How To Get To Sardinia

The Best Ways To Get To Sardinia

Find out how to get to Sardinia from mainland Europe and other countries. Should you fly to Sardinia or take the ferry? See the different ferry options and departure times from Italy, Barcelona, and France.

There are two main ways to get to Sardinia by Air or by Sea. Flying is by far the quickest way to reach the island, and much cheaper when compared to any rail-to-ferry options. 

Travelling by ferry gives you the option of bringing your vehicle with you. Conveniently, most ferries to Sardinia travel through the night, so you can head to sleep in a cabin, and begin your first day in Sardinia after the sun has risen.

Travelling To Sardinia By Air

In recent years the frequency of flights to Sardinia has increased. Sardinia is connected by International airlines to a host of cities across Europe including London, Paris, Barcelona, Stockholm, Madrid, Munich, Frankfurt, Dublin, Brussels, Oslo, Basel, Prague, and Amsterdam.

There are plenty of flights from the Italian mainland and Sicily to Sardinia, which connect all of Italy’s main cities to the three airports of Sardinia. Cities including Rome, Milan, Naples, Bari, Bologna, Turin, Venice, Verona, and Parma.

During the summer period, there is an increase in flights as many Italians and tourists alike arrive on the island to enjoy their holidays.

Each airport is not far from their respective city centre, and can easily be reached by taxi, as well as by public transport. Alghero Airport has a bus service travelling to the city centre that runs in sync with the arriving flights. During the summer a coach connects Oblia Airport to a number of towns along the Costa Smeralda.

Getting To Sardinia From The United Kingdom

Flights From The UK

EasyJet flies from London Gatwick to Olbia all year round. During the summer they also fly from Luton, Manchester and Bristol.  British Airways and AirItaly fly from London Gatwick between April and October.

Ryanair flies from London Gatwick to Cagliari, all year round. EasyJet flies from London Stansted to Cagliari, all year round. British Airways flies from London Gatwick to Cagliari between April and October.

Ryanair flies from London Stansted to Alghero between April and October. Thomson Airways flies from London Gatwick and Manchester between May and October.

Getting To Sardinia From North America

There are no direct flights from North America to Sardinia; the best option is to fly to Rome, Milan, or a major European hub like London or Paris. Alitalia, Delta, and American Airlines connect Rome and Milan to several American cities, including New York, Boston, Maimi, LA, and Chicago.

From the East Coast, you can anticipate a journey time of 10 hours to the mainland, then another couple of hours to reach Sardinia, depending on the transfer time.

From Canada, there is a daily connection from Toronto to Rome by Alitalia. Also, AirCanada flies from Toronto and Montreal to Rome and Milan.

Getting To Sardinia From Australia And New Zealand

There are no direct flights from Australia or New Zealand into Italy. The quickest and cheapest option may be to transfer to Singapore, Hong Kong, Beijing or a middle eastern airport hub, to fly to Rome or Milan, or to change again for a regional flight to Sardinia.

Sardinia Has Three Airports, Which One Is Best For Arriving In Sardinia?

Sardinia has three main airports that serve the island with domestic and international flights​, Cagliari Elmas Airport, Aeroport di Olbia Costa Smeralda & Alghero Airport.

​Cagliari Elmas Airport

Cagliari Elmas Airport is the main international gateway to Sardinia, it is connected to most major European destinations. The airport handles 3 million passengers a year. It serves the south of Sardinia and tourist destinations such as Carloforte, Iglèsias, The Costa Verde, Carbonia and Pula.

Getting to the city from Cagliari Airport

The quickest way to reach the city centre is to take the train. It takes 5-7 minutes to reach the city centre. A one-way ticket is €1.30, which can be purchased in the arrival hall and at the station, as well as from online ticket merchants. The trains operate from 5 am to 9 pm and one train departs for the city every 20 minutes.

Alternatively, there are taxis. It takes 10-15 minutes to drive into the city centre of Cagliari and the taxi fare is between €15-20.

There is also a bus service to the city centre. The first bus leaves from the airport at 8:40 am and the last bus leaves at 23:30 pm. A single one-way ticket costs €0.67, which you must have before boarding the bus, it can be purchased from the airport terminal or from newsstands. The bus stop is outside the terminal building and can be located by a black and white ARST sign. The bus station in Cagliari is at Piazza Matteotti.

Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport

The Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport links 14 countries to the Island. It’s a great entry point to explore the north of Sardinia, the Costa Smeralda and tourist destinations such as Budoni, Golfo Aranci, La Maddalena, Palau, and Santa Teresa di Gallura.

Getting to the town from Olbia Airport

A bus is the best way to reach the city of Olbia. The journey takes 10 minutes; you can buy your tickets on the bus for €1.50 or €1 at the information desk inside the terminal. Bus services numbers 2 & 10 depart to the town every 10-30 minutes. Taxis into the town charge about €15.

