Top 5 Alghero Tours: Sightseeing & Cruises Explored
So, you’re planning a trip to Alghero, that super appealing spot in Sardinia? It’s almost brimming with possibilities. What’s fun is that the thing about seeing this historic town from the sea is very much different compared to the regular land-based tours; yet there’s still those winding streets in the center that are super awesome, and that old history really does jump right out at you, doesn’t it? Deciding what to do can feel a little bit overwhelming, so that’s why I spent some time putting together this quick guide to what I reckon are five awesome ways to spend your time soaking up Alghero.
1. Boat Trip to Neptune’s Grotto
I think the boat trip to Neptune’s Grotto, is that it delivers something like total ‘wow’ factor! Leaving from Alghero harbor, the boat zips along the coast, which offers like incredible views. We had this fantastic opportunity to snap some pictures before even getting close to our goal. When we got to Neptune’s Grotto, which is very close to Capo Caccia, there was a little stairway down (the Escala del Cabirol – almost 600 steps!), or almost, if you aren’t keen on the steps (believe me, especially going back up, in that heat!) that there’s a comfortable ferry.
What the inside looks like: Expect amazing stalactites and stalagmites and this pretty cool saltwater lake. Seriously, exploring Neptune’s Grotto, well that really does make you feel as though you’re entering somewhere seriously magical. On your way back, it is that you also get some pretty neat photo opportunities of the coastline, which you’ll treasure, I know it. This kind of excursion tends to be a relaxed but absolutely memorable highlight when visiting Alghero.
2. Alghero Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
So, if boat trips aren’t that much your thing, it’s almost that Alghero’s hop-on hop-off bus tour is just something convenient. The great thing, I think is that you get to see all the major places very easily. The way this tends to work is you buy your ticket and then just jump on and off the bus as many times as you like at a number of points spread around the town, plus this audio guide sort of fills you in on each stop’s backstory. For instance, it’s almost as if I learned how significant that Torre di San Giacomo was for defense back in the day; a building that you might ordinarily just amble on by.
There were those main hotspots, of course, with the Cathedral of Santa Maria or even the Alghero Aquarium so easily available. What’s cool is, very, very often, they run roughly hourly. It is that a day pass for a tour like this offers awesome flexibility, too, for exploring the town at your own pace. That being said, perhaps if you’re travelling solo or just do not want some structured approach, then this kind of bus trip lets you sightsee however feels right for you.
3. Asinara Island Day Trip
Asinara Island, that, which has quite the intriguing backstory (it was actually a former prison!), plus it is currently this seriously protected natural area, that so, too, its untouched beauty just needs seeing to be believed. Most tours departing from Alghero normally throw in this boat trip combined with 4×4 jaunt when you’re on the island which could be a fun option. We actually saw some wild albino donkeys, for example! And they had us learning all regarding the plant and animal life along the route – seriously it could be described as nature trip combined with a safari type experience.
What’s really cool is the views; yet that history isn’t something to ignore either. As you may have suspected that a lot of these Asinara island tours also feature prison visits. You tend to discover this incredibly affecting thing about both the inmates’ and guards’ histories here, and that could be an especially sombre thing. However, it’s almost the unique combination regarding natural splendor, plus cultural background makes the island very striking for that kind of excursion off Alghero. You might be ready to find something new with this trip.
4. Wine Tasting Tour in the Alghero Countryside
Now, a great wine-tasting trip within the Alghero hinterland gives some fantastic taste about the area further away from tourist sites, but still the genuine taste linked to the island life. Sardinia has become famous due to its fantastic wineries; is that tours like that could provide these brilliant moments, when they often include vineyards to test your wines in! I mean that feeling from tasting regional varieties that could go paired together using neighborhood cheese also meats… bliss!
That being said you should also check at whether or almost not, their tour includes information over how all this production runs or otherwise when the owners actually talk anyone all relating their passion behind the job done. Basically tour guides towards local vineyards can often offer anyone this extremely wonderful view to both, landscapes so very authentic from Sardinia plus genuine flavors which could turn that whole day towards being particularly delightful. Especially should that interest anybody here enjoys just what this local taste consists involving.
5. Alghero City Walking Tour
So, if you wanna keep your feet that firm regarding the ground, taking some nice slow Alghero walking trips might, might you see parts of any town never seen coming from regular bus options. Usually I reckon with taking small paths so that the old middle where any guide tells all about the complex legacy on various locations that surround visitors – they’re perfect really aren’t they?
Very likely most exciting ones come together in passing landmarks or Santa Maria’s Cathedral then seeing exactly what Bastioni Marco Polo did or viewing particular back alleys maybe overlooked initially so perhaps one will have those cool historical insights, basically almost by only being led this way through narrow avenues by anyone super experienced. Some tours can even showcase special locations only local experts learn of and the whole outing itself makes anyone familiar with town vibes here offering an interesting intimate encounter along Alghero which sometimes anyone won’t obtain solely doing only big popular excursions.