Visit Cagliari and its surroundings in a few days or more…

CAGLIARI, the host city

Cagliari is the capital of Sardinia, the nice Mediterranean island known for its wild nature and special beaches. The island is rich in important and unique traces of its past ancient history: Nuraghes, Roman ruins, museums filled with prehistoric artifacts, and centuries-old churches. All around, beautiful sandy beaches with limpid blue waters and wonderful naturalistic parks.

Cagliari, with a metropolitan area of about half a million inhabitants, is a lively city that offers an attractive mix of history, nature, beach tourism, and nightlife.

The heart of the city is the Castello district (“Casteddu” as locals call it using a term which indicates the whole city too), the hilltop citadel, is Cagliari’s most iconic image. The old medieval city with its hidden jewels: the cathedral, museums, beautiful buildings, fascinating narrow high-walled alleys with boutiques, bars, and cafes.

Cagliari lies on the shore of the Gulf of the Angels. In a few minutes by bus or even by footsteps or bikes you can reach its Poetto sandy beach, beyond the “Promontorio di Sant’Elia” (Cape S.Elia), nicknamed the “Sella del Diavolo” (Devil’s Saddle). The beachfront area offers restaurants, bars, beach resorts, diving centers, and surf schools. Poetto is the favorite place for the inhabitants of Cagliari during the summer season and also on any other sunny day for the rest of the year.

Another jewel close to the city center is the Molentargius natural park, the favorite dwelling of the flamingos. In the past, Molentargius was the richest Sardinian basin where sea salt was extracted, a practice that was interrupted in 1985.

Visit t he Archaeological Museum in Cagliari

Sardinia has always boasted a renowned food and wine tradition. Whether on the coast or inland. Pecorino cheese, artichoke, saffron, and bottarga (salted, cured fish roe) are just a few of the high-quality products of our region. Restaurants, wine bars, and cafes are plentiful in Cagliari.

Some proposals for a day-visit around Cagliari

An incredible mix of millenary history, culture, nature, and traditions: this is Sardinia, our island. Every year millions of visitors come from all over the world to our land.

Villasimius: “A slice of the Caribbean in Sardinia and the “pearl” of the south-eastern coast located 45 kilometers from Cagliari, being a sublime strip of fine sand and tranquil sea that merges into the skyline (https://www.sardegnaturismo.it/en/explore/porto-giunco)”.

Villasimius is part of “Capo Carbonara Marine Protected Area”, where granitic rocky islets and submerged reefs scattered all around the coast of white sand beaches are perfect for unforgettable days.

Villasimius, Porto Giunco.
Credits: Pawel Kazmierczak. License: CC BY-NC-SA.

Villasimius, Porto Giunco – Credits: Elisa Locci. License: CC BY-NC-SA.

Pula and Domus de Maria: Chia sand dunes and the ancient city of Nora. Pula is a treasure chest of natural, archaeological and cultural wealth just 35 kilometers away Cagliari.

Chia area, Cala Cipolla

Pula, Città di Nora – Credits: filip fuxa/shutterstock.com. License: CC BY-NC-SA.

Organize your visit to Villasimius, Pula, and discover other magnificent areas in Southern Sardinia.

Su Nuraxi: in central-southern Sardinia, an hour away from Cagliari, the symbol par excellence of the Nuragic civilization, the only Sardinian site that has been named by Unesco.