Public transfer guide

Transcription

le 4copertineINGLESE.qxp:Layout 1
17-02-2007
20:34
Pagina 3
ASSESSORATO DEL TURISMO
ARTIGIANATO E COMMERCIO
Viale Trieste 105, 09123 Cagliari
www.sardegnaturismo.it
Public transfer
guide
General information
© 2007 Autonomous Region of Sardinia
Published by the Office for Tourism, Handcrafts and Commerce of the
Autonomous Region of Sardinia, Viale Trieste 105, 09123 Cagliari.
Texts: Simone Deidda, Rosalba Depau, Valeria Monni, Diego Nieddu
Co-ordination: Roberto Coroneo
Impagination: Alfredo Scrivani
Photos: Piero Putzu, Lino Cianciotto, Gianluigi Anedda, Donato Tore,
Giovanni Paulis, Piero Pes, Paolo Giraldi, Renato Brotzu, Archivio Ilisso.
Texts composed with Frutiger [Adrian Frutiger, 1928]
Printed: february 2007
The Office for Tourism, Handcraft and Commerce of the Autonomous
Region of Sardinia has published the information cited here for
information purposes only, and for this reason it cannot be held liable
for any printing errors or involutary omissions.
Print and preparation:
Tiemme Officine grafiche srl
Tel. 070/948128/9 - Assemini (Cagliari)
Public
transfer guide
General information
Contents
Coming to Sardinia,
pag. 9
It may help to get an overall idea of
10
The railway system
10
The road transport system
14
The internal air connection system
15
The internal sea connection system
15
What you will find
17
At the Seaport of Cagliari
17
At the Airport of Cagliari-Elmas
21
How to reach from Cagliari
25
Sites of historical-archaeological interest:
25
Barumini
Bosa
Dorgali
Laconi
Goni
Guspini
Nora
Orroli
Tharros
Protected marine reserves:
Asinara (Stintino)
La Maddalena (Palau)
Orosei
San Giovanni di Sinis
Tavolara
Villasimius
29
Thermal facilities:
33
Fordongianus
Sardara
Other main towns:
34
Carbonia
Iglesias
Lanusei
Nuoro
Olbia
Oristano
Sanluri
Sassari
Tempio
Tortolì
Departure points
37
Of railway connections
37
Of road connections
37
Notices
37
What you will find
39
At the Seaport of Porto Torres
39
At the Airport of Alghero-Fertilia
41
How to reach from Sassari,
44
Sites of historical-archaeological interest
44
Barumini
Bosa
Dorgali
Laconi
Goni
Guspini
Nora
Orroli
Tharros
Protected marine reserves
Asinara (Stintino)
Orosei
48
Tavolara (Porto San Paolo)
Villasimius
Thermal facilities
50
Fordongianus
Sardara
The other main towns
50
Cagliari
Carbonia
Iglesias
Lanusei
Nuoro
Olbia
Oristano
Sanluri
Tempio
Tortolì
Departure points
53
53
Of road connections
53
Notices
53
What you will find
54
At the Seaport of Olbia Isola Bianca
54
At the Airport of Olbia
56
At the seaport of Golfo Aranci
60
At the seaport of Santa Teresa di Gallura
61
At the seaport of Palau
62
How to reach from Olbia,
64
64
Barumini
Bosa
Dorgali
Laconi
Goni
Guspini
Nora
Orroli
Tharros
67
Asinara (Stintino)
Orosei
Tavolara (Porto San Paolo)
Villasimius
Thermal facilities
68
Fordongianus
Sardara
69
Cagliari
Carbonia
Iglesias
Lanusei
Nuoro
Oristano
Sanluri
Sassari
Tempio
Tortolì
Departure points
70
70
Of road connections
70
Notice
71
What you will find
71
At the Seaport of Arbatax
71
At the Airport of Tortolì
71
At the Seaport of Portovesme
72
At the Seaport of Calasetta
73
Before commencing your trip
74
by ship
74
by plane
77
by coach
83
by train
86
Notice
87
Coming to Sardinia,
and especially trying to wander about Sardinia without relying on one’s
own means of transport, may sound like an original idea, in some respects
not without hassles, but which can nonetheless hold pleasant surprises as
well as unexpected emotions. The public means of transport that
guarantee mobility within the Island are essentially coach lines and the
train, with the addition of the ferries connecting the lesser islands of San
Pietro and La Maddalena. The Island’s road network is overall lacking and,
on long stretches, obsolete, there are no motorways and, technically
speaking, not even highways. Not surprisingly this affects the maximum
speed limit, which is about 90 km/h. In coach transport, this causes
inadequate scheduling, impractical timetables and discouraging trip times.
The picture does not change even looking at the railway transport: indeed,
in Sardinia the Trenitalia railways ‘proudly’ defy electrification and double
tracking, which, not surprisingly, has detrimental effects on the comfort
and length of the journey. The Ferrovie della Sardegna (Sardinian Railways)
also operate (under commissarial government management) across the
Island, winding their way along tracks of stunning beauty, which plunge
the narrow-gauge railway through woodlands, ravines and mountain
passes, crossing bridges and tunnels of unmatched magnificence.
The Ferrovie della Sardegna cannot be regarded as a practical means of
transport, owing to their unfriendly timetables and trip times, although
they do make for an original and unique opportunity to discover and enjoy
secluded views of the Region. Therefore, should you, in spite of the above,
be still determined to get to know the Island, then this guide is just what
you need. It is meant for all of you, tourists with the spirit of the traveller,
who are keen not only to see but also to understand a place.
9
It may help to get
an overall idea of
the public transport system within Sardinia, which consists mainly of a
railway and a road component, even though some interregional sea and
air connections are also present.
• The railway system of Sardinia articulates over (i) a main line,
formerly part of the Ferrovie dello Stato (the Country’s Railways, now
managed by RFI and served by Trenitalia S.p.A.), which links the principal
town (Cagliari) to the seaports located in the north of the Island and to
the towns of Carbonia and Iglesias, and (ii) some narrow-gauge lines,
managed and served by the Ferrovie della Sardegna. The Sardinian
backbone (completed about 1883) traverses the Island from south to north
connecting the town of Cagliari with Porto Torres, one of the main ports
of call for the passenger and goods maritime traffic travelling to and from
the Island. However, despite a distance of only about 230 kilometres, trip
times are quite protracted (over 4 hours) and the average price for a
second-class ticket is around 13 Euro.
At Decimomannu, a major agricultural centre in the Campidano region
only 19 kilometres from Cagliari, the Sulcitan main section branches out,
and bending sharply westwards connects, through the junction of
Villamassargia, the principal town with the mine centre of Carbonia and
the town of Iglesias. Again, trip times are quite protracted, taking over one
hour to cover a journey of less than 70 kilometres.
The price for a second-class passage is around 3 Euro.
Past Oristano (located at about the 100th kilometre) in the vicinity of
Macomer (about 150th kilometre), the backbone crosses the narrowgauge railway Nuoro-Macomer-Bosa, whose station is situated in the
proximity of that of Trenitalia.
10
The Ferrovie della Sardegna company, on the other hand, operates all-yeararound only the scheduled connection from Macomer to Nuoro, with trip
times of about 80 minutes. Whereas the section Macomer-Bosa (a tourist
service known as Trenino Verde della Sardegna-Sardinian Green Minitrain), is
regularly served only on Saturdays and Sundays from 2nd July to 28th August.
However, the Ferrovie della Sardegna company offers the possibility to hire
the carriage for personalised journeys along the narrow-gauge network.
For further information, call the toll-free number 800 460220 or visit the
Internet website: www.treninoverde.com. After Macomer, the line winds
its way northwards up to the terminus of Porto Torres, crossing, before
reaching the Turritan sea port, the hubs of Chilivani and Sassari.
At Chilivani (a town located in the vicinity of Ozieri renown for its
horserace activities and featuring the only real racecourse on the Island),
the Gallurese main section branches out of the backbone and, bending
north-eastwards continues up for about 80 kilometres until it reaches,
passing through the town of Olbia, the seaport of Golfo Aranci. Once
Green
Train
again, trip times are quite protracted: it takes over 4 and a half hours to
reach Cagliari and the price (for a second-class seat) is about 15 Euro.
In the town of Sassari, the main line crosses another narrow-gauge
railway: the Alghero-Palau, whose trains depart from a side section of the
Trenitalia railway station.
Also in this case, the Ferrovie della Sardegna company guarantees regular
scheduled connections only for part of the section, namely that reaching
11
Sassari from Alghero. From Sassari, the line splits into two main sections,
one of which leads to Sorso whereas the other continues towards Nulvi.
Trip times are 35 minutes to reach Sassari from Alghero, another 50 to
continue over to Nulvi, and 15 to connect Sassari with Sorso.
Also, the Ferrovie della Sardegna company offers the possibility to continue
from Nulvi to Tempio and Palau via one of the tourist lines of the Trenino
Verde della Sardegna. The connection to Tempio operates only on
Green
Train
Wednesdays from 22nd June to 7th September; whereas that continuing
from Tempio towards Palau operates every day, except Mondays and
Tuesdays, from 22nd June to 11th September. Trip times are 150 minutes to
get from Nulvi to Tempio, and another 90 to reach Palau. For further
information call the toll-free number 800 460220 or visit the Internet
website www.treninoverde.com.
The railway network picture of the Island is completed by the narrowgauge railways connecting the town of Cagliari to Arbatax and Sorgono.
o in this case, the Ferrovie della Sardegna company guarantees regular
scheduled connections for only part of the line, i.e. the Cagliari-MandasIsili, with trip times of about 120 minutes. The line Cagliari – Mandas is
currently served by a coach service.
Mandas (an agricultural town 58 kilometres from Cagliari) is connected to
Arbatax by the longest tourist railway line in Italy. The Trenino Verde
departs twice daily, early mornings and early afternoons, every day from
12
19th June to 11th September. Trip time is (for 159 kilometres) of about 4
hours and a half.
As per the line connecting Mandas to Isili and Sorgono, on the other
hand, there are no regular departures and the service, which operates
between 19th June and 11th September, operates only upon request to be
made (with at least one week’s notice) to the number 070 580246 and for
no less than 30 paying adult passengers.
Both for the line Mandas-Arbatax and for the Mandas-Isili-Sorgono one,
the Ferrovie della Sardegna company provides, in connection with the first
departing train and the last one arriving at Mandas, a coach service to
Cagliari stopping in Piazza Repubblica. For further information, call the
toll-free number 800 460220 or visit the Internet website
www.treninoverde.com.
13
• The road transport system
has as its main operator the Azienda Regionale Sarda Trasporti (ARST –
Sardinian Regional Transport Agency), which connects almost all centres
across the Island with 175 granted lines. Tickets can be purchased at booking
offices, newsagencies and others authorised resellers. Trip times are quite long
even for the direct routes and they become even more protracted in case of
on-route stops (e.g. Cagliari-Nuoro, about 150 minutes for 181 kilometres;
Cagliari-Oristano, about 120 minutes for 100 kilometres).
The FdS coach lines also operates on the Island - Ferrovie della Sardegna
(Sardinian Railways), with 96 granted lines (both ordinary and seasonal);
whereas FMS operate only in the Sulcis Iglesiente area - Ferrovie
Meridionali Sarde (Southern Sardinian Railways) with 47 granted lines
(both ordinary and seasonal). The picture is completed by 64 private
operators which control a total of 146 granted lines.
Finally, several private vehicle rentals link the smaller villages with the most
important towns in the region, as well as with the principal towns and the
regional principal town.
The above services are operated by comfortable mini-vans or mini-buses
known as N.C.C. (noleggio con conducente-chauffeured rental). Those
interested in such means of transport will have to contact directly the
individual operators who, upon call, will collect passengers from their living
premises, pending no-parking constraints at taxi ranks or bus stops.
14
• The internal air connection system
between Sardinian airports is only limited to the flight Cagliari-Olbia, which
is operated by Meridiana airlines. The daily round-trip connection is available
only in winter and is discontinued in summer (June - September).
• The internal sea connection system
between Sardinian ports consists essentially of the links with the lesser
islands of San Pietro and La Maddalena.
Regular connections to the island of San Pietro are served by Saremar, with
departures from Portovesme and Calasetta, and by Delcomar, with departures
only from Calasetta. Duration of the crossing is about 30 minutes.
Connections from Palau to the island of La Maddalena are served, in about
20 minutes, by the navigation companies Saremar and Enermar.
There is also a round-trip coasting connection between Cagliari and Arbatax.
Indeed, some ferries of the Tirrenia navigation company call once a week at
the Ogliastrine port along the route Cagliari - Civitavecchia.
Let us now examine in some detail which services and transport facilities
you can find upon arriving at, or departing from the seaports and airports
of Sardinia.
15
What you will find
At the Seaport of Cagliari
If you disembark in the port of Cagliari, you will have at your disposal an
integrated system of services, as well as the opportunity to reach easily any
destination both in town and in the rest of the Island.
In fact, the seaport, the service station and the Ferrovie dello Stato railway
station (crucial hubs in the Sardinian internal transport system), are located
only a few dozen meters away, well interconnected and within easy reach
from one another.
The maritime station, at the centre of the port precincts in the vicinity of
the Tirrenia docks, is located in the elegant light blue building where the
Port Authority is also based.
The compound is open 08.00 - 19.00.
Since 1st July 2005 restrictions have been imposed on the access to the
maritime station, due to the enforcement of stricter security regulations at
seaports.
As a result, the ticket office and information centre of the Tirrenia
navigation company, formerly situated within the maritime station, have
been relocated at about 300 metres on the left, just outside the port
precincts in via Riva di Ponente 2 (Ph. 070 666910). The ticket office is
open on weekdays 08.30 to 13.20 and 15.30 to 19.20, on Saturdays
08.30 to 12.20 and 15.30 to 18.00, and on Sundays and other festivities
only in the afternoon from 16.00 to 18.00.
17
The building of the Maritime Station features two entrances, one on the
western and the other on the eastern side. Through the latter, passengers
can find directly on their right the information centre of the Ente
Provinciale per il Turismo (Provincial Agency for Tourism), where a wide
selection of brochures on the town and on all other tourist attractions of
Sardinia is available.
