Getting around Sassari without a car: a practical guide

Ideal for: the historic center, monuments, museums, and shopping.

Once you arrive in the center, your legs remain the best means of transportation.

From Piazza d'Italia you can easily reach Piazza Castello, Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, Palazzo Ducale, the Cathedral of San Nicola, Palazzo di Città, and Piazza Tola.

The Sanna Museum, the Public Gardens, the Tavolara Pavilion, and the Garibaldi Hemicycle are also within walking distance.

The historic center is compact, but not completely flat. Heading toward Santa Maria di Betlem, the Rosello Fountain, and the lower neighborhoods, you should expect a few uphill stretches.

The advice is simple: wear comfortable shoes and don't rush. Sassari is much better understood by walking through its narrow streets than by seeing it through a car window.

Ideal for: neighborhoods, suburbs, hospitals, and villages.

Urban service is operated by ATP Sassari, with a network of urban and suburban routes connecting the center to the city's main neighborhoods.

Buses reach areas such as Latte Dolce, Monte Rosello, Carbonazzi, Luna e Sole, Li Punti, Sant'Orsola, Caniga, Bancali, and Predda Niedda, as well as numerous villages in the municipal area.

Particularly useful for those unfamiliar with the city are the circular routes and those passing through the main central hubs, including Via Tavolara, the Garibaldi Hemicycle, and the railway station.

The 2026 summer timetables have been in effect since June 12, so in summer it is always advisable to check the timetable for the specific route before setting out.

How much does the bus cost?

The standard ATP ticket costs 1.30 euros and is valid for 90 minutes from the first validation.

An integrated ticket costing 2 euros is also available, valid for two hours on ATP buses and MetroSassari, while the integrated day pass costs 3.30 euros.

For those spending an entire day in the city and planning several trips, the day pass is probably the simplest solution.

ATP tickets can also be purchased through the official ATP Sassari app. Digital tickets must be validated on board using the QR codes found on the buses.

Ideal for: the railway station, university clinics, and travel along Viale Italia.

Sassari also has a small light-rail line operated by ARST.

The MetroSassari, known to many Sassarese people simply as Sirio, connects the Garibaldi Hemicycle with Santa Maria di Pisa, stopping at eight stations:

• Garibaldi Hemicycle
• Piazza Marconi
• Viale Italia
• University Clinics
• Sant'Anna
• Porta Utzeri
• FS Station
• Santa Maria di Pisa

The entire route takes just under twenty minutes and is particularly useful for traveling between the center, the hospital and university district, and the station.

During 2026, the line has been subject to several maintenance projects, with periods when the service was replaced by buses. It is therefore advisable to always check the ARST notices updated for the day before using it.

Ideal for: short trips and those already accustomed to getting around the city by bike.

Sassari has a cycling and pedestrian network created through the Ciclacittà project, developed mainly to connect university buildings and various parts of the city.

The cycling network is also being expanded: in 2026, projects continued to create new urban and suburban connections.

There is, however, an important clarification for anyone considering relying on bike sharing.

The municipal service remains included in the concession awarded by the Municipality, but the three historic stations are currently listed as non-operational on the Bicincittà portal. They are located in the hospital area, at the Garibaldi Hemicycle, and in Piazza Conte di Moriana.

In other words: a bicycle can be a good solution if you already have one available, but in 2026 it is not advisable to plan a visit relying on bike sharing without first checking whether it is actually available.

Ideal for: nighttime travel, luggage, the airport, and poorly served destinations.

When buses and MetroSassari are not the most practical option, there is always the taxi.

The service is available in the city 24 hours a day, with the option of calling a car directly or using the Taxi Sassari service app.

It is naturally more expensive than public transportation, but it can be particularly useful in the evening, with luggage, or for reaching outlying areas without having to arrange multiple connections.

Transfers to ports and airports are also available.

Being without a car does not necessarily mean giving up the beach.

ATP connects Sassari directly with Marina di Platamona, one of the seaside destinations closest to the city.

During the summer, seasonal connections to Marina di Sorso are also introduced.

The interesting thing is that the standard 90-minute ATP ticket is also valid on routes to Platamona and on the summer services included in the company's network.

For a day at the beach without worrying about parking, traffic, or finding an empty space, it is definitely a solution worth considering.

The main airport serving Sassari is Alghero-Fertilia, about 30 kilometers from the city.

There is no need to rent a car.

The ARST route 760 connects Sassari directly with the airport during the day. Timetables are periodically adjusted, also according to flight schedules.

Those arriving in Sardinia without a car can therefore reach Sassari by public transportation and then continue their journey on foot, by bus, or with MetroSassari.

Sassari is also an important railway hub in the northwest of the island.

Connections to Porto Torres, Cagliari, Olbia, Sorso, and Alghero depart from the station, using Trenitalia and ARST services.

In particular, the station's location makes it easy to combine trains, MetroSassari, and urban buses.

In 2026, however, several works are underway on the railway network in northern Sardinia, with timetable changes and some services replaced by buses. Before planning a trip outside the city, it is therefore essential to check the latest mobility updates.

ATP also operates AmicoBus, an on-demand, door-to-door transportation service for people with mobility difficulties who meet the specified requirements.

The service operates in the Sassari area and complements the regular public transportation network, with staff trained to assist passengers when boarding and getting off vehicles.

Access requires advance registration and booking.

For a sightseeing visit, the most effective combination is quite simple:

• Historic center: on foot.
• Neighborhoods: ATP buses.
• Station and university area: MetroSassari.
• Platamona: ATP buses.
• Alghero Airport: ARST.
• Evening travel or travel with luggage: taxi.
• Alghero, Porto Torres, and other cities: train or regional bus.

Yes, especially if you stay in the center or its immediate surroundings.

To visit the city, a car is not essential and, once you reach Piazza d'Italia, much of what is worth seeing is within walking distance.

For everything else, there are buses, light rail, trains, and regional connections.

And there is also a not insignificant advantage: while someone else is making a fourth circuit of the block looking for a parking space, you could already be sitting at a café table.