Cagliari Elmas Airport - Flight Information and Guide (CAG)

How to get to Cagliari Elmas Airport

The only airport in Sardinia equipped with an internal railway station that guarantees record times.

By Car

Accessible from the SS131 (Carlo Felice) and the SS130. Follow signs for 'Elmas Airport'.

By Train

The 'Elmas Airport' railway station is connected directly to the terminal via covered moving walkways.

By Bus

ARST shuttle buses connect the terminal with the city center, although the train is the most commonly used option.

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Tips The train from the 'Elmas Aeroporto' station is unbeatable: low fare and reaching the center in just 6 minutes with departures every 20 minutes, schedules on trenitalia.com. To explore the rest of Sardinia (Costa Smeralda, Barbagia), car rental at the airport remains the most practical solution given the distance between island zones.

Average travel time to CAG

Train6 min

Shuttle bus15-20 minutes

Taxi / Private hire10-15 minutes

Parking near Cagliari Elmas Airport

Official Parkar parking: Multi-storey (P2) for convenience, P1 for short stays and P3 for long stays and savings.

The Multi-storey P2 typically costs 3-4 euros per hour, short stay P1 is similar, while long stay P3 drops to 5-8 euros per day when booking online: a significant difference for those leaving their car during a one or two week Sardinian vacation.

How to get to Cagliari from CAG

Upon leaving arrivals, you can be strolling in the historic Castello neighborhood in less than 10 minutes.

By Train

Follow internal signs for the railway station. Frequent trains to Cagliari Centrale.

By Bus

ARST stops are located in the external plaza for connections to southern beaches (Villasimius, Pula).

By Taxi

Taxis available 24/7 in the Arrivals plaza. Fixed rate of 20 euros to city center; for suburban trips the minimum fare is 17 euros.

Airport transfers you can book in advance

Shuttles and private transfers you can book online, picked from the best rated by travelers.

Cagliari: Train ticket to travel between airport and city

★ 4.2 · 122 reviews

from €1.50 per person

Book

Car rental at Cagliari Elmas Airport

Car rental desks are located on the ground floor in the Arrivals area. All major brands are present.

The desks are open during flight arrival times; for overnight arrivals always verify with the operator the availability of off-hours pickup. Photograph the vehicle condition at handover to avoid disputes upon return.

Driver's license, passport, credit card, and almost always the International Driving Permit: these are the required documents.

Hotels near Cagliari Elmas Airport

The Servizio Ferroviario Metropolitano train connects Elmas airport to Cagliari station in just 5-6 minutes, with frequent departures from 5:30 to 23:00: for those with just one night or a same-day flight, the historic centre is almost always the most practical choice, because the train shortens everything else. Those extending their stay towards the beaches of Pula or Villasimius will still need a car, far from the airport's fast connections: for a simple stopover or a city break, staying close to the station or to Castello remains the simplest solution.

City centre

Historic centre (Marina)

10 minutes' walk from Cagliari station, then the train to the airport in 5-6 minutes; by taxi the direct journey takes about 15 minutes.

Best for: Those who want to see Castello, the Marina and the port and reach the airport in a few minutes by train.

Pros

Cagliari station a 10-minute walk away, with a direct train to the airport in a few minutes
Marina district a stone's throw from the port and from Castello, full of restaurants

Cons

Via Garibaldi is pedestrian and lively in the evening: street-facing rooms may pick up noise
A nightlife area: not the quietest choice for those with a dawn flight

Recommended hotels

Calarè Boutique Rooms 4 rooms in an early twentieth-century building on Via Garibaldi, in the Marina district; some with a balcony overlooking Castello. View availability

See more hotels in this area

Airport services

Broad selection of retail and dining services with an emphasis on Sardinian traditions.

Shopping & Duty Free

Duty-free retail and outstanding Sardinian craft shops.

Lounges & relaxation

Prima Vista Lounge offers comfort, relaxation, and work stations in the departure area. Access is included for business passengers and Priority Pass holders, or available as a day-pass at the reception desk. Prima Vista Lounge is standard business level. Hours generally follow the flight schedule operated from this terminal.

Connectivity & Wi-Fi

Free WiFi available throughout the airport with no time restrictions. Connection is immediate after accepting service terms via your browser, with no personal data registration needed. For a local SIM card, all four national operators (TIM, Vodafone, WindTre, Iliad) have retail outlets or kiosks at the airport—convenient if you prefer not to search in the city. All also offer eSIM activation in-store with a valid ID.

Families & Children

Equipped nursery facilities and family-oriented zones throughout the terminal.

Terminal guide

A single large modern terminal divided across three levels: Arrivals (Ground), Departures (First), and Services (Second).

Moving between the three levels (Arrivals, Departures, Services) via escalators, from check-in to gate you generally walk 8-12 minutes. Security checks can grow longer during peak hours of summer flights.

Served by various airlines and low-cost carriers, with an offering that increases significantly in the summer months for tourism to Sardinia.

Map of Cagliari Elmas Airport

Frequently asked questions

Q. How much does the train from Elmas Aeroporto station to Cagliari cost?

It's the standard ARST/Trenitalia ticket for the regional route, one of the most convenient airport-to-city connections in Italy thanks to a direct moving walkway.