View from Bear's Stone to Palau and Arcipelago of La Maddale

Luxury Palau Holidays

The rugged gateway to the Maddalena Archipelago

Palau

Palau marks one of the northernmost points of Sardinia. The coastline here is a jagged place full of deep-set coves, petite beaches and granite islands. The most famous islands lie just opposite – the Archipelago di La Maddalena National Park. Each beach-pocked isle is surrounded by crystal-clear waters famous for their bright blue hue, and you can get there in just 15 minutes by ferry.

Back on dry land, the red-roofed town puts out an offering of seafood restaurants and pizzerias, surf and dive shops, plus a lively line-up of bars. La Galatea is the main beach; sunloungers and sailing boats top the sand and pebbles.

Drive a few minutes east of town to climb up to Roccia dell’Orso – a wind-weathered rock with views right over the coast. Keep following the road as it wrangles its way east to find more in the way of dramatic viewpoints.

Our pick of the top hotels in Palau

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Capo D'Orso Thalasso & Spa

North Sardinia

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Things to do in PalauSail to the Maddalena Archipelago

The Strait of Bonifacio sweeps out in front of Palau, leaving over 60 granite islands and 300-plus beaches in its wake. This is the Archipelago di La Maddalena National Park – one of the reasons why many people head to Sardinia in the first place.

The main island, La Maddalena, is a good place to start. Isola Giardinelli, on the east coast, pairs threads of white-gold sand with wind-hollowed rock formations. And as with many of the Maddalena Islands, the waters are so clear you can see every fish and anemone swaying on the seabed below.

Typical Costs

Bottle of beer

€4-6

Bus return

€1. 50

Cup of coffee

€2

Glass of wine

€4-6

Main course

€8-16

Small souvenir

€5

Flight Information

Flight time from the UK to Sardinia is around 2 hours 30 minutes.

Transfer Time

Transfer time from Olbia airport to Palau is approximately 40 minutes.

When to go

Sardinia is a great summer destination, with temperatures reaching their highest (around 30 degrees) in July and August. Temperatures in spring and autumn typically stay in the early 20s and visitors at this time of year are generally fewer, so it’s ideal if you want to avoid the crowds and do some exploring.

Visa Information

British citizens do not currently require a visa to visit Italy.

Tipping

When you dine out in Italy, you will generally be charged a coperto (cover charge), which is for the bread, tablecloth, cutlery, etc. Tipping in Italy is not customary, but is always appreciated.

Introduction to languages

The official language of Italy is Italian. English is widely spoken too, so getting by is easy.

Luxury Palau Holidays

Palau

Capo D'Orso Thalasso & Spa

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