However, the office does not accept reservations, nor is it certified for the
sale of tickets for any means of transport.
Going ahead on the right you will encounter a large bar/tobacconist shop,
always operating during the maritime station’s opening times.
The compound also features a left luggage (reserved to passengers in
transit at the seaport of Cagliari), but this is currently out of service.
Nonetheless, interested passengers can rely on the other one operating at
the Ferrovie dello Stato railway station, located in Piazza Matteotti one
hundred odd metres from the seaport.
Public conveniences, which are again situated on the left of the
compound, are also equipped for the disabled. The key is available from
the service personnel, identifiable by their blue uniforms.
Outside the compound there is no taxi rank, although taxis can be called
on 070 6655 or 070 282657.
The nearest public security offices are the Cagliari-Villanova Carabinieri
Station, in Via Nuoro 9, and the Police Station in Via Molo Dogana (Ph.
070 605151).
Once outside the maritime station, continuing on the right along Via Roma
and Viale Colombo for about 800 metres, you will encounter Sea Rent, a
hire company for scooters and bicycles that, upon call on 070 308347 or
on 338 6966808, offers even the option of a free transfer for its clients
from the maritime station or vice versa. For reservations and/or information
write to the e-mail address [email protected].
With a short stroll you can quickly reach the main railway hub of the Island
as well as the largest coach station, both with their main entrance on
18
Piazza Matteotti, about 200 metres from the maritime station proceeding
along Via Roma on the left.
The ARST station is open from departure of the first bus (about 04.00)
until about 22.00. Information on lines, timetables and fares is available by
calling the toll-free number 800 865042 and on the Internet website
arst.sardegna.it:8080.
Inside the compound are an information office and the ticket office,
always operating during the station’s opening times, a Banca Nazionale del
Lavoro ATM, a Hertz car rental (Ph. 070 651078/070 668105) and, finally,
a take-away open every day until 22.00.
Still inside the ARST station is the ticket/information office of the granted
Pani coach lines (Ph. 070 652326, www.organizzazione pani.it) where it is
possible to purchase tickets to reach by coach, with a stop in Piazza
Matteotti, the main destinations around Sardinia. The office is open:
weekdays 08.00 to 08.12 and 09.15 to 14.15 and, in the afternoon, 17.30
to 19.00. At the weekend, it operates 13.30 to 14.15
and 17.30 to 19.00. Ticket purchase on the coach is only permitted
when the office is closed.
About fifty meters on the left you will find the Ferrovie dello Stato station,
a major hub of the Sardinian railway transport.
The Trenitalia (www.trenitalia.it) ticket and information offices, located
19
near the main entrance on the left, are open every day from 06.10 until
20.45. In the same building is also the only left luggage in town which,
available to all needs, is open from 07.30 to 19.30 and charges 2.50 Euro
per piece every 12 hours.
The station offers a range of services: as you step inside, you will find on
the right the Banco di San Paolo branch, with an ATM directly accessible
from inside the station, a large bar/tobacconist shop, a clothes shop, a
stationer’s, a bookshop, a newsagent’s, a unisex hairdresser’s, and an
insurance agency.
On the right platform is also a small chapel, where the Mass is celebrated
every Tuesday at 10.00, on Saturdays at 20.00, and on Sundays at 11.00
and 20.00, as well as the Polizia Ferroviaria (Railway Police) headquarters,
whose switchboard can be reached on 070 657689.
Should you wish to rent a car, you will find on the left platform the Avis
car rental, contactable for information and/or reservations on 070 668128
or 070 240081.
Also in Piazza Matteotti is a taxi rank, which can be called on 070 6655 or
070 282657, as well as one of the main terminuses of the urban transport
network (CTM, www.ctmcagliari.it, Ph. 070 2091200) which guarantees,
apart from the internal connections, those to the hinterland centres and to
the Poetto beach. The price for a ticket, which can be used on the entire
network for up to 90 minutes following ‘punching’, is of 80 cents of a
Euro and can be purchased at all company’s ticket offices as well as at any
authorised reseller displaying the logo. On-bus purchase is also allowed
with an overcharge of 52 cents of a Euro.
20
At the Airport of Cagliari-Elmas
The airport of Cagliari represents of one the main hubs in the transport
system of Sardinia, serving more than half of the whole air traffic to and
from the Island.
The compound is located at Elmas, a small town about 10 kilometres from
the capital province.
The new air terminal, opened in June 2003, is one of the most modern
and largest in Italy. The futuristic structure articulates on three levels, the
first used for the national and international arrivals, the second for
departures, and the third mostly for offices. After landing at Cagliari
airport you will find, before exiting the restricted-access area for travellers,
the luggage assistance office, contactable on 335 7858148 for flights
served by Airone, on 070 21094000 for those served by Alitalia, and on
335 1232436 for those served by all other airlines.
21
Once you have left the restricted-access area, just outside the concourse
and slightly on your left you will find an ‘info-point’ open 08.00 to 24.00,
which provides information on tourism, transportation, and hotel
accommodation.
Going ahead on your left you will find a Banca di Sassari branch equipped
with an ATM. Continuing along the same direction you will reach the Poste
Italiane (Italian Post) office, open Monday to Saturday 08.00 to 13.15.
The Cagliari air terminal offers a wide choice of car rental agencies, which
are located in a wide section of the arrivals lounge and always on the left
of the exit from the restricted-access area.
The following agencies operate:
• A.M. Service, Ph. 070 240569, 335 6954835,
[email protected]
• Auto Europa, Ph. 070 240101, 348 6539051.
• Autonoleggio Matta, Ph. 070 240050, e-mail [email protected]
• Autonoleggio Pinna, Ph. 070 240276, 339 5396688,
www.autonoleggiopinna.it
• Autonoleggio Pintauro, Ph. 070 240345, 338 8472058.
• Autonoleggio Ruvioli, Ph. 070 240323/2111046, www.ruvioli.it
• Dollar Thrifty, Ph. 070 212096, 338 4312950, www.thrifty.it
• Easy Car, Ph. 070 240806.
• Euro Rent, Ph. 070 240129, www.rent.it
• Mida Rent, Ph. 070 2110271, 349 3151087, www.midarent.com
• Sardinya, Ph. 070 240444, [email protected]
Leaving the arrivals lounge of the terminal, about 100 metres on the right,
are the offices and the car park of another five rental companies.
These are:
• Avis, Ph. 070 240081, booking centre 06 452108391,
www.avisautonoleggio.it
• Europcar, Ph. 070240126, booking centre toll-free 800 014410,
www.europcar.it
• Hertz, POh. 070 240037, booking centre 02 69682445, www.hertz.it
22
• Maggiore, Ph. 070 240069, booking centre 848 867067,
www.maggiore.it
• Sixt, Ph. 347 3095890, booking centre 199 100666, www.sixt.it
Back inside the arrivals lounge of the air terminal is a fully-equipped
medical centre, contactable on 070 240098, and a wide bar with an
attached ice-cream parlour.
The second level of the air terminal, which can be reached through both
the escalators and the lifts, features a wide shopping mall, a business area,
and a small chapel.
A ‘sala amica’, reserved to people with special requirements and with
impairments, is under construction, whereas a VIP Lounge of the
Meridiana airlines has been open since September 2005. The right side is
destined to the check-in counters and to the airlines ticket windows.
Towards the left, past the Banca Nazionale del Lavoro ATM, is the business
area, which covers about 800 square meters and boasts, apart from a
conference area with three halls, 6 offices for business appointments and
small meetings. Any enquiries on availability, service costs and reservations
can be made directly online by filling in the form available at
www.sogaer.it/richiesta_info/info/ or by sending a fax to 070 241013.
In the same area is a small chapel where the Holy Mass is celebrated on all
public holidays and on Sundays at 10.30.
Proceeding along the same direction you will encounter the shopping mall,
featuring a shop of typical products, a handicraft shop and, past the
sliding doors, a clothes’ shop, a jeweller’s, a large bookshop, a
newsagent/tobacconist shop, a small take-away, and a bar, which opens
with the first departing flight and closes with the last one.
Still in the same area, close to the escalators leading to the third level, is
also a wine bar which offers the possibility to taste and buy wines and
other typical Sardinian products. It can be contacted for reservations on
070 2128077.
The third level of the air terminal features, apart from the various State
Agency and airlines offices, a wide area for restoration.
23
You can choose between a restaurant, a pizza place or a bar with a
veranda. For information and reservations call 070 2110343.
On each level, public conveniences are well-indicated and fully-equipped
for passengers with various disabilities.
In the building all public security offices are found: Carabinieri, Ph. 070
240049; Guardia di Finanza, Ph. 070 240100; Polizia di Frontiera Ph. 070
210141; and Fire Brigade, Ph. 070 240336.
Connections between the airport and the city (about 15 minutes) are
guaranteed by an efficient shuttle service taking either to the ARST coach
station, from which it is possible to board all coaches and buses to reach
the main centres across the Island, or to the Ferrovie dello Stato railway
station, located approximately fifty meters away.
The shuttle service operates regular departures at 08:45; 09:30; 10:30;
11:30; 12:30; 13:30; 14:30; 15:30; 16:30; 17:30; 18:30; 19:30; 20:30;
21:00; 22:10; 22:30; 23:00.
For information call the toll-free number 800 865042 or visit the Internet
website arst.sardegna.it:8080.
You can reach Cagliari also with the Pani coach lines, which operate
regular departures, with arrival in front of the ARST station, at: 10.32;
13.32; 17.47; 23.11.
The same company also operates connections from the airport to the main
destinations across the Island. For information call the toll-free number 079
260066 or visit the Internet website www.organizzazionepani.it.
Finally, in front of the arrivals terminal exit you can find a wide area reserved
to the taxis, whose radio service is contactable on 070 400101 or 070 6655.
The average cost for an ordinary trip to the centre of Cagliari ranges
12-15 Euro.
24
How to reach from Cagliari
Barumini (distance 59 kilometres). The route is served by ARST coach
lines, with trip times of about 110 minutes. Information on routes,
timetables and connections is available toll-free on 800 865042 and on
the Internet website arst.sardegna.it:8080.
Bosa (distance 170 kilometres). There is no direct connection from
Cagliari, so that it is necessary to travel via Macomer, which is reachable
either by train, with trip times of about 2 hours and 30 minutes
Barumini
Archeological
site
(information on lines, timetables and connections available on 892021 and
on the Internet website www.trenitalia.it), or by the Pani coach lines, with
trip times of about 3 hours (Ph. 079 260066 and
www.organizzazionepani.it). The remaining route to Bosa (over one hour)
is served by the Ferrovie della Sardegna coach lines (Ph. 070342341 and
www.ferroviesardegna.it).
25
Dorgali (distance 210 kilometres). The route is operated by ARST via the
Cagliari-Nuoro (trip time 2 hours and 30 minutes non-stop) and NuoroDorgali lines (45 minutes). Information on lines, timetables and
connections is available toll-free on 800 865042 and on the Internet
website arst.sardegna.it:8080. The route up to Nuoro is also served by the
Pani coach lines which however, because of the many on-route stops,
involves longer trip times of about 4 hours. Further information on 079
260066 and www.organizzazionepani.it.
On the left:
Goni:
Tomb at Pranu
Morteddu
On the right:
Ruins
of Tharros
Laconi (distance 83 kilometres). The direct route is served by ARST coach
lines, with trip times of about 120 minutes. Information on lines,
timetables and connections is available on the toll-free number 800
865042 and on the Internet website arst.sardegna.it:8080.
Goni (distance 58 kilometres). The route is operated by the Ferrovie della
Sardegna coach lines via Senorbì. Trip times are about 70 minutes for the
Cagliari-Senorbì and 40 minutes for the Senorbì-Goni lines. Information on
lines, timetables and connections is available on 070 342341 and
www.ferroviesardegna.it
Guspini (distance 66 kilometres). It is reachable by train via San Gavino,
with a trip time of about 50 minutes. Information on lines, timetables and
connections is available on 892021 and www.trenitalia.it. The remaining
route to Guspini is served by ARST coach lines, in about 20 minutes (tollfree number 800 865042 and Internet website arst.sardegna.it:8080).
26
The campidanese town is also reachable by the direct route operated by
ARST, whose trip times (approximately 100 minutes) are however
significantly longer.
Nora (distance 41 kilometres). The direct route between Cagliari and Pula
is served by ARST, in about 50 minutes. The archaeological site is about 2
kilometres from the bus stop, a distance that can also be covered with the
local urban transport service. Information on lines, timetables and
connections is available toll-free on 800 865042 and on
Orroli (distance 66 kilometres). The direct route is served by the Ferrovie
della Sardegna coach lines, with trip times of just less than 2 hours.
Information on lines, timetables and connections is available on 070
342341 and www.ferroviesardegna.it.
Tharros (distance 110 kilometres). There is no direct connection, so that it
is necessary to travel via Oristano, which can be reached by train with trip
times of about 80 minutes (information on lines, timetables and
connections available on 892021 and www.trenitalia.it), and with the
coaches of ARST (toll-free 800 865042 and arst.sardegna.it:8080), and
Pani lines (Ph. 079 260066 and www.organizzazionepani.it), in about 2
hours. The route is also served by the Turmotravel company, with shorter
trip times of about 80 minutes. Further information on 078 921487 and
www.turmotravel.it. The remaining route to San Giovanni di Sinis is served,
in about 35 minutes, by ARST coach lines. The latter connection is on a
seasonal basis, being only operated from July 1st to August 31st.
28
Protected marine reserves:
Asinara (Stintino) (distance 255 kilometres). There is no direct connection
with the main province. It is therefore necessary to travel via Sassari, which
can be reached by train with trip times of about 3 hours and a half
(information on lines, timetables and connections available on 892021 and
www.trenitalia.it), and by coach with the Pani lines (Ph. 079260066 and
www.organizzazionepani.it), with times between 3
Asinara
hours and 15 minutes (non-stop) and over 4 hours (on-route stops).
