Overlooking the palm-lined boulevard of Poetto, an area that's anything but short on great restaurants, Antica Cagliari has earned its place as a local favourite for fresh seafood and traditional Sardinian cuisine. Order the pescato del giorno, or settle in on the terrace with a pizza as the sun sets over the coastline.

An institution since 1914, Il Lido has evolved since then far beyond a classic beach club. Set within its sleek white structure, it gathers some of the liveliest spots on the shoreline – from a café, two seafood restaurants and a pizzeria to rotating fashion boutiques, an ice cream store and an evening club. From morning espresso to late-night dancing, it remains a favourite meeting point for Cagliaritani by the sea.

This former salt-producing landscape has become one of the Mediterranean’s most unusual urban nature reserves. Shallow pink-hued salt pans stretch across the wetlands, where flocks of flamingos wade year-round. Walking and cycling paths are available throughout the lagoons, and visitors can explore the park by bike, on horseback or simply on foot, making it ideal for birdwatching and sunset strolls between city and sea.