Car Rental in Cagliari

Why rent a car in Cagliari?

Cagliari is a great city to visit. The capital of Sardinia, it is as notable for its historical landmarks as it is for its great cuisine and the scenic beaches that surround it. Getting a rental car will give you the opportunity to also use Cagliari as a base for exploring the rest of southern Sardinia.

Top ways to enter Cagliari

• Cagliari Airport: Also known as Cagliari-Elmas, the busiest airport on Sardinia handled 4.3 million travelers in 2018. The airport has flights by around 20 airlines (although some are only active seasonally), including low-cost carriers like Ryanair and Volotea. Located 10 km (6.2 miles) northwest of the city center, the airport takes 15 minutes to reach.
• Alghero Airport: Also called Alghero-Fertilia and Alghero Riviera del Corallo, this airport is located on the northwestern coast of Sardinia. Served by about 15 airlines, it handled more than 1.6 million travelers in 2018. Located 240 km (150 mi) from Cagliari, Alghero Airport can be reached in 2 hours and 50 minutes.
• Olbia Airport: Also known as Costa Smeralda Airport after the famous holiday region in which it is located, this airport handled 2.2 million travelers in 2018. Like the two other international airports in Sardinia, it is mostly active during the warm months of the year, but has year-round flights by easyJet, Volotea, Transavia, Vueling, and Air Italy. Located 270 km (168 mi) northeast of Cagliari, the airport can be reached in about three hours by car.
• By sea: It is possible to travel to Cagliari by boat - there are ferry services connecting the city with Rome and Naples on mainland Italy, as well as Palermo in Sicily and other destinations. It’s a good idea to look up the schedule in advance as the service is much more active during the summer months. Most ferry companies permit taking a rental car on deck, but you should still check in advance. You should also ask your rental car provider whether they permit it.

City facts

• Cagliari has a typically Mediterranean climate with long, very hot summers and short, mild winters. The average high temperature is 31.7 °C (89.1 °F) in August, the warmest month, and 14.4 °C (57.9 °F) in January, the coolest. The precipitation is extremely low during the summer; November is the rainiest month.
• Cagliari is a major wine-making region. Some famous local wines that you have to try include Nasco, Monica, and Nuragus (the latter named after an ancient civilization that used to inhabit Sardinia even before the Romans). Cagliari’s excellent seafood is not to be missed, either.
• Like the rest of the island, Cagliari has two official languages - Italian and native Sardinian (the two are related, but not mutually intelligible). The city’s name in Sardinian is Casteddu. The knowledge of English varies, but is higher among people working in tourism and service industries. Some people also speak French, Spanish, or German.

Top sights and activities

• Cathedral of St. Mary and St. Cecilia. Built in the 13th century and overlooking much of the rest of the city, this cathedral has been renovated numerous times and features a number of beautiful paintings and sculptures.
• Basilica di San Saturnino. Another great historical building, this basilica is a paleochristian monument first built in the 5th Century. Although it has understandably been rebuilt a number of times, you can still see some of the remains of the original church complex.
• Galleria Comunale d'Arte. Located on the very central Viale San Vincenzo near the opera house to the east and the city botanic gardens to the west, this gallery hosts many important Italian artworks, especially from the 19th and 20th century.
• Pisan towers. Located in the old town, the two 14th century towers are among the most notable landmarks of the city. Known as the Saint Pancras and Elephant Towers, they were built in the early 14th century during the period when the city was dominated by the rulers of the Tuscan city of Pisa. Although not as well known, there is also the third Pisan tower, Torre dello Sperone.

Traffic and parking

• The speed limit in cities is 50 km/h, although in certain areas the speed limit may be reduced to 30 km/h. 
• Main highways are limited to 130 km/h, non-major highways to 110 km/h, and local roads to 90 km/h. During the rain the limits are respectively lowered to 110 km/h, 100 km/h, and 80 km/h. The general speed limit is lowered to 50 km/h during heavy fog or other cases of bad visibility.
• The best way to see much of the island from the local’s point of view is to leave the main highways and to explore the smaller strade provinciali or regional roads. Many hidden, but awesome beaches and farm-stays are only accessible by them.
• Do watch out for blue notes - they indicate pay-and-display parking spots. The areas with white lines are for free parking and the yellow lines indicate areas only accessible to drivers with special passes.
• The insurance and car documentation needs to be in the car whenever you’re driving.
• If you’re the driver, you need to have your passport or ID card with you at all times.
• The legal alcohol limit is 0.05% for experienced drivers and 0.00% for novice drivers. Being over the allowed limit can result in hefty fines and even imprisonment. 
• The emergency number, like elsewhere in the EU, is 112.

