Looking for how to get from Florence to Sardinia? You are in the right place, I have covered that route a million times and I am about to explain everything you need to know.
Florence is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Italy. When you think about a trip to Italy, Florence will surely come to mind as one of the places to include in your itinerary, especially if it is your first time in the country.
It’s hard not to be in awe in front of the Santa Maria Novella church, the paintings of the Uffizi Gallery, the Ponte Vecchio and the overall beauty of the city.
Of course, Florence has one big flaw: it’s overcrowded with tourists, pretty much no matter when you visit. I was there in May last year and I was honestly shocked by the amount of people there.
That’s why many travelers spend just a few days in Florence and then move on to other places in Italy – Sardinia among them.
A holiday between Tuscany and Sardinia is in fact a great way to experience two different landscapes and completely different vibes of Italy.
Traveling from Florence to Sardinia is not complicated – as long as you know how to do it. Let me start by saying there is no such thing as a Florence to Sardinia train – that’s because Sardinia is an island, and quite far from mainland Italy!
There are direct flights from Florence Airport to the airports in Sardinia, and you also have the option of flying to Pisa, which is close and has more reliable connection. Pisa is easy to reach from Florence.
As for the ferry, again there is no Florence to Sardinia ferry but you can board in Livorno, a coastal city about 96 km (less than 60 miles) from Florence. There are various companies plying the route.
Need to find out more? Keep reading this guide as I will explain how to travel from Florence to Sardinia.
You should also read my post How To Get To Sardinia: Routes From Italy And Europe.
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How To Get From Florence To Sardinia
Direct flights from Florence to Sardinia
Direct flights from Florence to Sardinia are operated by Volotea, a low cost airline that tends to be quite reliable (I have used it a bunch of times with no issues). Amerigo Vespucci Airport in Florence is easy to reach – it’s just 25 minutes by train from Santa Maria Novella train station, and just about the same amount of time by car.
The airport is fairly small, so the process of checking in (in case you have luggage to check) and going through security is fairly smooth – no different from that of other airports, but since it’s never too busy it is also fairly quick.
In case you are wondering how far is Sardinia from Florence, allow me to tell you that the flight from Florence to Sardinia takes between 1 hour and 5 minutes, and 1 hour and 15 minutes, depending on whether you are landing in Olbia (a slightly shorter connection) or Cagliari.
You can check the prices of flights from Florence to Sardinia on Omio.
Flights from Florence to Cagliari
Volotea operates two weekly direct flights from Florence to Cagliari – the schedule changes every month, but you can usually count on a flight during the week, and a flight during the weekend.
The scheduled time of departure changes too, so it’s best to check the website of Volotea for more accurate information. The flight takes 1 hour and 15 minutes.
The prices of Volotea flights from Florence to Cagliari are super cheap, but as it is a budget airline, they can vary greatly depending on how far in advance you book, and on whatever add-ons you get with your ticket. For example, flying with Volotea is much cheaper if you travel with just a personal item and don’t need priority boarding.
You can check the prices of flights from Florence to Cagliari on the Omio app.
Flights from Florence to Olbia
There currently are three weekly flights from Florence to Olbia, and they are also operated by low-cost carrier Volotea. However this appears to be a seasonal connection and at the time of writing it is uncertain whether there will be direct flights from Florence to Olbia after the first week of October.
How much does a Florence to Sardinia flight cost?
The price of a Florence to Sardinia flight can vary a lot depending on how far in advance you book, and on whatever perks you wish to add to your flight.
Volotea is a low-cost airline, so you basically have to pay for whatever add-on you wish, including priority boarding or picking a specific seat on board. Of course, checked luggage has an additional cost, and even a carry-on bag to put in the overhead compartment has a cost.
But if you manage to fly with just a personal item to put in the seat in front of you, it can be very cheap.
You can check the prices of flights from Florence to Sardinia on the Omio app.
Flights from Pisa to Sardinia
Pisa is another airport in Tuscany from where you can take a direct flight to Sardinia. Flying from Pisa to Sardinia is the next best option if you can’t find direct flights from Florence to Sardinia, as it avoids having to go via Rome or Milan – which makes the trip time consuming (not to mention more expensive).
For example, if you want to fly from Florence to Olbia, you will have to take a flight to Rome and then take off again to Olbia.
The best thing to do, therefore, is to fly from the Pisa Galileo Galilei Airport, where you will find many direct flights with low-cost carriers Ryanair and Volotea. Both of them are very reliable and punctual – I have used them a bunch of times with no issue.