Continuation to Stintino is guaranteed by ARST lines, in over one hour. For
further information contact the toll-free number 800 865042 or visit the
Internet website arst.sardegna.it:8080.
La Maddalena (Palau) (distance 298 kilometres). Due to the absence of
direct connections it is necessary to travel via Olbia. The Gallurese main
town can be reached from Cagliari by train, with trip times of about 4
hours (information on lines, timetables and connections available on
892021 and www.trenitalia.it), or by coach with Turmotravel lines (Ph.
078 921487 and www.turmotravel.it), with trip times of about 4 hours
and a half.
Also, during the winter season Meridiana airlines connect Olbia to
Cagliari in about 30 minutes (further information at www.meridiana.it).
The remaining route to Palau is served by ARST coach lines (toll-free 800
865042 and arst.sardegna.it:8080), with a good frequency and trip times
29
of about 70 minutes. Palau can also be reached from Cagliari by train,
although in much longer times.
After arriving in Sassari with the ordinary railway lines, you can continue
to Nulvi with the narrow-gauge lines of the Ferrovie della Sardegna.
From here departs one of the tourist lines of the Trenino Verde della
Sardegna which, however, operates only in the summer season for a few
days a week. For further information visit the website
San Giovanni
di Sinis
Orosei (distance 212 kilometres). There is no direct connection. The ARST
coach lines (information on lines, timetables and connections available tollfree on 800 865042 and on arst.sardegna.it:8080) allow to reach Nuoro
in about 2 hours and 30 minutes (non-stop) and then proceed to Orosei in
another 50 minutes. The Cagliari-Nuoro link is also served by the Pani
coach lines (Ph. 079 260066 and www.organizzazionepani.it), though
with longer trip times of about 4 hours.
San Giovanni di Sinis (distance 109 kilometres). There is no direct
connection, therefore it is necessary to reach Oristano either by train, with
trip times of about 70 minutes (information on lines, timetables and
connections on 892021 and on www.trenitalia.it), or by the ARST, in about
120 minutes (toll-free 800 865042 and arst.sardegna.it:8080) and
Turmotravel coach lines, in about 70 minutes (information on 078 921487
and www.turmotravel.it). The remaining route to San Giovanni di Sinis is
covered, in about 35 minutes, by the Arst coach lines. The latter service is
seasonal, operating only from 1st July to 31st August.
30
Tavolara (Porto San Paolo) (distance 263 kilometres).
There is no direct route, so it is necessary to reach Nuoro either by train,
with trip times of about 3 hours and 30 minutes (information on lines,
timetables and connections on 892021 or www.trenitalia.it) or by the
ARST, in 2 hours and 30 minutes for the non-stop (toll-free number 800
865042 and arst.sardegna.it:8080) and Pani coach lines (Ph. 079 260066
and www.organizzazionepani.it), with trip times of about 4 hours. The
remaining route to Porto San Paolo is covered, in about 2 hours, by ARST
coach lines.
Villasimius (distance 57 kilometres). The direct connection is operated by
ARST coach lines with trip times of about 90 minutes (further information
on lines, timetables and connections available toll-free on 800 865042
and on arst.sardegna.it:8080).
31
Spa
at Fordongianus
Thermal facilities:
Fordongianus (distance 113 kilometres). The best way is to reach
Oristano by train, with average trip times of about 90 minutes
(information on lines, timetables and connections available on 892021 or
at www.trenitalia.it) or with the coaches of the ARST, with trip times of
about 2 hours (toll-free 800865042 and arst.sardegna.it:8080) or Pani
lines, with similar trip times and a much better scheduling (Ph. 079
260066 and www.organizzazionepani.it), and Turmotravel, with trip times
of about 80 minutes (Ph. 0789 21487 and www.turmotravel.it). The
remaining route to Fordongianus is served, in about 40 minutes, by the
Arst coach lines. The same company also operates a direct link, which
however has only one daily trip and very long trip times of about 3 hours
and 15 minutes.
Sardara (distance 52 kilometres). The direct route is served by the ARST
coach lines (toll-free 800 865042 and arst.sardegna.it:8080), with a fair
scheduling and trip times of about 1 hour and 40 minutes, and by Pani, in
about one hour (Ph. 079 260066 and www.organizzazionepani.it), and
Turmotravel (Ph. 0789 21487 and www.turmotravel.it), with trip times of
about 40 minutes.
33
Other main towns:
Carbonia (distance 64 kilometres). It can be reached by train, with trip times
of about 70 minutes (information on lines, timetables and connections on
892021 or www.trenitalia.it), and with the Ferrovie Meridionali Sarde coach
lines (toll-free 800 044553 and www.ferroviemeridionalisarde.it), with trip
times ranging 100-120 minutes.
Iglesias (distance 53 kilometres). It can be reached by train, with trip times
of about 60 minutes (information on lines, timetables and connections on
892021 or www.trenitalia.it), and with the Ferrovie Meridionali Sarde
coach lines (toll-free 800 044553 and www.ferroviemeridionalisarde.it),
with trip times ranging 60-80 minutes.
Lanusei (distance 145 kilometres). It can be reached with the ARST coach
lines (further information on lines, timetables and connections available tollfree on 800 865042 and on the Internet website arst.sardegna.it:8080) and
with the Ferrovie della Sardegna (Ph. 070 342341 and
www.ferroviesardegna.it), both with trip times of about 4 hours.
During the summer season, the Ferrovie della Sardegna operate the
connection also by train through the local public transport line CagliariMandas and the tourist one Mandas-Arbatax.
However, trip times become considerably longer even up to 7 hours, with
the addition of the waiting times at Mandas for the departure of the
Trenino Verde. For further information, the Internet website
www.treninoverde.com is also available.
Nuoro (distance 176 kilometres). It can be reached by train, with trip times
of about 3 hours and 30 minutes (information on lines, timetables and
connections on 892021 and on the Internet website www.trenitalia.it), and
with the ARST coach lines (toll-free 800 865042 and arst.sardegna.it:8080),
in about 2 hours and 30 minutes for the non-stop line.
The same route is also served by Pani coach lines (Ph. 079 260066 and
www.organizzazionepani.it), with trip times of about 4 hours.
Olbia (distance 260 kilometres). The Gallurese main town can be reached
34
both from Cagliari by train in about 4 hours (information on lines,
timetables and connections on 892021 and www.trenitalia.it) and with the
coach of Turmotravel lines (Ph. 0789 21487 and www.turmotravel.it), in
about 4 hours and 30 minutes. Furthermore, in the winter season
Meridiana airlines connect Olbia to Cagliari in about 30 minutes (further
information at www.meridiana.it).
Oristano (distance 93 kilometres). It can be reached directly by train, with
average trip time of 90 minutes (information on lines, timetables and
connections available on 892021 or www.trenitalia.it), and with the
coaches of the ARST, two daily departures and trip times of about 2 hours
(toll-free 800 865042 and arst.sardegna.it:8080), Pani, with similar trip
times and a much better frequency (Ph. 079 260066 and
www.organizzazionepani.it) and Turmotravel lines, with trip times of about
80 minutes (Ph. 0789 21487 and www.turmotravel.it).
Sanluri (distance 43 kilometres). It can be reached by train, with a call at
the Sanluri station and a trip time of about one hour (information on lines,
timetables and connections on 892021 and www.trenitalia.it), and, in
about 75 minutes, with the coaches of the ARST lines (toll-free
800865042 and arst.sardegna.it:8080).
Sassari (distance 210 kilometres). It can be reached by train with trip
times of about 4 hours (information on lines, timetables and connections
available on 892021 or www.trenitalia.it), and with the coaches of Pani
lines with trip times varying from 3 hours and 15 minutes for the non-stop
line to over 4 hours in case of on-route stops. Further information on 079
260066 or www.organizzazionepani.it.
Tempio (distance 244 kilometres) There are no direct connections. The
easiest way to reach the Gallurese town is to travel by train to Ploaghe,
with trip times of about 3 hours (information on lines, timetables and
connections available on 892021 or www.trenitalia.it), and then continue,
in about 40 minutes, with the Ferrovie della Sardegna coach lines (Ph. 070
342341 and www.ferroviesardegna.it). In the absence of useful
connections, the Gallurese town can be reached either via Olbia or via
Sassari. From Olbia, connected with Cagliari by train, by the Turmotravel
35
coach lines and, in the winter season, by the Meridiana flights, the
Gallurese town is reachable with the coaches of the ARST lines in about 80
minutes (information on lines, timetables and connections available tollfree on 800 865042 and arst.sardegna.it:8080). In the summer season,
Tempio can also be reached from Sassari with the coach lines of the
Ferrovie della Sardegna company, though with much longer trip times of
about 4 hours. For further information check the website
Tortolì (distance 141 kilometres). It can be reached directly with the
coaches of the ARST lines (toll-free 800 865042 and
arst.sardegna.it:8080), with trip times of about 3 hours and 25 minutes. In
the summer season, the Ferrovie della Sardegna operate the connection
also by train through the local public transport line Cagliari-Mandas and
the tourist one Mandas-Arbatax. In this case, however, trip times become
considerably longer up to even 7 hours, plus the waiting time at Mandas
for the departure of the Trenino Verde. For further information check
36
Departure points
All lines operated by Trenitalia depart from the railway station of Piazza
Matteotti, whereas the narrow-gauge ones by the Ferrovie della Sardegna,
owing to restructuring works of the railway station in Piazza Repubblica,
call at about 300 meters away, in Largo Gennari.
Of road connections
Routes are served by ARST, Pani, Ferrovie Meridionali Sarde and
Turmotravel lines which depart from the coach station of Piazza Matteotti.
Whereas those served by the Ferrovie della Sardegna stop in front of the
railway station in Piazza Repubblica.
Connection between Piazza Matteotti and Piazza Repubblica is served by
CTM (Consorzio Trasporti e Mobilità - Transport and Mobility Consortium)
of the city of Cagliari, line 9B in about 15 minutes.
Notices
In Oristano, trains on departure and on arrival stop at the railway station
of Piazza Ungheria no. 3, near which the bus stop of Turmotravel coach
lines is also located.
The ARST lines, on the other hand, have for terminus the coach station of
Via Cagliari 102.
The railway station can be reached through the urban transport network,
green line, with trip times of about 15 minutes.
Whereas Pani coach lines have terminus in Via Lombardia no 30.
37
The railway station can be reached with the red line (stop in Piazza
Mariano), trip times of about 10 minutes.
In town are also two taxi ranks in Piazza Roma (Ph. 078 370280) and near
the railway station (Ph. 078 374328).
In Nuoro, the railway and road connections of the Ferrovie della Sardegna
call at the station of Via La Marmora.
Pani coach lines, instead, are in Via Brigata Sassari no. 15, which can be
reached from the railway station (about 500 metres away) either on foot
or with the ATP (Azienda Trasporti Pubblici of Nuoro) buses, lines 2, 3, 4, 5
and trip times of about 5 minutes.
Finally, ARST, Turmotravel and Deplano call at the new ARST terminal in
Viale Sardegna, which can be reached from the railway station and from
Via Brigata Sassari with line 3, in about 15 minutes.
In town there is also a taxi rank in Corso Umberto
(Ph. 078 922718).
38
What you will find
At the Seaport of Porto Torres
The seaport of Porto Torres is located about 20 kilometres from Sassari and
210 Km from Cagliari. The commercial port, which is close to the town
centre, is undergoing major restructuring and refurbishing works, which
will eventually lead to the opening of a modern maritime station, just
about to be completed.
For this reason, passenger ferries provisionally dock at the wharfs of the
industrial port, about two kilometres from town.
The compound does not offer any services of special relevance, except for
a bar and a newsagency, which also sells artisan products. Just outside the
port precincts is also a bar/restaurant.
In the vicinity are, inside a dark-coloured building, the ticket/information
office of Grimaldi ferry lines (Ph. 079 514477), open Monday to Saturday
9.00 to 12.30 and 17.00 to 20.00 and, on public holidays, from 17.00 to
20.00, as well as the company Agenzie Marittime Sarde, agent for the
Tirrenia ferry lines, industrial area 1 (Ph. 079 517020), with opening times
from 8.30 to 13.00 and from 15.00 to 20.30 and, on public holidays, from
16.30 to 20.20.
To all those passengers travelling without a vehicle, the ferry lines provide
a shuttle bus service calling at the commercial port, in the vicinity of the
Aragonese tower.
Beside two large bars, one of which with a tobacco and newspaper point
of sale, at the commercial seaport also operate a car rental agency Rent 24
(reachable for information and reservations on 079 516318) and an
information/reservation centre for tours around the archipelago of La
Maddalena (Ph. 079 513493, 330 960387).
The commercial port is located close to the town centre, within easy reach
also on foot.
The town is connected to the most important centres of Sardinia through
the railway network and the granted coach lines.
Trains stop at the new railway station in Piazza Umberto I, which can be
reached by walking for about 300 meters along Corso Vittorio Emanuele.
For further information and reservations contact the call centre Trenitalia
on 892021 or visit the Internet website www.trenitalia.it. In connection
with the arrival of ferries in the morning or with their departure in the
evening, there are direct trains connecting Porto Torres to Cagliari, with an
average trip time of about 3 hours and a half.
Pani coach lines also operate regular departures from town, stopping at
the Capitaneria dock (information available on 079 260066 or on the
Internet website www.organizzazionepani.it).
Connections to several destinations around Sardinia are also served by
ARST, which stops in Via del Mare in front of the seaport. For information
on lines, timetables and fares the company is contactable on the toll-free
number 800 865042 and on the Internet website arst.sardegna.it:8080.
Finally, an efficient taxi service operates in town, with taxis located in the
reserved parking areas of Corso Vittorio Emanuele (with the possibility of
direct call to 079 514052) and Piazza XX Settembre (079 510439). The
average cost of a trip to the centre of Sassari is about 20 Euro.
40
At the Airport of Alghero-Fertilia
The Alghero airport, recently expanded with the construction of a new
arrivals lounge, is located about 12 kilometres from the town centre and
34 from that of Sassari. The compound spreads lengthwise with a
concourse at the two ends of which the departures and arrivals areas are
respectively situated.
