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Exploring Alghero by hire car

Alghero, located in northwestern Sardinia, is a town of about 40,000 inhabitants.

It has a charming old town that is wonderful to stroll through. In 1354 Alghero was conquered by the Catalans, who tried to expel the local population.

At that time, the town was also renamed from L’Aguerium to Alguer. Today, Catalan is still spoken in some parts of the town.

Many monuments, the relaxed atmosphere of the town and the perfect location by the sea make Alghero an attractive holiday destination.

And the surrounding countryside is also worth discovering and can be easily explored by hire car. For rental and travel we have compiled a few tips.

Taking over the hire car

Numerous hire car companies can be found at Alghero airport, directly opposite the arrivals terminal. Just make sure that your rental company is there as well.

Because if you have to take a shuttle to the hire car station upon arrival, you’ll lose valuable vacation time.

Taking the right hire car

On the narrow and winding country roads of Sardinia, you are best off with a small and manoeuvrable hire car. Just make sure you consider how much luggage you want to take with you on your trip before booking. Many times holidaymakers have stood in front of their hire car and found that the luggage does not fit in the trunk.

Hire car prices

Hire car prices in Alghero are in the medium range. You can usually get the cheapest deal if you book well in advance of your trip and use our handy price comparison tool.

hire car price comparison Alghero

Insurance

On the narrow country roads of Sardinia, on which often serpentine after serpentine is lined up, is fast once an accident passieret. You are well insured if you hire car with fully comprehensive insurance without excess. With the sum insured of the liability you should make sure that it has at least an amount of one million euros.

Because accidents with personal injuries often result in huge costs for you. If the amount of coverage of your landlord seems too low, a Mallorca policy offers additional protection. Your insurance company will be happy to advise you.

age limit

In Alghero, you’ll be hard pressed to find a hire car company that rents cars to those under 21. And drivers under 25 are often charged an additional fee. Ask about the conditions before renting.

Accessories

If you need accessories such as a sat nav or child seats, you will need to book these in advance. Book well in advance to ensure the items you want are in stock at your rental company on the day you pick up your vehicle.

Language barrier

It is quite possible that employees of a service station speak very poor English. It is best to make a note of the telephone number of your rental company’s Italian head office before you travel. There you can ask for telephone translation assistance in an emergency.

Free kilometers

If you want to explore the beauty of Sardinia with your hire car, you will cover a lot of miles. It’s best to hire a hire car right away with all the kilometres free so you can enjoy the trip in a relaxed manner.

Bail

Be sure to find out how your rental company handles security deposits before you rent. With most hire car companies, the amount is only blocked on the credit card and released immediately after the car is returned.

But there are also rental companies that actually collect the amount. And then you sometimes have to wait a long time until the money is back in your account.

Customer Satisfaction Hire Car

Many rental companies complain about long wait times for shuttle service and poorly maintained vehicles. It’s best to book with a rental company located right inside the airport terminal. And examine your vehicle closely when you pick it up.

If you notice any damage, such as dents or scratches, be sure to get written confirmation of the defects. Then, in the event of a dispute, you can prove that you were not the one who caused the damage.

Safety vehicles

Since vehicles in Alghero are sometimes carelessly maintained, you should test the lights on your car before your first trip. Don’t forget the indicators and brake lights. And do a little brake test in the parking lot of the hire car company. Also check that the first-aid kit and high-visibility vests are on board.

Sights in Alghero

Cathedral and Chiesa de San Francesco: Experience Catalan Gothic architectural style

The cathedral’s bell tower is a good starting point for a tour of the city. It’s a great place to see the Catalan Gothic architectural style, whose simplicity is defining. You should also visit the Chiesa de San Francesco. It was built between the 15th and 16th centuries, also in the Catalan-Gothic style.

Piazza Civica: shopper’s paradise
A stroll through the Piazza Civica is a must for shopping enthusiasts. Here you will find many charming shops ranging from posh jewellers to simple souvenir stalls.

