5 Markets In Cagliari For Your Shopping Needs

Markets in Cagliari are fantastic places to catch local action and shop for groceries – and among the best places to go shopping in Sardinia.

As the capital city of the Italian island of Sardinia, Cagliari is a bright and bustling spot buzzing with energy and activity. There’s no better place to discover the real Sardinia than at the incredible markets in Cagliari.

Whether you’re looking for a bargain or soaking up the eclectic atmosphere, Cagliari markets are where to find the best local delicacies and gastronomic delights and visiting is one of the unmissable things to do in the capital.

As I’m a local and a resident of Cagliari, I go to these markets in Cagliari weekly— if not daily! I love supporting local farmers and fishermen, and few things give me more satisfaction than cooking with fresh Sardinian produce, or, when I’m feeling lazy, snacking on local Sardinian treats like freshly baked bread with a chunk of Pecorino Sardo cheese drizzled in honey.

Hungry yet?

While Sardinia’s civic markets aren’t where you can find food trucks and street food, it is a veritable whirlwind of flavors and colors, a place where you can buy the freshest produce, meats, fish, and vegetables you could wish for!

Continue reading for my guide to the best markets in Cagliari and find out which are a must-visit!

5 Markets In Cagliari To Check Out

Mercato Civico di Sant’Elia

Sant’Elia Market hours: Monday to Friday from 7:00 am to 2:00 pm; Saturdays from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm. Closed on Sundays.

How to get there: Sant’Elia Market is located in Via Raimondo Carta Raspi. The easiest day to get there is by car. Alternatively, take either CTM buses line 5 or 6 in the direction of Sant’Elia and get off at the market.

Sant’Elia is a district on the outskirts of Cagliari’s city center in the old fisherman’s quarter. It is a picturesque neighborhood facing the gorgeous Mediterranean Sea. The market in Sant’Elia takes place every day but Sunday and surely is among the nicest markets in Cagliari.

One of the best things to sample (and to buy) at the Sant’Elia Market are the local cheeses. There is a ridiculous amount of Sardinian cheeses at this market, including specialty cheeses that are difficult to find in stores, like the caglio di capretto or the crema di Casu Marzu.

Personally, my favorite cheese is a salted ricotta affumicata, a hard cheese that has been smoked over beech embers. It pairs perfectly with Sardinian white wines or local mountain honey— both of which you can pick up at this market!

After you’re done shopping at the Sant’Elia market, enjoy a walk along the seafront or a picnic on Sant’Elia beach. It’s just a five-minute drive by car to the beach from the market or a 15-minute walk. If you’ve traveled by car to the Sant’Elia market, there’s free parking on the waterfront near the Piazza del Lazzaretto.

You can also walk up to the Torre del Prezzemolo, and from there follow a trail that takes you to the Sant’Ignazio fort and to the lighthouse. 

San Benedetto Market

The market is currently closed for restoration works and all the stands and stalls have been moved to the nearby Piazza Nazzari.

San Benedetto Market hours: Monday to Friday from 7:00 am to 2:00 pm; Saturdays from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm. Closed on Sundays.

How to get there: San Benedetto Market is located in Via Cocco Ortu, in the San Benedetto district just a few minutes’ walk west from Cagliari’s historic center. To get to San Benedetto Market Cagliari by bus, take the M line and get off at is called Bacaredda – Mercato Civico. Go as early as you possibly can, when the market is truly lively.

Located in the San Benedetto District, in what you’d call as Cagliari Downtown and just in front of the Villanova District (one of the four historic districts of Cagliari together with La Marina, Castello, and Stampace), San Benedetto Market Cagliari is a real feast for the eyes.

Of all the markets in Cagliari, the Civic Market of San Benedetto (Mercato Civico di San Benedetto) is the one I like the most, and the closest to where I live. I can still remember going there with my parents on Saturday mornings as a child, and feeling completely overwhelmed with the smells, the people, the chaos.

Now, I still go every week to get my fresh groceries.

The San Benedetto Market is the biggest market in Cagliari and one of Europe’s largest indoor markets. It takes place inside a two-story building and covers 8,000 square meters of space. There are over 300 stalls in total!

As is typical with Sardinia’s shops and markets, San Benedetto Market is closed on Sundays.

The lower level exclusively features local fish and seafood. The upper level is where you can find fruit, meat, cheese, bread, vegetables, and a variety of other local products. There’s also a tiny café where you can get a coffee or a drink if you wish, and lately a couple of places have opened that serve street food.

While the seafood level can be a little overwhelming, there is an unparalleled abundance of seafood to see at San Benedetto Market Cagliari — everything from swordfishes and squids to lobsters! Some of the fish on sale still alive, which is quite a testament to their freshness— albeit sometimes a little unsettling.

