Cagliari Area holidays

Popular holidays

Holidays to the Cagliari region put you along Sardinia’s south coast – home to a selection box of the island’s best bits.

Sardinia’s capital

Cagliari is Sardinia’s biggest city, and it’s the island’s capital. It’s pitched on the island’s south coast – picture pastel-coloured buildings stacked up around a yacht-filled port. Cagliari’s found just the right recipe for blending old with new, with well-preserved buildings often playing host to boutique shops and bars. If you’re staying in the centre, it’s around a 15-minute drive to your closest stretch of beach. Elsewhere, the villages and towns that pepper the coastline just outside of Cagliari often come fronted by a spot of sand – the photogenic village of Santa Margherita di Pula perches steps away from a two-and-a-half-kilometre stretch of sand.

Popular hotels in Cagliari Area

Top things to see and do in Cagliari Area

Beaches

Cagliari’s coastline

With a coastal position to play with, Cagliari’s not short on options when it comes to beach days. Poetto Beach is a top pick for easy beach days – local transport can get you there in less than 30 minutes. The sand on this stretch runs for more than eight kilometres, and its shallow, warm waters provide perfect paddling conditions. Further afield, the small stretch that sits in front of Santa Margherita di Pula features sands in shades of pink and makes for a firm favourite with families.

Shopping

Bargain buys

Cagliari’s San Benedetto market was the first indoor market in Italy. It’s also one of the largest markets in Europe, spanning an area of more than 8,000 square metres, with two floors playing host to more than 300 stalls. The lower floors are reserved for meat and fish vendors, while the upper section sorts you for street food, fresh fruit, vegetables, cakes and coffees.

Nightlife

Lively evenings

Cagliari’s got a big student population, which means nightclubs and bars are in big supply in the centre of the city. They’re spread right across the map – bars and nightclubs line both Poetto Beach and tucked-away spots in the oldest part of the city.

Food & drink

Fritto misto

This popular street-food dish is made by frying a mix of seafood – octopus tentacles and shrimp are usually in the mix – with squash and leeks. You can order it in a paper cone, making it easy to eat if you’re on the go.

Facts about Cagliari Area

Currency

Euro

(EUR)

Language

Italian

Time zone

GMT +1

Flight duration

2 to 3 hours from Gatwick

FAQs

Where can I find the latest travel advice?

All your questions about entry requirements, visas, passports or health information are answered on our Travel Advice page.