How to travel by train in Sardinia

Sardinia would be the ideal destination for train travels. Miles of unspoiled nature interspersed with small and charming villages. Imagine visiting them by going from station to station. Imagine your journey on a train that runs along the hinterland and you observe the splendid Sardinian scenery from the window …

If reality could somehow deviate from the more romantic aspect of the journey – due to a not exactly efficient railway network – the idea of the train journey in Sardinia still remains very suggestive and quite practicable. Some important aspects to be evaluated: times and destinations. If you want to reach multiple destinations, the connections are not easy at all. The Sardinian railway network is in fact not very extensive and certainly not among the most modern and organized.

But don’t limit yourself to this and if you want to travel by train, here’s our tips to help you. With our guide you can better organize your travel and the train journey will be definetely part of your Sardinia memories

The railways of Sardinia

It is useful to know that the railways are managed largely by the state-owned company TRENITALIA which serves the main lines and in part by the regional company ARST which connects some secondary sections.

Recently has been added to the network the new fast train connecting the cities of Cagliari – Sassari – Olbia

How does the Sardinia railway network work?

The main railway line consists of the Cagliari – Golfo Aranci (Olbia) section

The main centers connected along this line are: Assemini, Sanluri, Oristano, Macomer, Ozieri-Chilivani and Olbia

The second most important section is Cagliari-Sassari which passes through the villages of Macomer, Abbasanta and Oristano

The Ozieri-Chilvani station is the junction point to reach Sassari, Olbia, Cagliari

Below the railway line managed by Trenitalia

Average travel times

• Cagliari – Olbia > 3h 30min
• Cagliari – Sassari > 3h
• Cagliari – Porto Torres > 4h
• Olbia – Porto Torres > 2h 30min
• Olbia – Sassari > 1h 50min
• Oristano – Olbia > 2h 30 min

Train Cagliari – Sassari 

You can reach Sassari either from Cagliari-Elmas Airport station or from Cagliari central station. There are 7 daily departures from Cagliari. Keep in mind that the last departure from the center of Cagliari is at 18.30. The journey takes approximately 3h if direct or 3h 30 minutes with one change at Ozieri-Chilivani. Stops for this route also include Oristano and Macomer

Sassari station is located in the city center, between via XXV Aprile and corso Francesco Vico. From Sassari station trains to Alghero (ARST), Porto Torres and Olbia (Trenitalia)

TRAIN DEPARTURE TIMES CAGLIARI –  SASSARI

Normally there are 7 daily departures from Cagliari to Sassari at 6:30, 8:35, 10:40, 12:22, 14,30, 16,30, 18,30

Buy tickets and check timetables on On Omio or Trenitalia

Train Cagliari – Olbia

The Olbia railway station is located in the center of Olbia.
Reaching it from the airport is easy thanks to the urban bus connections No. 2 and No. 10, departing from the airport (from 7.30 in the morning every quarter of an hour) with a stop in Via Gabriele D’Annunzio in front of the departure square of trains.

Connection between Cagliari-Elmas and Olbia-Costa Smeralda airports

TIMETABLES AND DEPARTURES CAGLIARI-OLBIA

Rugularly there are 6 daily departures from Cagliari to Olbia at 6:30, 8:35, 12:22, 14,30, 16,30, 18,30

Buy tickets and check timetables on On Omio or Trenitalia

Train Olbia – Sassari

The journey time from Olbia to Sassari is approximately 1h 40 minutes. There are 8 connections per day, the first at 06.00 and the last at 20:15. The average ticket price is € 8 – one way

On the websites Omio or Trenitalia you can check the prices and buy tickets

 

 

REGIONAL TRAINS (ARST)

 

Train SASSARI > ALGHERO

 

Alghero station is located about 10 minutes from the center. A single railway line is needed with trains to Olmedo and Sassari. Journey time from Sassari to Alghero: 35 minutes

 

Check the departure times of trains Alghero-Sassari-Alghero

 

Train MACOMER > NUORO

 

Stationd, stops and timetable

 

Trains MONSERRATO > ISILI

 

Staions, stops and timetable

 

For more info please visit the website ARST

 

Useful info for traveling by train in Sardinia

• Can I bring the bicycle on the train?

Yes, on the routes managed by Trenitalia it is possible to bring the bike. It is necessary to pay a supplement of € 3.50. It can be purchased at the ticket offices or on the Trenitalia website. The bike pass is valid 24 hours on the day of purchase. Folding bicycles can be brought on board for free. For groups of cyclists it is necessary to contact the Trenitalia management by email: direzione.sardegna@trenitalia.it or by phone: +39 070 450 7595

• Are there discounts for families with children?

Yes, children under 6 years old travel for free. For families with more children, one ticket will be paid for every two children (three children one ticket, four children two tickets, etc.).

• Where to buy the ticket?

Before getting on the train you must have a ticket. You can buy it on Omio or on Trenitalia. You can also buy it at the ticket office

• Check the website ViaggiaTreno You can view the route of the chosen train, receiving detailed information on the arrival and departure time and the scheduled stops, as well as print the arrival time of the train.

Trenino Verde (the green train): the tourist route

The tourist service that travels around beautiful routes in the mainly internal areas of Sardinia. For info and reservations http://www.treninoverde.com/

Soon we will publish a page dedicated to the green train with all the tips and information on how to book

Contact info Sardinia train stations 

Sassari – Stazione Ferroviaria Piazza Stazione tel. +39 079 262 757

Olbia – Stazione Ferroviaria Via Giacomo Pala tel. +39 0789 22 477

Cagliari – Stazione Ferrovviaria Piazza Matteotti tel. +39 070 67 94 449

Alghero -Stazione Ferroviaria Via don Minzoni tel. +39 079950 785

General Info Trenitalia tel 06 3000 attivo 24h. Da estero: +39.06.68475475

General Transport Info Sardinia ARST tel 800 865 042

Note: the post provided is for information only and may be subject to change at any time. Information from the Trenitalia and Arst websites. Check the websites for other routes and timetables and for more details

Travelling by Train in Sardinia: timetables, online train prices for Sardinia.