On foot

The historic areas of Cagliari (Marina, Castello, Stampace and Villanova) are fairly compact, at about three-eighths of a square mile altogether. The streets are easy to navigate and walking from one sight to another is recommended. Only a few sights are more than two miles away from the historic center. In those rare cases, it is recommended to utilize cars, taxis, or public transport. Our recommendation is to stroll to your heart`s content all over Cagliari.

By bus

Bus service in Cagliari is run by CTM (Consorzio Trasporti e Mobilita, www.ctmcagliari.it, website in Italian and English). Buses run seven days a week beginning at roughly 4 a.m. on major lines, and the last buses of the evening run between 12:30 and 1 a.m. Tickets can be bought from CTM vending machines at select stops, newspaper stands, and tobacconists (noted by a black and white T above the shop door). Tickets are clipped once on board and it is not possible to attempt boarding a CTM bus with the intent of not purchasing a ticket. Tickets are roughly €1.50 for adults when bought in advance, and €2 if buying while boarding from the driver. These prices entitle the rider to one ride on one bus line: you can buy a ticket for €2.50 to ride unlimited for two hours, €4 for a one-day ticket and approximately €15 for a weekly ticket. The multi-ride tickets are also valid on the Metrocagliari tram line.

Lines that will be of most use to visitors are Lines 5 (kelly green on the CTM map) and 8 (orange). Lines 5 and 8 run every day except Sunday. Line 5 connects Bonaria, Villanova and Marina with the Castello di San Michele; Line 8 connects the sights in Castello and Stampace. For a full map of bus routes, visit www.ctmcagliari.it/download_documento.php?id=2503.

By tram

There is a light rail system in Cagliari, consisting of two lines, called Metrocagliari, run by Trasporti Regionali della Sardegna. Line 1 connects the Piazza della Reppublica in San Benedetto with Monserrato to the north. It is useful for those who want to experience the Cagliari that is off the tourist track; no points of interest outlined by TripMasters can be accessed by riding either line. Tickets are about €1.50 per ride on each line. To learn more about Metrocagliari, visit arst.sardegna.it/orari_e_autolinee/servizi_metroca.html (website in Italian).

By the tourist train

There is a tourist train called the Trenino Cagliaritano which takes visitors to various stops in the Castello district. It is the only tourist train that offers guided tours of the Castello district. The train loop takes 45 minutes and runs year-round. As of October 2018, the Trenino is priced at €8 per person (free for children up to age three). Guided tours are available in multiple languages, including Italian and English. For more information, including timetables, visit www.trenino.it (website in Italian, English, French, Spanish, German and Russian).

By taxi

Taxis tend to be white in color if they are sedans, or silver/gray if they are vans. Cheating customers out of money is rare; just be sure that the meter is on before departing. Be warned that few taxi drivers speak English, so if you are navigating on your own, have your destination (with address) written down on a piece of paper. There are taxi ranks at Piazza Giacomo Matteotti, Piazza della Repubblica and Largo Carlo Felice. Hotels will be happy to call taxis for you in advance if you ask them to do so. Fares start around €3 at flagfall, and rises to €5-€6 after 10 p.m., on weekends and on public holidays. Expect to pay €1-€1.50 depending on time of day/day of week per 0.6 miles. To call for a taxi, the most popular companies are Cooperativa Radio Taxi 4 Mori (+39 070400101, www.cagliaritaxi.com/en) and Radio Taxi Cagliari Rossoblu (+39 0706655, www.radiotaxirossoblu.com/en/index.php).

By bicycle

Cagliari offers a number of bike routes for every skill level. Biking from the Marina district to Poetto Beach is a fairly flat journey and is easy for novices. To learn more about this route, visit www.bikemap.net/en/r/2788893. If you can handle moderate elevation rises, you can bike a route that will take you through all four historic neighborhoods. To learn more about this route, visit www.bikemap.net/en/r/3409659. There are a few bike rental options in Cagliari: the first is the city bike share, called Cabubi (www.cabubi.it); others include New Way Sardinia (Via Sardegna 91, +39 3470533196, www.newwaysardinia.com); Easycletta (Via Giovanni Maria Dettori 3a; www.easycletta.it); Molentargius Bike Rental (Via La Palma at Vicolo La Palma; +39 070379191; www.parcomolentargius.it); and CarBusTec (Via Molo Sant`Agostino 25; +39 070498399; www.carbustec.com).

By car

Self-driving is recommended only if you will be visiting cities further away from Cagliari, perhaps in different regions on the island of Sardinia. Having one`s own car is not necessary if you are staying in the vicinity of Cagliari and Quartu Sant`Elena. In fact, parking tends to be at a premium in many parts of the city, so having a car could give you more hassle than not. If you are reserving a car, you will be picking it up at Cagliari Elmas Airport, and not in Cagliari proper.