Alghero-Fertilia Airport

This Airport is 8km northwest of Alghero, named after the village of Fertilia nearby. It is a small airport that is a gateway to the northwest regions of Sardinia. It is near to Castelsardo, Sassari, Stintino, Bosa, S’Archittu and Porto Torres.

Getting to the town from Alghero Airport

Taking the bus is the best way to reach the city of Alghero. The journey takes 30 minutes. The bus departs once every hour from 5 am to 10:30 pm. You can purchase tickets from one of the machines located in the terminal for €1 or when boarding the bus for €1.50. Taxis into the town centre of Alghero cost €20-25

Flying To Sardinia On A Budget 

Many budget airlines connect European cities to Sardinia, airlines such as EasyJet, RyanAir, and WizzAir. The most economical flights are from Berlin, London, Bratislava, and Barcelona.

I recommend that you search for flights using comparison websites such as Skyscanner or Omio for discounted scheduled flights. Summer is the most expensive time to travel to Sardinia, due to high demand, it is also essential to book in advance during these months to ensure a ticket. The Easter holidays & the Christmas period also see an influx in demand and therefore cost. In the low season, you can find some extraordinarily cheap flights from Europe. Flights are much more infrequent during the off-season.

Getting To Sardinia By Ferry

Numerous ferry routes connect Sardinia to the Italian mainland, Sicily, France, and Spain. The crossing can take up to 16 hours if you are travelling from Naples to Cagliari, for instance. There are some faster, but more expensive ferries able to half the journey time.

During the summer months, the ferries will become crowded as everyone makes their way across to Sardinia.

Sardinia has five ports, Porto Torres, Olbia, Cagliari, Arbatax, and Golfo Aranci.

Taking The Ferry To Sardinia – From The Italian Mainland

Grimaldi Lines

Livorno to Olbia / Olbia to Livorno 
Journey time: 8 hours,  14 Sailings Weekly
Civitavecchia to Olbia / Olbia to Civitavecchia
Journey time: 6 hours 30 minutes, 7 Sailings Weekly
Civitavecchia to Porto Torres / Porto Torres to Civitavecchia
Journey time: 7 hours 15 minutes, 4 Sailings Weekly

Tirrenia Ferries

Genoa to Porto Torres / Porto Torres to Genoa
Journey time: 9 hours 30 minutes, 9 Sailings Weekly
Genoa to Olbia / Olbia to Genoa
Journey time: 10 hours, 5 Sailings Weekly
Cagliari to Naples / Naples to Cagliari
Journey time: 14 hours, 2 Sailings Weekly
Arbatax to Genoa / Genoa to Arbatax
Journey time: 15 hours 30 minutes, 2 Sailings Weekly

Moby Lines

Livorno to Olbia / Olbia to Livorno 
Journey time: 6 hours 30 minutes, 14 Sailings Weekly
Genoa to Olbia / Olbia to Genoa
Journey time: 10 hours 30 minutes, 12 Sailings Weekly
Piombino to Olbia / Olbia to Piombina
Journey time: 5 hours, 6 Sailings Weekly

Grandi Navi Veloci (GNV)

Genoa to Olbia / Olbia to Genoa
Journey time: 11 hours 15 minutes, 4 Sailings Weekly
Genoa to Porto Torres / Porto Torres to Genoa
Journey time: 11 hours 15 minutes, 4 Sailings Weekly

Corsica Ferries Sardinia Ferries

Livorno to Golfo Aranci / Golfo Aranci to Livorno
Journey time: 6 hours 30 minutes, 19 Sailings Weekly
Piombino to Golfo Aranci / Golfo Aranci to Piombino
Journey time: 5 hours 15 minutes, 1 Sailing Weekly

Getting To Sardinia By Ferry From France And Spain

Grimaldi Lines

Barcelona to Porto Torres / Porto Torres to Barcelona
Journey time: 12 hours 15 minutes, 4 Sailings Weekly

Corsica Ferries Sardinia Ferries

Toulon to Porto Torres / Porto Torres to Toulon
Journey time: 10 hours, 4 Sailings Weekly
Nice to Golfo Aranci / Golfo Aranci Nice
Journey time: 12 hours 45 minutes, 1 Sailing Weekly

La Méridionale

Marseille to Porto Torres / Porto Torres to Marseille 
Journey time: 17 hours, 1 Sailing Weekly

Travelling To Sardinia From The UK With A Car

The simplest way to reach Sardinia with a car from the UK is to drive through France, and take the ferry from Marseille. The ferry takes between 11-17 hours, depending on whether it stops at Corsica on the way.

However, the route through France is packed with toll roads. So many opt for a more scenic route travelling through Switzerland before taking a ferry from Genoa, Livorno, or Civitavecchia.

It is also possible to take a short ferry to Corsica, then drive down through the island before hopping across to reach Sardinia. 

If you are able, I recommend splitting the journey from the UK into stages, visiting some of the most beautiful parts of Europe on the way. A short stay in Switzerland or Northern Italy before heading down to a port. It helps remove the stress of trying to make it to the port in time for your ferry.