Cagliari is a town of 145,981 inhabitants in the province of Cagliari, in Sardinia, Italy. It is the capital of Sardinia.
The municipality covers 85.55 km², with a density of 1,706 inhabitants per km².
The nearest airport is Cagliari (CAG), about 6 km away as the crow flies. Read our guide to the airport.
Why visit
The capital between castle, lagoon and Poetto beach. Discover Sardinia
Things to see in Cagliari
Sun, sea and a castle on the hill
Cagliari, the capital of Sardinia, rises on limestone hills between the sea and a lagoon where pink flamingos nest. It combines a medieval upper town with a long city beach and a relaxed Mediterranean pace.
What to see
The Castello district, surrounded by Pisan walls and towers, holds the cathedral, the National Archaeological Museum with the Nuragic bronzes and the Giants of Mont'e Prama, and the Bastione di Saint Remy terrace with views over the city and the gulf. Below lie the lively districts of Marina, Stampace and Villanova, the Roman amphitheatre and the botanical garden.
The Poetto, eight kilometres of sand, is the city beach, closed by the Devil's Saddle promontory. Behind it, the Molentargius park is home to flamingos all year.
Food
Fregola with clams, malloreddus, bottarga, culurgiones, sea urchins in winter and the pastry shops' almond sweets.
Around Cagliari
The beaches of Villasimius and Chia, the Phoenician-Roman city of Nora at Pula and the UNESCO nuraghe of Barumini. Cagliari Elmas airport is ten minutes away, with ferries to Civitavecchia, Naples and Palermo. For more, see our sister site Go to Sardinia.
Cagliari on the map
Nearby towns
Where to stay in and around Cagliari
Tours and activities nearby
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