Just outside the restricted-access area you will find a small post office,
open every day (except on Sundays) from 8.00 to 13.15, which also
provides currency exchange services.
In the immediate vicinity are a Banco di Sardegna ATM, the electronic
ticket office of ARST, and a large snack bar selling also typical local
products. In the same area are a gift and a clothes shop.
Located next to the main airport exit is the information centre of the Ente
Provinciale per il Turismo (Provincial Agency for Tourism) of Sassari (Ph.
079 935124), open every day from 8.30 to 14.30 and from 17.00 to
22.00, which gives information on the tourist attractions of the area,
although it cannot make hotel reservations nor does it provide any other
direct services with tour operators.
Proceeding towards the departures lounge you will find the offices of the
car rental agencies, especially numerous at the Alghero airport .
41
Inside the air terminal, the offices of the following agencies are located:
• Avis, Ph. 079935064, booking centre 06 452108391,
• Dollar Trifty, Ph. 079 935188, toll-free number 800 846083,
www.thrifty.it
• Europcar, Ph. 079 935032, www.europcar.it
• Hertz, Ph. 079 935054, www.hertz.it
Maggiore, Ph. 079 935045, booking centre 848 867067,
www.maggiore.it
• Mida rent, Ph. 079 936061, www.midarent.com
• Pinna, Ph. 079 935130, www.autonoleggiopinna.com.
• Ruvioli, Ph. 079 935125, www.ruvioli.it.
• Sardinya rent a car, Ph. 079 935060,
www.autonoleggiosardinya.it
Other car rental companies operate outside the air terminal, in the
guarded car park located in front of the arrivals lounge:
A.M. service, Ph. 335 6014360, www.amserviceonline.it
Autoeuropa, Ph. 079 936060, www.sbc.it
Easy car, Ph. 078 9642126, www.easycarspa.com
Euro rent, Ph. 349 1397252, www.rent.it
New company, toll-free number 800 998499 and 079 936056.
Sixt, Ph. 079 936000, www.e-sixt.it
Going further ahead you will encounter, always on the left side of the
concourse, a small medical centre/emergency room, public conveniences
equipped for people with various disabilities, and the ticket office of the
Airone airlines.
At the travel agency Shardana Tours (Ph. 079 936051), agent for all other
vectors operating at the airport and located on the left side of the
compound right past the offices of the Municipal Police and of the
Carabinieri, you can ask for tourist information, make hotel reservations,
as well as benefit from any other agency-based service.
The office has the following timetable: in the morning, it is open on
Mondays from 7.20 to 10.20; on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 7.20 to
42
11.20; on Thursdays from 7.20 to 10.20; on Fridays from 7.20 to 12.40,
on Saturdays from 7.20 to 12.20; in the afternoons, every day from 16.20
to 21.30.
Continuing towards the departures lounge, you will encounter the luggage
assistance office, a shop of typical local products, and one of Sardinian
ceramics.
If you want to continue your journey to other destinations across the
Island, on your left (about 100 metres from the exit of the air terminal)
you will find the coach terminal.
The following coach lines operate:
1. ARST (Azienda Regionale Sarda Trasporti) linking the main cities across the
Island. Information on lines, timetables and fares is available on the toll-free
number 800 865042, on 079 2639206, and on the Internet website
arst.sardegna.it:8080. Tickets can be purchased either from the automated
ticketing office located inside the air terminal or on board.
2. Ferrovie dello Sardegna coach lines, connecting the airport to the main
towns of the Sassari area (Ph. 079 950458), with tickets available at the air
terminal bar, www.ferroviesardegna.it.
3. Deplanu coach lines (Ph. 0784 30325).
4. Logudoro Tours coach lines, serving the routes to Oristano, Macomer
and Cagliari (Ph. 079 281728 and www.antamviaggi.it).
5. Nuragica Tours coach lines (Ph. 079 510494).
Still in the same area, the local transport authority buses call in with which,
for about one Euro, one can easily reach the centre of Alghero and, in
particular, via Cagliari, not far from the railway station of the Ferrovie dello
Sardegna, which connect Alghero to Sassari through a narrow-gauge line.
For train timetables refer to www.ferroviesardegna.it.
Finally, in front of the exit of the arrivals lounge you will find a wide car
park reserved to taxis, which can be called on 079 981377. For
information you can write to the e-mail address [email protected].
The service costs an average of 20 Euro to the centre of Alghero and of
about 35 Euro to Sassari.
43
How to reach from Sassari,
Major hub for maritime transport and for flights travelling in north-west
Sardinia:
Sites of historical-archaeological interest
Barumini (distance 178 kilometres). There are no direct links with the
Turritan main town, so that it is necessary to reach Sanluri by train, with
trip times of about 3 hours and 30 minutes (information on routes,
timetables and connections is available on 892021 or on the Internet
website www.trenitalia.it), and then continue, for about one hour, with
the Ferrovie della Sardegna coach lines Ph. (070 342341 and
www.ferroviesardegna.it).
Bosa (distance 88 kilometres). The route to Bosa is served by the ARST
coach lines (information on routes, timetables and connections toll-free on
800 865042 and on arst.sardegna.it:8080) and by Digitur (079 270756
and www.digitur.it), both taking about 2 hours.
Dorgali (distance 158 kilometres). Lacking a direct route, it is necessary to
reach Nuoro by train, trip times over 3 hours (further information can be
obtained on 892021 and on www.trenitalia.it) or with the coaches of
ARST, in about 3 hours and 30 minutes (toll-free 800 865042 and website
arst.sardegna.it:8080) and Pani lines, in 2 hours and 30 minutes (Ph. 079
260066 and www.organizzazionepani.it). The remaining route to Dorgali is
served, in about 45 minutes, by the ARST coach lines.
44
Laconi (distance 160 kilometres). There is no direct route and it is
necessary to travel via Oristano, which can be reached both by train with
trip times of about 2 hours and 30 minutes (further information on
892021 and www.trenitalia.it) and with the coaches of the Pani lines, bus
stop in Via Lombardia no. 30 and average trip times of about 2 hours and
20 minutes (further information on 079 260066 and
www.organizzazionepani.it). The remaining route to Laconi is served, in
about 100 minutes, by the ARST coach lines (toll-free 800 865042 and
arst.sardegna.it:8080).
Goni (distance 215 kilometres). There is no direct route. The quickest way
is to reach Sanluri either by train, trip times of about 3 hours and 30
minutes (further information available on 892021 and www.trenitalia.it) or
with the coaches of the Pani lines, trip times over 3 hours (information on
079 260066 and www.organizzazionepani.it).
The remaining route to Senorbì, about 40 minute trip time, and eventually
Goni, another 45 minutes, is served by the Ferrovie della Sardegna coach
lines (Ph. 070 342341 and www.ferroviesardegna.it). In lack of
suitable connections, it will be necessary to reach Cagliari and then
proceed with the Ferrovie della Sardegna coach lines reaching Goni via
Senorbì.
45
Guspini (distance 165 kilometres). There is no direct route so that it is
necessary to get to San Gavino by train, with trip times of about 3 hours
(further information available on 892021 or www.trenitalia.it) and thence
proceed, in about 15 minutes, with the ARST coach lines (toll-free 800
Nora (distance 247 kilometres). Lacking a direct route, it is necessary to
travel via the regional main town, which can be reached either by train,
with trip times of about 4 hours (information on 892021 or
www.trenitalia.it) or by coach with the Pani lines, whose trip times range
from 3 hours and 15 (non-stop) up to over 4 hours (on-route stops).
Further information on 079 260066 and www.organizzazionepani.it. The
remaining route to Pula is served, in about 50 minutes, by the ARST coach
lines (toll-free 800 865042 and website arst.sardegna.it:8080. ).
The archaeological site is about 2 kilometres away from the bus stop, a
distance that can also be covered with the buses of the local urban service.
Orroli:
Nuraghe Arrubiu
46
Orroli (distance 185 kilometres). There is no direct link. It is therefore
necessary to reach Sanluri either by train, with trip times of about 3 hours
and 30 minutes (further information on 892021 or www.trenitalia.it) or
with the Pani coach lines, with trip times of about 3 hours (information on
079 260066 and www.organizzazionepani.it,) and then proceed with the
Ferrovie della Sardegna coach lines to Senorbì and, eventually, Orroli. The
Sanluri-Senorbì and Senorbì-Orroli route are covered in about 40 minutes
each. Further information on 070 342341 and www.ferroviesardegna.it.
Tharros (distance 137 kilometres). There is no direct route and it is
therefore necessary to travel via Oristano, which can be reached either by
train, with trip times of about 2 hours and 30 minutes (further information
on 892021 or www.trenitalia.it), or with the coaches of the Pani lines with
bus stop in Via Lombardia no. 30 and average trip times of about 2 hours
and 20 minutes (further information on number 079 260066 and
www.organizzazionepani.it). The remaining route to San Giovanni di Sinis,
from which Tharros can be easily reached even on foot, is served, in about
35 minutes, by the ARST coach lines (toll-free 800 865042 and
arst.sardegna.it:8080). The latter connection is only seasonal, operating
from 1st July to 31st August.
47
Asinara (Stintino) (distance 48 kilometres). The connection to Stintino is
served, in about 50 minutes, by the ARST coach lines (toll-free 800
La Maddalena (Palau) (distance 141 kilometres). There are no direct
connections. The most convenient way to reach the Gallurese town is to
get to Santa Teresa di Gallura and thence continue to Palau. The routes
Sassari-Santa Teresa di Gallura, with trip times of about 2 hours and 15
minutes, and Santa Teresa di Gallura-Palau, about 40 minutes, are served
by the ARST coach lines (information on timetables and connections
available toll-free on 800 865042 and on arst.sardegna.it:8080). Between
5th June and 19th September the latter route is also served, in about 30
minutes, by Turmotravel lines (Ph. 078 921487 and www.turmotravel.it).
Further, in the summer season Palau can also be reached from Sassari with
the narrow-gauge line of the Ferrovie della Sardegna leading to Nulvi.
Indeed, from there departs one of the tourist lines of the Trenino Verde
della Sardegna, the route Nulvi-Palau which, however, only operates for a
few days a week. For further information the website
www.treninoverde.com can be visited.
Orosei (distance 159 kilometres). There are no direct routes so that is
necessary to get to Nuoro, which can be reached either by train in over 3
hours (further information on routes, timetables and connections available
on 892021 and www.trenitalia.it), or with the coaches of the ARST, in
about 3 hours and 30 minutes (further information available toll-free on
800 865042 or arst.sardegna.it:8080) and Pani lines, in about 2 hours and
30 minutes (Ph. 079 260066 and www.organizzazionepani.it).
The remaining route to Orosei is again served, in about 50 minutes, by the
ARST coach lines.
San Giovanni di Sinis (distance 135 kilometres). There is no direct route
so that it is necessary to reach Oristano either by train, with trip times of
48
about 2 hours and 30 minutes (information on routes, timetables and
connections on 892021 and www.trenitalia.it) or with the coaches of the
Pani lines, with average trip times of about 2 hours and 20 minutes (Ph.
079 260066 and www.organizzazionepani.it).
ARST serves the remaining route, in about 35 minutes, to San Giovanni di
Sinis. For further information the toll-free number 800 865042 and
Internet address arst.sardegna.it:8080 are available. The latter connection
is served on a seasonal basis, being operative only from 1st July to 31st
August.
Tavolara (Porto San Paolo) (distance 107 kilometres). There are no direct
routes, so that it is necessary to travel via Olbia, connected to the Turritane
main town both by railway, with trip times of about 2 hours (further
information on routes, timetables and connections available 892021 or
www.trenitalia.it) and by the coaches of the ARST, in about 90 minutes
(toll-free 800 865042 and arst.sardegna.it:8080) and Turmotravel lines, in
about 80 minutes (Ph. 078 921487 and www.turmotravel.it).
The remaining route to Porto San Paolo is served by the ARST coach lines
(toll-free 800 865042 and arst.sardegna.it:8080) in about 15 minutes.
Villasimius (distance 261 kilometres). There are no direct routes, so that it
is necessary to travel via Cagliari, which can be reached either by train in
over 4 hours (information on routes, timetables and connections available
on 892021 and www.trenitalia.it) or with the coaches of the Pani lines, in
about 3 hours and 15 minutes (Ph. 079 260066 and
www.organizzazionepani.it).
The remaining route to Villasimius is served, in about 90 minutes, by the
ARST coach lines (toll-free 800 865042 and arst.sardegna.it:8080).
49
Thermal facilities
Fordongianus (distance 109 kilometres). There is no direct connection. It
is therefore necessary to reach Abbasanta by train, with a trip time of
about 2 hours (further information on timetables and connections
available on 892021 or www.trenitalia.it). The remaining route to
Fordongianus is served by the ARST coach lines, in about 40 minutes (tollfree 800 865042 or arst.sardegna.it:8080).
Sardara (distance 162 kilometres). There are no direct connections. The
most convenient route to reach it is to get to San Gavino by train, with a
trip time of about 3 hours (further information on timetables and
connections available on 892021 and www.trenitalia.it) and from here
proceed with the ARST lines (toll-free 800 865042 or
arst.sardegna.it:8080), Ferrovie della Sardegna (Ph. 070 342341 and
www.ferroviesardegna.it) and Mereu (070 494345 and
www.autoservizi.com), in about 15 minutes.
Cagliari (distance 215 kilometres). It can be reached both by train, in over
4 hours (information on routes, timetables and connections available on
892021 and www.trenitalia.it) and with the coaches of the Pani lines, in
about 3 hours and 15 minutes (Ph. 079 260066 and website
www.organizzazionepani.it).
Carbonia (distance 235 kilometres). It can be reached directly by train in
over 5 hours. Further information on routes, timetables and connections is
available on 892021 and at www.trenitalia.it.
Iglesias (distance 220 kilometres). It can be reached directly by train in
over 5 hours. Further information on routes, timetables and connections is
available on 892021 and at www.trenitalia.it.