Security in Pisa Airport is fairly straightforward, and actually quite quick – as long as you don’t have any of the prohibited items (ie sharp objects or liquids above 100 milliliters). It’s the usual process: take out your laptop, iPad and phone, any liquids, and it will be smooth and easy.
Don’t worry, I will also tell you how to travel from Florence to Pisa Airport. Just continue reading!
Let me start with the best flights from Pisa to Sardinia.
You can check the prices of flights from Pisa to Sardinia on the Omio app.
Flights from Pisa to Cagliari
Ryanair has a direct flight from Pisa to Cagliari every day, and on some days you can actually count on two flights – this is the current schedule until the end of October.
The scheduled time of departure changes every day, so I encourage you to check Ryanair website for the accurate timings. The flight takes 1 hour and 10 minutes.
The prices of Ryanair flights from Pisa to Cagliari are really convenient, but keep in mind that since this is a budget airline, they may vary, so it’s better to book in advance.
Upon booking, you will also have to select whether you wish to travel light with just a purse, or if you want to travel carry on only or check in a bag. Priority boarding also require an additional fee. Needless to say, checking in luggage adds to the costs.
You can check the prices of flights from Pisa to Cagliari on the Omio app.
Flights from Pisa to Alghero
Ryanair also has direct flights from Pisa to Alghero. Usually, the flights from Pisa to Alghero are available on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. In July and August, you can find flights from Wednesday to Sunday.
Again, the departure time differs every day so you are better off checking directly on Ryanair for that. The flight will take 1 hour and 5 minutes.
You can check the prices of flights from Pisa to Alghero on the Omio app.
Flights from Pisa to Olbia
If you prefer to land in Olbia, you can book a flight with Volotea. The company has flights from Pisa to Olbia almost every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from the end of May until the first week of October.
The prices are very convenient too – but again you will pay separately for luggage, priority boarding etc. The flight takes only 1 hour and 5 minutes.
You can check the prices of flights from Pisa to Olbia on the Omio app.
How much do Pisa to Sardinia flights cost?
The price of flights from Pisa to Sardinia can swing a lot depending on the season, on the exact day of your departure, and even on the time of your flight.
Ryanair is a budget airline, so any additional perk (even the most basic ones) you may want to add to your flight may come at an additional cost too. Tickets can be very convenient if you fly with just a purse or personal item, but you will have to pay extra if you want to carry-on or checked in luggage, if you want priority boarding, and even if you want a specific seat.
Another thing to consider is that while the price of the flights may be convenient, the timing may be such that you’d have to pay for a private transfer to the airport, or even a night in a hotel nearby – which all add to the final costs of the trip.
You can check the prices of flights from Pisa to Sardinia on the Omio app.
How to get from Florence to Pisa
If you are traveling from Florence to Sardinia via Pisa Galileo Galilei Airport, you will likely need to know how to get there. You have the option of traveling by car (either your own, or a transfer), bus or train.
By car
If you have your own car rental, getting from Florence to Pisa is a breeze. You’ll have to take the State Road SS67 and then the A1/E35 SGC Firenze – Pisa – Livorno. Keep in mind that the latter one is a tall road. Keep driving until you get to Pisa, then follow the directions to the airport, which are easy to find.
The trip takes 1 hour and 15 minutes, but you may encounter heavy traffic, since the roads in Tuscany are always pretty busy. Therefore, I suggest you well ahead of your scheduled flight to minimize the chances of delays.
You can easily rent a car in Florence and return it to Pisa Airport. I recommend checking the prices of car rental in Florence on Discover Cars, the most powerful car rental comparison site.
By private transfer
Another way to get to Pisa Airport is by private transfer. There are various companies that offers many solutions to get to Pisa, with private cars for 3 people, or minivans for 6 or 8 people, so no matter the size of the group you will find something suitable.
You can book your private transfer from Florence to Pisa Airport on Welcome Pickup, my recommended provider for private transfer services.
By bus or train
The train from Firenze Santa Maria Novella Station to Pisa takes about 1 hour and a half. There are regular departures to Pisa throughout the day. Once you get to Pisa station, you can take the Pisa Mover, which is a super quick train to the airport – from the main station in Pisa, it takes just 10 minutes.
If you prefer traveling by bus, you can opt for Caronna Tour and get directly to Pisa Airport from Florence Bus Station (Stazione Tram 2 Guidoni). If there is no traffic, the trip will take about one hour, but if there is heavy traffic it could be a bit longer, so keep this in mind if you decide to travel by bus.
You can check the train schedule directly on the website of Trenitalia or via the Omio app.
Ferry from Livorno to Sardinia
Let me start by saying there is no actual Florence to Sardinia ferry. Florence is not by the sea and does not have a harbor, so if you want to take the ferry from Florence to Sardinia you’ll actually have to travel to Livorno, the nearest port city, to embark on the ferry. Don’t worry, I will explain how to get from Florence to Livorno too.
