Cagliari, Sardinia’s capital, is an ancient port with layers of Phoenician, Roman, and Aragonese history rising to the sunlit ramparts of the Castello district. Below the limestone cliffs, the Gulf of Angels glitters blue—its shoreline punctuated by Poetto’s eight kilometers of sand and the dramatic promontory called the Sella del Diavolo, the Devil’s Saddle.

Nature is never far: pink flamingos feed in the brackish lagoons of Molentargius-Saline Park, while just beyond the city you’ll find coves with water so clear it looks backlit. Food is a love letter here—bottarga shaved over pasta, culurgiones stuffed with minty potatoes, malloreddus in saffron-tomato sauce, and honeyed seadas for dessert.

Practical notes for March–October: the sun is strong, coastal breezes refreshing, and summer beach access/parking in protected coves can be regulated—arrive early. City buses (CTM) are frequent and affordable, and budget-friendly trattorie are plentiful. This itinerary balances romance and value with free viewpoints, market picnics, and carefully chosen splurges.

Cagliari

Perched between sea and salt lagoons, Cagliari rewards slow wandering: stone lanes in Castello, sunset terraces atop the Bastione di Saint Remy, and café-lined piazzas in the Marina. The National Archaeological Museum houses the island’s Nuragic bronzetti; the nearby Cathedral blends Romanesque bones with Baroque flourish.

• Top sights: Bastione di Saint Remy, Cathedral of Santa Maria, Torre dell’Elefante, Roman Amphitheater, Orto Botanico (botanical garden), Poetto Beach, Molentargius-Saline Park.
• Why visit: Romantic sunsets, easy beach access, serious food culture, and boat trips into coves reachable only from the water.
• Signature flavors: Bottarga (mullet roe), pecorino sardo, pane carasau, fregula with clams, Cannonau wine, myrtle liqueur, seadas with honey.

How to get to Cagliari (CAG): Fly into Cagliari Elmas Airport. From major European hubs (Rome ~1h, Milan ~1h25, Barcelona ~1h45), deals often run ~€30–90 one way outside peak season—search on Omio (Flights). If you prefer the sea, overnight ferries from Civitavecchia to Cagliari take ~13–15 hours, foot passenger from ~€40–100; compare on Omio (Ferries). Trains and buses elsewhere in Europe to ferry ports can be checked via Omio (Trains) and Omio (Buses).

Where to stay (budget-forward with one romantic splurge):

• Great-value apartments and romantic old-town pads: browse VRBO Cagliari.
• Hotels by neighborhood and price: check Hotels.com Cagliari.
• Romantic boutique splurge (garden courtyard): Hotel Villa Fanny.
• Solid midrange by the Marina (great for walkers): Hotel Flora.
• Modern high-rise with a good spa for day passes: T Hotel.

Getting around: CTM buses connect the center with Poetto in ~15–20 minutes; expect ~€1.5–2 per 90-minute ticket. Taxis and ride apps are available; for Poetto and Calamosca, consider bikes or e-bikes. Many beaches and tours depart near the port/marina—easy on foot.

Day 1: Arrival, Marina Stroll & Sunset Over the City

Afternoon: Arrive and check in. Shake off the journey with a gentle walk through the Marina quarter—arcaded streets, laundry-strung balconies, and fishmongers setting up for dinner. Pause for a first taste at Durke, a beloved pasticceria for pistoccheddus and almond cookies to-go.

Evening: Ride the elevator up to the Bastione di Saint Remy for golden-hour views. For aperitivo, claim a terrace table at Libarium Nostrum or the rooftop at Caffè degli Spiriti—order a Vermentino and watch roofs glow. Dinner: choose Trattoria Lillicu (old-school seafood, shared platters, very fair prices) or Antica Cagliari (homestyle Sardinian starters, malloreddus, and seadas). Night stroll through Via Sardegna’s wine bars.

Day 2: Castello, Museums & a Romantic Sunset Cruise

Morning: Coffee and pastry at the historic Pasticceria Tramer, then climb into the Castello through stone gates to the Cathedral of Santa Maria. Continue to the National Archaeological Museum to see Nuragic bronzetti and giant sculptures from Monte Prama—context for everything you’ll eat and see this week.

Afternoon: Light lunch picnic from the Mercato di San Benedetto: carasau bread, pecorino, olives, and seasonal fruit. Walk the lush Orto Botanico and peek at the Roman Amphitheater. Coffee break along Piazza Yenne before heading back to freshen up.

Evening: Set sail on a sunset cruise—soft light, limestone cliffs, and a prosecco toast. Ideal for couples and very photogenic.

Cagliari: Sunset Cruise with Prosecco (Viator)

Post-cruise dinner: Sa Domu Sarda for rustic classics (try porcetto and myrtle liqueur), or keep it casual with Bombas at the Bastione (great value burgers with a view).

Day 3: Flamingos by E‑Bike & Poetto Beach Day

Morning: Glide through lagoons on an easy e‑bike tour—spot flamingos and herons in the Molentargius-Saline Park, then follow canals toward the sea. It’s active, scenic, and fits a budget day beautifully.

