If you think Eurosummer’s over, think again: we may be on the brink of fall, but one of Europe’s warmest island destinations will still see average temps of 78°F, swim-ready warm seas, and long, balmy days well into October.
Even better: as of this year, getting there no longer requires complicated layovers for Americans.
You can fly to this slice of Mediterranean heaven nonstop from JFK and back through October 23, from only $820—and if you’re still hoping for some of that dolce vita, slow-living by a picturesque harbor munching on a fresh bowl of figs, there’s nowhere better than Sardinia:
Delta Is Flying To Italy’s Best Island For Paradisiacal Beaches This Fall
Sardinia is the second largest island in Italy, and my new favorite Mediterranean escape.
I was here twice this year, both in late July and, ahem, right now in the lead up to the fall, and trust me, 40+ European countries in, I have never seen prettier, more paradisaical spiaggie anywhere on my side of the pond…
…and you’re in luck, as Delta has picked out the absolute best hub on the island for beaches. I’m talking impossibly clear, Gatorade-blue, bath-warm seas that could belong in the Maldives and soft, powdery Caribbean-esque sands.
The U.S. carrier flies this season to Olbia–Costa Smeralda, in northeastern Sardinia, the main gateway to the appropriately named ‘Emerald Coast’. Far from being an understatement.
Here’s everything you need to know about the nonstop route:
Nonstop Flights From New York (JFK) → Olbia–Costa Smeralda (OLB)
- Carrier: Delta Air Lines
- Season: May 20–October 23
- Frequency: 4x a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday)
- Outbound: leaves JFK at around 6:25 PM, lands in Olbia at around 9:00 AM the next day
- Return: leaves Olbia 11:20 AM, touches down in JFK at 2:35 PM on the same calendar date
- Aircraft: Boeing 767-300ER
- Flight time: about 8h30 eastbound, 10h-ish westbound
As far as fares go, the cheapest nonstop roundtrip ticket in the fall is currently sitting at around $820–830, which in all fairness, is a pretty big deal considering you won’t need to first land in Rome or Milan, then board a second domestic flight to Sardinia.
Also, landing in the gongshow of an airport that is Milan Malpensa is the last thing you wanna do right now that Europe is midway through launching its new Entry/Exit System, a new biometric check that sees foreign visitors, Americans included, fingerprinted and facially-scanned upon arrival.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock lately, you’ve probably come across some horror stories on social media about how people have been waiting 6+ hours to complete customs thanks to the additional checks.
If you’re unsure which travel regulations apply at your European destination, you can always run a little country check on the Entry Requirement Checker
Try it. It’s free.
Top 5 Destinations In Northeastern Sardinia
Where You’ll Be Landing This Fall
Back to Sardinia, Olbia is a pretty solid choice as a landing hub.
From here, you can hit up all of northeastern Sardinia’s top coastal spots without the long drives usually associated with the Mediterranean’s second-largest island.
Porto Cervo
It’s a short 18-mile drive to Porto Cervo, the glitziest, most exclusive jet-setter destination in Europe now that places like Capri and Positano have been swarmed by the masses.
This gorgeous little resort is dotted with luxury shops, superyachts, and award-winning seafood trattorie that may cost an arm and a leg to dine at, but are absolutely worth the splurge.
If you don’t exactly have a fortune to spend on dinner, Clipper is a pretty decent fallback, though: a no-frills eatery serving seafood and pasta to locals since 1981, they do a killer tagliolino al nero di seppia.
San Pantaleo
My own Sardinian coup de cœur, this yellow-washed, tiny mountain village tucked away in the rugged limestone mountains of Costa Smeralda has a charming historic center, lined with pedestrianized pathways and independent boutique shops.
I stayed here a couple of nights myself, and I wish I had more restaurant recs for you, but I’m also not ashamed to say that, after trying Agave’s gorgeous rooftop, overlooking the lush countryside and surrounding peaks, and devouring their garden carbonara spaghetti, I couldn’t bring myself to eat anywhere else.
Side note: San Pantaleo’s a great base for beach-hopping in Costa Smeralda: the white sands and turquoise seas of Spiaggia del Principe are a 15-minute drive downhill, and the secluded coves of Capriccioli are an equally easy 20-minute drive.
