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Table of Contents:
How to get to Cagliari from the airport
When to travel to Cagliari
Cagliari is the administrative center of Sardinia and the largest city on the island. Cagliari is famous for its history, architecture, numerous attractions, excellent shopping and resort entertainment. Near Cagliari there are beautiful white sandy beaches that attract a considerable number of tourists every year. In addition, Cagliari is the “gateway” to other resorts in Sardinia, since the main international airport called Elmas is located near here.
After some research, I decided to put together information I have previously found out and create a complete guide on how to organize a holiday in Cagliari. I figured out how to get to the town, where to stay & what to see there. I really hope this detailed information will help you plan your trip to Cagliari.
You can visit Cagliari all year round. The greatest number of tourists visit the place during the so-called “high” season lasting from June to October. It is the best time for swimming and sunbathing. But you can also choose to visit Cagliari during the “low” season to explore the city’s attractions and enjoy local architecture and gastronomy.
How to get to Cagliari
Where do you fly into to get to Cagliari? You can fly to Cagliari on direct flights operated by various European airlines. There are also connecting flights to Cagliari on a daily basis. The current flight timetable can be checked via specialized online services such as Aviasales and others. I often use Aviasales as it helps me a lot to compare different flight options and choose the optimal one. I can definitely recommend it.
How to get to Cagliari from the airport
By public transport: You can get from Elmas Airport to the center of Cagliari by public transport or taxi. The distance between the airport and the city center is about 10 km. During the daytime, you can take a bus or train to reach the center of Cagliari. Buses depart from two bus stops, which can be found at the exit from the airport, and buses run every half an hour. At approximately the same frequency, trains depart from the Elmas Aeroporto station towards Cagliari. Both by train and by bus, the travel time is approximately 10-15 minutes. Public transport arrives in Cagliari at the Piazza Matteotti stop.
By taxi: If you travel with a lot of luggage, or arrive at night, you can use the services of a taxi or transfer services. You can find a taxi at the exit of the arrival terminal, however, please, note that it is customary for taxi drivers in Sardinia to leave a tip of 10% of the cost of the trip. In addition to taxis, tourists can also use private transfer services. The travel time is about 15 minutes. You can order transfer services in advance via specialized international services such as Kiwitaxi, Intui.Travel and others. Based on my research, these online services have a lot of positive reviews that is why I can recommend them. For sure, there are a lot of other taxi services available at the airport.
By car: Car rental in Sardinia is a very popular option among tourists, since public transport on the island is poorly developed and the schedule is often inconvenient. Besides, what is more important, you won’t be able to see all the beauties of the island, including the magnificent snow-white beaches, by public transport. At the same time, car rental in Sardinia is affordable, and the roads on the island, unlike mainland Italy, are free of charge.
Most often, tourists rent a car directly at the airport; this is a convenient option and it eliminates the need to look for ways to get to the desired resort by public transport or taxi. At Cagliari Airport there are several rental offices of famous international companies such as Alamo, Autovia, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz, InterRent, Sicily by Car, Sixt, Thrifty and many others.
At Cagliari Airport you can rent a car of any size, including small, medium, large cars, minivans, SUVs or even premium cars. You can book the desired class of car in advance via various online services such as Discover Cars, Economybookings, etc. I would recommend comparing several online services at once to find out the best available options. Elmas Airport and Cagliari are connected with #SS554 road or #SS131dir road (see on the map).
Where to stay in Cagliari
Cagliari is a popular tourist town, so there are many accommodation options to suit every taste. These can be standard hotels of various star categories, bed and breakfast hotels, apartments, guest houses, vacation homes, etc. When choosing a suitable hotel, you should pay attention to its location, depending on your preferences. If the main purpose of visiting Cagliari is sightseeing, then it makes sense to look for accommodation in the historical center. If your main goal is a beach holiday, then it makes sense to look for a hotel near the sea. Based on my research, among hotels by the sea the following are popular:
B& B Beach Cagliari is a guest house located very close to the local sandy beach. Guests can stay in double rooms. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel and is free of charge. Free public parking is available nearby. The hotel is surrounded by a garden. Luggage storage and bicycle rental services are available at the front desk;
Hotel Nautilus 3* is surrounded by a garden and has sea views. Guests can stay in rooms of various categories, including family rooms. Breakfast is included in the price. As online booking services provide tourists reviews, I found out that some rooms have sea or garden views. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel and is free of charge. Free public parking is provided nearby. The front desk is open 24 hours a day. There is a luggage storage area;
Hotel Chentu Lunas 1* is located just a few minutes’ walk from the local beach. The hotel has a restaurant. Guests can stay in double rooms. All rooms are equipped with a coffee pot or a kettle. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel and is free of charge. Street parking is provided. Luggage storage services can be found at the front desk;
La Villa del Mare is a hotel located in a historic building on the seafront. It offers a restaurant, a bar, a garden and rooms with balconies and sea views. You can stay in rooms of various categories, as well as apartments. Breakfast is included. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel and is free of charge. Free public parking is provided nearby. Luggage storage services can be found at the front desk.
