Location: Cagliari
Top Things to do in Cagliari
10 Things to Do in Cagliari That You Shouldn't Miss
Sardinia’s largest city (with a little over 150,000 people) and its capital for centuries, Cagliari on the island’s south coast offers the perfect mix of recreation and exploration options. The five-mile-long Poetto Beach is among the best city beaches on the Mediterranean, and together with the adjacent Marina Piccola, satisfies all manner of sun and sea pursuits. Seekers of culture will love Cagliari’s old district, Castello, where 13th-century towers still guard the medieval city walls.
Restaurants in Cagliari
1. Santuario e Basilica di Bonaria
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 580 reviews
Reviewed By flyrobfly - Leeds
It is a very pretty building both inside and out and is worth a quick visit. Not much else to do there though. There is a small garden attached, round the back so you can stroll through and then head back off to the sea front
2. Chiesa di San Michele
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 133 reviews
Reviewed By KrisD_pl - Warsaw, Poland
Dating back to 16th century, this church is mostly recognisable for its baroque decor from 18th century. Chapels, ceilings, dome and pulpit are all lavishly ornamented. Outside the church, there's an old four-columned, stone pulpit - the Spanish emperor Carlos V is said to have delivered a speech from it before setting off on a battle against corsairs. Facade is also very pleasant, attracting your eyes even from Piazza Yenne. Free admission but check the hours of the masses. Definitely worth a short visit.
3. Monte Urpinu
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 480 reviews
Reviewed By CJW913 - De Pere, Wisconsin
Our group made a brief stop here while on a Viking Cruise shore excursion. One of the most famous hills of Cagliari, it offers panoramic views of the city, the ocean and the salt flats. Definitely worth the "Kodak Moment" stop.
4. San Benedetto market
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 284 reviews
This open-air market in Sardinia's principal city is noisy, busy, colorful and lots of fun.
5. Cathedral of Santa Maria
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 678 reviews
This 14th-century Cathedral is located in the medieval quarter of Castello.
Reviewed By CliveT64 - Ashford, United Kingdom
This was a short walk from our apartment in Residenze Palazzo Pes so we made good use of it. It is well worth spending an hour or two in the Cathedral with its wonderful art, The pulpit is a joy to behold. Kneel and say a prayer or two - it is a place of worship after all.
6. Museo Archeologico Nazionale
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 530 reviews
Reviewed By henry v - Green Cove Springs, Florida
You can spend lots of time going through the myriad of artifacts that are found in this amazing museum. The numerous intricate bronze figures have such fine details it seems impossible that they were made with primitive tools almost 9,000 years ago The Phoenicians and Punic cultures are described in many exhibits.My enjoyment of this museum was not as full as it could have been because many of the information on the exhibits was only written in Italian.
7. Torre dell'Elefante
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 568 reviews
Reviewed By WImom - WI
The tower is closed for renovation now. It is only one of two Pisan towers still standing. It was built in 1307 as a defense against the Aragonese. It is named after the sculpted elephant located on the exterior of the tower which is quite small. See zoomed in photo.
The crenelated portion was added in 1852 and used as a political prison. Apparently, when is is open, you can climb to the top for city views.
8. Poetto
Overall Ratings
4 based on 2 reviews
Reviewed By KrisD_pl - Warsaw, Poland
Maybe not in the center of the city but it still qualifies as a city beach. And a good one, with nice views and good facilities. That's all I expect from a city beach.
TRANSPORT TIPS: To get there you need to catch bus PF or PQ from the stop close to the train station. 90-minut tickets costs EUR 1.30 and can be bought in ticket machines under the plate "CTM bus ticket".
9. Tower of San Pancrazio
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 270 reviews
Climb to the top of this historic tower to get panoramic views of Cagliari, Sardinia's major city.
Reviewed By Kerry_Marsh - Australia
This tower was used as a port gate and prison for locals who came to work in the markets in the Spanish Quarter (when Sardinia was under Spanish Rule). If they stayed after the horn sounded they were locked up as they were not allowed to be in that area after dark.
10. Centro Storico
Overall Ratings
4 based on 292 reviews
Reviewed By CFofLL - Fredericton, Canada
Cagliari is a beautiful old city with charming narrow streets, shops, bars and restaurants. Over the centuries it had been colonized by the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Byzantines, and Venetians, to name a few and some relics of these civilizations still exist. It is lovely to walk around and enjoy. The locals are friendly and welcoming.
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