Deep-dive

Visiting Cagliari

Castello with the Bastione di Saint Remy, the Pisan towers, the Cathedral and the Cittadella dei Musei; the Roman amphitheatre, Botanical Garden, Bonaria sanctuary; the Poetto, the Sella del Diavolo and the Molentargius flamingos. Day trips to Villasimius, Chia and Nora, Su Nuraxi di Barumini (UNESCO). Municipal tourist tax.

Sections: Attractions · Museums · Nature · Itineraries · Excursions · Accessible visits

What to see

The Castello district concentrates the monuments: the Bastione di Saint Remy with the Umberto I terrace, the Pisan towers of the Elephant and of San Pancrazio (early fourteenth century), the Cathedral of Santa Maria, the Royal Palace and the Cittadella dei Musei, where the National Archaeological Museum displays the Nuragic bronze figurines and the Giants of Mont'e Prama next to the National Picture Gallery. At the foot of the hill: the Roman amphitheatre, the university Botanical Garden, the municipal art gallery in the Public Gardens, the sanctuary of Our Lady of Bonaria on the hill of the same name, the San Benedetto market and the Marina with Via Roma and its arcades. The MEM, the municipal media library, and the civic museums complete the offer.

Poetto: eight kilometres of city beach from Marina Piccola to Quartu, frequent buses; bathing establishments and free beach.
Sella del Diavolo: the headland above the Poetto, a one-hour trail with views over the gulf; free.
Molentargius-Saline park: flamingos, cycle paths, guided tours; free entry.
Villasimius and Costa Rei: beaches an hour to the east; Chia and Pula with the Nora archaeological site to the south-west.
Su Nuraxi di Barumini (UNESCO): the island's most important nuraghe, an hour to the north.
Carloforte on the island of San Pietro (by ferry) and Sant'Antioco (linked to Sardinia by the SS126 dir road, with a bridge on the isthmus): about two hours.
Monte Arcosu (WWF reserve) and the Sette Fratelli: forest hikes half an hour away.

Seasons and tourist tax

From April to October the sea is the reason to come; on 1 May the Saint Ephysius procession fills the city and requires bookings months ahead. Winter is mild and ideal for museums and trails. Guests in accommodation pay the municipal tourist tax, with rates by category and season published on the Comune's tourism site. Many state museums are free on the first Sunday of the month.

Sardinia