Cagliari Elmas Airport (CAG) - the airport of southern Sardinia

Cagliari Elmas Airport (CAG), officially Aeroporto di Cagliari-Elmas “Mario Mameli”, is the busiest airport in Sardinia.

The airport is 7 km northwest of central Cagliari in the southern end of the Italian island of Sardinia. It’s one of three international airports serving the Mediterranean island, the other two being Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport (OLB) and Alghero - Riviera del Corallo Airport (AHO).

In 2025, CAG handled just over 5 million passengers, making it Italy’s 12th busiest airport.

Major Airlines - Ryanair,

Ryanair is the undisputed leader at Cagliari Airport with over 450 flights per month to 40+ destinations. The airport is considered a focus city for the low-cost carrier.

Most flights at CAG are operated by low-cost airlines, of which Ryanair is the largest.

Cagliari is a focus city for Volotea, too. The Spanish low-cost airline links southern Sardinia with several cities in Italy.

Other prominent carriers at CAG include the two largest Italian airlines - AeroItalia and the flag carrier, ITA Airways. Both focus on domestic routes to major hubs, including Milan and Rome.

Cagliari handles a lot more flights during the summer. With the high season, many airlines open new routes to and from Sardinia to cater to holidaymakers’ demand. Popular airlines include easyJet, Eurowings, and Neos.

Larger airlines like British Airways, Lufthansa, Air France, Iberia, and KLM also operate routes to their respective hubs during the summer.

See all airlines at Cagliari Elmas Airport.

Volotea is a popular Spanish LCC that flies to and from Cagliari Elmas Airport.

Terminal Layout and Gates

Cagliari Airport has one terminal spread over three levels:

Ground Level: Dedicated to Arrivals and includes Passport control, baggage claim, and exits.
First Floor: Dedicated to Departures and includes 42 check-in desks, airline ticket counters, 8 attached and 6 remote boarding gates.
Second Floor: Has only administrative offices and a McDonald's restaurant.

The split between Schengen and non-Schengen flights is after Security. The walking distance from the Check-in area to the farthest gates is less than 10 minutes, but you should allow extra time for the Security check, especially during the summer.

The airport is open 24/7, but to remain inside, you must be a ticketed passenger.

Free Wi-Fi and other services

Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the terminal via the "Wifi Cagliari Airport" hotspot. After you select the network, the welcome page should automatically open. There, follow the instructions to register. The connection is not limited in duration or bandwidth.

Other passenger services at Cagliari Airport include:

ATMs are available in both the Arrivals and Departures areas of the airport.
Currency exchange
Tourist information desk: in the Arrivals area, open every day from 9 AM to 9 PM.
Free water refill stations: 2 before Security and 3 after Security.
Pharmacy: FARMAfly is located on the 1st floor in the Shopping Arcade.
Luggage wrapping in Departures.
First-aid station: Available 24/7 in Arrivals.
Chapel: Open daily from 7 AM to 7 PM in Departures.
Fast track: You can buy a pass at one of the automated kiosks just before Security for 5 EUR.

See the best things to do in Cagliari and Sardinia!

Lounges at Cagliari-Elmas “Mario Mameli” Airport

Cagliari has just one public lounge. The Prima Vista Lounge is located airside, after security, on the 2nd floor of the Departure area of the terminal. It is open daily from 5:30 AM to 9 PM.

The lounge offers 250 sq. m. of comfortable space for a quieter airport experience. There is also a working area, a food corner with light refreshments and drinks, and a smoking area. Wi-Fi and newspapers are free of charge.

Business-class passengers on several airlines, including ITA Airways, Lufthansa, British Airways, and Iberia, can enter for free. The lounge also accepts passes from the most popular membership programs, including Dragon Pass, Lounge Pass, Priority Pass, and Lounge Key. Diners Club members can also enter for free.

Everyone else is also welcome on a pay-at-the-door basis. The pass costs 30 EUR for adults and 15 EUR for minors (2-14).

Dining Options at Cagliari Airport

The airport has about a dozen places where you can buy food or coffee, or sit down for a meal.

Most are located airside, but a few are in the Arrivals area.

