Cagliari Elmas Airport

Cagliari Elmas Airport is about 7 km (4 miles) northwest of Cagliari city center, in the town of Elmas beside the SS130 road. Trains from Elmas Aeroporto station reach Cagliari station in 5 to 7 minutes, and a taxi or pre-booked car takes you door to door to the historic quarters, Poetto beach or the port in a short drive outside rush hour.

Yes. Elmas Aeroporto station is a short walk from the terminal, and Trenitalia trains run about every 20 minutes from early morning until the evening, reaching Cagliari station in 5 to 7 minutes. Buy tickets from the machines in the arrivals area or at the station, or online. Regular service ends in the evening, so late arrivals need a taxi or pre-booked car.

Yes. The airport stands in the town of Elmas, just outside Cagliari, so its official name is Cagliari Elmas Airport and many people simply call it Elmas. Its code is CAG, and it is also dedicated to the pilot Mario Mameli. It is the only commercial airport in southern Sardinia, so any flight to Cagliari lands here.

Cagliari has one passenger terminal on three levels, used by every airline. Arrivals and baggage claim are on the ground floor; check-in, security, Fast Track and the gates are on the first floor; and the lounge, lost property office and business center are on the second floor. Schengen and non-Schengen flights use separate exits into the same arrivals hall.

Ryanair has a base at Cagliari and flies the most routes, across Italy and Europe. Aeroitalia flies to Rome Fiumicino and Milan Linate, Volotea to Florence, Venice and Verona, easyJet to Milan Malpensa and Basel, and Vueling to Barcelona. In summer, Lufthansa, British Airways, KLM, Air France, Iberia, Eurowings, Edelweiss and others add flights from across Europe.

Villasimius is on the southeastern tip of Sardinia, about 60 km east of the airport, usually around an hour by car along the coast road. There is no direct train, and regional ARST buses run on a timetable from Cagliari, so most travelers take a taxi, a rental car or a pre-booked transfer, which is easiest with luggage or children.

Pula is about 35 km southwest of the airport and Chia about 50 km, both reached along the SS195 coast road. There is no train, and buses run on a timetable from Cagliari, so most travelers drive, take a taxi or book a transfer to their hotel or villa, which avoids a change of transport with luggage.

Licensed taxis wait at the rank outside the terminal, and several Cagliari radio-taxi companies, including Quattro Mori, Rossoblù and Cagliari 0707055, serve the airport around the clock. A taxi goes door to door to the city, Poetto beach and Quartu Sant'Elena. Turn down ride offers from people inside the terminal and use the official rank.

Yes. The Prima Vista Cagliari Lounge is on the second floor, reached after security on the first floor, and opens daily from 5:30 to 21:00. Eligible business-class passengers of selected airlines and holders of Priority Pass, Lounge Pass and DreamFolks enter free, and other passengers can pay to use it.

Italy is in the Schengen area, so flights from other Schengen countries arrive without passport checks, and arrivals from outside it, such as the UK, go through passport control. Non-EU travelers are registered in the EU Entry/Exit System (EES), fully operational since 10 April 2026; the planned ETIAS travel authorization is not yet in operation.

Car rental desks are in a dedicated area in front of the terminal, a short walk from arrivals. Around 30 companies operate there, including Avis, Europcar, Hertz, Sixt, Maggiore, Locauto and several Sardinian firms, renting cars, vans and minibuses. Two car-sharing services, Kinto and Playcar, also serve the airport.

The multi-story parking garage stands next to the terminal and is linked to it by a pedestrian bridge. You can pay at the machines or through the free Cagliari Airport app. Reserved spaces for disabled badge holders are on level 2 and are free with the badge, shown at the ground-floor counter.

Ask your airline, agent or tour operator when you book, or at least 48 hours before departure. On arrival, staff help you from your seat through passport control and baggage claim to a drop-off point outside. On departure, use the intercoms near entrances A, B and C, or contact Sala Amica, the assistance lounge, on +39 070 21121241.