Exploring Sardinia: Paying For Bus Travel

Sardinia's public transport system is a mix of trains and buses, with ferries providing access to the island's offshore destinations. The bus is the island's most versatile public transport option, with routes covering almost every town. ARST is the main bus operator, with stations in Alghero, Sassari, Olbia, Nuoro, Oristano, Iglesias, and Cagliari. Tickets can be purchased at stations, online, or via the DropTicket app. In smaller towns, tickets can be bought from local bars or tobacconists. Buses are equipped with comfortable seats, air conditioning, and luggage storage.

Buying bus tickets in Sardinia

The bus is Sardinia's most versatile public transport option. ARST operates an extensive, well-priced network of bus routes connecting key destinations around the island, including many that are not served by rail.

In the biggest cities, you can buy bus tickets on automatic machines or directly on the bus (but you will pay extra for doing so on the bus). Every city has a website with thorough explanations and prices, but some don't have an English version. Physical shops are usually tobacco/lotto or newspaper shops and have a sign in the window indicating that they sell bus tickets.

Some cities have an online ticketing system. For example, in Cagliari, bus tickets can be bought on the CTM Bus Finder app, which is free to download on iOS and Android. You will need to connect it with your credit or debit card. The same app can be used to plan your journey as it shows the schedule of the various buses and the changes you may need to make to get to your final destination.

Intercity buses in Sardinia are usually bigger than urban ones. They are dark blue with a big, red stripe and the word "ARST" on them. You can buy intercity bus tickets in the same places and ways that you buy urban line tickets. They are also starting to use an online ticketing system.

A tourist bus pass can be purchased by non-resident visitors, from 1 June to 30 September. This pass will permit access to all ARST services excluding the Green Tourist Train. There are four types of passes, for different durations:

• A 7-day pass is €45
• A 14-day pass is €70
• A 21-day pass is €100
• A 28-day pass is €130

These tickets can be purchased in any ARST ticket office in Cagliari, Sassari, Oristano, Nuoro, Olbia, Lanusei, Guspini, and Iglesias.

Useful Italian Phrases

• Ticket: Biglietto (bee-lyeh-toh)
• Station: Stazione (staa-tzyeoh-neh)
• One ticket to…, please: Un biglietto per…, per favore. (oon bee-lyeh-toh pehr…, pehr fah-vore)
• How much is it?: Quanto costa? (qwan-toh coh-stah)

Other Transport Options in Sardinia

Sardinia has a handful of faster multi-lane highways, known as superstrade (SS for short), which are toll-free, with speed limits of 110km/h (68mph). However, outside of these main routes, be prepared for slower driving on two-lane, often curvy provincial roads.

Travelling by train is very reliable, with trains leaving on time and arriving within ten minutes or so of the scheduled arrival time. However, the network is limited. Trenitalia, Italy's national rail system, offers a core network of routes in Sardinia. From Cagliari, trains run west to Iglesias and Carbonia, north to Oristano, Sassari and the Porto Torres ferry terminal, and northeast to Olbia and the Golfo Aranci ferry terminal. There are departures every hour or two on the main routes, and prices are reasonable.

Ferries provide easy and affordable access to Sardinia's offshore islands, including the spectacular Asinara and Maddalena national parks off Sardinia's north coast, Isola Tavolara near Olbia, and Isola di San Pietro in southwestern Sardinia.

Paying with cash or card

When it comes to paying for bus travel in Sardinia, you have a few options. The most common method is to purchase tickets with cash before boarding the bus. These tickets can be bought from various authorised vendors, such as tobacco shops, lotto shops, newspaper shops, and sometimes directly from the bus driver. However, buying tickets directly from the bus driver will usually incur an extra charge.

Another option is to use your debit or credit card to make the purchase. Some cities in Sardinia, like Cagliari, offer an online ticketing system through mobile applications. For example, the CTM Bus Finder app in Cagliari allows you to purchase bus tickets using your card. This app also helps you plan your journey by providing bus schedules and information on connections.

Additionally, there are ticket machines located at bus stations and stops where you can purchase tickets using your card. These machines are available in both Italian and English, making it convenient for tourists as well.

