The guide, How to Get to Sardinia, will show you the finest ways to get to this beautiful Island and move around.
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Which are the best ways to get To Sardinia
First, air and sea are two main ways to get to Sardinia. Flying is by far the quickest way to reach the Island and is often cheaper when compared to any rail-to-ferry choices.
But traveling by ferry allows you to bring your vehicle with you. Conveniently, most ferries to Sardinia also travel through the night, so you can sleep in a cabin and begin your first day in Sardinia after the rising sun.
Tip: If your departure destination is close enough, say less than 700 km, you should consider going with your car because you will save some bucks on not renting a car.
By Air
In recent years the frequency of flights to Sardinia has risen. Consequently, many International airlines from Europe (including London, Paris, Barcelona, Stockholm, Madrid, Munich, Frankfurt, Dublin, Brussels, Oslo, Basel, Prague, and Amsterdam) connect it with the Island.
Sardinia has three airports, 2 in the north and 1 in the south:
- Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport – North
- Alghero-Fertilia “Riviera del Corallo” Airport – North
- Cagliari-Elmas Airport– South
We usually use the Sky Scanner to book flight tickets.
Main Routes And Airlines
Most domestic flights to Sardinia come from Rome and Milan. Still, there are also numerous flights from other cities in Italy (like Triest, Catania, Palermo, Naples, Venice, Verona, etc. More importantly, all have direct flights to Sardinia.
Suppose you’re looking to fly from other cities in Europe. In that case, most major Airlines also fly to Sardinia, including Brussels, Dublin, Frankfurt, Barcelona, Madrid, London, Oslo, Stockholm, Munich, Basel, and Paris. However, you can also look at the secondary airports where budget airlines go.
The leading airline companies with direct flights to Sardinia are Ita (former Alitalia) and Aeroitalia (from Rome and Milan), British Airways, KLM, Lufthansa, and the AirBerlin.
Summer is the high season for tourism in Sardinia, so there are more flights between May and October.
Budget flights to Sardinia
Low-cost airlines fly to Sardinia some year-round. Others just seasonally Easyjet, Eurowings, Volotea, WizzAir, and RyanAir. The cheapest international flights are usually from London, Barcelona and Madrid.
Some budget flights only operate from May through October.
Warning: Some budget flights often depart at impossible hours, forcing you to get an expensive taxi, rent a car to drive to the Airport, or even sleep close to the Airport for a night. Although they are budget-friendly, they could be more economical during peak seasons.
Additionally, they are costly if you add things such as luggage. So, fly off-season and carry-on only, and you will score a great deal.
We usually use the Sky Scanner to book flight tickets.
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Cagliari Airport
Cagliari Airport (code CAG, known as Cagliari Elmas) is the leading Airport on the Island. It does southern and central Sardinia and is the Airport you should use if you intend to explore the southern part of the region. It serves up to 3 million passengers each year.
The Ita has the most significant number of flights – usually direct from Rome Fiumicino or Milano Linate airports and through there from other destinations in Italy / Europe and the rest of the world.
International direct flights to Cagliari Airport come from many airports, including Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, London, Manchester, Geneva, Zurich, and Berne. There are also flights from Nice, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Lyon, and Nantes – but remember, these cities are all served by budget airlines.
How to get from Cagliari Airport to the center of Cagliari
The quickest way to reach the city center is to take the train. It takes 5-7 minutes to reach the city center. You can purchase a one-way ticket in the arrival hall, at the station, and from online ticket merchants. The trains run from 5 am to 9 pm, and one train departs for the city every 20 minutes.
Alternatively, you can take a taxi. It takes 10-15 minutes to drive into the city center of Cagliari.
The bus station in Cagliari is at Piazza Matteotti. There is also a bus service to the city center—the first bus leaves from the Airport at 8:40 am, and the last leaves at 11:30 pm. You must buy a ticket before boarding the bus. Furthermore, you can purchase it at the airport terminal or newsstands. The bus stop is outside the terminal building, and you can locate it by a black and white ARST sign.
©bluAlghero-Sardinia
Olbia Airport
Olbia Airport (Olbia Costa Smeralda, airport code OLB) is the best Airport to fly to if you wish to visit the northeast of the Island – places like Santa Teresa di Gallura, Budoni, San Teodoro, La Maddalena Archipelago, and Costa Smeralda.
