand-up paddling or boat tours.
inland If you are looking for a little more peace and quiet, the inland area with its high mountains may be just the thing for you. Here you will find great hikes with breathtaking views, idyllic forests and beautiful waterfalls in which you can swim. But if you've had enough of the peace and quiet, there are also great offers for canyoning or rafting.
	south The largest city in the south is Bonifacio, which attracts many visitors every year. You will find some very well-visited beaches in the area. To reach this, you should often plan on walking for up to half an hour, as it is very difficult to find a nearby parking space. Away from this hustle and bustle, there are also some small beaches where you can relax, or a little further from the coast, there are great hiking trails where there is also very little going on.

west

The west of Corsica is a little more mountainous and there are only smaller roads, which is why travel times are a little longer. Nevertheless, you can find beautiful bays here for swimming and enjoying the sunsets. The region is also ideal for hiking.

Our 8 insider tips for Corsica

1. The city of Bonifacio - city on the cliffs
2. The Plage de Stagnolu
3. The peak "Omu di Cagna"
4. The Plague Saint Antoine
5. Rafting and canyoning tours in Corsica's gorges
6. The student town of Corte
7. Bathing in mountain rivers
8. The artists' town of Pigna

1. The city of Bonifacio - city on the cliffs You should visit the city of Bonifacio as early as possible, as there are hardly any parking spaces left during the day and the narrow streets become very crowded. We liked the city itself, but unfortunately it is completely overrun, which is why we wouldn't necessarily recommend a visit. However, we found the view of Bonifacio to be very worthwhile. The two most beautiful views of Bonifacio are either from the boat or if you drive further east along the coastal road.
	2. The Plage de Stagnolu On this beautiful beach you can swim in the crystal clear water during the day and enjoy the sunset here in the evening as one of the few places in the south.
3. The peak "Omu di Cagna" Getting here is probably not a problem for experienced hikers. Less sporty people should be prepared for a very steep climb throughout, but it is extremely beautiful and will be rewarded with a great view afterwards. However, only experienced climbers should go to the rock itself, as there is no longer a real path leading there and you can only climb roughly in that direction.
	4. The Plague Saint Antoine Not only is there a great landscape formed by the wind to admire here, but you can also swim with fish or lie in the sun on the small but beautiful beach.

5. Rafting and canyoning tours in Corsica's gorges

If you want a little more adventure, you will find it here in Corsica. There are a variety of rafting and canyoning tours you can take part in.

6. The student town of Corte Corte is one of the few student towns in Corsica. This is also reflected in the atmosphere of the city. There are nice cafes and restaurants here. You can also discover many ceramic shops and the beautiful Musée de la Corse, which also allows access to the Citadelle de Corte and from where you have a great view of the city. Entry is free for students, but it's still worth a visit.
	7. Bathing in mountain rivers In Corsica, unlike Sardinia, there are many rivers that flow from the mountains into the sea. On their way into the valley they form many beautiful pools with crystal clear water in which you can swim. This is a wonderful refreshment, especially after a long hike with lots of sun.
8. The artists' town of Pigna To get to Pigna, you can take a nice hike. However, if the climb is too strenuous for you, you can also fight your way up the narrow serpentine roads in a car (note: better avoided with a large motorhome!). Either way, the small but beautiful town is worth visiting. You will come across one or two ceramic shops with great homemade ceramics. The people of Pigna are also dedicated to music, which is why you can easily find yourself at a concert or two. There are also a few nice cafes to discover with great views of the valley and the sea.

Is wild camping possible in Corsica?

If you want to explore Corsica with a camper, you should be prepared for the fact that the locals are not very enthusiastic about campers. This aversion can also be expressed in throwing stones at mobile homes that have illegally parked themselves by the sea or in sayings like “French out”. The residents' dissatisfaction is due to the fact that Corsica is literally overrun by campers, especially French, in the summer, resulting in kilometre-long traffic jams on the already very narrow streets and all possible free spaces being parked. In addition, most of the money that comes into the country through tourism does not go to locals, but to foreign investors. As a result, residents are left with the damage, but don't even benefit from the benefits. Regardless of people's displeasure, we perceived Corsica as less than ideal for traveling in campervans or motorhomes and especially for wild camping. This is because many cities only have very narrow streets and the connecting roads in the mountains can be quite tricky with a larger vehicle. Due to the many mountains and the lack of space as well as the strong approach taken by wild campers (sometimes no parking options for people over 2 m high), wild camping is rather difficult. However, there shouldn't be as many hurdles for small campers. As an alternative, there are also many campsites that you can drive to if you don't want to face the hassle of the locals and still want to explore Corsica with your own vehicle.

How easy is supply and disposal in Corsica?

In Corsica, supply and disposal for wild campers is quite unproblematic. You can get water from public fountains and trash, etc., can easily be disposed of in large, public garbage containers. Please note, however, that not all wells have drinking water quality. If necessary, you can always drive to one of the many campsites.

Corsica – conclusion

Corsica is a beautiful island that you definitely shouldn't miss. However, we advise against wild camping with a camper over 2 m high. Spring or autumn are also more suitable for exploring, as it is much emptier and cooler.

Travel Sardinia & Corsica together

If you have enough time, you can also explore both islands. The islands are very close to each other, which is why the ferry trip from Santa Teresa Gallura to Bonifacio only takes about 30 minutes. Unfortunately the ferry is quite expensive for the short route, but we didn't find all the other ferry connections very useful. During the crossing you have another great view of Bonifacio.

Conclusion: Sardinia & Corsica – a paradise for campers? For us, Sardinia and Corsica are definitely worth a visit. Personally, we found traveling in a camper in Sardinia to be a lot more relaxing and can recommend it to everyone, as long as the disposal problems don't bother you too much. On the other hand, we would recommend Corsica for small vans (less than 2m high) and, based on our experience, would advise avoiding wild camping as much as possible in order not to further deepen the discontent of the residents. No matter which of the two islands you choose or even both, we wish you a great holiday and don't forget - as everywhere else: leave your places clean! 😉

I hope this article was able to give you a few tips and suggestions for your vacation planning. If you have any further tips or other helpful experiences, please feel free to contact us using our contact form.

Best regards,

Nicole from Camping Pioneers