Car Hire: Take advantage of the special easyJet inflight rates. Visit the Europcar desk on arrival or call +39 (0)70 240 126, from 9am-11pm Monday-Saturday and 9am-8pm Sunday.

Airport Transfer: Pre-book your door-to-door transfer with easyJet’s transfer partner, Holiday Taxis—from home to the airport, then city or resort (easyjet.holidaytaxis.com).

Taxi: The 10-minute journey to the centre costs about €20.

Bus: ARST buses to the city centre leave every 30 minutes from 8.45am-22.45pm. Tickets: €2.

Hotel Mediterraneo
( 46 Lungomare Cristoforo Colombo. Tel. 070 342 361 )
The self-service restaurant in the Hotel Mediterraneo serves some of the best lunch deals in town. From as little as €10 you can choose from delicious starters and mains, as well as a drink, from the huge buffet.

Sa Ruina
( SS 130 Loc Sa Ruina, Assemini. )
Set in an exquisite location surrounded by the beautiful countyside just outside Cagliari, Sa Ruina offers a wide range of dishes, including fantastic meat and fish. Very reasonably priced, too.

Sa Domu Sarda
( 51 Via Sassari. Tel. 070 653 400 )
Right in the heart of the city, Sa Domu Sarda offers authentic Sardinian food. The friendly waiters will tell you about the daily specials. Make sure you try the culurgiones al sugo (pasta stuffed with potato, cheese and mint).

Flora
( 45 Via Sassari. Tel. 070 664 735 )
Owner Beppe Delplano has furnished this restaurant with pieces from his own huge collection of antiques, creating an atmosphere that complements the traditional Sardinian cuisine.

La Sella del Diavolo
( 1 Fermata Poetto Beach. Tel. 070 373 686 )
Small café at one end of Poetto Beach. It's surrounded by glass walls so you can enjoy a panoramic view of the beach, even on a rainy day.

FBI Club
( 68 Via Brigata Sassari, Quartu Sant'Elena. Tel. 070 882 332 )
One of Cagliari's most popular clubs. Dance all night and enjoy the weekly concerts featuring regional musicians and well-known Italian bands.

Discoteca Charlie
( Via dei Carroz. )
Charlie has three dance floors playing different kinds of popular music, so something is likely to appeal. It gets very busy at the weekend and attracts a lively crowd of twentysomethings.

Combine wine shopping and wine tasting at the Feudi della Medusa vineyard in Santa Margherita di Pula.

Hike up the Colle San Michele hill and you will be rewarded with an amazing view inland from the ancient castle. On a clear winter's day you can see as far as the snow-covered peaks of the Gennergentu Mountains.

Around the second week of January the winter sales begin and the shops of Via Manno and Via Garibaldi become the perfect hunting ground for Italian brands at bargain prices.

On 17 January the carnival season starts with Sant'Antonio Abate at the small village of Mamoiada, in the heart of Sardinia. It's a real insight into local culture and well worth taking part.

Santa Cristina – Roughly 110 kilometres north of Cagliari is the impressive Nuragic village of Santa Cristina, a fascinating excavation site. The highlight is the perfectly preserved stairs to a holy well, built more than 3,000 years ago.

Locals are convinced that Sant'Efisio, the patron saint of Cagliari, saved the city from the plague in 17th century. The city celebrates with an annual procession throughout the city and many still pray to him to heal their ailments.

Compiled by Dario Henke