Orosei is lovely, its well-preserved Old Town and 8km beach reason enough to visit. It’s also the gateway to its eponymous Golfo di Orosei bay, where mountain meets sea in dramatic fashion, with beautiful beaches paddling in aquamarine waters at the foot of vast cliffs. And that’s just the start of it. The natural wonders here seem boundless - caves and canyons, the Supramonte mountain range and the legendary Selvaggio Blu, one of the most spectacular coastal hiking trails in Europe. What’s more, from Cala Gonone (15km south) all the way down to Santa Maria di Navarrese, the only way in is by boat or by foot. This is a pristine wilderness, yet it’s easy to enjoy with daily boat trips and guided tours that let you explore its secrets.
As for Mannois, this small, friendly hotel sits in the Old Town entwined in a labyrinth of cobbled lanes. Rooms are split between 4 buildings: historical Sa Corte with its pretty courtyard; Sa Dommo (200m away); and Sa Turre (500m away), with a restaurant and roof terrace (fabulous views over town). There's also the newer Su Rosariu building, which houses reception and a pretty breakfast room. Good restaurants wait on your doorstep.
Highs
- The pretty rooms are spotlessly clean and many have terraces or balconies
- Sa Corte's courtyard is lovely; and you can have dinner at Sa Turre's rooftop restaurant, especially if you like seafood
- Orosei itself: a small medieval town that stands on the Cedrino river
- Boat trips along the coast and guided hiking tours into the mountains; the walk to Tiscali, an ancient Nuraghic village concealed within a cave, is magical
- It's great value
Lows
- The beach is 3km out of town. However, 8km of golden sand compensate and you can drive down, borrow bikes or jump on the shuttle bus (extra cost)
- Only the Dependance has free parking outside; for the other buildings, it's a short walk away
- Economy and Classic Double Rooms are small, though most have balconies
- There’s not a great deal to do at the hotel: no pool, only a small bar
Best time to go
If you want to hike in the hills, then come in April and May or October, where the sun isn’t too hot, but the days are still long. August is the busiest month on the beach. Many restaurants close in mid-October and don’t reopen until April. The hotel closes annually from mid-November to mid-December for a month.
Our top tips
The Golfo di Orosei and the Supramonte are arguably the most spectacular stretch of coastline in Sardinia with magnificent tracts of wild coast and mountain to explore. Good tour operators are at your disposal to help you get the best out of them, and do use them for the majority of your excursions as this land can be perilous at times - paths that cling to the edge of cliffs, and long, rutted dirt tracks to negotiate (for which your hire car is not insured). So hook up with people who know what they’re doing - the hotel can advise. Day trips often take in several sites and include lunch, so it’s not a bad idea to pay approx €30 for a great experience instead of puncturing a tyre 15km up a track. Take proper walking boots (the terrain can be challenging) and pack a rucksack for the day with water, fruit and chocolate.
- Boutique Hotel
- 28 rooms
- Restaurant + bar (open daily)
- All ages welcome
- Closed: Nov-Mar
- Pool
- Spa Treatments
- Beach Nearby
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Car recommended
- Parking
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
- Bicycles Available
- Beach Club
Rooms
The rooms and suites are spread across 4 buildings.
Su Rosariu / Main House
This ancient house is truly a historic monument, located a few metres from the main square of Orosei. There's an internal courtyard, which many of the Suites (including Junior and Grand options) overlook. The reception and breakfast area are also here, so it's a good spot for people who want to be in the hub.
Sa Corte / Historic House
An arched entrance leads into a small cobbled courtyard, off which the rooms stand. The style is lovely: old stone walls, traditional architecture and contemporary design. You’ll find whitewashed walls, smartly tiled floors, excellent showers and super-comfy beds. We had a First-floor Superior Room that overlooked the courtyard and were very happy with it. If you want extra space and luxury, the Suite has a mezzanine layout with a sleeping area, lounge and Jacuzzi.
Depandance Annex Sa Dommo
Sa Dommo is 200m north of the main house and home to a collection of Double and Classic Double Rooms . As such, none are huge but they do tend to be popular. All were taken during our visit, though we were able to sneak a very quick peek. Expect tiled floors, great beds, whitewashed walls and smart showers. Pretty good value and this is a rather peaceful corner of town, too.
Depandance Annex Sa Turre
Sa Turre is 500m north, so a fraction further afield. It’s a relatively modern building in a slightly busier part of town. There’s an attractive whitewashed entrance hall with a couple of sofas, but the real treat here are the 2 communal roof terraces - one covered with tables and chairs, the other with sunbeds to soak up the sun. Views stretch over the town and down to the sea. As for the rooms, those we saw were on the small side, but perfectly good for a couple of days. Interiors are spotless: tiled floors, whitewashed walls, crisp white linen, good shower rooms. You get flat-screen TVs, air conditioning, minibars and some storage.
Features include:
- Air conditioning
- Minibar/fridge
- WiFi
Eating
Breakfast is served at Su Rosariu from 8am untill 10am. It’s a typical continental buffet with jugs of juice, baskets of fruit, rolls and toast, the odd cake, eggs if you want them and good strong coffee or a selection of teas.
The hotel restaurant Locanda Sa Turre, is on the fourth floor of Sa Turre, open daily for dinner (May-September), and prides itself on traditional cooking with local organic ingredients and a zero food mile policy. You will need to book a table with reception during busy times of year.
There are loads of nearby cafés and restaurants for lunch, so don’t expect to go hungry. You’ll also find a couple of restaurant/bars down on the beach, serving pizzas and salads throughout the summer.