The leading airline companies flying direct to Olbia are Aeroitalia (which flies from Rome Fiumicino and Milan Linate), the AirBerlin, and Lufthansa. Lastly, the Easyjet is the best choice for a budget flight to Olbia.
Getting to the town from Olbia Airport
A bus is the best way to reach the city of Olbia. The journey takes 10 minutes; you can buy your tickets on the bus or at the information desk inside the terminal. Bus services 2 & 10 depart the town every 10-30 minutes. Taxis are also available, but not as economical as the buses.
Alghero-Fertilia Airport
This Airport is 8km northwest of Alghero, named after the village of Fertilia nearby. It is a small airport that is a gateway to the northwest regions of Sardinia. It is near to Castelsardo, Sassari, Stintino, Bosa, S’Archittu and Porto Torres.
Getting to the town from Alghero Airport
Taking the bus is the best way to reach the city of Alghero. The journey takes 30 minutes. The bus departs once every hour from 5 am to 10:30 pm. You can purchase tickets from one of the machines in the terminal. Taxis are also available.
How To Get To Sardinia From Outside Of Europe
There are no direct flights from North America, Asia and Australia, and New Zealand to Sardinia, so you must fly to Rome, Milan, or a central European hub like Amsterdam or London to catch a connecting flight.
Flights to Rome and Milan are available from all main cities in the United States, such as New York, Miami, Boston, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Chicago, and Los Angeles. They are operated by – among others – Ita, Delta, and American Airlines. There also are daily flights from Toronto with Ita and AirCanada, as well as from Montreal.
Suppose you are coming from Australia or New Zealand. In that case, you will have to break your journey in multiple legs – usually via Hong Kong or Singapore, then via Rome or Milan, where you can catch a connection to Sardinia.
We usually use the Sky Scanner to book flight tickets.
Getting To Sardinia By Ferry
The ports of Sardinia connect with Genoa, Civitavecchia, Naples, Palermo, Piombino, Livorno, and Savona, operating ferry crossings all year round. You can also arrive in Sardinia from the port of Barcelona (Spain), France, and Corsica, thanks to the connections with the ports of Nice, Toulon, Bastia, Ajaccio, and Bonifacio.
Sardinia has five ports, Porto Torres, Olbia, Cagliari, Arbatax, and Golfo Aranci.
We use the Ferry Scanner to book ferry tickets.
Ferries from Italy to Sardinia
Ferries to Sardinia are available year-round but run most frequently during the high tourist season between June and September – that’s when they will also be most crowded, not to mention expensive!
The leading companies operating from mainland Italy to Sardinia are Tirrenia, Grimaldi Lines, Moby, Grandi Navi Veloci, and Sardinia Ferries / Corsica Ferries.
Ferries depart from Civitavecchia (about 50 miles from Rome), with connections to Olbia, Arbatax, and Cagliari; Genoa, with connections to Porto Torres and Olbia; Livorno and Piombino, with references to Olbia and Golfo Aranci; Naples and Palermo, both with links to Cagliari.
Most ferry services from Italy are overnight and – depending on the route – can take between 7.5 and 15 hours, so you can get your cabin for the duration of the trip, go to bed almost as soon as the ferry departs and wake up in Sardinia.
We use the Ferry Scanner to book ferry tickets.
Ferries from France and Spain
Ferries also travel to Sardinia from France and Spain. The ports in France are Toulon and Marseille, and you can also travel from Ajaccio and Bastia to Corsica. The most popular routes are from Marseille to Porto Torres, which takes about 10 hours and (operated by La Méridionale). From Nice to Golfo Aranci (by Sardinia Ferries) takes up to 13 hours.
The only port in Spain that services Sardinia is Barcelona; the ferry operates from Barcelona to Porto Torres on Grimaldi Lines. The journey takes just under 12 hours.
Good to know: keep in mind that several ferry companies allow you to embark campers and caravans on ferries to Sardinia, offering discounts and special rates.
Getting around with public transport
In major cities, there are memorable lines of urban transport. The railway line connects Cagliari with Sassari, Porto Torres, Golfo Aranci, Iglesias, and Carbonia. Buses connect all locations, including the smaller ones. For long trips, you must change your means of transport; that’s why we advise you to check the SardegnaMobilita site for more information.
Final Thoughts On How To Get To Sardinia
I hope this post has clarified how to get to Sardinia. So, now we wish you a safe journey to Sardinia.
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