Petra Segreta Resort & Spa

Above the Costa Smeralda, in the hills of San Pantaleo, Petra Segreta Resort & Spa offers a quieter perspective on northern Sardinia. Stone farmhouses sit among Mediterranean maquis and ancient rocks, with views towards the archipelago. The appeal lies in that contrast: rural Gallura rather than a beachfront setting, yet still connected to the coast and its beaches. This is a place to make the landscape part of the stay, not simply the backdrop to it.

The resort’s 27 rooms and suites are distributed across small houses tucked into nature, rather than gathered in one hotel building. Ten have private heated pools. Choose the category carefully: the accommodation names distinguish garden views from sea views, while the Unique Suites have independent access and outlooks over either the archipelago or the resort’s park. For travellers who particularly value a private pool or a sea-facing setting, those distinctions matter more than the suite label alone.

Secret Stone Spa gives the retreat its most distinctive sense of place. Treatments take place in a Balinese hut sheltered by two granite monoliths, using local ingredients including olive oil, myrtle, juniper, aloe and rosemary. There are also three cabins dedicated to Eastern massages, hair styling and Valmont treatments. Set aside time for the spa rather than treating it as a last-minute addition: visits are by reservation, including for non-resident guests.

Dining provides another reason to linger in the hills. Il Fuoco Sacro sits alongside Osteria del Mirto and its outdoor extension, Terrazza del Mirto; the restaurant’s Italian, locally rooted cooking also includes vegetarian options. From June to September, the reservation-only Krug x Petra Segreta experience pairs champagne with cuisine in the panoramic Infinity Lounge, Il Fuoco Sacro’s private dining space. Balance time on the Costa Smeralda with an evening devoted to the resort’s own tables.