Toll roads

There are no toll roads in Sardinia - all highways and regional roads can be accessed free of charge. However, there are restricted traffic areas (Le zone a traffico limitato or ZTL), like some city centers, where you are not allowed to drive. These areas can sometimes be poorly marked and you might enter them by accident, so it’s better to look them up in advance on the official European Urban Access Regulations website. 

There are numerous toll roads on Mainland Italy. The exact fee depends on the route of your choice and the type of a vehicle. See the official Italian toll road website for more information. Use the website’s toll road calculator to find out exactly how much you’ll have to pay for using the toll roads on your planned route.

Ideas for day trips

• Beaches. Many travelers go to Cagliari for its nearby beaches and there’s a very good reason for that. The centrally located Poetto Beach is one of the most famous in the whole of Italy and offers everything from relaxation and swimming to nearby nightclubs, coastside restaurants and opportunities for water sports. Should you ever find Poetto too busy, hop into your rental car and you will soon reach smaller but equally charming beaches like Calamosca, Chia, Solanas, and many others.
• Gennargentu National Park. Famous for its canyons, mountains, and rugged coastline, this beautiful nature area is home to unique wildlife like mouflon, Sardinian wildcat, and the griffon vulture, as well as maritime mammals like monk seal and sperm whale.
• Capoterra. Known for its gardens, beaches, and Monte Arcosu Nature Reserve, the earth’s cape is just a half an hour’s drive away from Cagliari and makes a splendid day-trip destination.
• Tuvixeddu Necropolis. Visiting an ancient burial ground might not be in your plans for an idyllic beach holiday, but the fascinating Tuvixeddu might make you reconsider. More than 2,500 years old, it was built by the Phoenicians and is characterized by the decorations and riches that have been unearthed at the site and are now on display. The Romans who ruled the area later apparently found the location appropriate for the task and made their own burial ground nearby which can also be explored. The trip from central Cagliari takes only about ten minutes by car.

Most popular cars

The most popular rental car in Italy is the Fiat Panda, although travelers also like the Ford Fiesta and the Fiat 500. The most often picked rental car types are economy, mini, and compact.

Further destinations

• Costa Smeralda. A 20 km-long (12 mile) stretch of stunning coastline, the northeastern Costa Smeralda is, for many visitors to Sardinia, the number one attraction on the island. The lovely beaches are near the city of Olbia (a fine destination in its own right) which has an international airport, so it’s possible to pick up a car in Cagliari and drop it off here without the need to return back south. Having a rental car also gives you the opportunity to drive up and down the northern coast and discover spots that are less developed than Costa Smeralda but are arguably just as beautiful. The drive from Cagliari takes about 3 hours and 30 minutes.
• Alghero. Also located on the island’s northern coast, but in the west rather than east, Alghero is a culturally unique destination known for its strong Catalan heritage. The Catalan language still has a notable presence in the city, as does the Catalan–Gothic architecture. The drive from Cagliari up the western coast of Sardinia takes about three hours. Like Olbia, Alghero also has its own small, but well-connected international airport.
• Mainland Italy. From posh Milan to timeless Rome and hospitable south, Italy is as enjoyable a travel destination as you’ll find anywhere. There are many daily flights from Cagliari. You can also take a ferry to Naples, but check with your rental car provider first if they permit bring a rental car on it.
• Sicily. The larger and equally interesting Italian island, Sicily is home to volcanic landscapes, ancient sites, and rich cultural influences. You can either fly or take a ferry to Palermo, but check with your rental car provider first if they permit bring a rental car on it.

Car rental prices in Cagliari

• Small cars - from $32 per day
• Medium cars - from $41 per day
• SUVs - from $41 per day
• Station wagons - from $70 per day
• Large cars - from $56 per day
• Vans - from $62 per day
• Premium cars - from $147 per day
• Convertibles - from $107 per day

Money-saving and other tips

You can do many things to get a good rental car deal in Cagliari:

• Compare rates of different rental car providers
• Book your rental car well in advance
• Plan your route before you go
• Know your fuel and mileage requirements
• Visit on the month when the rental prices are the cheapest. According to our data, visiting Cagliari is the cheapest in January when renting a car is a whopping 74% cheaper than the yearly average.