Transport
No motorways: the SS131 Carlo Felice and toll-free state roads, a car is indispensable. Trenitalia railway largely non-electrified (Cagliari–Sassari/Olbia about three hours), ARST narrow-gauge lines, Cagliari and Sassari tramways. Airports of Cagliari, Olbia and Alghero with territorial continuity; ferries from Olbia, Golfo Aranci, Porto Torres, Cagliari and Arbatax.
Sections: Arrival · Airports · Trains · Buses · Car & licence · Cycling · Accessibility
Rail and buses
The Trenitalia network links Cagliari with Oristano, Macomer, Sassari and Porto Torres, and via Chilivani with Olbia and Golfo Aranci, plus the lines to Iglesias and Carbonia: almost all single-track and non-electrified, with diesel and hybrid trains, journey times of about three hours between Cagliari and Sassari or Olbia and low frequencies; the link to Cagliari-Elmas airport is by rail. ARST runs the narrow-gauge railways (Sassari–Alghero, Sassari–Sorso and Nulvi, Macomer–Nuoro, Monserrato–Isili), the Cagliari and Sassari tramways, the tourist Trenino Verde (Mandas–Arbatax, Tempio–Palau, Macomer–Bosa) and the island-wide intercity bus network, with reduced runs on Sundays and in inland villages.
Airports
The three airports are Cagliari-Elmas (SOGAER, a company whose main shareholder is the Cagliari-Oristano Chamber of Commerce; the busiest, linked by train), Olbia Costa Smeralda (GEASAR, with a strong summer peak and private flights) and Alghero-Fertilia (SOGEAAL, low-cost); the latter two are run by companies of the F2i group. Air territorial continuity, decided by the Region and funded by the State, guarantees year-round flights from Cagliari, Olbia and Alghero to Rome Fiumicino and Milan Linate at fixed fares for residents and people born in Sardinia; airlines and fares change with each tender and should be checked on the regional website. In summer European links multiply, in winter many routes are suspended.
Sea and roads
Ferries are the only way to bring a car: Olbia and Golfo Aranci from Civitavecchia, Livorno, Genoa and Piombino (Moby, Tirrenia, Grimaldi, GNV, Sardinia Ferries); Porto Torres from Genoa, Civitavecchia and Barcelona (Grimaldi, GNV) and from Corsica (Ajaccio); Cagliari from Civitavecchia, Naples and Palermo (Grimaldi, Tirrenia); Arbatax from Civitavecchia. Overnight crossings take 6–10 hours and in summer must be booked months ahead; Santa Teresa Gallura–Bonifacio links Corsica in an hour. The minor islands are served by Palau–La Maddalena and Portovesme/Calasetta–Carloforte (Delcomar, Maddalena Lines). Sardinia has no motorways: the SS131 Carlo Felice (Cagliari–Sassari–Porto Torres) and the SS131 DCN (Nuoro–Olbia) are toll-free expressways; the SS125 Orientale Sarda and inland roads are slow and winding.
Sources
Updated: 2026-10-14
Updated: 2026-10-14
Updated: 2026-10-14
Updated: 2026-10-14
Updated: 2026-10-14
Updated: 2026-10-14
Reviewed: 10/23/2026 · by piero.avolio · rev. 1 · Period: → 2027-04-30
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