With 35 miles of glorious coastline along Sardinia’s northern shore, Costa Smerelda (or Emerald Coast) was created as a getaway for the rich and famous by Prince Karin Aga Khan IV in the early 1960s. Sailing, waterskiing, scuba diving, golfing, shopping, fine dining and partying are some of the area’s best activities. Hotel prices can be exorbitant, but that’s no problem for the area’s wealthy visitors, even less so since many arrive in their own private yachts. Porto Cervo is the main town.

Learn about the neighborhoods in Costa Smeralda