How to reach Sardinia and get to Alghero

Location

Sardinia is served by 3 strategic airports, which cover every area of the island. Have you booked your holiday home in the north-east? Land at Olbia airport, the hub for Gallura and the Costa Smeralda. Heading to the north-west? Alghero airport provides quick connections to destinations such as Castelsardo and Stintino. The south is served by Cagliari Airport, the main gateway if you're planning to stay in places like Villasimius or Costa Rei. To make your arrival easier, ClickSardegna works with the leading car rental companies, so you can pick up your vehicle right at the airport at discounted rates.
Crossing by sea is a great alternative if you want to travel with your own vehicle. Visit the ClickSardegna website for special discounts when booking your ferry with the best shipping companies. The ports of Olbia and Golfo Aranci are the most convenient for the north-east, while Porto Torres serves the Sassari area. In the center, the port of Arbatax serves Ogliastra, while Cagliari connects the south. Traveling by sea allows you to have no baggage limits and to have your car available as soon as you disembark, making the journey a convenient, stress-free solution.

Logistics and main distances

01

Alghero Airport

Landing here allows you to reach the city center in 15 minutes by car. Stintino and its beaches are 45 minutes away, while Castelsardo is about an hour away. It's the ideal gateway to north-western Sardinia.
02

Olbia Airport

Olbia Airport is Gallura's gateway: Porto Cervo and San Teodoro are just a 25-minute drive away. Budoni is 30 minutes away, while Golfo Aranci is only 20 minutes away. It's the best airport for those who have chosen the north-east coast.
03

Cagliari Airport

From Cagliari-Elmas Airport, you can reach the Cagliari city center in 10 minutes. You can reach Villasimius and Costa Rei beaches in about an hour, the same time it takes to get to the Chia and Pula dunes.

Sea connections and ports

Sea transport is the logistical backbone for travellers bringing their own vehicles. The ports of Olbia, Golfo Aranci and Porto Torres handle the highest traffic volumes in the north, with frequent ferry connections from Genoa, Livorno and Civitavecchia. Cagliari ensures territorial continuity with central and southern Italy, while Arbatax serves as an intermediate port for the Ogliastra area. The widespread distribution of ports helps minimise road travel distances: once ashore, the main road networks are immediately accessible, making it easy to reach your final destination.

Getting around the area

The Sardinian road network includes toll-free main roads, such as the SS131, which runs north to south across the island, connecting Cagliari, Oristano, Sassari and Porto Torres in about three hours. For coastal routes, the SS125 (Orientale Sarda) and SS131 make it easy to get to the seaside destinations in the north-east. Even though there are no toll-based highways, distances are easy to cover. Although there’s public transportation, renting a car is still the best way to get around with total freedom and reach the most secluded coves.