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.

Along Poetto’s seaside promenade, Bobocono is a favourite stop for a post-swim gelato. Expect creamy scoops from orange cheesecake to the evergreen (no pun intended) pistachio.

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.