Cagliari plays the part of Sardinia’s capital city with panache. Its impressive cityscape stretches from the jumble of historic churches and palazzi in the hilltop citadel of Il Castello down to the elegant seafront Marina district and visitors often cap off their urban sightseeing with a dip at the trendy Poetto beach. The city is a top spot to explore the island’s cuisine with market tours and culinary experiences and also doubles as a gateway to southern Sardinia's UNESCO-listed archaeological sites, scenic beaches, and boutique wineries.
Like most of Sardinia, Cagliari is busiest during the summer, when the city swells with tourists enjoying the island’s towns and beaches. The mercury soars here in July and August, so visit in the spring or fall to avoid scorching temperatures and enjoy the city’s sights comfortably. In early May, you can join locals in honoring Sant’Efisio; this feast day celebration that has taken place for more than 350 years.
Cagliari is easy to explor on foot, even if you plan to travel from the hilltop Castello district to the waterfront Marina. The city also offers bike sharing and has bike lanes along the main thoroughfares. To explore further afield, you can take advantage of the efficient network of local CTM buses and Metrocagliari trams that connect the city to to the Poetto beach and Molentargius-Salt Works Regional Natural Park. There are also a variety of picturesque ways to get around, including open-top sightseeing buses, tourist trains, tuk-tuks, and horse-drawn carriages.
Set at the far southern tip of Sardinia, Cagliari has long been a cultural crossroads, and you can spot various influences in the city’s architecture, dialect, and cuisine. For a sweet example of the city’s mixed culinary heritage, try one of its traditional desserts: pardulas (ricotta tarts), sebadas (fried semolina dumplings with pecorino cheese and honey), candelaus (almond pastries flavored with vanilla, orange blossoms, and lemon zest), and pabassinas (raisin and almond cookies with honey and lemon zest).
