Getting To Sardinia

As Sardinia is an island, there are just two standard ways of getting there: flying and taking the ferry. There are three main airports in Sardinia and visitors can fly direct or fly to a major Italian airport and then take a hopper service over to the island. Flying direct can be expensive and the cheapest way to get here would be to fly to Italy and take a ferry over to Sardinia.

By air

Many visitors tend to fly to Italy’s Malpensa Airport and then transfer to one of the island’s three major airports via small commuter plane, although prices have come down substantially over the years from minor UK airports, making flying direct more feasible for most visitors. The three major airports in Sardinia are in Cagliari (south coast), Olbia (northeast coast) and Alghero (northwest coast). Taxis and local bus services serve all airports.

By ferry

There are four main ports on Sardinia including: Cagliari on the south coast; Arbatax in the east; Olbia on northeast coast; and Porto Torres on the northwest coast. Slow and fast ferries run daily to Sardinia including overnight services. These ferries have cabins, bars and restaurants, and are best booked ahead of time. Major ferry routes go from Palermo (Sicily), Naples and Civitavecchia (near Rome) to Cagliari; and from Genoa to Olbia and Porto Torres.

Sardinia airports

Sardinia’s three main airports - Cagliari, Alghero and Olbia - all receive international flights, with charter flights arriving from all over Europe, and Alitalia flying direct to Cagliari. Those coming from North America and Asia will invariably have to change at Rome, Naples or Milan. Cagliari-Elmas Airport, to the northwest of Cagliari town, is Sardinia’s main airport and has the best facilities and the best overseas connections. Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport is situated on the northeast coast and serves Costa Smeralda, while Alghero-Fertilia Airport (northwest) serves the other busy part of Sardinia.

Sardinia airport transportation

Shuttle buses run from all airports to their respective towns and resorts. Cagliari-Elmas Airport is five miles to the northwest of Cagliari along via Brenta for those who hire cars and is also accessible by shuttle bus; local ARST bus, which departs from the airport every 30 minutes; and taxis. Radio Taxi services connect the airport with the city centre in 10 minutes.

Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport is only about three miles south of the town of Olbia, an easy drive along the SS125 west and via Roma. Shuttles run from the airport to the city, from where transport runs to the various resorts along the famous coast. Bus number 2 also runs to the town every 10 to 15 minutes. Sardinia’s northwestern Alghero-Fertilia Airport serves three major towns in the region, including Alghero, Porto Torres and Sassari, and is connected to Alghero city centre via the SP4, SP42 and the SS127 BIS. Bus number 9 runs to the city centre every 30 minutes.