Getting there & Getting around

Getting there

Cagliari's Elmas airport (www.aeroportodicagliari.com) is 6km (3.7mi) northwest of the city centre and links Sardinia with many major Italian cities, and some European destinations.

The Stazione Marittima (ferry terminal) is in the heart of Cagliari just off Via Roma. Ferries depart regularly for Palermo and Trapani (Sicily), as well as Naples, Livorno and Civitavecchia on the mainland.

For bus journeys around Sardinia, the main ARST intercity bus station is on Piazza Matteotti. PANI buses to Oristano (1.5hr), Nuoro (3.5hr) and Sassari (3.25hr nonstop) leave from outside the Stazione Marittima. The ticket office is in the port building itself. For Iglesias (1-1.5hr), Carbonia, Portovesme (2hr) and the Sulcis area, FMS buses leave from Via Colombo 24. Buy tickets from the nearby Bar Mura.

The main Trenitalia station is found on Piazza Matteotti. Trains service Iglesias (1.5hr) and Carbonia (1.25hr) in the southwest, while the main line proceeds northwards as far as Sassari (4.25hr) and Porto Torres via the towns of Oristano (1-2hr) and Macomer. A branch line from Chilivani heads out for Olbia (4hr) and Golfo Aranci.

The FdS train station for trains travelling north to Dolianova, Mandas and Isili is on Piazza Repubblica.

The SS131 Carlo Felice highway links Cagliari with Porto Torres via Oristano and Sassari. It is the island's main dual-carriage artery. Another highway, the SS130, scoots east to Iglesias.

The only way to really see Sardinia is by renting your own vehicle; train and bus services are reliable but can be limited in the interior especially outside high season. The big international car-rental agencies are represented at Cagliari's airport and there are also several at the port.

Getting around

Buses run almost hourly to connect Cagliari's airport with the city centre (ARST station in Piazza Matteotti). The trip normally takes 10-15 min.

Getting around the city on foot, although a little tiring at times in the hilly tracts around Castello, is generally the best option.

CTM (070 209 12 10) buses have routes across the city and surrounding area. They come in handy for the Calamosca and Poetto beaches. Pay per ride, or with a biglietto giornaliero (day ticket).

Driving in Cagliari is a pain, although given the geography of the town (one big hill) you might want to consider renting a scooter for a day or two. Parking a car in the city centre generally means paying. Either buy special tickets to leave on the dashboard of your car from newspaper stands or pay one of the attendants.

There are taxi ranks at Piazza Matteotti, Piazza della Repubblica and on Largo Carlo Felice. You can call for one on 070 40 01 01 from 05:30 to 02:00. Outside those times you might have difficulty.