How to spend 3 perfect days in Cagliari, Sardinia
Updated: Aug 10
"Living La Dolce Vita"
Day 1
Drop bags and find an aperitivo
Our flight landed in Cagliari around 3 pm and we were ready to hit the ground running. We chose to stay near the water, bordering the neighborhoods of Stampace and Quatiere Castello, and we’re so glad we did. While we could have easily taken a taxi to the city center, we decided to take the train into town for €5 and walk the 6 minutes to our Airbnb.
After dropping the bags off we took off to explore the town. We couldn’t recommend Rita’s place enough. Located on the edges of the city center, it was a perfect place to settle and was nestled among so many restaurants and cafes.
Just around the corner, we found a wonderful square which was the perfect place to enjoy an aperitivo to get the vacation started. The aperitivo is an Italian tradition, consisting of drinks and a light meal, that takes place at the end of the workday. Similar to the American Happy hour it is considered a warm-up to dinner and an event not to be missed.
Find a local Alimentari
Next, we stumbled upon Sapori di Sardegna, which was the cutest store, and stocked up on some god local cheese, meat, and wine. We also made sure to buy bottled water as it was recommended not to drink the tap.
Eat dinner
Impasto was recommended to us by a local Cagliarian and we were not disappointed. We went on the earlier side for dinner (8:30) and it was already pretty busy with a hefty waitlist. However, luck was on our side and we were seated outside within 15 minutes. Although I thought the outdoor space was ideal, keep in mind that many people smoke in Europe so the smells are not always great.
Day 2
Rent a car and explore Sardinia
We wanted to explore more of Sardinia so we rented a car for the day. The process took a bit longer than expected as I had to apply for an international drivers permit on the sport, but once we hit the road it was smooth sailing from there. We headed west and our first stop was to Porto Pino to walk the beach and take in the water. The views were unreal and the water was so vibrant- we definitely understand the hype around the beaches in Sardinia.
Eat Lunch at a Ittiturismo
We found Ittiturismo I Pirati Sardi and it was one of the best meals we had. They offer fresh seafood options, and you can choose what you want right out of the case. We ordered the sea bass and the clam pasta, and both were incredible. The server deboned the fish tableside, and I feel like I learned a new skill. The fries also tasted like McDonald’s-which was a plus.
Stop at a winery
There were a couple of options to choose from in the area and we chose Cantina Giba. The tasting was very informative, and we tried 3 different wines from the vineyard. Winery tastings seemed to be on the pricier side (with most starting at €35) but we thought our experience was well worth it. We made sure to go home with a bottle of the seasonal rose which were nicely priced at €11. If planning to visit a winery, our suggestion would be to contact them in advance and make a reservation.
Visit a village and explore
Sant’Antioco, which is a well-known spot for watersports, and is the 4th largest island in Italy was the perfect destination. It’s connected to the rest of Sardinia by an isthmus and holds a lot of history. We stopped by the archeological museum "Ferruccio Barreca”, which was so interesting and really explored the history of inhabitation in Sardinia. It ended up being about a 1.5-hour drive back to Cagliari.
Day 3
Shop and explore
For our last full day, we did a little shopping and explored more of the town. Since it was summer many stores were having their seasonal sales - it doesn’t hurt that new purchases over $70 qualify for a 12% tax refund upon leaving Europe.
Taking a break from shopping, we found the cutest wine bar and restaurant Sabores Bottega e Cucina for lunch.
Because the restaurant changes their menu daily (sometimes twice a day) they didn’t have one in English. Thankfully, the servers were able to translate and help us decide on a few dished. We landed on Fregula (a traditional Sardinian pasta with seafood) and the most delicious spinach and ricotta ravioli.
Sightsee and visit the landmarks
Once lunch was done of course we had to get some gelato on our way to the visit the Palazzo Regio and the Cagliari Cathedral. The palace definitely wasn’t a must -see but for only €3 it was something to do. Walking through the winding streets we found a bunch of cute shops and artist galleries.
Treat yourself for dinner
Cagliari has some amazing fine dining options and our dinner this last night was certainly one of the standouts on our trip. We went to Old Friend, a restaurant that achieved Michelin status in 2025. While we didn’t go for the tasting menu, we did try 5 or so dishes that were all so unique and interesting. For a fine dining experience, we thought the prices were very reasonable and the service was amazing. We made out reservation at 8 and when we got there it was pretty slow, however by 10 pm the entire place was packed.
Tips and Tricks
Rent a car if you want to explore outside of Cagliari
Pack appropriate shoes - Cagliari (and Sardinia in general) can be hilly
Make dinner reservations- especially during busy season.
Get an international driver’s license- some rental companies require one
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