One of the most common doubts first-time travellers have is which airports in Sardinia to choose to reach the island.
Something many, if not most, visitors mistakenly think is that Sardinia is a small island (think Isola d’Elba), that in a couple of days they can visit just about everything, hence it doesn’t really matter which Sardinia airport they fly into.
This, however, can lead to an unorganised trip and a holiday spent driving rather than relaxing.
So, which airport in Sardinia should you choose when you are visiting the island? And what are the things to consider when choosing your Sardinia landing port?
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Cagliari Elmas Airport
Cagliari is Sardinia’s capital and its airport is one of the largest and best-connected to Italian and other European cities. It’s located near the small town of Elmas just outside Cagliari but public transport and local taxis make it very easy to reach the capital from there.
You can land in Cagliari from cities in Italy like Rome, Milan, Venice, Turin, Naples, Palermo, Rimini, Bologna, Bergamo, Pisa and many others. If you are in another European country, you can land in Cagliari airport from Paris, Zurich, Frankfurt, Dublin, Krakow, Prague, Seville, and many others.
Some of the airlines that arrive in the international airport of Cagliari include KLM, Lufthansa, AeroItalia, Edelweiss, Vueling, and Ryanair.
This is the airport to fly into if you are visiting southern Sardinia or if you are starting your grand tour from the city of Cagliari or the southern part of the island.
I suggest that my clients fly into Cagliari airport when they are either staying in Cagliari for the first few days of their trip or driving up to central Sardinia, whether it’s with a private driver or renting a car.
In fact, even if your holiday will take place around the Oristano province, Cagliari is one of the two airports in Sardinia that I would suggest choosing.
➡️ Check out my guide to the best hotels in Cagliari
Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport
The Olbia Costa Smeralda International Airport is one of the busiest airports in Sardinia. It connects the popular northern area of the island, including the Costa Smeralda, to several Italian and European capitals and smaller cities.
If you are flying into Olbia airport from Italy, you can do so from many cities like Rome, Milan, Venice, Bologna, Turin, Trieste, and Bergamo. If you are in Europe, you can reach the airport of Olbia from Brussels, London, Frankfurt, Krakow, Amsterdam, Nice, Monaco, Düsseldorf, Vienna, Cologne, Berlin, and more.
Some of the airlines that land in Olbia include Volotea, KLM, Lufthansa, Eurowings, Transavia, Aeroitalia, Easyjet, and Ryanair.
When is it best to choose Olbia when checking out all the airports in Sardinia?
I usually suggest Olbia Costa Smeralda international airport if you are staying in Olbia before hitting the road, if you are visiting the northern Gallura area, if you are kicking off your holiday with a boat tour around La Maddalena Archipelago, but also if you are traveling to the eastern coast of Sardinia, such as the wonderful Barbagia and Ogliastra regions as well as the beaches of the Gulf of Orosei.
➡️ Find some of the best hotels in Olbia
Alghero Fertilia Airport
The lovely town of Alghero is in northeastern Sardinia and even though it’s not as big as Cagliari and Olbia and also not as busy, it’s very popular among tourists. Alghero Fertilia is the smallest among the airports in Sardinia so fewer airlines land here and there are fewer connections with the rest of the Continent.
You can fly into Alghero from Italian cities like Rome, Milan, Bologna, Pisa, Naples, and other European cities such as Warsaw, Katowice, Bratislava, London, Bucharest, Barcelona, and Belgrade.
Some of the airlines landing in Alghero include Ryanair, Wizz Air, Aeroitalia, Ita Airways, and others. Many low-cost airlines land at Alghero Fertilia Airport and often take off from secondary, less-connected airports in the main cities.
When would you land in Alghero among the other airports in Sardinia? I suggest this port first of all if you are planning to stay in Alghero for a couple of days, but also if you are dreaming about La Pelosa candid sandy beach near Stintino, a day trip to L’Asinara National Park and protected marine area, and the northern region of Sardinia, including cities like Sassari and Castelsardo.
Alghero Fertilia is also the right airport to choose if you are planning to travel along Sardinia’s western coast and see towns like Bosa and the wonderful Sinis Peninsula.
➡️ Check out my guide to the best hotels in Alghero
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