Cagliari E-Bike Tour: Gulf, Canals & Flamingos (Viator)

Afternoon: Set up at Poetto Beach (bus ~15–20 minutes). For lunch, beach kiosks like Emerson or Il Lido serve seafood salads, fritto misto, and spritzes for wallet-friendly prices. Nap, swim, and walk to the Calamosca end for views of the Devil’s Saddle.

Evening: Seafood dinner in town at Luigi Pomata (tuna tasting, bottarga-forward dishes; consider sharing plates to keep costs down). Gelato at I Fenu—seasonal flavors with Sardinian twists.

Day 4: Sail the Sella del Diavolo & Hidden Coves

Morning: Espresso and a maritozzo from a Marina café, then head to the port for a small‑group boat trip. Your skipper threads beneath the Sella del Diavolo cliffs into green coves where you’ll swim, snorkel, and toast the Gulf of Angels.

Boat Tour at Devil's Saddle: 4 Swim Stops, Snorkeling & Prosecco (Viator)

Afternoon: Return salt-kissed and happy. Grab a casual bite—pane cunzatu or a cone of fried anchovies—from street-side spots near Via Sardegna, then amble to Calamosca for a short bluff-top walk if you still have energy.

Evening: Pizza night at Framento (long-fermented dough, Sardinian toppings) or a budget-friendly plate of malloreddus at Sa Piola. Nightcap back at the Bastione terraces.

Day 5: Sardinian Cooking Class & Spa Time for Two

Morning: Hands-on pasta class with a local: learn to shape culurgiones, roll malloreddus, and fill ravioli—then sit down to eat your work with wine. It’s convivial, delicious, and wonderfully romantic.

Homemade fresh pasta cooking class (Viator)

Afternoon: Book a couple’s spa slot at the T Hotel wellness center (thermal circuit with jets and chromotherapy pool; typical day pass ~€35–50). Stop for a simple espresso and a cream-filled brioche afterward.

Evening: For a splurge-night finale in town, try Dal Corsaro (contemporary Sardinian tasting menu) or keep to budget with hearty plates at Sa Domu Sarda. Digestivo stroll through the Villanova lanes, fragrant with jasmine.

Day 6: Day Trip to Villasimius—White Sand & Turquoise Water

Morning: Bus to Villasimius (ARST bus ~1h20–1h40, typically ~€6–10; check schedules and tickets on Omio (Buses)). Walk to Spiaggia di Simius for a glittering, shallow bay that’s couple-perfect. Bring a market picnic to save euros.

Afternoon: Stroll to Porto Giunco—climb the Spanish tower for panoramic photos of the Notteri lagoon (often with flamingos) and the quartz-white shoreline. Optional taxi/seasonal shuttle to Punta Molentis (access can be limited in peak season; arrive early if you go).

Evening: Bus back to Cagliari. Casual dinner near the Marina: share fregula with clams and a salad at Antica Cagliari or split a seafood platter at Trattoria Lillicu for strong value. Gelato at I Fenu on the way home.

Day 7: Easy Morning Markets & Goodbye Cagliari

Morning: Coffee and pastry at Durke, then pick up edible souvenirs at San Benedetto Market—bottarga (vacuum-packed), pecorino wedges, and honey. If time permits, pop into the Torre dell’Elefante for a short, satisfying viewpoint.

Afternoon: Last stroll along Via Roma’s arcades, then transfer to the airport or ferry terminal. For European connections and tickets, use Omio (Flights) or Omio (Ferries).

Evening: Departure day—if you’re staying one more night, return to Poetto for a barefoot sunset walk and an inexpensive aperitivo at a beach kiosk.

What this week costs (rough guide)

• Local meals: €10–18 for pasta/seafood mains at trattorie; pizza ~€8–14; market picnics €6–10 p.p.
• Transport: CTM buses ~€1.5–2 per ride; Villasimius day trip bus ~€6–10 each way.
• Tours: E‑bike/flamingos ~€55–75; half‑day boat ~€55–85; sunset cruise ~€50–70; pasta class ~€65–95 (per person, seasonal).
• Spa: T Hotel day pass ~€35–50 p.p. Book ahead in peak months.

Bookable highlights referenced above:

• Cagliari E-Bike Tour: Gulf, Canals & Flamingos (Viator)
• Boat Tour at Devil’s Saddle: 4 Swim Stops, Snorkeling & Prosecco (Viator)
• Homemade fresh pasta cooking class (Viator)
• Cagliari: Sunset Cruise with Prosecco (Viator)

For stays, compare VRBO Cagliari and Hotels.com Cagliari, with romantic options like Hotel Villa Fanny, Hotel Flora, and T Hotel. For planes, trains, buses, and ferries in Europe, use Omio (Flights), Omio (Trains), Omio (Buses), and Omio (Ferries).

This week in Cagliari marries romance and thrift: sunrise coffees in stone lanes, budget-friendly market picnics, and boat days you’ll remember for years. Between flamingos, pasta made by your own hands, and turquoise swims beneath the Devil’s Saddle, Sardinia’s capital casts a gentle spell—one you’ll want to revisit.