Torre Porta a Terre: Fantastic views
You will be rewarded with a panoramic view over the old town if you climb the Torre Porta a Terre. It is 23 meters high and offers a beautiful view of the network of medieval alleys. Lazy walkers, by the way, have the option of “experiencing” the city by horse-drawn carriage. Starting point is the harbour side of the Bastione della Maddalena. Or you can explore Alghero with the miniature train Trenino Catalano. In season, it departs from the port every half hour.

Spiaggi di San Giovanni and Spiaggi di Maria Pia: Dreamy beaches
After your stroll around town, you may still feel like exploring Alghero’s beautiful beaches. Half the city meets at the fine sandy Spiaggi di San Giovanni and Spiaggi di Maria Pia. Here you can rent a deck chair and a parasol and enjoy the dolce far niente, the sweet idleness. Or you can rent a windsurfing board or canoe and plunge into the waters.

Find the special restaurant

There is no shortage of good restaurants in Alghero. We recommend the Trattoria Maristella. Here you can expect delicate Sardinian specialities in a pleasant ambience.

Find a good hotel

Friends of Art Nouveau should book a room at the Villa Las Tronas. You will stay in a palace from the 19th century. In the past, aristocrats resided here, but today guests from all over the world enjoy stylish luxury.

The worthwhile destination in the area

Bosa: Medieval alleys

Bosa, with its pastel-coloured houses built picturesquely into the hillside, is a delightful destination in the area. By hire car, the 45 kilometres from Alghero to Bosa will take you about an hour. The drive leads along the coast and offers beautiful views of the sea again and again. Especially the Castello Malaspina should be visited. It was built in 1112 for protection against pirates.

Today only the foundation walls remain, but this place offers a magnificent view of the city and the surrounding landscape. Inside the walls you will find a church, which is worth a visit especially because of the beautiful frescoes. The Chiesa di Nostra Signora di Regnos Altos was built in the 14th century. The frescoes show, among others, St. Christopher and St. Lawrence of Rome, who died as a martyr in the flames.

A visit to Casa Deriu could be the end of your city tour. Here you will learn a lot about the tanner’s trade, which used to be one of the main sources of income in the city. Now you still have the opportunity to stroll through the medieval streets of the town and buy a few souvenirs. Afterwards, you can stop at a bar, order a cool drink and plan further excursions around Alghero.

Suggestion of a round trip

Argentiera: Ride into the Wild West

A round trip around Alghero could take you first to Argentiera. In three quarters of an hour you will be there. In Argentiera you will experience a former mining town, abandoned by the inhabitants in the 60s after the silver mines were exhausted. You almost get the feeling of being in the Wild West in this place. But recently, some islanders have discovered the picturesque beauty of the place and have resettled. Still, the charm of times past should be felt in Argentiera for some time to come.

Porto Torres: Impressive Basilica

The next destination on the trip is Porto Torres. The trip takes again three quarters of an hour. In Porto Torres, the largest Romanesque church in Sardinia, the Basilica of San Gavino, awaits you. It was built in the 11th century. The austere, spartan nave in particular casts a spell over visitors. Travel even further back in time when you then visit the Zona Archeologica with the remains of a Roman city.

Sassari: Versatile Metropolis

Before you now drive back to Alghero with your hire car, you can still make a stop in Sassari. Your hire car will take you there in 20 minutes. Sassari is the second largest city in Sardinia with 130,000 inhabitants. Accordingly, the offer is varied. You can visit the mighty Cathedral of San Nicola, which was built from the 15th century onwards. Or you can dive deep into the Sardinian past at the Museo Nazionale G. A. Sanna.

The finds on display there date back to the Neolithic period. Or perhaps you’ll just stroll the picturesque streets of the old town in search of original souvenirs. Piazza Azuni is a good place to start, with its many shops. In half an hour you are back with em hire car in Alghero, where they can plan their next tour with the hire car.

conclusion

The enchanting Alghero lends itself to a hire car trip. The city is not far from the airport and numerous worthwhile destinations in the surrounding area can be easily reached by hire car. And with our handy price comparison, you will always find the right car at a great price.

Hire car Alghero