According to my research, in the historical center of Cagliari, you can find such hotels as:
- Arche is a bed and breakfast hotel with rooms of various sizes. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel. Breakfast is included;
- BB22 Suites and Bakery is a guest house with single and family rooms, available terrace, free Wi-Fi, shared kitchen and included breakfast;
- B& B St. Remy has single and double rooms and included breakfast. Wi-Fi is free. There is also a terrace and a bar. Cagliari Cathedral is just a 5-minute walk;
- Residenza Kastrum is a guest house with rooms of various sizes. A terrace overlooks the sea. Free Wi-Fi is provided. Breakfast is included.
What to see in Cagliari
Cagliari has preserved many architectural and archaeological monuments; such kinds of sights can be found here at almost every step. At the same time, Cagliari is a very green city thanks to the city parks and the huge botanical garden which occupies about 5 hectares. Cagliari is located in the gulf, so after studying the history of the city, you can safely go to the local beaches and promenade to relax. In general, I can say that Cagliari is three in one and suitable for entertainment, sightseeing and a beach holiday.
The main city square in Cagliari is Piazza Palazzo (“Palace Square”). There are many architectural monuments here, the most outstanding of which is the Royal Palace. Both the square and the palace date back to the Middle Ages. The Cagliari Cathedral is also located here; it was built back in the 13th century. Important Christian shrines are kept inside the cathedral. Between the palace and the cathedral there is another significant historical site called the Archbishop’s House. In my point of view, it is an excellent example of medieval architecture, which is definitely worth visiting.
Quite a few churches have survived in Cagliari. Perhaps a day is not enough to see them all. The most significant, for example, include such buildings as the Basilica of Our Lady on Bonaria Square (built in the 14th century), the Baroque Church of St. Michael (built in the 17th century), the Church of St. Anne (built in the 13th century) and others. While walking around Cagliari, you should definitely see the towers of the Elephant and San Pancrazio, the Bastion of San Remi and other defensive fortresses.
If you are interested in the science of archaeology, then there are countless numbers of such objects in Cagliari. For example, a huge number of finds can be found in the Archaeological Museum, on the hill of the Punic Necropolis, on the rocky cliff of Santo Ignacio, where the ancient Roman amphitheater is located, and in the Villa Tigelia and in some other places.
You can take a break from the historical sights in the local botanical garden. The Botanical Garden of Cagliari occupies a huge area of 5 hectares, where plants, bushes and trees of the Mediterranean flora mainly grow, but you can also find rare specimens imported from South America and even Australia. There is some useful information for visiting that I discovered:
- The entrance fee to the garden is 2 euros for adults and children;
- In summer, the garden is open all day, in winter – only until lunch.
Despite the fact that Cagliari is a fairly large city, it has not only urban attractions, but also beautiful beaches. The beaches in Cagliari and its immediate surroundings are rocky (in gulfs) and sandy (in open spaces). The beaches of Cagliari are public, with the exception of a few private areas owned by hotels. At the same time, public beaches can be equipped with sun loungers and umbrellas, the use of which is paid.
Among the sandy beaches, I would highlight Poetto Beach and Emerson Beach. Both are located in long open spaces, so the surface here is fine sandy; the sand is white, like almost everywhere else in Sardinia. Both beaches are suitable for families with children, because the entrance to the sea in these places is gentle and gradual. Nearby there is an open-air cafe, changing cabins, and toilets. In summer, the beaches are quite busy, so it makes sense to come early to grab a sunbed.
Among the picturesque rocky beaches is Punta Molentis beach. It is located in a cozy lovely Gulf and is protected from the winds by rocks, while the beach is covered with small pebbles and coarse sand, i.e. in fact, it is not so much rocky as pebbly. The beach is quite small in size though.
Take a note! When going on a trip to Italy, do not forget to take out travel insurance, which is useful for receiving a tourist visa and for solving emerging medical problems when travelling in another country. You can purchase insurance via online services, for example, via EKTA and others. You can choose from different modes, including quiet, active or extreme rest.
Photo above the article: Ruben Holthuijsen
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Julia is an experienced traveller, BA in International Relations and Languages and true lover of planning trips in advance. Learn more about the author…