It's important to remember that bus schedules in Sardinia can be unreliable, with some cities having only a few buses per day. Therefore, it's always a good idea to carry some cash with you in case you need to purchase a ticket from the driver or an authorised vendor.

When travelling by bus in Sardinia, be prepared for potential delays and keep in mind that some routes may have limited service during school holidays.

Validating your ticket

Ticket validation is an important step when using public transport in Sardinia. Here's a comprehensive guide to ensuring your ticket is properly validated:

• Urban and intercity buses: Both urban and intercity buses in Sardinia are equipped with validating machines inside. You can validate your ticket onboard before you start your journey. For intercity rides, you also have the option to validate your ticket before boarding at the validating machines inside the intercity bus stations.
• App-based tickets: If you purchased your ticket through a mobile app, the validation process is slightly different. Open your app and navigate to the "tickets" section. Click on "validate," which will activate your device's camera. Align the camera with the QR code present on the validating machine on the bus to complete the validation process.
• Paper tickets: If you have a paper ticket, make sure to get it validated before boarding. Look for small validating machines located at the bus stations, usually by the doors leading to the platform. These machines will punch and date your ticket, confirming its validity.
• Onboard ticket purchase: In case you didn't get a chance to buy a ticket beforehand, you can purchase one directly from the conductor onboard the bus. However, please note that there will be an extra charge for this convenience.
• CTM Bus Network: Tickets for the CTM Bus Network, which covers Cagliari and its hinterland, need to be validated at the beginning of your journey. If, for any reason, you are unable to stamp your ticket, manually write the day and hour of departure on it. Keep your ticket with you during the entire ride, as inspectors may ask to see it.

Where to find bus timetables

If you're looking for bus timetables in Sardinia, there are several options available to you.

Firstly, you can find timetables at bus stations and usually at bus stops. These timetables will provide you with the schedule information you need for your journey.

Additionally, the ARST website offers an extensive list of bus routes in Sardinia. You can download the timetables as PDFs. However, some users have noted that the website can be difficult to navigate. As an alternative, you can use the Moovit search tool, which is recommended by Jason Matthew Warland, a writer for Total Sardinia. Moovit provides information on regional bus services, urban buses, and airport buses.

Furthermore, each city in Sardinia has its own website with detailed explanations and pricing information. However, not all websites have an English version, so you may encounter a language barrier on some sites.

Lastly, for those visiting Cagliari, the CTM Bus Finder app (available on iOS and Android) can be used to plan your journey and view bus schedules.

By utilising these resources, you should be able to easily access the bus timetables for your desired routes during your stay in Sardinia.

Tourist bus passes

A 7-day pass costs €45

A 14-day pass costs €70

A 21-day pass costs €100

A 28-day pass costs €130

These tickets can be purchased at any ARST ticket office in Cagliari, Sassari, Oristano, Nuoro, Olbia, Lanusei, Guspini, and Iglesias.

ARST

ARST SpA (Azienda Regionale Sarda Trasporti) is the largest network operator of public transport on the island. The company manages almost all bus services in both rural and urban areas in Alghero, Carbonia, Iglesias, Macomer, and Oristano. ARST also operates the trams in Sassari and Cagliari.

Bus Routes

The following routes are offered by ARST from Alghero:

• Alghero – Porto Torres
• Alghero – Villanova Monteleone – Bosa
• Alghero – Uri – Ittiri
• Alghero – Uri – Ittiri – Thiesi – Mores – Bonorva – Macomer – Abbasanta
• Alghero airport – Alghero – Bosa Città – Bosa station FDS

Tickets and Validation

Tickets can be purchased at the 'Giuseppe Manno' Public Gardens, Via Catalogna (+39 079 95 01 79). Tickets can also be purchased on the DropTicket app, where you can buy a one-way ticket and receive a payment card directly on your smartphone.

Both urban and intercity buses in Sardinia have a validating machine inside, so you can validate your ticket onboard. There are also validating machines inside the intercity bus stations if you prefer to board the bus with an already valid ticket.

Frequently asked questions