Cagliari
How to Get Around Cagliari
Getting Around
Cagliari is compact, hilly and easy without a car.
The centre is walkable, but Castello is a genuine climb from the port. Two public lifts and a funicular-style ramp help, and the Bastione staircase is the scenic way up.
Buses cover the city on a flat fare, including the run out to Poetto, which is the one most visitors use.
A light rail line serves the northern suburbs; it is of limited use to visitors.
The port is directly below the centre, so ferry arrivals can walk in.
The airport at Elmas is about fifteen minutes away by frequent train from the central station.
A car is unnecessary in the city and awkward in it — parking is limited and Castello is restricted. Hire one on the way out rather than on arrival, which is also how to avoid paying for it to sit still.
Connections from Cagliari
How easily, and at what cost, can you combine the region’s main destinations?
| Route | Best option | One-way time | Travel Smart take |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cagliari and Nuoro | Bus or car | ~2 hr 30 min typical, not a timetable | Better as a separate stay than a day trip. |
| Cagliari and Olbia | Bus or car | ~3 hr typical, not a timetable | Better as a separate stay than a day trip. |
Cost compares the options for each route rather than quoting a fare: inexpensive means the price is not a factor in planning, moderate cost means a real line in the budget, and the expensive option is one worth weighing against the alternative. Fares change from year to year; the ranking between them does not.