50
Lanusei (distance 183 kilometres). There are no direct routes, so that it is
necessary to travel via Nuoro, which can be reached both by train, in over
3 hours (further information on routes, timetables and connections
available on 892021 and at www.trenitalia.it) and with the coaches of the
ARST, in about 3 hours and 30 minutes (toll-free 800 865042 and
arst.sardegna.it:8080) and Pani lines, with trip times of about 2 hours and
30 minutes (Ph. 079 260066 and www.organizzazionepani.it). From Nuoro
you then proceed, in about 70 minutes, with the ARST or F.lli Deplano
coach lines (Ph. 0784 295030).
Nuoro (distance 123 kilometres). It can be reached both by train in over 3
hours (further information on routes, timetables and connections available
on 892021 and at www.trenitalia.it) and with the coaches of both the
ARST, in about 3 hours and 30 minutes (toll-free 800 865042 and
arst.sardegna.it:8080), and Pani lines, with trip times of about 2 hours and
30 minutes (Ph. 079 260066 and www.organizzazionepani.it).
Olbia (distance 104 kilometres). It can be directly reached by train, in
about 2 hours (further information on routes, timetables and connections
available on 892021 and www.trenitalia.it), and with the coaches of the
ARST, in about 90 minutes (toll-free 800 865042 and
arst.sardegna.it:8080) and Turmotravel lines, in about 80 minutes
(information available on 078 921487 and www.turmotravel.it).
Oristano (distance 124 kilometres). It can be directly reached both by
train, in about 2 hours and 30 minutes (further information on routes,
timetables and connections available on 892021 and www.trenitalia.it),
and with the coaches of the Pani lines, in about 2 hours and 20 minutes
(Ph. 079 260066 and www.organizzazionepani.it).
Sanluri (distance 170 kilometres). It can be reached both by train, stop at
the Sanluri Stato station (information on routes, timetables and
connections available on 892021 or www.trenitalia.it) and with the
coaches of the Pani lines (Ph. 079 260066 and
www.organizzazionepani.it). In both cases trip times are over 3 hours.
51
Tempio (distance 72 kilometres). The direct connection is served by the
Ferrovie della Sardegna coach lines, in about 70 minutes (for further
information the phone number 070 342341 and Internet website
www.ferroviesardegna.it are available). In the summer season, the
Gallurese town can also be reach from Sassari with the narrow-gauge lines
of the Ferrovie della Sardegna company, with very long trip times of about
4 hours. For further information visit the website www.treninoverde.com.
Tortolì (distance 196 kilometres) There are no direct connections, so that it
is necessary to reach Nuoro either by train, with trip times of over 3 hours
(further information on routes, timetables and connections available on
892021 and www.trenitalia.it,), or with the coaches of the ARST, in about
3 hours and 30 minutes (toll-free 800 865042 and arst.sardegna.it:8080)
and Pani lines, in about 2 hours and 30 minutes (Ph. 079 260066 and
www.organizzazionepani.it). The remaining route to the Ogliastrine town
is served, in 2 hours and 40 minutes, by the ARST and F.lli Deplano coach
lines (Ph. 0784 295030).
Green
Train
52
Departure points
Both the Trenitalia and narrow-gauge lines of the Ferrovie della Sardegna
depart from the station of Piazza Stazione.
Of road connections
Routes served by ARST, Digitur, Ferrovie della Sardegna, Pani, and
Turmotravel coach lines depart from the coach station of Via XXV Aprile.
From Piazza Stazione the coach station of Via XXV Aprile can be reached
either on foot (distance about 350 metres) or with the ATP (Azienda
Trasporti Pubblici di Sassari:
www.comune.sassari.it/enti/atp/atp_frame.htm, Ph. 079 2638047) buses,
lines 8 and C, within a few minutes.
The Sassari city’s taxi service is available on 079 253939 and 079 260060.
Notices
As for the departure points in the towns of Oristano and Nuoro, please
refer to p. 37-38
53
What you will find
At the Seaport of Olbia Isola Bianca
The seaport of Olbia welcomes you with the largest maritime station
in the Island.
The compound, consisting of several intersecting buildings of circular
shape with a small tower in the middle reserved to offices, is provided with
two entrances, one of which facing the wharfs where the ferries dock,
whereas the other located at the opposite side.
After proceeding past the wide taxi rank (contactable on 0789
26852/0789 24999), inside the maritime station, just in front of the first
entrance, you will find a well-equipped help and information centre, which
can give any elucidation on transport facilities to all other destinations
across the Island. The office can be contacted on 0789 24696 although it
cannot make hotel reservations nor can it provide for any other tourist
agency services.
On the right of the help centre is a large and panoramic waiting hall, a
small left luggage (open every day from 6.00 to 12.40 and from 15.20 to
22.00), a Banco di San Paolo ATM, as well as public conveniences
equipped for people with various disabilities. On the left side, are a
tobacconist, an articraft and gift shop, and a spacious bar.
Proceeding towards the exit, after passing a shop of typical food products,
you reach a wide hall overlooked by most of the offices in the building.
On the left side are, apart from a large store of Sardinian art and articrafts,
the Police headquarters, a maritime agency/shipping office (Ph. 0789
26354), and the ticket window of the ferry company Lloyd Sardegna-Linea
dei Golfi (Ph. 0789 214411, 0789 22126, www.lineadeigolfi.it), with the
54
following opening times: Mondays, 07.00 to 12.30 and 15.00 to 22.00;
Tuesdays-Fridays, 04.30 to 12.30 and 15.00 to 22.00; Saturdays, 04.30 to
12.00 and 16.30 to 20.00; Sundays, only in the afternoon 18.30 to 22.00.
Further ahead are the offices of the local radio taxi company (Ph. 0789
26852-0789 24999, e-mail [email protected]), where it is also possible
to hire minibus, bus and chauffeured vehicles.
On the left side of the hall are, apart from a Banco di Sassari ATM, the
ticket offices/information centres of all other companies operating at the
port of call, namely those of:
• Corsica and Sardinia Ferries (Ph. 0586 881380, www.corsicaferries.it),
open only in the morning from 08.30 to 12.00. However, during closing
times tickets can also be purchased at the central railway station in Olbia.
• Grimaldi Group (Ph. 0789 200126) information and booking centre (Ph.
899 199069, www.grimaldi.it) open every day, except on Saturday and
Sunday afternoons, from 06.30 to 12.30 and from 16.00 to 20.00.
• Moby lines, information and booking office (Ph. 199 303040,
www.moby.it) open every day from 07.30 to 12.30 and from 16.00 to
22.00, on Saturdays and Sundays only in the evening from 18.00 to 22.00.
• Tirrenia di navigazione, information and booking centre Ph. (199
123199, www.tirrenia.it) open every day from 07.15 to 13.20 and from
16.45 to 22.50, and on public holidays only in the afternoon from 17.15
to 22.50.
Also, should you be interested in hiring a vehicle or a motorbike, you can
refer to one of the agencies located next to the exit.
Towards the car park and coach terminal: Sun Lines car rentals (Ph. 0789
50885, 348 2609881) and Unieurope (Ph. 340 2785363, 338 1465869).
Along the exit hall is also a small medical centre.
The maritime station features a panoramic restaurant-pizzeria, located at
the second level of the central building. For information and reservations
you can call the phone number 0789 22667. Should you wish to explore
further, at about 40 metres from the exit of the maritime station on the
right of the car park you will find the coach terminal.
At the port of call of the Gallurese town the following companies operate:
55
• ARST, Azienda Regionale Sarda Trasporti. Information on route,
timetables and fares is available on the toll-free number 800 865042 and
on the Internet website arst.sardegna.it:8080.
• Nicos Group, for some destinations across the Gallura region (Ph. 079
670613, www.nicosgroup.it).
• Turmo Travel, serving connections to the inner areas of the Nuoro and
Oristano regions, and up to Cagliari (information on 0789 21487,
www.turmotravel.it).
• Sun Lines, serving a thick network across the Gallura region (information
on 0789 208082, www.sunlines.org).
At the opposite side, about 50 metres from the maritime station, is the
Aspo (Azienda servizi pubblici di Olbia – Olbia Public Transport Agency)
platform, which, through line no. 9, connects the seaport to the rest of
the town and the Ferrovie dello Stato station. The price for a ticket is 0.57
Euro, if purchased at a newsagent’s or authorised reseller, 1.30 Euro if
purchased on board.
At the Airport of Olbia
The new air terminal of Olbia, opened on 6 June 2004, is located inside an
elegant building, which extends lengthwise from the arrivals up to the
check-in area.
The compound, situated only 4 kilometres away from town, articulates on
two levels plus a separate building, just a few meters away from the exit
of the arrivals area and used as a car rental terminal.
56
Outside the restricted-access area you will find, immediately on the right and
at one of the corners of the building, the offices of some of the coach lines
serving public transportation departing from the airport: the Sun Lines (Ph.
348 2609881, www.sunlines.it), the Nicos Group, Ph. 0789 54203,
www.nicosgroup.it) and Turmo Travel (Ph. 0789 21487, www.turmotravel.it).
Not far away is the office of the Aeroviaggi tour operator (Ph. 0917
434111, www.aeroviaggiclub.it), the customer service of the Starwood
hotel chain (www.starwooditaly.com), and a Banca di Sassari ATM.
Entering the concourse along which the structure articulates you will
encounter, on your right, the baby parking Dumbo Club. The service,
offered by the managing society of the airport, is completely free and
operates Thursday to Sunday 11.00 to 19.00.
Going further ahead, you will reach a well-supplied herbalist’s shop, the
toilets (equipped with facilities for people various impairments), a large
store selling typical products along with Sardinian articrafts, and a Banco di
San Paolo ATM.
A few metres ahead, next to the stairs leading to the second level, are
other toilets equipped with child care facilities.
On the left side of the concourse, near the exit from the restricted-access
area, are a large ticket office where it is possible to purchase tickets for
flights served by most of the major companies operating in the Gallurese
airport (open every day 06.00 to 20.00, Ph. 0789 563443), as well as the
information centre Info desk, which can provide to arriving passengers any
kind of elucidation on airport services, flights, and connection facilities to
the other destinations and major tourist attractions across Sardinia.
The office can also make hotel reservations, though only online, whereas it
is cannot contact directly tourist operators (Ph. 0789 563444).
Right on the side of the information centre is the passenger assistance office
for baggage-related problems which, serving all airline companies, is open
every day from 07.30 until arrival of the last flight (Ph. 0789 563456).
57
Going further on, past a small medical centre (open 24/24: Ph. 0789
68319), the State Police headquarters and an optician, you will reach a
large bar-restaurant. Located smack at the centre of the compound and
visible from all sides of the air terminal, the facility offers a bar service, a
pizza place and a restaurant spreading over an area of about 600 square
metres and seating up to 170 people. For information and reservations it
can be contacted on 0789 68924.
Before reaching the departures area, always on the left side of the
building, are a small female underwear shop and one of the largest
bookshops in Sardinia with 380 square metres of display, a well-stocked
jeweller’s and clock shop, a tobacconist, gift and clothes shop and, finally,
another clothes shop.
On the first level of the premises, easily reachable with the escalators and
lifts, are, apart from a wide office area, a beauty centre (open every day
09.00 to 21.00, Ph. 0789 66783), and the University Hub, centre of the
degree in economics and tourist enterprises, spreading over about 1000
square meters and featuring a lecture theatre of 250 seats.
The public security offices at the airport are contactable on the following
phone numbers: Carabinieri 0789 68774; Polizia di Frontiera 0789
641059; Guardia di Finanza 0789 69496; Fire Brigade 0789 69502.
Should you wish to reach the town centre, you can take advantage of the
taxi service, for which a wide parking area is reserved close to the right
sidewalk in front of the arrivals area.
The cost of a trip is about 13 Euro and phone calls can be made on 078
922718 or 0789 69150.
The air terminal is also connected to town and to the Ferrovie dello Stato
railway station by the Aspo buses, lines no. 2 and circular INPS, with trip
times of about 15 minutes. The price for a ticket is 0.57 Euro, if purchased
at the newsagent’s or any authorised resellers, 1.30 Euro if purchased on
board. For any queries about frequency, lines and timetables it is possible
to call the phone number 0789 553856 or visit the website www.aspo.it.
Passengers proceeding to the other destinations across the Island can find,
58
at about 50 metres on the right of the exit from the arrivals area and past
a wide bar with patio, the coach terminal and the building where the car
rental agencies are located.
Inside the building the following agencies operate:
• A.M.Service, 0789 68884, www.amservicee.it
• Auto Europa, 0789 642030, www.sbc.it
• Avis, 078969540, booking centre 0645 2108391,
• Dollar Thrifty, 0789 66003, www.thrifty.it
• Easycar, 0789 642126, toll-free number 800 939293,
www.easycarspa.com
• Ellepì, 0789 69055, www.ellepirental.com
• Europcar, 0789 69548, www.europcar.it
• Eurorent, 0789 68524, www.eurorent.com
• Hertz, 0789 69389-0789 66024, booking centre 199 112211, www.hertz.it
• Maggiore, 0789 69457, booking centre 848 867067, www.maggiore.it
• Mida rent, 0789 645233, www.midarent.com
• Pinna, 0789 641109, www.autonoleggiopinna.it
• Ruvioli, 0789 69733, www.ruvioli.it
• Sardinya, 0789 69367, www.autonoleggiosardinya.it
• Sixt, 0789 645108, booking office 199 100666, www.e-sixt.it
• Smeralda, 0789 69192
• Targarent, toll-free number 800 980100, www.targarent.it.
Next to the car rental terminal is also a wide stop area for the coaches
connecting the Olbia airport to the other towns around Sardinia.
The following companies operate regular departures from the airport:
• ARST, Azienda Regionale Sarda Trasporti. Information on lines, timetables
and fares available on the toll-free number 800 865042 and on the
• Deplano, 0784 295030, with destinations to the coastal areas of the
Nuoro and Ogliastra regions;
• Sun Lines, 0789 208082, www.sunlines.org, serving the Gallura region
with a thick network;
• Turmotravel, 078 921487, www.turmotravel.it, serving connections with
the inner areas of the Nuoro and Oristano regions up to Cagliari.
