If you can only afford to spare time and funds to have one holiday on the Italian islands, which one should you choose? Both Sicily and Sardinia are stellar choices, but which one should you commit to? We’ll try to help you resolve this dilemma in today’s post. Here’s the grand duel of the top Mediterranean islands.
Sicily vs Sardinia: which one has better tourist attractions?
If you love running around old town centres, museums and ruins, then both islands have something to offer – but it’s certainly Sicily which offers a lot more, including UNESCO World Heritage Sites. In Sicily, you’ll find Catania and Palermo with plenty to see – there’s also Taormina and Syracuse. Though Sardinia, too, has beautiful cities and sites, Sicily wins here.
Sicily 1:0 Sardinia
Sicily vs Sardinia: which one has better views?
Let’s look at nature now. Sicily has many beautiful national spots, like the Zingaro Reserve or Etna. In our opinion, though, Sardinia wins this one. We’d recommend you pay a visit to Parco Nazionale dell’Asinara and the Parco Nazionale dell’Arcipelago di la Maddalena, a park with a whole archipelago north of Sardinia.
Sicily 1:1 Sardinia
Sicily vs Sardinia: which one has better beaches?
You certainly won’t be disappointed by either, as both islands are great for beachgoers. If we had to choose one, we’d go for Sardinia. Beaches like the long and beautiful Costa Sud, Costa Verde, Golfo di Orosei and the stunning beaches on the islands of Maddalena won us over. Of course, Sicily also has some great spots, like San Vito lo Capo, though our vote goes for Sardinia.
Sicily 1:2 Sardinia
Sicily vs Sardinia: Which one is cheaper?
If we’re looking at fancy posh holidays, then both islands are relatively comparable. If we’re looking at regular options, though, then Sicily is a bit cheaper, especially in the countryside. We return to a draw.
Sicily 2:2 Sardinia
Sicily vs Sardinia: Which one has better food and restaurants?
To be honest, you’ll find an equal dose of great Italian food on both islands. It really doesn’t matter too much which one you choose, there are great options on either one. We’d have to be super picky and specific to give points here, so we’ll only mention that Sicilian cuisine is a bit different from regular Italian cuisine. If you want to see what you can expect, you can check out our list of what to try in Sicily.
Sicily vs Sardinia: Which one is warmer?
Let the weather be our final deciding factor – climate cannot be fooled and Sicily, due to its location, is a warmer holiday destination. It’s not some grand difference, mind you, both are very pleasantly hot in summer, but the difference is there. If you appreciate the heat first and foremost, choose Sicily!
Sicily 3:2 Sardinia
Sicily vs Sardinia: Summary
As you can see, both islands excel at most things you’d want from a tourist destination. If you prefer exploring ruins and monuments, choose Sicily, as it’s full of beautiful towns and cities. If you prefer hiking or lying on the beach, Sardinia will certainly not disappoint you. Of course, we’d say that it’s best to visit both of the islands, but we know that that’s not always so easy. Wherever you end up, we hope you’ll have a great one. 🙂
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