Popular places at CAG include:

Argiolas: a wine bar that serves exclusive dishes. Located in the boarding area.
Baccusardus: A cantina/bakery with various options for a quick meal. Located in the car rental area.
Etigua by Lavazza: a coffee-bakery in the boarding area.
Gourmè: A wine bar with a menu of traditional Italian baked goods. Located in the boarding area.
Löwengrube: A casual restaurant for Bavarian cuisine, including stews and roasts, and sandwiches. Find it in the boarding area.
McDonald’s: The burger specialist chain is the only restaurant on the 2nd floor of Departures. Offers quick meals and pleasing views of the runway.
Mokà Cafè: A cafe and bakery in Arrivals.
Natoo: A cafe and healthy bar in the check-in area.
Panella: A bakery that serves awesome coffee, ice cream, stuffed focaccias, gourmet pizza,s and pizzettas, located on the first floor in the commercial gallery and during the summer also on the ground floor in the boarding area.
Wine Bar Cagliari: Offers wines from across the island and other traditional Sardinian products. Located in the boarding area.

There is also a convenience store on the ground floor before Security, where you can grab drinks, desserts, and travel essentials.

Transport to and from the airport

The Elmas Aeroporto train station is a 5-minute walk from the terminal. There you can take a Trenitalia train to Cagliari Centrale, which takes around 10 minutes.

Trains run every 20 minutes, between 5:30 AM and 11 PM (from the airport). Single tickets for the Cagliari city center cost 1.30 EUR and are available from the machine in the arrivals hall or online. Remember to validate it on the platform.

At the Airport’s station, you can also take trains to all major cities in Sardinia, including:

Oristano (6.10 EUR, ~1 hour)
Macomer (9.50 EUR, ~2 hours)
Olbia (18 EUR, ~3.5 hours)
Sassari (16,50 EUR, ~3.5 hours)

After 11:07 (the last train from the airport), there is one more service to the Cagliari city center via the Line 160 ARST bus.

Overnight (and at any point during the day, too), taxis are your only option to reach the city. The taxi ranks are outside Arrivals. Rides to Cagliari take 10-15 minutes and cost a flat rate of 17 EUR.

You can check more information about private transfers from Cagliari Elmas Airport here.

If you want to explore Sardinia by car, renting directly at CAG is as easy as approaching one of the car rental desks in the long-term multistorey car park outside the terminal. Major companies present at the airport include Avis, Europcar, Hertz, Sixt, Locauto, and others.

Parking at CAG

Cagliari Elmas offers several short-term parking options in front of the terminal, where the first 10 minutes are free, and a few more cheaper ones suitable for longer stays, a little bit farther away.

Right in front of the terminal, you can choose between:

Kiss&Fly Zone: Intended for drop-offs and pick-ups, and is practically right in front of the terminal’s exit/entrance. Costs 3 EUR per hour or 30 EUR per day.
P3: A multi-storey parking in front of the terminal. Costs 1 EUR for the first hour and 3 EUR for each additional hour, up to 24 EUR per day.
P1: In front of Arrivals. Costs 1 EUR for the first hour, 2 EUR for each additional hour, up to 18 EUR per day.
P2: In front of Arrivals. Costs 1 EUR for the first hour, 2 EUR for each additional hour, up to 13 EUR for the first day and 1 EUR less per day for each additional day (12 EUR for Day 2, 11 EUR for Day 3, etc.).

You can stop inside the area outside Cagliari Airport (Kiss&Fly zone) for up to 10 minutes for free.

Cheaper parking is available in one of the flat-rate car parks on both sides of the terminal:

Flat Rate Car Park Low Cost: Located on the southeast side of the terminal. Costs a flat 7 EUR per day.
Flat Rate Car Park Extra Low Cost: Located on the southeast side of the terminal, just a little further than the low-cost car park. Costs a flat 5 EUR per day.
Long Term Car Park - Multistorey: Located northwest of the terminal. Has the same pricing structure as P2 above. Monthly parking is available for 150 EUR.

Hotels near Cagliari Elmas Airport

Given the small size of CAG, it’s no surprise that there aren’t any hotels inside the terminal.

For late arrivals or early departures, Avion B&B is a great hotel, only 20-minutes on foot away. The host is kind and accommodating, while the rooms are clean and the bathrooms decent. Stays include breakfast too.

For a larger, more standardized hotel, you can check out the Holiday Inn Cagliari. It is only about an 8-minute drive away from the terminal, although it doesn’t offer shuttle service, making taxis the only reliable option to reach it. The hotel is modern and well-maintained, with a nice little gym and two saunas.

Cagliari is not too far from the airport (only 7 km), and most visitors opt to stay somewhere in the city center, especially since the train connection is so convenient and cheap. To see more hotels in Cagliari and near CAG, click here.