Getting to Cagliari
Several direct flights, including low-cost flights, to and from the Sardinian airports of Cagliari, Alghero and Olbia connect the island to mainland Italy and international airports. Ferries from such harbours as Genoa, Livorno, Civitavecchia, Naples and Palermo travel to the Sardinian harbours of Cagliari, Olbia, Arbatax and Porto Torres. For further information, please visit Cagliari’s official tourism website (http://www.cagliariturismo.it/en) and Sardinia’s official tourism website (http://www.sardegnaturismo.it/en).
BY AIR
Since Sardinia is an island, the best way to reach it is by plane. Three main airports connect the island to Italian and European airports.
Cagliari-Elmas
Cagliari has its own airport, Mario Mameli in Elmas. It is close to the city (only six kilometres away) and is the biggest airport in Sardinia, served by such low-cost airlines as Ryanair, Vueling, EasyJet, Volotea and AirBerlin. The main Italian destinations are Rome, Milan, Pisa, Venice, Turin, Genoa and Naples, and the main international destinations are London Stansted, Barcelona, Paris Beauvais, Brussels, Dusseldorf, Munich, Vienna and Frankfurt Hahn.
Since the routes for summer 2016 are not updated yet, we advise you to get up-to-date information from the airport official website (http://www.cagliariairport.it/en/flights.html) or to check the section below on the main airline companies to and from Sardinia.
You can reach the centre of Cagliari by train. You can take the train at the railway station of Elmas Airport. The station is only seven minutes’ walk from the terminal building and the journey to Cagliari city centre takes five to seven minutes. Tickets can be bought at the vending machines situated in the Arrivals area and cost € 1.25.
For further information about routes and timetables, please visit http://www.cagliariairport.it/en/local-transportation/train.html and http://www.trenitalia.com/ (select from Elmas Aeroporto to Cagliari).
Alghero
The airport of Alghero is located in the north-west area of Sardinia, 12 kilometres from the town of Alghero and 33 from the city of Sassari. Such low-cost airlines as Ryanair and Volotea connect the island to numerous cities in Italy and Europe. The main Italian destinations are Verona, Genoa and Rome; the international destinations are London, Madrid, Eindhoven and Bucarest.
Since the routes for summer 2016 are not updated yet, we advise you to get up-to-date information from the airport official websites (http://www.algheroairport.com/index_en.asp and http://www.algheroairport.com/destinazioni_en.asp) or to check the section below on the main airline companies to and from Sardinia.
The airport of Alghero is about 240 kilometres from Cagliari and the best way to reach the latter is the private bus company Logudoro Tours. The ticket costs between € 15 and € 20 and it takes three hours to get to the city centre of Cagliari, in Piazza Matteotti.
For further information about updated timetables and fares, please visit Logudoro Tours official website: http://www.logudorotours.it/collegamenti-aeroporti/.
Olbia
The airport of Olbia is located on the north-east coast of Sardinia, known as the Emerald Coast, 266 kilometres from Cagliari. Various low-cost airlines such as Ryanair and Easyjet connect Olbia to many airports in Europe. Volotea offers flights from and to Strasbourg, Nantes, Bordeaux and such cities in Italy as Venice, Turin, Palermo and Bari; AirBerlin connects Olbia to many cities in Germany, such as Berlin, Stuttgart, Nuremberg and Cologne.
For further information about destinations, please visit http://www.aeroportodiolbia.it/eng/airport or check the section below on the main airline companies to and from Sardinia.
From Olbia you can get to Cagliari by bus and then by train. The bus takes you to Olbia town centre, where you can take the train at the railway station. The train from Olbia to Cagliari takes about three hours and the ticket costs about € 17. Trains tend to have a stop in Chilivani, the main railway point in Sardinia, where you have to change train or wait for few minutes.
Further information about timetables and fares can be found at http://www.aeroportodiolbia.it/eng/airport/connection/train-routes-timetable-of-trains-in-sardinia and http://www.trenitalia.com/ (select from Olbia to Cagliari).
A more comfortable journey is provided by a private company, Turmo Travel, which organises one departure a day from Olbia to Cagliari and viceversa.
Further information about routes, timetables and fares is available at http://www.aeroportodiolbia.it/eng/airport/connection/from-the-main-centers and http://www.gruppoturmotravel.com/english-version/Linea-Cagliari-Olbia.php.
