Cagliari Airport or Cagliari-Elmas Airport to give it its official name is on the Italian island of Sardinia. Every year, over 3 million passengers pass through the airport using charter or budget airlines. Many flights are seasonal and some are domestic flights too. Car hire at Cagliari Airport is recommended to really explore this beautiful island and it is just a 9 km drive into the city via the SS195racc route.
Cagliari Airport has a new modern terminal building with 6 gate areas. For those extra Euros, there are ATMs as well as a bank and bureau de change. A tourist information point will help you with any enquiries you have about the local area and advice on the best attractions to see. Wi-Fi access is available, if you wish to check your emails whilst you wait. The Airport information desk will help you if you need any assistance. There are 2 VIP lounges, so that you can relax in comfort before your flight and these may be booked for a fee. If you wish to buy last minute gifts and souvenirs, there is a shopping gallery with a wide selection of items, including duty free goods. If you missed lunch, there are coffee bars and snack bars to get you by or treat yourself to a gelato from the ice cream parlour. For something more substantial, you can eat at the airport restaurant which has panoramic views of the runway and local area.
Cagliari is known as the ‘City of Sun’ and is the capital of Sardinia. The old town or Castello is well worth exploring for its art deco and fascist architecture. See the Cathedral of Cagliari with its Baroque facade and the Bastion of Santa Caterina, an old Dominican convent. You can shop for souvenirs on Via Roma or for something a little different try Via Dante. Have a delightful Sardinian lunch in the old town and watch the world go by. Head out to Poetto Beach for swimming and sunbathing. There is much to explore in Sardinia, if you have car hire in Cagliari. You can drive out to Gennargentu and trek up the mountain or discover ancient archaeology at Nuraghe. Further afield, you can explore the pretty city of Alghero and enjoy its beaches too or drive out to the famous Costa Smerelda coast near Olbia.