Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Cagliari?

Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Cagliari?

Most people spend one to three days in Cagliari during their visit. The laid back city offers amazing highlights such as the beaches, the famous sights and museums, the historic old town, and the cuisine.

Cagliari is the capital city in Sardinia, and while many visitors to the island pass through the city, those who linger will be well rewarded. The city is built on a hill and has a charming atmosphere and an impressive medieval quarter - Castello. There are many architectural wonders as well as great restaurants and nearby beaches.

Do you have one or two days to visit Cagliari? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.

Is one day enough time in Cagliari?

With a variety of sights and attractions, Cagliari is a fairly popular choice for tourists. Given only one day, you will likely find yourself hurrying to experience the key highlights such as the beaches, the famous sights and museums, and the historic old town. To truly savor all that the city boasts, a more generous amount of time is probably needed even though it's not a huge city. Many travelers opt for one to three days to thoroughly relish the wonders of the city. However, if your schedule is tight, we have a handful of recommendations for making the most of your visit.

How to spend a day in Cagliari

Don't miss Castello during your trip to Cagliari, as it's one of this destination's most well-known attractions. You should make sure to set aside enough time to see it.

The restaurant and food scene here is top notch, so make sure you spend time at one of the local restaurants where you can taste the delicious cuisine. The cuisine mixes the island's sea and mountain settings. You'll find many local pastas, breads, seafood dishes, and cheeses. There's a wealth of diversity in the food and you should definitely step away from the more traditional Italian flavors and try something uniquely Sardinian.

A few tour suggestions include:

Small-Group Food and Wine Tour from Cagliari ($104)
Winery And Oil Mill Tasting Tour ($99)
WINE TOUR with sommelier in a winery near Cagliari ($69)

Cagliari is a walkable city and easy to explore on foot. With only a day in the city, you'll have no trouble seeing the local sights. While the city is very walkable, it is built on a large hill so come prepared for some steep climbs.

Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Cagliari?

A weekend is the perfect amount of time in the laid back city of Cagliari, as many visitors prefer to spend around one to three days here. Since it's not a huge city, over two days or on a weekend trip you'll be able to swim at the beach, explore the museums and famous sights, learn about the history of the town, and dine out at amazing restaurants. We have some suggestions for what to do and where to start your weekend adventure below.

Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy

How to spend 2 days in Cagliari

Having a weekend (two to three days) in Cagliari will provide you with more time to take in the best activities in the city.

The beautiful beaches await you in Cagliari, so spend the day (or several, if you can) relaxing on the sand or swimming in the water. While you'll find some nice beaches in town, if you're willing to head to the surrounding areas just outside of town, you'll be rewarded with amazing beaches. The beaches are enjoyable any time of the year.

A few tour suggestions include:

Boat Tour at Devil's Saddle: 4 Swim Stops, Snorkeling & Prosecco ($52)
4x4 Mountains And Beaches - Chia area ($98)
Tour of the beaches in Villasimius ($104)

The nightlife scene is very popular here. After dark, head out to one of the many venues around town. There's a thriving nightlife scene that is mostly centered around tourists. You'll find a number of the best bars in the Castello district and the atmosphere is usually relaxed and laid back, like the town itself.

The public transit in Cagliari is fast and efficient. Over the course of a few days, you should be able to explore the city quite easily and affordably. There are buses that travel around town relatively efficiently.

More Info

If you're looking for more information about Cagliari, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.