Alghero, a charming town on the northwest coast of Sardinia, has seen incredible growth in recent years thanks to the Ryanair flights that link it directly with the UK and Europe. Alghero has a charming old town centre enclosed by the ancient Catalan walls overlooking the sea and the harbour, a charming waterfront lined with palm trees along the marina and a fully equipped lido area. The narrow cobblestone streets of the historic centre, which liven up at night, are lined with shops, bars and restaurants. Although Alghero has everything at hand, the beaches immediately outside the town such as “Il Lazzaretto” and “Le Bombarde” just past Fertilia are somewhat nicer. The area of Porto Conte with the Natural Park is ideal for hiking and mountain-bike excursions. The Neptune’s Grotto in Capocaccia is worth a visit, you can either get there by sea with the ferry from Alghero’s marina or by car to the top of the Capocaccia promontory and then walk down the steps by the side of the cliff; the latter option is spectacular if you don’t suffer from vertigo.
The mild climate and the facilities make Alghero a lovely holiday destination all year round, however it is at its best in late spring and early or late summer. August is the busiest month and everything tends to be more expensive and the beaches are somewhat crowded.