North Sardinia gets direct link to Paris: here’s why it matters

While 1% of Italy draws the crowds during the peak summer heat, there’s a quieter, wilder side of the country waiting to be discovered, and in 2025, it’s closer than ever.

Starting March 31, 2025, Spanish airline Volotea launched a direct flight from Paris-Orly to Alghero, opening the gates to Northern Sardinia, a region still largely unknown beyond its glitzy hotspots like Porto Cervo and Porto Rotondo. It’s a land rich in ancient history, surreal coastlines, and food traditions still deeply rooted in the rhythm of nature.

With two flights per week — on Mondays and Fridays — and 21,600 seats available annually, this is exactly the kind of low-key connection that savvy travellers crave: fewer crowds, more authenticity.

The news about the new route by Volotea Alghero-Orly marks an objective of boosting year-round tourism with benefits for local economy since French (and north Europeans) travelers can now explore the beautiful North Sardinia, improving also international connectivity of the Mediterranean island withe rest of the North Europe. Moreover, this new route works to de-seasonalize tourism in Northern Sardinia by operating throughout the year, even during low-season months, ensuring continuous economic support for the region.

That means you can visit in October and still swim in warm waters, wander through harvest festivals, or hike under crisp autumn skies. And your visit does more than tick a box: it supports communities trying to build a sustainable tourism economy that respects local rhythm.

Italy is the most visited country in the world after France and Spain – but 99% of international visitors go to the same places. That leaves a lot of Italy unseen.

Sardinia abroad is well known mostly for its heavenly beaches, but this Italian Island has much more to offer to its visitors not only in summer time but also during throughout the year. This is the reason of the partnership between the Sassari Chamber of Commerce and Visit Italy, started in 2020 with the focus to promote to international travellers the beautiful land of North Sardinia in a truly new way. After years of promote and narrative work, with the opening of new route Alghero-Orly this part of Italy is now ready to be discovered on live by aware tourists for its authentic and wild beauty.

The Salude & Trigu Festival series is the perfect excuse to come to North Sardinia in 2025. With more than 100 events spread across the year – think food fairs, music under the stars, and re-enactments of ancient rituals – this cultural calendar brings the soul of Sardinia to life.

Organised by the Chamber of Commerce of Sassari, for the fifth consecutive year, it’s designed to celebrate the region’s identity,  and to spread tourism beyond the summer rush. 

Alghero, a historic city with Catalan roots and cobblestone lanes, is your base. From here, rent a car and head north to Castelsardo, one of Italy’s most beautiful villages, or south to Bosa, known for its colorful riverfront houses and slow living, recently become Sites Unesco 

Along the way, stop for porceddu (slow-roasted suckling pig), pane carasau (crispy flatbread), or a glass of Cannonau, a red wine once believed to be the secret to Sardinian longevity. Local agroturismi (farm stays) offer meals made from ingredients grown just metres from your table.

And if you’re into legends, ruins and mystery – this land is dotted with nuraghi, megalithic stone towers older than the Colosseum, UNESCO World Heritage Sites. 

Although less crowded than other parts of Italy, to truly enjoy Northern Sardinia we recommend avoiding the peak summer months: July and August. Instead, plan your trip for late spring or early autumn — prices are lower, locals are more relaxed, and the island is still warm, wild, and wonderful.

Want to experience Italy like a local? This might just be the year to let Northern Sardinia surprise you.