Olbia Area holidays

The Costa Smeralda – AKA the Emerald Coast – lays claim to more than 30 miles of beaches. And with fine white sands and see-through waters, they’re as polished as their celebrity visitors. They come in all different shapes and sizes, too, from long, straight swathes, to small, secluded bays.

Liscia Ruja Beach is formed of powder-like sand that gently unravels into turquoise waters. It’s not only the longest in the region, it’s also considered to be one of the best. You’ll find it in an out-of-the-way spot surrounded by thick woodland, 20 minutes’ drive from Porto Cervo. Its tucked-away location doesn’t mean a shortage of facilities, though. There’s a restaurant, a boat hire centre, and plenty of sunloungers where you can pull up a pew and admire the mansion-like yachts floating offshore.

For the Costa Smeralda’s most pristine beaches, take a boat trip to the Maddalena Archipelago. This cluster of seven islands, just off Sardinia’s northeast coast, is full of sandy stretches that are practically footprint-free. Spiaggia Rossa is known for its pink tinge, while Cala Corsara comes with ice-white sands and clear blue waters.

If your budget doesn’t stretch to Porto Cervo’s designer stores, there are plenty of street markets along this coastline that won’t break the bank. Monday is market day in the seafront town of Cannigione, 15 minutes’ drive from Baia Sardinia. Spend a morning here and you can pick up all kinds of edible souvenirs, from spicy salami to pecorino cheese and olive oil.

Olbia town’s main shopping street is called Corso Umberto. Along this paved avenue, you’ll find a good mix of stores, along with age-old churches and outdoor cafes. Everything from ladies fashion to home furnishings is displayed in the shop windows. Often, there’s also a range of knick-knacks up for grabs on pop-up market stalls.

Porto Cervo is the swanky resort all the celebrities go to when in Sardinia. So it’s hardly surprising it comes with a shopping scene comparable to LA’s Rodeo Drive. Along the marina is where all the big designer names gather, ready for A-listers to snap up some goods on the way in or out of town. Expect the likes of Gucci, Prada, Louis Vuitton and Versace to name a few.

If you like the sound of celebrity-spotting over a few cocktails, head for Porto Cervo’s harbour-front Piazetta. Here, you’ll find a clutch of swanky bars with plush white sofas spilling out onto the terrace. You might spot a few famous faces stepping off their multi-million pound yachts after a day at sea. But even if you don’t, the people-watching is still first-class.

Forget stuffy, non-air-conditioned dancefloors. Around here, the best clubs are on the beach. Nights start over rounds of colourful cocktails, sipped from the comfort of a four-poster daybed. Then, once the sun’s set, the party really gets going. Expect light shows, DJ-spun tunes and dancing on the sand until sunrise.

Sardinians are big meat eaters and they like it best when it’s roasted on a wood fire. At many restaurants, you can expect at least one item on the menu that’s been cooked over a sizzling spit. Herb-infused lamb and suckling pig are both popular choices.

Although considered a type of bread, this traditional Sardinian delicacy is more like a cracker. Thin, crispy and circular in shape, it was originally made for shepherds setting out on long journeys because it stays fresh for longer than regular bread does. These days, it’s laid out as a side dish on almost every restaurant’s table.

Sardinia’s answer to caviar, bottarga, is made from the salted, pressed and dried eggs of fish, like tuna or grey mullet. The locals eat it on bread, washed down with a cold glass of white wine. If you’re a first-timer, though, you might prefer to try it grated over spaghetti or chopped up within a pasta sauce.

With the ocean on the doorstep, it’s no surprise seafood is popular in the Olbia region. One of the tastiest lobster dishes is called aragosta arrosto. Order this and you’ll be served a rock lobster that’s been chopped in two, sprinkled with breadcrumbs, olive oil and parsley, before being baked in the oven.

When it comes to sweets, Sardinians love honey. Tilicas – AKA caschettas – are made from fine pastry, which is shaped into a parcel and then filled with honey and almond paste. Aranzadas, meanwhile, are honey-coated cakes with orange peel and almonds.