Here it is very common for the fishermen to call on customers while pointing to the freshness of their produce.

You can easily explore San Benedetto Market on your own – and shop there with no risk of being scammed. However, it’s a fun place to learn more about the city.

Via Quirra Market

Via Quirra Market hours: Monday to Friday from 7:00 am to 2:00 pm; Saturdays from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm; closed on Sundays.

How to get there: Via Quirra Market is located in Via Quirra. To get there, take bus 20, 5 or 8 in the direction of Piazza Matteotti. The stop to get off at is “Quirra – Mercato Civico.”

I used to regularly shop at Mercato Civico Quirra as I lived nearby. Via Quirra Market is located in the Is Mirrionis district in Cagliari, which lies to the north of the historic city center and is home to numerous public structures, including one of the local hospitals.

It is the second-largest civic market in Cagliari and also covers two floors of a modern (though a bit run-down looking) building. The ground floor is dedicated to seafood, with a wing focused exclusively on pork and beef products.

There’s freshly fried fish available if you want to purchase a fishy breakfast or lunch while you shop! In regards to the pork and beef wing of Via Quirra, be prepared to encounter animal heads standing on tables and full-bodied roasting pigs— it’s not for the faint of heart!

The upper level is where you can find fruit, vegetables, bread, sweets, and poultry products. You’ll also find homemade fresh pasta.

With more than one hundred vendors and stalls at the Via Quirra Market, you’re certain to find something heavenly to take home. It’s one of the most popular markets in Cagliari for a good reason!

Mercato di Santa Chiara

Mercato di Santa Chiara hours: Monday to Friday from 7:00 am to 2:00 pm; Saturdays from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm; closed on Sundays.

How to get there: Mercato di Santa Chiara is located in the Scalette Santa Chiara in the heart of Cagliari, right behind the famous Piazza Yenne. The best way to get there is on foot from either Castello, La Marina or Stampace districts.

Mercato di Santa Chiara takes place in the historic district of Stampace close to Piazza Yenne. You can find it at the foot of the Scalette Santa Chiara (Santa Chiara stairs), where this market takes its name from, right at the base of the stairs you can take to connect from Castello to Stampace.

The Mercato di Santa Chiara is the oldest market in Cagliari, established in 1957. Like the Via Quirra and San Benedetto markets, it takes place in a building and used to cover two floors. Today, it only takes place on one floor spanning 300 square meters.

The Mercato di Santa Chiara has seen quite a few changes in recent years, including shifting its purpose and focus as a neighborhood produce market to more of a space for tourists to snag a quick meal – so it’s the most touristy of Cagliari markets, yet a fun place to visit.

While there are still incredible tasting opportunities for local food and wines, as of 2018, the Mercato di Santa Chiara has added a dining area that serves food from breakfast to late evening. Moreover, there are staff on hand that can assist you in Italian, French, Spanish, and English.

Mercato di Is Bingias

Mercato di Is Bingias hours: Monday to Friday from 7:00 am to 2:00 pm; Saturdays from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm; closed on Sundays.

How to get there: The market is located in Via della Resistenza in Pirri, which is well outside the center of Cagliari. The easiest way to reach Is Bingias Market is by bus. Lines M, 8, 19, QS, QS / B all go there – you need to get off at Via Italia – Portici. If you happen to catch Line 15, it will terminate at Is Bingias Market at the same aforementioned stop, Via Italia – Portici.

Mercato di Is Bingias – locally known as Mercato or Mercatino di Pirri – is another place my parents would take me at weekends, in search of cheap finds, and probably the most local of all Cagliari Makets.

It takes place daily, except Sundays, in the neighborhood of Pirri, approximately 15 minutes outside of Cagliari’s historic city center.

Lying more to the south, you’ll be close to two public parks—Terramaini park and the Is Bingias park. Both can easily be reached on foot and are lovely spots for picnics once you are done shopping.

Is Bingias Market is relatively small, occupying approximately 400 square meters, with 40 vendors and stalls. It’s an indoor market that is pristinely clean – though keep in mind that there are quite a few stalls outside too, selling mostly clothings, shoes and household goods.

Regardless of its size, there is still an impressive array of fish, meat, fruit, and vegetables to peruse. I always make sure to pick up a bag full of delicate little pastries to savor on my way to Poetto Beach or to the Park when I leave.

Further Readings

Make sure to read my other posts about Cagliari:

• Where To Find The Best Pizza In Cagliari
• Cagliari Nightlife: A Guide To Cagliari Best Bars
• Where To Stop For A Coffee In Cagliari
• 15 Must Visit Wineries In Sardinia
• The Nicest Squares In Cagliari
• The Most Incredible Day Trips From Cagliari
• The 7 Best Beaches In Cagliari
• The Nicest Hotels In Cagliari
• 15 Incredible Restaurants In Cagliari

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