59
At the seaport of Golfo Aranci
Travelling through Golfo Aranci, a locality at 20 kilometres from Olbia, you
will find a small maritime station with the information/ticket office of the
following navigation companies:
• Tirrenia di navigazione, information and booking centre 199 123199,
www.tirrenia.it
• Corsica Ferries, Ph. 0586 881380, www.corsicaferries.it
In the wide area in front of the ferry docks you will find, apart from a taxi
rank, a large bar-tobacconist, also selling typical food products, a
newsagency, and a shop of Sardinian handicraft.
The public conveniences, equipped for people with various disabilities, are
inside a small adjacent building.
Proceeding towards the tourist port, a few meters away from commercial
one, you will find two snack bars and a well-stocked shop of local cheese
and other groceries.
You can reach the other destinations across the Island either by coach or
by train.
Road connections (stopping inside the port in front of the docks, are
served by ARST). Information on lines, timetables and fares is available on
the toll-free number 800 865042 and on the Internet website
Tickets can be purchased either at the port’s bar-tobacconist or, with an
extra fee, also on board.
The railway station of Golfo Aranci is instead located on the namesake
street, about 200 meters from the port towards the barracks of the Polizia
Ferroviaria (Railway Police). The compound does not offer any particular
facilities apart from an automated ticket machine.
The port is however quite close to town, easily reachable also on foot.
Finally, about 300 metres along Via Libertà are two car rental agencies:
Maggiore (Ph. 0789 616012) and Holiday Car (Ph. 0789 46199).
60
At the seaport of Santa Teresa di Gallura
Santa Teresa di Gallura, main route for maritime connections to Corsica, is
one of the northernmost towns in the Island, about 60 kilometres from
Olbia.
In front of the docks you will find a small, though cosy maritime station,
inside of which, apart from a waiting hall and the ticket offices of the
carriers operating at the seaport, are a newsagent’s and a souvenir shop, a
large bar under restructuring, and public conveniences, not equipped for
the disabled.
The ticket/information office of Moby Lines is contactable on 0789
751449/0789 754884, that of Saremar on 0789 754156/0789 754788. In
the compound is also AMS, a travel agent which provides hotel
reservations as well as any other related services (Ph. 0789 754508).
Just outside the station it is possible to go ahead through the length of the
port or take the tunnel leading to the town centre.
In the first case you will reach, after about one hundred metres, the taxi
rank (Ph. 0789 754286) and the mooring area of several of the ships that
operate tours around the archi pelago of La Maddalena. These are
contactable on-site.
The tunnel, which can also be traversed on foot, leads close to the coach
terminal, about 400 meters from the maritime station.
The following coach lines operate regular departures from town:
61
and fares is available on the toll-free number 800 865042 and on the
• Coach lines of the Ferrovie della Sardegna, with the line to Tempio
Pausania and Aglientu (Ph. 070 342341, www.ferroviesardegna.it).
• Nicos Group, for some destinations across the Gallura region (Ph. 079
670613, www.nicosgroup.it)
• TurmoTravel, serving connections to Olbia and Cagliari (information on
0789 21487, www.turmotravel.it ).
At the seaport of Palau
The seaport of Palau, an important tourist resort located about 40
kilometres from Olbia, welcomes you with a small maritime station
featuring a bar-tobacconist with a newsagent’s and a souvenir shop.
Inside the building are also a Banco di Sardegna ATM and the
ticket/information offices of all the carriers operating at the seaport, namely:
• Saremar, for connections to the island of La Maddalena (Ph. 0789
709270, information and booking centre Ph. 199 123199,
www.saremar.it).
• Enermar, for connections to La Maddalena and Genoa (0789 7061170789 708484, information and booking centre Ph. 899 200001, www.tris.it).
• Medmar, for connections to Naples and Porto Vecchio (Ph. 0789
706080, booking centre 0815513352, www.medmargroup.it)
In the same building is also an information and booking office for tours
around the archipelago of La Maddalena (Ph. 0789 737112, 0789
735419, 347 3016832, 347 7322777, 335 6273108).
Other operators can be contacted directly at the tourist port, located a few
metres from the commercial one.
The town relies on an efficient taxi service, with a taxi rank located in front
of the maritime station.
Calls can be made to the following numbers: 0789 709218, 0789 709309,
0789 709266, 338 9453758, 329 2906968, and 329 3542921.
62
Always facing the maritime station you will find the area reserved to the
coaches connecting Palau to the main destinations across Sardinia. In the
Gallurese town the following companies operate:
and fares is available on the toll-free number 800 865042 and on the
• Coach lines of the Ferrovie della Sardegna, with the line to Tempio
Pausania and Aglientu (Ph. 070 342341, www.ferroviesardegna.it).
• Nicos Group, serving some destinations around the Gallura region (Ph.
079 670613, www.nicosgroup.it)
• TurmoTravel, serving connections to Olbia and Cagliari (information on
0789 21487, www.turmotravel.it ).
Palau
Port
From 22nd June to 11th September, the Trenino Verde line is also
available. This is a tourist service by the Ferrovie della Sardegna that, from
the railway station of Palau Marittima located a few dozen meters from
the commercial port, connects the town of Palau to Tempio, with the
possibility, though only on Wednesdays, to proceed to Sassari.
From Wednesdays to Saturdays only one departure is scheduled at
09.50hrs, whereas on Sundays there is also a second one 19.00hrs. For
information on lines, timetables and fares contact the toll-free number 800
460220, the number 070 580246, or visit the website
63
How to reach from Olbia,
reference point for all Island’s north-eastern airborne and maritime
gateways.
Barumini (distance 228 kilometres). There is no direct connection, so it is
best to get to Oristano, which can be reached from the Gallurese main
town both by train, with trip times of about 3 hours (information on
routes, timetables and connections available on 892021 and on
www.trenitalia.it), and with the coaches of the Turmotravel lines (Ph. 0789
21487 and www.turmotravel.it) in about 3 hours. From Oristano you
proceed to Nuragus, 1 hour and 30 minutes, with the coaches of ARST
lines (toll-free 800 865042 and arst.sardegna.it:8080) and from there to
Barumini with the coach lines of the Ferrovie della Sardegna in about 15
minutes. For further information it is possible to contact the phone
number 070 342341 or visit the Internet website www.ferroviesardegna.it.
Bosa (distance 137 kilometres). The direct connection is guaranteed by the
ARST coach lines with trip times of about 3 hours and 15 minutes. For
further information the toll-free number 800 865042 and the Internet
website arst.sardegna.it:8080 are available.
Dorgali (distance 102 kilometres). The direct connection is guaranteed by
the ARST (toll-free 800 865042 and arst.sardegna.it:8080), with trip times
of about 2 hours, and F.lli Deplano coach lines (Ph. 0784 295030), with
trip times of about 2 hours and 30 minutes.
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Laconi (distance 209 kilometres). There are no direct connections so that it
is necessary to travel via Oristano, which can be reached from the
Gallurese main town both by train, with trip times of about 3 hours
(information on routes, timetables and connections available on 892021
and on www.trenitalia.it), and with the coaches of the Turmotravel lines
(Ph. 0789 21487 and www.turmotravel.it), in over 3 hours. The remaining
route to Laconi is served, in about 100 minutes, by the ARST coach lines
(toll-free 800 865042 and arst.sardegna.it:8080).
Goni (distance 264 kilometres). There is no direct connection from Olbia.
The quickest route is to reach Sanluri by train, with a trip time of about 3
hours and 30 minutes (information on routes, timetables and connections
available on 892021 and on www.trenitalia.it), and from there proceed
with the Ferrovie della Sardegna coach lines (Ph. 070 342341 and
www.ferroviesardegna.it), first to Senorbì, about 50 minute trip time, then
to Goni, 40 minute trip time. Should there not be any useful connections
it shall be necessary to get first to Cagliari and then reach per Goni with
the coach lines of the Ferrovie della Sardegna.
Guspini (distance 214 kilometres). There is no direct connection from
Olbia. The quickest route is to reach San Gavino by train, with a trip time
of about 3 hours and 30 minutes (information on routes, timetables and
connections available on 892021 and on www.trenitalia.it), and thence
proceed, in about 20 minutes, to Guspini with the ARST coach lines (tollfree 800 865042 and arst.sardegna.it:8080).
Nora (distance 297 kilometres). There are no direct connections, so that it is
necessary to reach Cagliari either by train, with trip times of about 4 hours
(information on routes, timetables and connections available on 892021 and
on www.trenitalia.it), or with the coaches of Turmotravel lines, in about 4
hours and a half (Ph. 0789 21487 and www.turmotravel.it). Also, in the
winter season Meridiana airlines connect Olbia to Cagliari in about 30
minutes (information on www.meridiana.it). The remaining route to Pula is
served by the ARST coach lines (toll-free 800 865042 and
arst.sardegna.it:8080) in about 50 minutes. The archaeological area is about
2 kilometres from the centre of Pula, which can also be covered with the
buses of the local urban service.
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Orroli (distance 235 kilometres). There are no direct connections. It is
therefore necessary to reach Nuoro either by train, with trip time of over 3
hours (information on routes, timetables and connections available on
892021 and on www.trenitalia.it) or with the coaches of the ARST, in 2
hours and 30 minutes (toll-free 800 865042 and arst.sardegna.it:8080)
and F.lli Deplano lines (Ph. 0784 295030). The remaining route to Orroli is
served by the coach lines of the Ferrovie della Sardegna, with trip times of
about 3 hours. Further information is available on 070 342341 and on
www.ferroviesardegna.it.
Tharros (distance 186 kilometres). There is no direct connection, so that it is
necessary to travel via Oristano, which can be reach from the Gallurese main
town both by train, in about 3 hours (information on routes, timetables and
connections available on 892021 and on www.trenitalia.it) and with the
coaches of the Turmotravel lines, in over 3 hours (Ph. 0789 21487 and
www.turmotravel.it). The remaining route to San Giovanni di Sinis, from
which the archaeological area is easily reachable also on foot, is served in
about 30 minutes by the coach lines of the Ferrovie della Sardegna (toll-free
800 865042 and arst.sardegna.it:8080).
Nora:
Amphitheatre
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Asinara (Stintino) (distance 148 kilometres). There is no direct
connection, so that it is necessary to travel via Sassari, which can be
reached from Olbia either by train, with trip times of about 2 hours
(information on routes, timetables and connections available on 892021
and on www.trenitalia.it), or with the coaches of ARST, in about 90
minutes (toll-free 800 865042 and arst.sardegna.it:8080), and of
Turmotravel lines, in about 80 minutes (further information on 0789
21487 and www.turmotravel.it). The remaining route to Stintino is served,
in about 50 minutes, by the ARST coach lines.
La Maddalena (Palau) (distance 43 kilometres). It is directly connected by
the coaches of ARST lines, in about 70 minutes (information on routes,
timetables and connections available toll-free on 800 865042 and
arst.sardegna.it:8080) and, though only in the summer season, by
Turmotravel in about 50 minutes. For further information call 0789 21487
or visit www.turmotravel.it.
Orosei (distance 87 kilometres). The direct connection is served by the
ARST, with trip times of about 2 hours and 30 minutes (toll-free 800
865042 and arst.sardegna.it:8080), and F.lli Deplano coach lines (Ph. 0784
295030), with trip times of about 3 hours.
San Giovanni di Sinis (distance 185 kilometres). There is no direct
connection, so that it is necessary to travel via Oristano, which can be
reached both by train, in about 3 hours (information on routes, timetables
and connections available on 892021 and on www.trenitalia.it), and with
the coaches of Turmotravel lines (Ph. 0789 21487 and
www.turmotravel.it), with trip times of over 3 hours. The remaining route
to San Giovanni di Sinis is served, in about 35 minutes, by the ARST coach
lines (toll-free 800 865042 and arst.sardegna.it:8080).
Tavolara (Porto San Paolo) (distance 12 kilometres). The direct
connection is served by the ARST coach lines, in about 15 minutes. Further
information on toll-free 800 865042 and arst.sardegna.it:8080.
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Villasimius (distance 280 kilometres) There are no direct connections, so
that it is necessary to reach Cagliari either by train, with trip times of
about 4 hours (information on routes, timetables and connections
available on 892021 and on www.trenitalia.it), or with the coaches of
Turmotravel lines, in about 4 hours and a half (Ph. 0789 21487 and
www.turmotravel.it). Also, in the winter season Meridiana airlines connect
Olbia to Cagliari in about 30 minutes (information on www.meridiana.it).
The remaining route to Villasimius is served by ARST, in about 80 minutes.
Further information on routes, timetables and connections is available tollfree on 800 865042 and arst.sardegna.it:8080.
Thermal facilities
Fordongianus (distance 158 kilometres). There is no direct connection
with the Gallurese main town. The easiest way is to reach the thermal
facility is to get to Abbasanta by train, with trip times of about 2 hours
and 30 minutes (information on routes, timetables and connections
available on 892021 and on www.trenitalia.it). The remaining route to
Fordongianus is served, in about 30 minutes, by the ARST coach lines (tollfree 800 865042 and arst.sardegna.it:8080).
Sardara (distance 212 kilometres). In lack of direct connections, the
easiest way to get there is to reach San Gavino by train, with trip times of
about 3 hours and 30 minutes (information on routes, timetables and
connections available on 892021 and on www.trenitalia.it), and thence
proceed to Sardara with the ARST (toll-free 800 865042 and
arst.sardegna.it:8080), Ferrovie della Sardegna (Ph. 070 342341 and
www.ferroviesardegna.it) or Mereu coach lines (Ph. 070 494345 and
www.autoservizi.com). In all cases trip times are about 15 minutes.
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Cagliari (distance 265 kilometres). The regional main province can be
reached either by train, with trip times of about 4 hours (information on
routes, timetables and connections available on 892021 and on
www.trenitalia.it), or with the coaches of Turmotravel lines, in about 4
hours and a half (Ph. 0789 21487 and www.turmotravel.it). Also, in the
winter eason Meridiana airlines connect Olbia to Cagliari in about 30
minutes (information on www.meridiana.it).