La Maddalena
Not a town, per se, but a whole archipelago of islands lying just off northeastern Sardinia, La Maddalena is the closest to a tropical, Caribbean-like escape you’ll feel in Italy. Rosy-pink sand beaches, natural pools, and the most insanely turquoise, almost fluorescent shade of blue I’ve ever seen.
You can either book a spot on one of those small-group boat tours and island-hop for the day, or base yourself in La Maddalena, the largest island in the archipelago, and take it easy by visiting a couple of islands each day. I suggest you opt for the latter, time permitting.
La Maddalena (the island) is linked via a causeway to Caprera, where Sardinia’s prettiest beach, IMO, Cala Coticcio, is located.
Just beware: it’s a strenuous 40-minute hike down from the main road, and advance reservation with an authorized environmental guide is required. You can’t just rock up whenever you like.
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Perched on the island’s northernmost tip, this quaint coastal settlement is built around a bright little harbor backed by pastel façades, cobbled lanes, and a lively central square, with a 16th-century Spanish watchtower looming above the bustling waterfront.
Most people come here for the Corsica ferries, which will take them across the strait to Bonifacio, over on the neighboring French island, but the biggest draw for me were the beaches.
Rena Bianca sits practically at the foot of town, one of the most beautiful Sardinian beaches, and a crescent of pale sand lapped by impossibly turquoise waters. Capo Testa, the wilder rival to Costa Smeralda, is a 10-minute drive west: go here for enormous granite boulders, hidden coves, and rugged coastal walking trails.
How Safe Is Italy Right Now?
Italy is officially classed a Level 2 destination according to U.S. authorities, which means Americans must exercise ‘increased caution’ when visiting due to higher rates of petty crime in large urban centers, and the ongoing threat of religious extremism.
However, there’s nuance to be observed here.
Why Sardinia Is Much Safer Than Travel Advisories Let On
Official government advisories rarely account for individual destinations within the countries they cover, except perhaps Mexico, where every state gets its own classification, and Italy’s Level 2 badge is largely driven by crime rates in cities like Rome, Milan, Naples, and the like.
Sardinia is no crime-free haven—I wouldn’t leave my bags unattended on a beach unless it’s one of those $300-per-entry Liscia Ruja beach clubs—but any petty crime that does occur is usually opportunistic rather than violent, and the island itself only has two truly large metropolitan centers.
Those are Cagliari, the capital in the south, a whole 170 miles from where you’re landing in Costa Smeralda, and Sassari, the second-largest city, roughly 80 miles to the west.
Northeastern Sardinia is largely made up of resort towns built around luxury tourism, beaches, and upscale experiences, so unless you’re venturing into the rundown outskirts of the mid-size city of Olbia, your greatest concern here is burning a hole through your wallet with those $40 caprese salads.
On the Traveler Safety Index, Italy scores a remarkable 93 out of 100, based on reports from recent visitors… including myself.
How Warm Is Sardinia In The Fall?
If you’re thinking of traveling this fall, Sardinia stays surprisingly warm. Remember, we’re not in Central or Northern Europe:
- September: around 80–83°F daytime, 64–68°F at night
- October: around 72–76°F daytime, 57–62°F at night
- November: around 63–67°F daytime, 50–55°F at night
If it’s beaches you’re after, September is preferable as it’s still very much summery. October is more of a shoulder season: the water stays warm enough for swimming, but days get progressively shorter towards the end of the month, and nights get a little chillier.
I bet October here is gorgeous for sightseeing without the brutal August heat.
I kid you not, I nearly fainted from heat exhaustion just walking around Cagliari just today.
November, on the other hand, can be a tad trickier for beach-hopping and swimming: most beach clubs and seasonal restaurants have closed, and boat excursions are way less frequent.
The beaches themselves remain open, though, and unlike in summer or early fall, places like Cala Brandinchi and Cala Coticcio will no longer require advance reservations, but you definitely shouldn’t expect a full summer setup.
For the kind of Sardinia you’re probably hoping for, with beach bars, seafood lunches, aperitivo by the harbor and plenty of swimming, I’d aim for late September or the first 10–15 days of October.
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