Which means of transport to use Sardinia?

From the airport to the city centre Sardinia

Cagliari. Cagliari-Elmas airport is served from Paris by scheduled flights operated by Air France and Ryanair. Round-trip fares start at €150 with hold baggage. Once there, you can travel to the city by train, which runs between 5.30am and 11.10pm. The journey takes 10 minutes, and tickets are collected from automatic ticket machines. A bus operated by the public company ARST runs between the airport and piazza Matteotti between 5:20 and 22:30. As with the train, the journey takes 10 minutes. Cabs to the city center cost around €20. There are also a number of car rental agencies, located in two buildings at the entrance to the airport parking lot. It is imperative to book in advance in high season.

Olbia. Olbia-Costa Smeralda airport serves the north of the island and its heavenly beaches. From Paris, EasyJet and Transavia offer regular direct flights. Round-trip fares with hold baggage range from €155 to €300. If you don't rent a car at the airport, a cab to the city center costs €20. Olbia is served by Aspo urban bus lines 2 and 10. The fare is €1.50, and tickets can be purchased on board. Buses operated by the public company ARST connect Olbia airport with the towns of Santa Teresa di Gallura, Nuoro and Cagliari.

Arrival by train Sardinia

It's possible to get around Sardinia by train, but not everywhere. The rail network operated by Trenitalia links the major towns: Cagliari, Carbonia, Iglesias, Oristano, Olbia, Sassari, Porto Torres. The secondary network is operated by ARST, which provides connections between Cagliari and Isili in the center, Macomer and Nuoro, Sassari and Alghero, Sassari and Sorso, Sassari and Nulvi. The same company also runs the Trenino Verde, a wonderful little tourist train that allows you to discover regions where there are no roads between April and September. There are routes between Mandas and Arbatax, Isli and Sorgogno, Macomer and Bosa, Nulvi and Palau via Tempio Pausana. The train is a convenient, reliable and inexpensive way of getting around the island. From Cagliari, it costs between €18 and €25 to reach Olbia, Sassari or Porto Torres, and less than €10 for Carbonia, Iglesias and Oristano. It's good to know that a round trip is cheaper than a one-way ticket.

Arrival by boat Sardinia

Sardinia is served by numerous shipping companies from France and Italy. From France, you can board Corsica Ferries in Toulon. There are also more numerous connections between Corsica and Sardinia, departing from Bonifacio or Porto Vecchio. The crossing from Toulon takes 13 hours, and 50 minutes between Bonifacio and Santa Teresa di Gallura. Another interesting solution for French southerners: embark in Barcelona... and 12 hours later, you'll be in Porto Torres. Connections are operated by Moby, GNV, Tirrenia and Grimaldi Lines. Ports of disembarkation are mainly in the north and east of the island: Porto Torres in the northwest, Santa Teresa di Gallura at the northern tip, Golfo Aranci and Olbia in the northeast and Arbatax in the east. Cagliari, to the south, is also served, but from southern Italian ports (Rome, Naples and Palermo). The cost of the crossing depends on the distance traveled, the type of vehicle, the number of passengers and the dates of travel.

Public transport Sardinia

The public transport company ARST provides most of the intra-island connections and allows Sardinians to move around the island. It manages bus lines where the train does not go, especially on the eastern side and in Nuoro, which are very poorly served. The company has also obtained the management of urban transport in the cities of Sassari (bus and metro), Carbonia, Iglesias, Macomer and Oristano. Finally, it operates the two metro lines in Cagliari. If you have a smartphone, don't hesitate to download the DropTicket application which will allow you to buy your ticket directly. It is valid for 90 minutes. You can also buy a 24-hour ticket, which allows you to make as many trips as you want.

All the major cities in Sardinia have a low-cost urban bus service. In general, tickets can be purchased on board or at tourist offices.

Bike, scooters & co Sardinia

You can discover Sardinia by bike, but you'll need to be in good physical condition and have calves of steel, as the topography is steep to say the least, even along the coast. There are few flat roads, but they are a feast for the eyes: winding roads that never end, spectacular viewpoints, small mountain roads and roads at the end of the world... Be careful, though, because driving in Italy...

Cities are beginning to embrace soft mobility, with a few bicycle lanes, but they are still rare. As a result, you'll often be plunged into general traffic, and vigilance is essential. In Cagliari, a beautiful path crosses the Poetto lagoon and circles the Molentargius pond. In town, the via Sonnino has been upgraded. The New Way Sardinia agency offers city tours by bike or Segway®. It's also possible to rent a bike. In Olbia, you can rent a bike from Bike 4 More, from city bikes to mountain bikes and electric bikes. Bikes can be delivered to your resort, as far as Porto Cervo, for an additional charge. If you're in the north-west, near Alghero, Raggi di Sardegna offers similar services at similar rates.

With a driver Sardinia

Cab is a relatively expensive service. It is only interesting if you intend to settle down completely during your vacations. The average cost is 2 €/km, which is a bit higher than in France. Most of the time, your hotel or vacation club will be able to provide a shuttle from your arrival point, at a lower rate.

By car Sardinia

Despite its insularity, Sardinia's fuel prices are more or less the same as those in France. In 2024, the average price for a liter of SP or diesel was around €2. Traffic rules are the same as in France: stop at stop signs and red lights, give way to the right and don't exceed the speed limit... in theory, because in practice, it's quite different.

In city centers and tourist resorts, parking is not free. The same applies to parking at certain beaches. Rates vary from town to town, but average €1/hour. You should be very careful in tourist city centers, as parking and traffic may be prohibited at passeggiata time, i.e. at the end of the day. If you leave your vehicle parked in a pedestrianized street, you'll be systematically fined, and you won't be able to get it back until the passeggiata is over. Check with your hotel or a local to find out which areas are affected.

Accessibility Sardinia

The farther away you are from the cities and tourist centers, the more difficult it becomes to get around using public transportation. If you intend to discover the Sardinian coastline or villages lost in the mountains, renting a vehicle (or your own car) is essential. Accessibility to transport for people with reduced mobility is as well developed as in France. If it is reasonably developed in the cities, it is almost non-existent in the villages. Only the big beaches are equipped with ramps and esplanades allowing wheelchair access, and often in a partial way. Access to the sea is never guaranteed. The uneven terrain, even in cities, makes it difficult to move around in a wheelchair, and some of the coastlines can be very steep.

Tourist traps Sardinia

You need to be very careful when renting a car. More and more rental agencies require a credit card such as American Express or Visa to guarantee the vehicle. If you don't have one, they will offer you a costly deductible buy-back that can double the cost of your rental. The best way to rent a car is to go through a reputable rental agency, and find out about the rental and payment terms and conditions on arrival.