Bosa day trip from Alghero or Cagliari
A day trip to Bosa from Alghero or Cagliari: the Romanesque church of San Pietro Extramuros by the river, the climb to Malaspina Castle above the coloured houses and the lanes of Sa Costa before lunch, then Casa Deriu, the cathedral, the Ponte Vecchio and the Temo riverfront and the old tanneries of Sas Conzas. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 1 days
Bosa in 1 day
Day 1
San Pietro Extramuros
Eleventh-century Romanesque church of trachyte in the countryside up the river, the town's first cathedral and one of the oldest in Sardinia.
Malaspina Castle (Serravalle Castle)
Medieval castle on the hill above the town, with long walls, a tower and a small church painted with fourteenth-century frescoes.
Historic centre of Bosa (Sa Costa and Corso Vittorio Emanuele)
Steep lanes of pastel houses climbing towards the castle, and the elegant main street below with its cafes and palazzi.
Casa Deriu museum
Nineteenth-century townhouse on the main street, with period rooms, local filet lace and paintings by Bosa artists.
Bosa Cathedral
The town's cathedral by the river, rebuilt in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, with a richly decorated Baroque interior.
Ponte Vecchio and the Temo riverfront
Old stone bridge over the river Temo, with palm-lined quays, fishing boats and the classic view of the town and castle.
Sas Conzas old tanneries (Museo delle Conce)
Row of old tannery buildings on the far bank of the Temo, now a small museum of the leather trade that once fed the town.
Watch: Bosa
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
Getting there
From Alghero, Bosa is about an hour by car along the coast road, with sea views most of the way. From Cagliari it is about two hours by car, mostly on the main road north. Buses run but are slow, so a car is the easiest way.
Staying in Alghero or Cagliari? This day fits into those city plans, and in the Trip Builder it is one click under each of them.
When to go to Bosa
May, June and September are the best months: warm, bright days and room on the beach at Bosa Marina. July and August are hot and busy with holidaymakers. Bosa's carnival, Karrasegare, is one of the most unusual in Sardinia, and winter is mild and very quiet.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Bosa on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Bosa on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Bosa on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Italy from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Bosa
- San Pietro Extramuros, the castle and the museums are closed on Mondays: come on another day.
- The climb to Malaspina Castle is steep, up stepped lanes: wear good shoes and go before the midday heat in summer.
- Drive the coast road from Alghero for the cliff views, and keep time for a stop at the viewpoints.
- Try Malvasia di Bosa, the town's sweet amber wine, and look for the local filet lace in the shops of the old town.
- In summer, end the day with a swim at Bosa Marina, the beach at the mouth of the Temo a few kilometres away.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Bosa Cathedral: David Blaikie from Hampshire, UK, CC BY 2.0
- Historic centre of Bosa (Sa Costa and Corso Vittorio Emanuele): Zsuzsanna Tóth, CC0
- Ponte Vecchio and the Temo riverfront: Antonio Figoni, CC BY-SA 4.0
- San Pietro Extramuros: Gianni Careddu, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Sas Conzas old tanneries (Museo delle Conce): Carlo Pelagalli, CC BY-SA 3.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