MAIN AIRLINE COMPANIES TO AND FROM SARDINIA
Since the routes for summer 2016 are not updated yet, we advise you to get up-to-date information from the official websites of the main airline companies connecting Sardinia to Italy and Europe.
Airberlin → https://www.airberlin.com/en-GB/site/start.php
Alitalia → https://www.alitalia.com/en_gb/
Easyjet → http://www.easyjet.com/en/
Meridiana → https://www.meridiana.it/Home/Index/en
Ryanair → https://www.ryanair.com/gb/en/
Volotea → http://www.volotea.com/en/
Vueling → http://www.vueling.com/en
BY SEA
From Genoa, Livorno, Civitavecchia, Naples and Palermo
Cagliari
The port of Cagliari is one of the largest ports in the Mediterranean Sea basin. Located in the historical city centre, it is a few minutes’ walk from the main railway and bus stations, the historical districts of Marina, Castello, Stampace and Villanova, the shopping area and the Conference venue.
Link to the port of Cagliari website
Tirrenia is the shipping company that connects Cagliari to the ports of Civitavecchia, Naples and Palermo. Tickets are available online from the official website: http://www.tirrenia.it/en/Pages/home.aspx. You can select your accommodation preferences among cabin, bed, armchair or deck.
Olbia
The port of Olbia is the first Sardinian port in terms of passenger transport, due to its proximity to the famous tourist destination of the Emerald Coast.
Link to the port of Olbia website
Tirrenia is the shipping company that connects Olbia to the ports of Genoa and Civitavecchia. Tickets are available online from the official website: http://www.tirrenia.it/en/Pages/home.aspx. You can select your accommodation preferences among cabin, bed, armchair or deck.
Grimaldi Lines connect Olbia to the port of Livorno. Tickets are available online from the official website: http://www.grimaldi-lines.com/en. You can select your accommodation preferences among cabin, bed, armchair or deck.
Moby Lines connect Olbia to the ports of Genoa, Livorno and Civitavecchia. Tickets are available online from the official website: http://www.mobylines.com You can select your accommodation preferences among cabin, bed, armchair or deck.
Arbatax
Arbatax is a town in the Ogliastra province, on the eastern coast of Sardinia. It is about 235 kilometres from Cagliari.
Link to the port of Arbatax website
Tirrenia is the shipping company that connects Arbatax to the ports of Genoa and Civitavecchia; it also provides inter-island connections to Cagliari. Tickets are available online from the official website: http://www.tirrenia.it/en/Pages/home.aspx. You can select your accommodation preferences among cabin, bed, armchair or deck.
Porto Torres
The port of Porto Torres is in the north-west of the island. It is well-connected to numerous cities.
Tirrenia is the shipping company that connects Porto Torres to the port of Genoa. Tickets are available online from the official website: http://www.tirrenia.it/en/Pages/home.aspx. You can select your accommodation preferences among cabin, bed, armchair or deck.
Grimaldi Lines connect Porto Torres to the Italian port of Civitavecchia and the Spanish port of Barcelona. Tickets are available online from the official website: http://www.grimaldi-lines.com/en. You can select your accommodation preferences among cabin, bed, armchair or deck.
Grandi Navi Veloci provide a direct connection between Porto Torres and Genoa. Tickets are available online from the official website: http://www.gnv.it/en.
BY TRAIN AND BUS
You can get to Cagliari by train and bus from all the main Sardinian ports and airports.
From Porto Torres you can reach Cagliari by train (http://www.trenitalia.com) or by bus (http://www.arst.sardegna.it).
From Olbia you can take the train (http://www.trenitalia.com) or the bus (http://www.turmotravel.it).
From Arbatax you can get to Cagliari by bus (http://www.arst.sardegna.it).
From Alghero you can reach Cagliari by bus (http://www.logudorotours.it).
Both the main railway and bus stations are on Piazza Matteotti, in the very city centre, near the Conference venue in Via San Giorgio 12. To get to the venue, you can have a 15-minute walk or take bus no. 8 from the square.
For further information about getting around in Cagliari, please visit http://convegni.unica.it/pala2016/getting-around-in-cagliari/.