The airport is about 7 km from Cagliari city centre, according to the airport operator, so for the city itself the choice is between the train, a taxi and a transfer. For beach towns further away the choice is mainly between a taxi and a transfer.
Taxis at the airport
Taxis wait outside the Arrivals area. The airport advises using only authorized white taxis with a regular working meter and avoiding offers made outside the official taxi lines. It lists a minimum daytime fare to the city centre: 17 euro on its web page and around 20 euro in the 2026 service charter. This is a minimum, and the airport recommends checking exact fares with the taxi cooperatives, especially with extra luggage, at night or on public holidays. The airport also lists 24-hour phone lines for the cooperatives.
The train
The train is the lowest-cost option for central Cagliari: the airport page gives 5-7 minutes to downtown and a fare of 1.30 euro, with a train roughly every 20 minutes. The station is a five-minute walk from the terminal. It is less practical with heavy luggage or when your destination is far from a station.
Pre-booked transfers
You book in advance and receive a confirmation with the meeting point and driver details. The price is fixed at booking (see the live From price on this page). Confirm at booking what is included, such as waiting time and flight monitoring. A transfer takes you to your address, which is useful for hotels in towns such as Pula, Villasimius or Costa Rei, where the road time from the airport is roughly 48 to 63 minutes according to our route database (approximate estimates).
When each option makes sense
The train suits you if you travel light, arrive during train hours and your destination is close to a station.
A taxi suits you if you want to leave immediately for the city centre and are comfortable agreeing the fare with the driver.
A pre-booked transfer suits you if you are going to a coastal town, arrive late, travel with family or heavy luggage, or want the price and meeting point settled before you fly.
Questions to ask before you choose
How far is your accommodation from the nearest railway station? How many suitcases do you have, and will you carry them on and off a train? What time does your flight land, and could a delay take you past the last train? Is the final destination inside Cagliari or in a town further along the coast? Answering these four questions usually settles the choice.
Sources (checked 2026-10-27)
- Taxi minimum fare (17 euro), authorized white taxis, train fare and time, station walk: https://www.sogaer.it/en/to-from-airport
- Taxi minimum fare around 20 euro, train about 6 minutes: https://www.sogaer.it/sites/default/files/2026-09/CDS_EN_31AGO26.pdf
- Approximate road times: ATP route database (estimates)