The best way to move around the island of Sardinia is by car, particularly if you need to cover long distances. For short distances mopeds and bicycles are a good option and a lot of fun. One thing I wouldn’t do is rely on public transport. It does not function well, connections are poor and timetables are not accurate.
If you fly to Sardinia then the best option for you is to hire a car through one of the car rentals in connection with your airline, that way you will secure a better price. The other thing is to book early, in summer car hire is in high demand so prices levitate hugely.
There are no motorways on the island, though there are highways. The main one connects the North to the South of Sardinia, SS131 also know as Carlo Felice, and has exits connecting to a lot of different locations. Connecting East to West is the SS131 d.c.n. Strada Statale Centrale Nuorese. With its exit from SS131 at Abbasanta in the centre of Sardinia, this road goes to Nuoro and Olbia.
SS 125 var is a new highway that connects the South with the North of the island on the East coast. This is a variation of the older SS 125 “Orientale Sarda” which is a two lane road that goes from the Southeast coast all the way along the coastline to the Northern tip of the island. This is a scenic road, but it can take a longtime especially if you find traffic.
Coastal roads are winding and extremely panoramic, driving along the coast of Sardinia you are bound to experience amazing scenery, take worthy photographs and witness some of the best sunsets you’ll ever see, but these roads are not effective if you need to get from A to B in the shortest time possible.