Nora and Chia day trip from Cagliari
A day trip to Nora and Chia from Cagliari: the white dunes of Su Giudeu beach, the flamingos of the Chia lagoon and Chia Tower in the morning, then the church of Sant'Efisio and the Phoenician and Roman city of Nora on its headland, with the Coltellazzo Tower at the end of the day. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 1 days
Nora and Chia in 1 day
Day 1
Nora archaeological site
Phoenician, Punic and Roman city on a narrow headland, with a theatre, baths, mosaic floors and streets running down into the sea.
Coltellazzo Tower, Nora
Watchtower on the rocky tip of the Nora headland beyond the ruins, often seen from the site or the beach.
Church of Sant'Efisio, Nora
Small Romanesque church by the sea near Nora, the end point of the great Sant'Efisio procession from Cagliari each May.
Chia Tower
Old Spanish watchtower on a hill above the beaches, with a short climb to views along the Chia coast.
Chia lagoon (flamingos)
Shallow lagoon behind the dunes of Chia, where pink flamingos often feed, best watched quietly from the edge.
Su Giudeu beach
Long beach of pale sand and shallow turquoise water backed by dunes, with a small island reachable by wading on calm days.
Watch: Nora and Chia
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
Getting there
By car Nora is about 45 minutes from Cagliari along the coast road through Pula, and Chia about 25 minutes further on. Buses from Cagliari reach Pula and Chia, less often outside summer, so a car is the easier way to link the stops.
Staying in Cagliari? This day fits into those city plans, and in the Trip Builder it is one click under each of them.
When to go to Nora and Chia
May, June and September are the best months, warm enough to swim and quieter than July and August, when the Chia beaches are busy. The Sant'Efisio procession arrives at Nora at the start of May. Wind is common on this coast in every season, and spring and autumn are good for the ruins and the birds.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Nora and Chia on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Nora and Chia on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Nora and Chia on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Italy from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Nora and Chia
- A car is the easiest way to link the beaches and Nora: the stops are spread along the coast.
- Bring a hat, water and sun protection: there is little shade on the Chia beaches or among the ruins of Nora.
- Check the Nora site's opening times before you go; they change with the season.
- Keep away from the flamingos and other birds on the Chia lagoon, and watch from the edge with binoculars.
- On windy days pick the beach facing away from the wind: Chia's bays face different ways along the coast.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Chia Tower: Cristiano Cani from Cagliari, Italia derivative work: Gianni Careddu (talk), CC BY 2.0
- Church of Sant'Efisio, Nora: Carlo Pelagalli, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Coltellazzo Tower, Nora: Olaf Tausch, CC BY 3.0
- Nora archaeological site: Pjt56 — If you use the picture outside Wikipedia I would appreciate a short e-mail to pjt56@gmx.net or a message on my discussion page, CC BY-SA 4.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
