Boat rental in Cagliari — the Sella del Diavolo, Poetto, Villasimius, Nora, Chia and tips for 2027

Cagliari, the capital of Sardinia, rises on limestone hills above the Gulf of Cagliari, known as the Golfo degli Angeli. Below the old Castello district lie the port and the marinas, to the east the long white beach of Poetto stretches beneath the Sella del Diavolo headland, and behind it pink flamingos feed in the Molentargius salt pans. By boat, the turquoise coves of the south coast are within reach: Villasimius and the Capo Carbonara marine reserve to the east, and the Roman ruins of Nora and the beaches of Chia to the west. This guide covers where boats leave from, where to go, the rules and when to come.

Where boats leave from

Boats leave from the marinas of the port of Cagliari along Via Roma and Su Siccu, near the Bonaria basilica, and from Marina Piccola at the foot of the Sella del Diavolo, which is ideal for short trips to Poetto and the nearby coves. To the east there are small harbours at Capitana and, further along, the marina of Villasimius; to the west, Perd'e Sali near Sarroch and the harbours around Pula. Cagliari is also a busy ferry and cruise port, so keep clear of the ships at the harbour entrance.

Where to go

• The Sella del Diavolo, Cala Mosca and Cala Fighera (about 3–5 NM): the "Devil's Saddle" headland with small coves, clear water and limestone cliffs, best reached by boat.
• Poetto (about 4–8 NM): about 8 km of white sand between the Sella del Diavolo and Quartu Sant'Elena; anchor outside the bathing zone and swim from the boat.
• East: Geremeas, Torre delle Stelle and Solanas (about 10–15 NM): small sandy coves under the hills, with Spanish watchtowers on the headlands.
• Villasimius and Capo Carbonara (about 20 NM): white beaches, the Isola dei Cavoli lighthouse and the Serpentara island inside a marine reserve with zones. See the boats in Villasimius page.
• West: Nora and Chia (about 13–22 NM): the ruins of the Phoenician and Roman city of Nora on a peninsula near Pula, and further on the dunes and lagoons of Chia and Capo Spartivento. See the boats in Pula page.

For more of Sardinia, see the boats in Olbia page in the north-east of the island. For other Italian islands and coasts, read our guides to boat rental in Palermo and boat rental in Naples. If you are coming by campervan on the ferry from Civitavecchia, see our Rome campervan guide.

Rules and tips

• Licence. Without a licence you can drive a boat up to 10 m with an engine of up to about 40 hp, within 6 nautical miles of the coast. Larger boats need a licence or a skipper.
• Marine reserve. In the Capo Carbonara reserve, zone A is closed or strictly limited, and in zones B and C speed, anchoring and fishing are regulated; use the mooring buoys and check the reserve's rules before you go.
• Bathing areas. In summer, swimming zones are marked off, usually 200 m from sandy beaches and 100 m from rocky shores; boats may only cross them slowly through marked corridors.
• Seagrass. Do not anchor on Posidonia meadows; look for sand.
• Port traffic. Keep clear of ferries, cruise ships and cargo ships at the harbour entrance and in the channels.

Wind and weather

The mistral from the north-west is Sardinia's strongest wind. In the Gulf of Cagliari it blows off the land, so the sea near the shore can look calm while the wind is strong further out and can push a small boat away from the coast. The scirocco and the levante from the south-east and east raise waves inside the gulf and along Poetto. In summer the mornings are often calm and a sea breeze builds in the afternoon. Check the forecast every morning and plan your return before the wind picks up.

When to go

The season runs from June to September. In August the sea reaches about 25–26 °C, but the beaches and marinas are at their busiest. June and September offer warm water and fewer boats, and May and October are often still pleasant. On 1 May the Festa di Sant'Efisio, one of the largest religious processions in the Mediterranean, sets off from Cagliari towards Nora.

A boat in Cagliari with Crystalium Booker

We are still building up our boat offer in Cagliari. Send us your date and number of people through the contact page and we will look for a suitable boat, and keep an eye on the boats in Cagliari page for new listings. Do you rent out a boat in or around Cagliari? List it with us.