Cagliari is Sardinia’s capital, an historic city, overseen by a hilltop castello, and medieval walled quarter, and charmingly positioned on a broad bay on the island’s southernmost coast. And you'll find a good range of accommodation here, with the best places to stay in Cagliari including converted palazzos, 19th century villas, traditional Sardinian hotels, and very contemporary properties.

By geography Cagliari is closer to Tunisia than Rome, but it’s the most Italian of Sardinia’s cities as far as culture, food and architecture go. Visitors interested in history will have no problem losing themselves for hours in the neo-classical maze of streets that meander between the castello and the sea. There’s no shortage of appeal for foodies either, with a myriad of tiny squares to chance upon, lined with cafes, bars and restaurants, and during the summer the nightlife gets lively. Sardinia is a beach break destination, and opting for one of the best places to stay in Cagliari offers that too, it’s located just behind the 8kms worth of sand that is Poette Beach.

As a city-wide rule, our Gurus rate the best places to stay in Cagliari for their affordability, on what can be a pretty expensive island, but also for their range and versatility. There are plenty of family-friendly options, as well as some really elegant picks for visitors looking for something special.

The Best Places to Stay in Cagliari

For Romantics

• The Hotel Miramare is a small, Belle Epoque era hotel converted from an elegant palazzo, with grand appeal, and sea views. While not in its heyday, this hotel has plenty of charm, and the price is adjusted accordingly, so it’s great value. It has just 18 rooms, colourfully and individually decorated to make the most of the hotel’s heritage — our favourites have four poster beds and chandeliers. Indulgent breakfasts are served in the courtyard, and there’s a small spa. A chic central base in Cagliari.
• The Place Cagliari is an eight suite hotel, converted from a 19th century property in the heart of Cagliari, almost neighbours with the cathedral. Each of the suites is individually decorated, but in keeping with the features of the original building, so there are exposed beam ceilings, tiled floors and huge shuttered windows — plus a nice collection of art and antiques, and roll-top baths. The location is perfect for exploring Cagliari, and for eating out of an evening (The Place has no restaurant, but does offer breakfast).

For Great Value

• The Hotel Nautilus is large, smart, and right up against the sand. It also has an excellent range of accommodation, from single rooms, via triples and quadruple rooms, to family suites, with private terraces and garden access. The decor is stripey, white and navy to be precise, and reliably so throughout the 293 rooms and suites. There’s no pool, but for the proximity to the beach, and the very reasonable room rates, you might be able to overlook that. There is a bar, and gardens, though.

For a Private apartment or villa

• If you think a self-catering option would best suit your needs then browse through the wide variety available online with our partner, Booking.com.

Travel Information

• Cagliari has its own airport: Cagliari Airport, which is about ten minutes from the centre of Cagliari by car, or 25 minutes by bus. But Sardinia has two other airports, Alghero Airport, which is on the northwest coast of the island, and a three hour drive from Cagliari, and Olbia Airport, which is on the northeast coast, and also about three hours drive by car from Cagliari. Arriving by ferry is also a possibility, Cagliari’s port is right in front of the old town.
• If you want to hire a car — which we strongly advise if you want to explore the island — we recommend you visit our online partner, Rentalcars.
• Sardinia’s Mediterranean climate means long, warm summers and short, mild winters, with most of the rain sandwiched between. It is also known for being windy, and in some regions humid; in fact, for a small island, Sardinia has a number of microclimates. But generally speaking most of Sardinia is a pleasant destination almost year round. From the start of spring it starts to get pretty sunny, though of course summer is the most popular time to visit, when the water is warm, and temperatures are in the mid-twenties. The temperature averages 18°C in October, so if you prefer a quieter holiday then September/October is a good time to visit.

Still not sure where to stay?

• You could expand your search to include all the best places to stay in Sardinia
• Or refine your search to just the dazzling beauty of the Costa Smerelda which runs from easily accessed Olbia to the Golf di Arzachena
• Alternatively, you could contact one of our friendly Gurus for personalised advice.