In this case, two companies operate the ferries from Livorno to Sardinia, and you can disembark at either Olbia or Golfo Aranci, both on the northeastern coast of Sardinia.
Ferry from Livorno to Olbia
Ferries to Olbia depart every day and are operated by both Moby Lines and Grimaldi Lines. Both companies usually sail at 9:30 am and 10:30 am, or even at 10:00 or 10:30 pm. The journey lasts between 8.5 and 10.5 hours, depending on the time of travel and on the sea conditions too.
Therefore, I suggest you book a cabin so you can sleep comfortably during the trip. Ferries can actually be more expensive than flights, especially if you are also bringing your car – so make sure you book your trip well in advance.
I recommend using Direct Ferries to check the schedule and prices of the ferry from Livorno to Olbia.
Ferry from Livorno to Golfo Aranci
Another option is to take the ferry from Livorno to Golfo Aranci, which is operated by Corsica Ferries. Ferries sail at 9:00 pm and take 10.5 hours to get to Golfo Aranci. The ferry from Livorno to Olbia and Golfo Aranci is usually available every day of the week.
I suggest using Direct Ferries to find the schedule and prices of the ferry from Livorno to Golfo Aranci.
You should also read my post Where To Take The Ferry To Sardinia for more information on other ferry routes.
How to get from Florence to Livorno
Much like for Pisa, you can choose to get to Livorno from Florence with various means of transportation.
By car
To get from Florence to Livorno by car, take the SS67, then the A1/E35 and SGC Firenze – Pisa – Livorno (the second one is a toll road), following the directions to Via L. Da Vinci, Livorno.
To get to the city port, keep driving on Via L. Da Vinci, then take Via Enrico Mattei and Via Donegani to get to Piazza del Portuale. The trip will take about 1 hour and 30 minutes if there is no traffic.
To check the prices of car rental in Florence I recommend using Discover Cars, my favorite comparison site for car rental. I have used it in many countries and have always found competitive prices and excellent service.
By private transfer
There are various companies that offer the transfer service between Florence and Livorno. Again, the price of the ride will vary depending on the kind of car you book and how many of you are traveling.
You can book your private transfer from Florence to Livorno harbor on Welcome Pickups. I have used them widely in many places in the world – including Italy obviously – and have always found them to be spot on!
By train
You can easily get to Livorno by train, from Firenze Santa Maria Novella station. Trains depart every 20 minutes from 4:30 am, so you will have plenty of choice. You will get to Livorno in about 1 hour and 20 minutes with a direct train.
Keep in mind that once you get to Livorno Train Station, you’ll have to get to the port. The best way is to take a taxi, so you’ll be there in 13 minutes.
You can check the train schedule directly on the website of Trenitalia or via the Omio app.
Final Remarks On How To Get To Sardinia From Florence
As you can see, getting to Sardinia from Florence is very easy. If you can’t find a direct flight from Florence.
If you are traveling out of season and there are no direct flights, or if this option is not offered on your travel dates, you can still count on direct flights from Pisa which are offered on a regular basis (and as seen, Pisa is very easy to reach from Florence), or on the ferry to Sardinia from Livorno, which again is easy to reach from Florence.
Whichever way you decide to use to travel to Sardinia from Florence, enjoy your time in my beautiful island!
Further Readings
If you are making your way to Sardinia from elsewhere in Italy or Europe, these other posts will be useful:
- How To Get From Sicily To Sardinia
- How To Get From Rome To Sardinia
- How To Get From Naples To Sardinia
- How To Get From Milan To Sardinia
- Which Are The Flights From London To Sardinia?
- The Best Amsterdam To Sardinia Flights
- The Best Paris To Sardinia Flights
- How To Get From Barcelona To Sardinia
- How To Get From Corsica To Sardinia
- Which Are The Best Flights From Dublin To Sardinia?
Pin It For Later!
Hello Debora, you won’t be able to fly directly to the US from Sardinia. The best option is to fly to Rome – there are direct flights from Cagliari, Olbia and Alghero and then catch your flight to the US. It’s just as easy to make it your first stop, or your last one. I’d leave is as the last one, like the cherry on the cake 😉
Hello, I read your post on how to get to Sardinia and it was helpful. Thank you. I’m wondering if we plan on visiting a couple places in Italy and want to end in Sardinia what would be the easiest way to get back to the United States? Or should we make Sardinia our first stop And end in one of the other areas we want to go to in Italy.? Mainly Florence and Venice. Thank you, Debora.