Party your way round the island from festival to festival, trek the mountainsides and nature trails, stroll through historic towns and villages, browse around shops and markets, hop from beach bar to harbourside restaurant, hire a boat and cruise the coast (be careful not to bump into any supermodels or celebs), or just find yourself a deserted beach and stay put.

Sink down into warm sand, dive into clear blue water, breathe in the scent of fragrant herbs and shrubs, fall under the spell of mystical ancient civilisations…and stuff your face with pizza, pasta, local meats and fresh seafood.

All the deliciousness of Italy with a Sardinian twist that comes from regional oils, herbs and spices.  Head for the coast for fresher-than-fresh seafood, work your way through a selection of local salamis and pour yourself a glass or two of wine.  Salute!

An ideal city for strolling; tour the medieval churches, wander the winding lanes to the harbour, potter around the shops or, if that all sounds far too energetic, hop on a boat and view it all from off-shore.

All the hustle and bustle you’d expect from a capital city surrounded by some of the best beaches in the Med, and wide-expanses of ancient salt marshes - home to flocks of pink flamingos. If you’re after history, architecture and art head for the Old City. If you’re more of a people watcher, bag yourself a table in one of the cafés, bars and restaurants in the Marina.

Hidden among dramatic cliffs and rock formations, these magical caves are reached by boat, landlubbers can descend from the top of the cliffs by the ‘goat’s stairway’. Don’t forget that you do have to leave at some point and that there are 656 steps.

Serious walkers can get well and truly off the beaten track here (make sure you pack some water and mint cake). If you travel at a more leisurely pace through life, you can still enjoy some gorgeous scenery, more than 150 species of birds and maybe even an encounter with a white donkey of the Asinara.

Sardinia’s most populated town, Sassari is also jam-packed with history, art and culture. Many of the buildings date back to the 13th century, including the city walls and the cathedral and, if that’s not quite old enough for you, why not visit the pre-historic step pyramid – still in excellent condition?