Carbonia (distance 285 kilometres). The easiest way to reach it is by train,
with trip times of about 5 hours. Further information on lines, timetables
and fares is available on 892021 and www.trenitalia.it.
Iglesias (distance 270 kilometres). The easiest way to reach it is by train,
with trip times of 5 hours. Further information on lines, timetables and
fares is available on 892021 and www.trenitalia.it.
Lanusei (distance 168 kilometres). The direct connection is served by the
ARST coach lines (toll-free 800 865042 and arst.sardegna.it:8080), with
trip times of about 4 hours and 30 minutes.
Nuoro (distance 103 kilometres). It can be reached directly by train, in
over 3 hours (information on routes, timetables and connections available
on 892021 and on www.trenitalia.it) and with the coaches of the ARST, in
2 hours and 30 minutes (toll-free 800 865042 and arst.sardegna.it:8080),
and F.lli Deplano lines (Ph. 0784 295030).
Oristano (distance 174 kilometres). It can be reached directly by train in
about 3 hours (information on routes, timetables and connections
available on 892021 and on www.trenitalia.it), and with the coaches of
the Turmotravel lines (Ph. 0789 21487 and www.turmotravel.it), in over 3
hours.
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Sanluri (distance 219 kilometres). The direct connection is served by
Trenitalia, stop at the Sanluri Stato station, with trip times of about 3
hours and 30 minutes. Further information on lines, timetables and fares is
available on 892021 and www.trenitalia.it.
Sassari (distance 103 kilometres). It can be reached directly both by train
in about 2 hours (information on routes, timetables and connections
available on 892021 and on www.trenitalia.it), and with the coaches of
the ARST, in about 90 minutes (toll-free 800 865042 and
arst.sardegna.it:8080) and Turmotravel lines, in about 80 minutes (Ph.
0789 21487 and www.turmotravel.it).
Tempio (distance 50 kilometres). The direct connection is served by the
ARST coach lines, in about 80 minutes (toll-free 800 865042 and
arst.sardegna.it:8080).
Tortolì (distance 165 kilometres). The direct connection is served by the
ARST coach lines, in over 4 hours. For further information contact the tollfree number 800 865042 or visit arst.sardegna.it:8080.
Departure points
All lines served by Trenitalia depart from the station of Via G. Pala.
Of road connections
Route served by ARST depart from the ARST coach station of Corso Umberto
I, sometimes stopping at the maritime station of the seaport Isola Bianca as
well as at the airport Costa Smeralda. Turmotravel coach lines, on the other
hand, depart from the maritime station of the seaport Isola Bianca. The ARST
coach station is connected to the passenger terminal of the seaport Isola
Bianca by Aspo (Azienda Servizi Pubblici for the town of Olbia), line 9 in about
15 minutes, but is also within easy reach on foot from the railway station.
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Notices
As for the departure points in the towns of Oristano and Nuoro, please
refer to p. 37-38.
What you will find
At the Seaport of Arbatax
You will not find any relevant facilities while in transit at the seaport of
Arbatax.
There is still no maritime station, although the port of call is located a few
dozen metres away from town, which makes it fairly easy to reach the
shopping facilities and tourist services available there.
Arbatax is also connected to Cagliari and to the main towns in the Island
by the ARST (Azienda Regionale Sarda Trasporti) (for further information
call the toll-free number 800 865042 or visit the Internet website
arst.sardegna.it:8080), and by the Ferrovie della Sardegna coach lines (Ph.
070 342341, www.ferroviesardegna.it), which call in Via Lungomare, in
front of the church. From 19th June until 11th September, the Trenino
Verde is also available, a tourist service by the Ferrovie della Sardegna
which, departing at 14.30, connects, through an evocative railway line
plunged into the green countryside, Arbatax to Mandas and Cagliari (the
latter route is served by a coach line). For information on lines, timetables
and fares call the toll-free number 800 460220, the number 070 580246,
or visit the website www.treninoverde.com.
At the Airport of Tortolì
The small airport of Tortolì gives onto the beach of Orrì and on the crystalclear sea of the Ogliastra region, and is located about two kilometres away
from the town centre. Surrounded by green countryside, the compound
offers only a few essential facilities.
In fact, mainly charter flights land at the Ogliastrine airport, even though
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the project for a regular flight to Rome should eventually lead to its
expansion as well as to improvement of the transport services provided
with a shuttle bus service connecting the town of Tortolì.
However, you will still find a bar with al-fresco tables in the spring and
summer seasons and a shop selling typical local products, always open
depending on the timetable of flights on arrival and departure.
Although a local transport system from the airport to town has not yet
been implemented, there is still an efficient taxi service contactable on 339
1602132 and 330 281908. The average cost for a trip to Tortolì is about 5
Euro, whereas for Lanusei 20 Euro are needed.
Further, the town of Tortolì is connected to Cagliari and to the main towns
across the Island both by ARST (Azienda Regionale Sarda Trasporti), calling
in Piazza Cavour loc. Frau Locci (for information call toll-free 800865042
or visit arst.sardegna.it:8080), and by the Ferrovie della Sardegna coach
lines, calling near the Court of Law, in from of the Primary School, and in
loc. Frau Locci, (Ph. 070 342341, www.ferroviesardegna.it).
From 19th June until 11th September, the Trenino Verde is also available, a
tourist service by the Ferrovie della Sardegna which, departing at 14.30
connects, through an evocative railway line plunged into the green
countryside, Tortolì to Mandas and Cagliari (the latter route is served by a
coach line).
At the Seaport of Portovesme
Portovesme, industrial area about 80 kilometres from Cagliari, offers to
passengers travelling from and to the island of San Pietro a small bartobacconist with a newsagent’s and the ticket/information office of the
Saremar navigation company which, always open during departure times,
is contactable on 078 1509065. Updated information on lines, timetables
and fares is available on the website www.saremar.it, whereas for
reservations you can call 199 123199, available all weekdays from 09.00
to 20.00hrs. A new maritime station is also under construction, located
within a modern building just a stone’s throw from the ferry wharf.
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Currently, besides the public conveniences which are equipped for the
disabled, inside the building is only a bar-restaurant, open, for the bar
service, from 05.30 to 22.00, and from 07.00 to 22.00 on Saturdays,
Sundays and public holidays, and for the restaurant service, every day from
12.30 to 14.30 and from 19.00 to 21.00.
Should you wish to proceed to other destinations across the Island, you
will find on the left side of the square facing the station, on the platform
of the Ferrovie Meridionali Sarde (the railway lines connecting the seaport
to the main town and to several other destinations in south Sardinia,
namely Carbonia and Iglesias), the terminuses of the railway lines. Tickets
can be purchased at the seaport bar.
For information on lines, timetables and fares call toll-free 800 044553 or
visit www.ferroviemeridionalisarde.it.
At the Seaport of Calasetta
The town of Calasetta, about 100 kilometres from Cagliari, welcomes you
with a small, though well-equipped tourist seaport.
In the square facing the port, in front of the ferry wharf, you will find the
ticket/information offices of the navigation companies operating at the
port of call:
• Delcomar, Ph. 348 3349198
• Saremar, Ph. 0781 88430, booking centre 199 123199, www.saremar.it
In the square facing the port you will also find, inside a large white
building, a spacious bar-restaurant-pizzeria, contactable for information
and bookings on 0781 88934, a travel agency, open all weekdays from
09.00 to 13.00 mad from 16.00 to 20.00 (Ph. 0781 898011), and public
conveniences, though not equipped with facilities for the disabled.
To continue your trip you will find, a few metres away from the building,
the bus stop of the Ferrovie Meridionali della Sardegna coach lines, which
connect the tourist resort not only to Cagliari but also to Iglesias and
Carbonia, terminuses of the railway network.
For information on lines, timetables and fares you can call toll-free 800
044553 or visit the website www.ferroviemeridionalisarde.it. Tickets can be
purchased in Piazza Stazione, no. 1.
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Before commencing your trip
Regardless of the means of transport you have chosen, it might help to
get an overall idea of the passenger’s rights, so that you can handle with
increased awareness those minor inconveniences which may sometimes
mar even the best holiday.
By ship
If you are travelling to or from Sardinia, or are heading to or from the
lesser islands of San Pietro and La Maddalena by ship, you may experience
inconveniences due to e.g. cancellation of a departure, delays, or damage
to your baggage and other personal belongings.
Should the carrier cancel departure (i.e. the ship does not set sail) for
reasons beyond its control (e.g. unpredictable failure or adverse weather
conditions), then the passenger is entitled to a refund for the price of the
ticket but not to extra compensation (article 402 cod. nav.).
Whereas in those cases when cancellation of departure is the carrier’s
responsibility (e.g. the crew did not board the ship or the navigation
company failed to fulfil its essential administrative duties), if later
departures with other ships by the same carrier are possible, then the
passenger has the choice to depart later. In all such cases, the passenger is
entitled to compensation of any damages that might have been caused
(article 408 cod. nav.).
Should instead departure be delayed, then the passenger is entitled, during
the time of delay, to provision of accommodation and food, whenever this is
included in the price for the crossing. For journeys of less than 24 hours,
after 12 hours’ delay the passenger can elect not to depart any more, and is
entitled to a refund for the price of the ticket. Whereas for journeys over 24
hours, the passenger can decide not to wait any more beyond 24 hours’
delay (for crossings between Mediterranean ports of call) or 48 hours (if the
journey begins or ends outside Europe or in those countries not giving onto
the Mediterranean sea: article 404 cod. nav.).
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In case of a passenger’s unexpected problem, i.e. if before leaving he/she is
forced to give up departure either for reasons beyond his/her own control
or because of issues with one of the accompanying family members, then
the passenger will have to notify the carrier before departure and shall be
entitled to a refund for 75% of the price for the ticket. Should the
passenger fail to give notification, he/she will lose the entire price of the
ticket (article 400 cod. nav.).
Be careful, however, as the general conditions applied by the carriers may
provide for a different conduct, hence different penalty percentages.
If either during navigation or during boarding/disembarking operations
(e.g. while stepping up or down the gangway) the passenger is victim of
an accident, thereby suffering bodily injury, then the carrier will be liable in
principle and shall provide compensation for the damage, unless it can
waive either its own or its crew’s responsibility (article 409 cod. nav.).
Usually the passenger takes along his/her own personal belongings. It is
the passenger’s responsibility to look after his/her baggage, unless he/she
can prove that its accidental loss or damage have been caused by the
carrier. Whereas for checked baggage handed in locked to the carrier, the
latter is responsible for it and shall in any event demonstrate that its
accidental loss or damage was not its fault.
Whenever the carrier is responsible for damage to checked baggage, the
amount due as compensation for the damage cannot exceed 6.19 Euro
75
per kilogram of weight of the baggage itself, unless the passenger has
arranged for a declaration of higher value (art. 412 cod. nav.). The value
declaration is, as the word itself suggests, a statement by which the
passenger notifies the carrier, before boarding, that the value of his/her
baggage exceeding the legal limits. In such case, the amount due as
compensation shall equal the stated value. The value declaration does not
require agreement by the carrier nor its acceptance, as by law it can only
be affected by it.
The value declaration will prove especially useful whenever travelling with
one’s own car or motorbike along. Indeed, in such case this will not have
to do with baggage so that the rules for transport of goods apply, which,
however, provide for a legal limit of the compensation due by the carrier
equal to 103.29 Euro per unit of load (article 423 cod. nav.). In case of a
vehicle, this means that if during crossing a car or motorbike has been
either completely destroyed or even hardly damaged, then the carrier will
be liable for an amount of 103.29 Euro all inclusive. For such reason, it is
highly recommended to go, before boarding, into the offices of the carrier
with a written declaration in two copies reporting the passenger’s details,
the vehicle’s features (i.e. make, model, registration number), the ticket
number, and the actual value of the same. A copy shall be handed over to
the carrier, whereas the other shall be retained by the passenger after
requesting signature or validation by the carrier. Beware of incorrect
values, as the carrier can always prove that the actual value is less than the
stated one, being liable in such case only for the real one. If, on the other
hand, the value is intentionally reported incorrectly by the passenger, then
the carrier shall not be liable for any refund.
All damages, both to the baggage and to the vehicle along, shall be
ascertained either in presence of the commander or by handing in a
written declaration to the navigation company’s personnel, always in case
of evident damage (i.e. easily ascertainable). Conversely, in case of not
readily ascertainable damage (i.e. not immediately identifiable, but only
after accurate inspection), this shall be reported to the carrier within 3
days following return.
Beware that without a statement you will lose the possibility to claim
damage compensation (article 412 cod. nav.). In case of a vehicle, the law
76
expects that this has been returned in good condition (unless otherwise
proved) (article 435 cod. nav.).
If following damage assessment and failure to obtain compensation on
friendly grounds it is decided to sue the carrier, then it must be reminded
that this has to be done within 6 months following damage to the person,
baggage and goods (i.e. vehicles along). For baggage this is 1 year following
return. After such period it will no longer be possible to lodge a claim.
By plane
If you are arrive or leave by plane, the first suggestion we make is to read
through the Conditions of Carriage, which are displayed at all Italian
airports and make for a practical user’s companion, and whose
enforcement is supervised by ENAC (Ente Nazionale per l’Aviazione Civile –
National Agency for Civil Aviation). Further, we wish to remind you that on
ENAC’s Internet website (www.enac-italia.it) a special form is available for
reporting violations of the Conditions.
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One of the most common problems encountered by plane travellers is
denied boarding due to overbooking, which entails refusal to carry one or
more passengers on a certain flight despite the passengers holding both a
valid ticket and a reconfirmed booking as well as their abiding to the means
and conditions set forth by the carrier about presenting for check-in.
Denied boarding can be due to several factors, although the main reason
is allowance by the carrier for a number of bookings in excess of the
aircraft capability. Should you experience denied boarding, the law (which,
in this case, is Community Regulation no. 261 of 2004) provides for a
number of possibilities.
The first suggestion is to keep calm and decide whether, if not in a hurry
to reach your destination, you can give up on that flight. In fact, the
carrier is obliged by law to check whether the are any volunteers willing to
give up boarding in return of benefits to be agreed upon with those who
give up by their own decision: this can be a compensation either in money
or in services, such as travel vouchers or other.