Orosei isn’t a gastronomic destination, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find a tasty meal for dinner. We ate pizza at Sa Marina; the best pizza in town is at Da Filippo, but it’s on the outskirts of town and a bit of a hike. For fresh fish and seafood, try Su Bachile, which is quite posh, or Da Mario, which is less expensive. Finally, try Belo Horizonte at the top of the hill, a small restaurant with huge views from its big terrace.
Features include:
- Children's meals
- Minibar/fridge
- Restaurant
- Restaurants nearby
Activities
- Hang out at the hotel's Beach Club (an additional cost, open June-September). The town beach has small bars, golden sands and big views of mountains rising to the south
- Hire an E-bike (or a normal bicycle) from the hotel
- Admire Orosei - the cobbled streets of the Old Town, its lovely ancient churches (one holds a copy of the Turin Shroud), its cafés and bars strewn around its pretty piazzas
- Explore the Golfo di Orosei, with its 50km of pristine coastline, and the Supramonte, the mountain range that rises from the sea and heads inland 30km. Here are a few ideas on how to enjoy them:
- Drop down to Cala Gonone, take a boat tour or kayak along the coast, swim in aquamarine seas, watch climbers ascending sheer cliffs, check out some of the sea caves, or just throw down your towel and soak up the sun
- Take boat trips to hidden beaches - Cala Luna, Cala Sisine, Cala Goloritzè, Cala Biriola. They’re only accessible by water (or a very long hike). Trips from Cala Gonone take them in, some boats will drop you off in the morning and pick you up in the afternoon. A couple have simple cafés/bars
- Hike/climb the Gola su Gorropu - aka the Grand Canyon of Europe. Well, not quite, but limestone walls rise 400m in places; it’s mostly the preserve of climbers, but hikers can access the first kilometre. Bring good walking boots and lots of water
- Tiscali - the unmissable Bronze-Age village concealed within a cave. The 2-hour walk in is beautiful. Allow 5 hours for the trip. You’ll need good boots and lots of water. We advise you go with a guide
- The interior - Nuoro, the city in the sky, the artistic soul of the island; Oliena, famous for its delicious wine (and the great Gianfranco Zola!); and Orgòsolo, known for its brightly coloured political murals that comment on the difficulties of mountain life
- Take a wild drive to Baunei on route 125 - no traffic, huge vistas, the odd golden eagle. The walking up here is excellent and there are a couple of access points to the beach at Cala Sisine - a long, bumpy drive up dirt tracks, then a 1-hour walk in
- For adrenaline freaks, Selvaggio Blu, the legendary hike that follows the bay. One minute you’re scaling peaks that stand 1,000 feet above the sea, the next you're passing wild goats as you drop down to tiny coves. You need a guide, it’s hairy in parts (there are various routes) and it takes anything from 3-7 days
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Hiking
- Kayaking
- Scuba diving
- Shopping / markets
- Wine tasting
Kids
All ages are welcome, but there are no special facilities on site. However, there are plenty of exciting activities nearby and along the coast, which are great for adventurous older children.
Best for:
All ages
Family friendly accommodation:
The hotel can provide baby cots and some rooms have space for extra beds. If you want independence, opt for a loft or apartment - the Grands sleep 4 plus a baby in two double rooms; the Superior Lofts have a single bed for kids.
Cots Available, Family Rooms
Baby equipment:
- Baby cots
- Changing unit with baby bath in some rooms
- High chairs
- Beach towels to borrow
Remember baby and child equipment may be limited or need pre-booking
Children's meals:
Child-friendly options at breakfast and on request for other meals in the restaurant with notice; easy walking distance to restaurants and cafes; packed lunches available on request for outings
Kids Activities nearby:
- Bikes to borrow (baby seat and helmet can be provided)
- Beaches, both in the town itself (the hotel has a beach club which offers beach volleyball, boats for hire and pedalos as well as loungers and umbrellas, children gain access for free up to 14 years old when sharing their parents' room), and further afield
- Watersports including waterskiing, canoeing and kayaking
- Boat trips to the Gulf D'Orosei
- Hiking in the Supramonte mountains
- Visit Bronze Age cave village Tiscali, then have lunch with shepherds, and visit underground lakes
- Explore Codula di Luna canyon
Families Should Know:
You'll need to park in a central car park in town and then walk up the hill to the main reception (a golf buggy to transport luggage can be provided), which is in Su Rosariu. The Beach Club has a lifeguard on duty
Distances:
- Airport: 1.5hrs (Olbia), 2.5hrs (Alghero)
- Hospital: 40 minutes (Nuoro)
- Shops: 2 minutes
For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection
Location
Albergo Diffuso Mannois is set in the town of Orosei, about 1.5 hours' drive south of Olbia in eastern Sardinia. It's about 2.5 hours southeast from Alghero and about 2.5 hours northeast from Cagliari.
By Air:
Fly into Olbia from April to late September (100km), or Alghero (175km) and Cagliari (217km) all year round. Click on the links below for a list of airlines serving these airports.
From the Airport
A taxi can be quite costly; we'd recommend hiring a car from the airport, though, so you can explore the region. Free car parks are close to the hotel.
By Ferry:
Sardinia is well-served by car ferries coming from elsewhere in Italy. You can sail into Palau, Olbia, Porto Torres and Golfo Aranci in the north, and Arbatax and Cagliari in the south. Car ferries also connect Sardinia with Corsica.
By Car:
See our car rental recommendations.
Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.
More on getting to Sardinia and getting around
Airports:
- Olbia 90.0 km OLB
- Alghero 150.0 km AHO
Other:
- Beach 3.0 km
- Shops 0.2 km
- Restaurant 0.2 km