How To Get From Cagliari Airport To The City Center

Are you looking for information on getting from Cagliari Airport to the city center? I live here, and Cagliari Airport is the one I always fly from. This means I know how to travel between the city and the airport, and how much it costs.

If you are traveling to Sardinia, you have the option to fly into three different airports – Cagliari, the capital at the south of the island; Olbia, the main city of the northeast of the island; and Alghero, a lovely small town is on the northwestern coast of Sardinia.

If you are flying to Cagliari and looking to spend a few days in the city, you will need to make your way from Cagliari Airport (known as Aeroporto Cagliari Elmas, officially called Mario Mameli Airport, airport code CAG), located at the outskirts of Cagliari and closer to a small town called Elmas, to the city center.

Continue reading as I explain how to get from Cagliari Airport to the city center.

How To Get From Cagliari Airport To The City Center

Take the train from Cagliari Airport to the city center

Yes, there are good trains in Sardinia. The train from Cagliari Airport to the city center is by far the easiest and cheapest way to travel. There is approximately a train every 20 minutes, starting at 5:56 am until 11:04 pm.

The station is only 300 meters (less than 0.2 miles) from the arrivals terminal inside the airport – literally a 5 minutes walk. Once you are out of the Arrivals terminal, just follow the signs “To the Trains” and you’ll be there in no time.

Tickets to Cagliari city center are €1,30 each and you can buy them at one the automatic vending machines inside the airport and the station, on the app (Trenitalia), online via the Omio app, and in some lotto and tobacco shops.

The train from Cagliari Airport to the city center around 10 minutes. You will get off at the main train station in Cagliari, which is located in Piazza Matteotti, close to the harbor and between the historic districts of La Marina and Stampace.

These areas are where most guest houses, bed and breakfast and apartment rentals in Cagliari are located. Both areas are within easy walking distance from the train station.

Take a Cagliari Airport bus to the city center

While there are public buses in Sardinia, there aren’t many public bus options from the Aeroporto Cagliari Elmas to Cagliari city center. The Cagliari Airport bus serves as a supplementary service at those times the trains aren’t running.

There are, in fact, two regional buses serving passengers arriving with a late flight. ARST bus line number 160 departs at midnight and at 00:15 am.

More buses depart during the day. Namely, you can take ARST line 501 that leaves from the departures terminal of the airport at 8:33 am, and ARST line 747 that leaves 9:56 am from the arrivals area.

Tickets are € 1.30.

All bus services will drop you off at central bus station in Cagliari, which is located in Piazza Matteotti (the same where you will find the train station), from where you can easily reach the historic districts of La Marina and Stampace on foot, or take a bus or a taxi to other parts of town.

Hop on a taxi from Cagliari Airport to the city center

You will find plenty of taxis from Cagliari Airport to Cagliari city center.

Although the taxi service is quite pricier compared to public transportation, it is also way more comfortable, especially if you have lots of luggage and if your hotel isn’t in the immediate vicinity of the central station (for example, if you are staying in one of the many hotels by the beach in Cagliari).

You will be picked up and brought anywhere you like to; your luggage will be taken care of (and you won’t have the hassle of having to carry it up and down a train or a bus); you will share your ride with people you know and nobody else.

You will find taxis waiting for passengers right outside the Arrivals terminal, typically in a line – you can just hop on the first one available.

Official taxis in Cagliari, like in the rest of Italy, are white and will have a “taxi” sign on top. I have never experienced unofficial taxis waiting around the airport terminal for passengers here in Cagliari, but if that happens to you just walk out and find an official taxi instead.

Taxis from the airport operate on a flat fee which varies depending on the area of town where you are directed, and on the time you are traveling.

A ride to the city center during the day starts at €17 and can be as expensive as €27, depending on your final destination in Cagliari. At night, the same ride will cost €20. You can pay in either cash or card.

Take a Cagliari Airport transfer

If there is a larger group traveling, you can also look for a Cagliari Airport transfer that you can book online. Some hotels may be able to arrange a pick up for you, but that involves sending emails, waiting for answers, and the like – so it’s just easier to find a site you can use to book everything yourself.

The price of private transfers varies from company to company, and depends on the number of people and on the kind of car you are picking.

The most reliable booking site for airport transfers in Sardinia is Welcome Pickups. They hire local companies that have English speaking drivers and well-kept cars. The booking process is very easy and the website user friendly, and once you book you can count on 24/7 customer service and free cancellation. They have very competitive prices too. I have used them of many trips I have taken in Sardinia, Italy and in many other places around the world and and they always have impeccable service, comfortable cars and very professional drivers.

Rent a car

Of course, if you’re planning to stay in Cagliari and visit the city only, you can rely on public transportation to travel from the airport to the city.

However, if you are planning a longer trip around Sardinia and want to visit smaller towns, the beaches in South Sardinia, go on coastal or mountain hikes in our regional parks and so on, you are better off having a car.

So, what are the steps to get from Cagliari airport to the city center?

First of all, you’ll need to rent a car in Cagliari Airport. My recommended company for that is Discover Cars. It’s a comparison site that allows you to check the prices of car rental of all the companies in a location, and pick the one that best match your request in terms of price, class, ratings etc.

Cagliari Elmas airport has plenty of rent-a-car offices and you’ll surely find the best option for your trip. The offices are located partly on the corridor on the far left from the arrivals gate and partly outside the airport (just follow the signs, you’ll effortlessly find yourself there).

My recommendation is to book in advance and go to the office with your booking ready, to avoid last-minute problems and excessively high prices.

Once you have your car, Cagliari city center is only 8.5 km (5.2 miles) away from the airport. You can easily get there via SS 130. Mind the traffic, those roads are always busy!

FAQs

Final Remarks

As you can see, it’s easy to get from Cagliari Airport to the city centre. Whatever means of transportation you choose for the short trip from Cagliari Elmas Airport to Cagliari, I hope you will enjoy your time in my beloved city.

My recommendation is always to travel by train as it’s not just more budget friendly, but also more environmentally friendly. Of course, if you prefer something more comfortable, you have options – the taxi is likely the best one.

Are you visiting Cagliari soon? What are you most looking forward to? Let me know in the comments below.