In such case, be aware that the minimum amount of compensation that
the law provides for any instance of denied boarding ranges from 250
Euro (for all routes less than or equal to 1,500 Km) to 400 Euro (for flights
between European Community Countries over 1,500 Km and for all routes
between 1,500 and 3,000 Km), up to a maximum of 600 Euro (for all
farther routes).
It is likely that the carrier, in order to avoid passenger’s dissatisfaction, may
be willing to pay for a higher compensation to volunteers who, by their
surrendering, solve the problem.
Should you instead be in a hurry to reach destination and should there not
be volunteers willing to surrender their booking, then you must hope not
to be amongst the last passengers to report within the times set out for
boarding procedures. In fact, these often happen to be the passengers
who are denied boarding because the aircraft is full.
Should you happen to be the ‘victims’ chosen by the carrier, then rest
assured that losing one’s nerve will not help. In fact, the law provides for
78
the possibility of denied boarding even to passengers in disagreement, as
long as adequate assistance is guaranteed and prompt money
compensation is made as per above.
The passenger who is denied boarding, either volunteer or not, can firstly
elect not to depart any more with that carrier, in which case the full price
for the ticket will have to be reimbursed within 7 days.
The second option is to take an alternative flight to the same destination
whenever possible, that is on a date of choice by the passenger depending
on seat availability.
Should there be more airports in the city of destination and should the
carrier offer a flight to a different airport from the one booked for, then
passenger’s transfer expenses to the airport originally booked for or to any
other destination in the proximity agreed upon will be the carrier’s
responsibility.
In order to obtain compensation for denied boarding it is not necessary to
prove experiencing a loss: the amount is due for the sole reason that the
passenger failed to board and it shall be paid immediately and either in
cash, by money transfer or by cheque, unless the passenger agrees in
written form to obtain it in the form of travel vouchers or other services.
Nevertheless, this does not rule out the possibility for the passenger to
claim reimbursement for a higher damage, which however will have to be
proved and properly quantified.
Should the carrier, as a result of denied boarding, offer the passenger to
reach destination with another flight whose arrival time is not 2 hours
beyond that of the original flight (for routes less than or equal to 1,500
Km), 3 hours (for inter-communitarian routes over 1,500 Km or for all
other routes between 1,500 and 3,000 Km), or 4 hours (for all other
routes), then the charted compensation can be reduced by 50%.
Another problem that may occur in air transport is flight cancellation,
which differs from denied boarding in that it is the plane which does not
depart, and not one or more of the indicated passengers.
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The remedies provided for by the law (which, also in this case, refer to reg.
CE 261/2004) are the same as those for denied boarding: alternative
flight, material assistance as well as charted money compensation (in the
amounts indicated above).
Money compensation is not due in case the vector has notified the
passenger of cancellation at least 2 weeks before the departure date.
Compensation is also not due if notification has been made in a period
ranging from 2 weeks to 7 days before departure and offer has been
made to board another flight departing no more than 2 hours before the
original timetable and reaching final destination within less than 4 hours
after the scheduled arrival time, or in case notification of cancellation has
been given within 7 days before departure, but an offer has been made to
board another flight departing no more than 1 hours before the scheduled
timetable and reaching destination within less 2 hours after the scheduled
arrival time.
Money compensation is not due if the carrier is able to prove that
cancellation has been the result of exceptional circumstances beyond its
own responsibility (e.g. cancellation is decided by flight controllers for
security reasons or air traffic congestion).
One of the most frequent inconveniences that may occur in air transport is
definitely delay.
Also in this case, the first suggestion is to stay calm: yelling at the airline
operators will not help the aircraft to depart.
Unfortunately, flight delay has become an increasingly bigger problem
especially in result of air traffic expansion, so that it is not always the
carrier’s fault if we are forced to wait, even up to a few hours, at the
airport before departure.
It is highly unlikely to be able to get compensation for possible losses that
the flight delay may have caused, especially because it is difficult to prove
suffering a real loss beyond the mere inconvenience of having to kill time
at the airport.
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In a few instances, the judges have recognised the right of compensation
even for this kind of inconvenience, although these are certainly cases to
be handed over to a good lawyer once back home.
The law (always reg. CE 261/2004) specifically provides for the passenger’s
rights in case of flight delay, but only whenever delay is of a certain entity
(2 hours for flights equal to or less than 1,500 Km; 3 hours for flights
between Community Countries over 1,500 Km and for all other flights
between 1,500 and 3,000 Km, 4 hours for all other longer flights). In such
case, however, the carrier is not obliged to pay a set amount of money,
but only to provide material assistance (meals and drinks and, in case of
protracted delays, hotel accommodation).
Some frequent inconveniences are to do with baggage loss and damage,
or delay in their delivery. Should your baggage not turn up on the
carousel, the first step is to make for the Lost & Found offices, present at
all airports: in the majority of cases the baggage sooner or later is
recovered.
In case of baggage destruction, loss or damage during transport provided
by a Community carrier (reg. CE 889/2002), that is the vast majority of
aircraft flying across Europe or those involved in international transport
between those Countries regulated by the Montreal Agreement of 1999
(this is applied in Italy as well as in all other European Community
Countries), the law makes a distinction whether the baggage is handed to
the carrier at check-in time or not.
In the first case, the carrier is responsible even though it has in fact no
faults, unless the damage has been the result of a fault in the baggage
itself (e.g. breakage of fragile items not properly packaged inside a
suitcase).
If, on the other hand, the baggage is unchecked (i.e. hand baggage), then
the carrier is obliged to compensation only if the passenger is able to
prove that the damage has actually been the carrier’s fault.
Whenever the carrier is liable, the maximum compensation that can be
obtained is about 1,167.00 Euro This threshold can be exceeded only if
the passenger, at check-in time at the latest, makes a special declaration of
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higher value, pending payment of an extra charge. Another solution is to
ensure the baggage with one of those agencies offering such a facility at
the airport (usually, the wrap-up point where baggage is sealed with
transparent film), although it is suggested that you read carefully through
the conditions of insurance before signing the agreement.
In case of delay in baggage delivery, the carrier is liable unless it can prove
that the delay has not been its own fault. In this case too, liability for loss
caused by delay in delivery is limited to a maximum amount of 1,167.00
euro. In all cases of baggage damage, delay, loss or destruction the
passenger must lodge a written complaint as soon as possible.
In case of damage to a delivered baggage, in particular, a claim shall be
lodged within 7 days, whereas in case of delay within 21 days, starting
from the time of delivery.
Whenever transportation occurs between extra-community Countries, i.e.
those that did not sign the Montreal Agreement of 1999, the carrier is
liable for loss or damage to baggage handed in at check-in time, unless it
can prove not to have any faults.
Whenever the carrier is liable, the passenger is entitled to receive a
compensation for up to about 20 Euro per kilogram of baggage weight.
Also in this case, the threshold can be exceeded upon declaration of
higher value that the passenger must lodge at check-in time at the latest,
pending payment of an extra charge.
For loss or damage to the hand baggage, the passenger must be able to
prove that the carrier is responsible, in which case he/she shall be entitled
to a maximum total compensation of about 338.00 Euro.
To find out whether your carrier is a Community one or if the Montreal
Agreement of 1999 applies, it will suffice to read carefully through the
ticket, as the applicable conditions are always indicated in the general
conditions of transport.
Lastly, mention should be made of the unlikely event of an accident,
causing the passenger to suffer bodily injury or even death.
In such case, if the carrier is a Community one or transportation is under
82
the Montreal Agreement of 1999, the carrier is in all circumstances obliged
to make compensation for the damage without any justification, therefore
even in absence of any fault on its own side, for up to about 116,665.00
Euro per passenger.
For damage exceeding the above amount, the carrier is not liable if it can
prove that there is no fault on its side. Within 15 days following
identification of the individual to whom compensation is due, the carrier
shall provide for payment of a deposit in proportion to the damage
suffered. In case of death, the deposit shall not however be less than
about 18,667.00 Euro.
Compensation is not due, or the amount is lowered, if the vector can
prove that damage has been a result of the passenger’s own fault.
In case the international transport is not under the Montreal Agreement of
1999, liability for passenger’s death or bodily injury is waived if the carrier
can prove that there was no fault on its side. Whenever the carrier is
responsible, the amount of the compensation is in any case limited to a
sum equal to about 116,665.00 Euro per passenger.
By coach
If you are travelling within the Island by coach or any other road vehicle,
be aware that your transport is under the law and general contract
conditions of the company responsible for the carriage.
Anybody has the right to be carried on all public vehicles upon his/her own
simple request, subject to seat availability.
The conditions that set all the dos and don’ts of the traveller are
summarised on the ticket. In most cases, the ticket refers back to a
document which can be perused at the carrier’s offices or at the travel
agent’s, which is usually a good idea (though not always practical) to
consult before purchase.
The carrier is obliged to provide the transport agreed upon and is also
responsible for the safety of the persons carried, along with their baggage.
The passenger, besides paying the price of the trip, shall also cooperate to
guarantee his/her own safety during the journey, strictly abiding to the
indications provided by the carrier and acting with care.
The ticket ownership indicates the subject who has the right to be
carried. In certain cases, the tickets displays the passenger’s name and, if
issued under particular conditions (e.g. on a special fare reserved only to
a certain category of people), it cannot be surrendered without
authorisation by the carrier.
The price is set according to fares approved by the public ad ministration.
If the carriage cost is not set in advance, then it can be calculated based
on the current fares or uses.
The passenger boarding without a ticket, or with a ticket not validated, can
be denied transport and may have to pay a fine set in the carriage conditions.
In case of missed departure or transport disruption, due to reasons beyond
the carrier’s or passenger’s responsibility, the agreement is broken and the
carrier is bound to refund the price for the ticket, possibly deducting an
amount equivalent to the payment of the route successfully covered.
In cases of failed departure or transport disruption caused by the carrier,
the passengers will also have the right of damage compensation.
In all such cases, the carrier is not however obliged to guarantee
alternative means of transport nor to provide the passenger with food or
overnight hotel accommodation.
The carrier must ensure the safety of the passenger from when he/she
boards the vehicle until he/she disembarks.
84
Should the passenger be victim of an accident during transportation, then the
carrier shall be liable for total and unlimited compensation of the damage,
unless it can prove to have adopted all security measures in order to avoid it.
As per the baggage, it will help to remind that this consists of the
passenger’s personal belongings, within the limits in number, weight and
size set by the carrier in the general conditions or according to usage;
unless otherwise agreed upon, therefore, the passenger shall not be
allowed to carry along goods of commercial value.
The passenger can take along free of charge one or more baggage pieces,
whereas domestic animals are allowed to travel only upon permission of
the carrier.
The carrier must keep the passenger’s items and is liable to compensation
caused by their accidental loss, theft, and damage.
Responsibility can be derogated and the general conditions can dictate
that damage should be compensated up to a certain amount of money.
The law also sets a limit, making a distinction between checked and
unchecked baggage. Checked baggage is under the carrier’s custody (which,
for instance, stows it into the appropriate compartments on board the
vehicle), whereas the hand baggage remains available to the passenger.
In the first case, compensation due cannot exceed the amount of 6.20
Euro per kg of carried weight; whereas damage to hand baggage, which is
refundable only in case the passenger proves the carrier’s responsibility, is
compensated within a limit of 1007.09 Euro.
Whenever the damage is clearly evident, it must be reported immediately
to the carrier; on the contrary, the claim must be lodged promptly upon
discovery and anyway not beyond eight days since the accident. For the
claim to be valid, it must be sent in written form.
Claims against the carrier must be lodged within one year, starting from
the time of arrival at destination, or since the day of the accident or failure
of delivering the carried items.
85
In case of delay, the carrier is liable and must compensate for damages to
the passenger, except in cases when this has been caused by an
unpredictable event or otherwise unavoidable (e.g. bad weather conditions
or a road accident not caused by the driver). It is quite difficult to give
evidence to the judge for damage occurred as a result of a delay.
Usually there is no compensation for damage resulting from missing an
event (e.g. examinations, business meeting) given that, due to the
importance of the event, the passenger should have taken into account
the possibility of delays and acted so as to avoid it.
Responsibility can be derogated by the carrier.
By train
Finally, should you elect to rely on the train, it may help to know that
railway transport is guaranteed to all passengers making a request
according to the conditions set by the carrier.
The general conditions for the railway transport of persons and baggage
are available at all railway stations. Special assistance, to be agreed upon
also by phone, is reserved to passengers with various disabilities.
Tickets are purchased before boarding either at the station, at automated
machines, at travel agencies or even on the Internet. Purchase on the train
is allowed only if this is not possible at the railway station.
It is necessary to ‘punch in’ (i.e. validate with the current date) the ticket
before boarding; in case of failure to punch in or of a trip without ticket,
an overcharge of 25 Euro applies, on top of the price for the journey.
It is possible to change one’s ticket or claim a refund it this is not used,
although in the latter case the railways retain one fifth of the price for the
ticket. Refunds on reservations are not possible.
The railway carrier is liable for accidents suffered by the passenger as a
result of transport, if not able to prove that damage occurred on board or
upon boarding/disembarking the train was due to reasons beyond its own
responsibility.
86
Transport of the baggage is always under the passenger’s care, who can
take along, without charge, one or more items that must however not
cause inconvenience to other travellers and must not be particularly
voluminous; bike transport is also possible under payment of an extra fee.
Domestic animals are allowed free of charge, except for dogs, for which
half the ordinary fare must be paid. Damages to baggage are accepted
through a report written by the railway personnel, who shall hand a copy
over to the passenger.
Notices
The data and information reported in this guide have been directly
collected in situ according to a rigorous research protocol.
For data on the general system of internal transport of Sardinia, we thank
the Assessorato regionale dei Trasporti (Regional Transport Councillorship)
for the invaluable collaboration offered.
Any mistakes or omissions can be reported to:
[email protected], which has been specifically activated for this
purpose.
Upon completion of the second updated edition all changes made as well
as notifications received will be taken into account.
87

Public transfer guide

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