Cagliari's cruise port in southern Sardinia is located directly next to the city, making it ideal for an active shore excursion. This 5 km route combines a relaxed run or walk along the harbor promenade with a varied detour through the old town. A special highlight is the viewpoint at Bastione di Saint Remy, offering an impressive view over the old town, the harbor, and the sea.
**Important note regarding the start:**
The harbor area itself cannot be used for walking or running. The free shuttle bus from the cruise ship takes you directly near the starting point at Piazza Matteotti.
The starting point is Piazza Matteotti, which is easily accessible after a short ride on the free harbor shuttle. From here, the route first leads along the harbor promenade. This first section is flat, easy to use, and offers beautiful views of the sea and the harbor.
After about 1.7 km, the route turns back towards the city center via a short connecting path. Several crosswalks are used to safely cross the larger streets Via Cristoforo Colombo and Via Roma.
Afterward, the most varied part of the route begins through the alleys of the old town. After the Chiesa di Sant'Eulalia, the most challenging section follows: the ascent to Bastione di Saint Remy. This climb involves some elevation gain but rewards you with one of Cagliari's most beautiful viewpoints and a wide view over the city, harbor, and sea.
From there, the route leads via stairs and a longer road back to the starting point at Piazza Matteotti.
This route ideally combines athletic activity with classic sightseeing. The combination of the flat harbor promenade, historic old town alleys, and the viewpoint at Bastione di Saint Remy ensures a varied loop with clear highlights.
Due to the elevation gain, the route is less suitable for tempo training, but very good for an easy run or an active walk with added tourist value. For faster sessions, the flat promenade section is especially suitable and can be extended if desired.
The route can be ideally combined with a kayak tour or a bike tour along the coast of Cagliari. Since both excursions do not pass through the classic city highlights, this route complements the active experience on the water or along the coast particularly well.
Since many kayak and bike tours start in the morning and sometimes require a transfer, you should check in advance if the times align well with your cruise ship's itinerary.
We recommend planning the active excursion in the morning and using the afternoon for this relaxed route through Cagliari. This creates an ideal combination of sea, exercise, and city – first a nature experience along the coast, then the harbor promenade, old town, and viewpoint right in Cagliari.
The route starts in the immediate vicinity of Piazza Matteotti. Since the harbor area itself cannot be used on foot, a free shuttle bus takes cruise passengers to the harbor exit or directly near the starting point.
You can either follow the route directly via the map on this page or import the GPX file into a navigation app like Komoot. We recommend navigating via the GPX file, as it is significantly more precise and gives you clear guidance via GPS while running. After you have saved the GPX file in your app, you can usually use the map offline. We recommend testing the navigation in advance in airplane mode without active Wi-Fi to ensure it works without an internet connection.
Tip: For safety, it is still advisable to have internet while on the go. If your mobile provider in Sardinia offers no or expensive data roaming, a global data plan that works in many countries is suitable for cruises – for example, from eSIM.sm (advertisement).
The route partially runs along roads, but mostly on sidewalks. Some larger roads are crossed using crosswalks or traffic lights. Overall, the route is therefore considered safe.
Always plan enough buffer time, especially for afternoon activities. If time is short, you should check if you can shorten the route or if returning on the same route would be faster.
For emergencies, it's also advisable to save the ship's phone number, usually listed in the daily program, in advance. You should also have apps like Uber or Bolt on your phone and be familiar with their use. In Cagliari, however, classic taxis are often the more reliable option.
Free public restrooms are available near the route at Piazza Costituzione and at Chiesa di Santa Chiara.
Public drinking fountains are not known along the route. However, you will pass numerous shops and cafes where you can buy something to drink if necessary.
The route runs on asphalt and paved paths, so normal running shoes are perfectly sufficient. We also recommend bringing sun protection (ad), enough water, and a cell phone or running watch for navigation, depending on the weather. Payment options are also useful, although in Cagliari, you can usually pay by card or smartphone.