# Flamingos in Molentargius Park, the old salt pans between Cagliari and Poetto

What to do en Cagliari and Sardinia's South Coast · Cagliari and Sardinia's South Coast

Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/italy/sardinia/cagliari-south-coast/things-to-do/molentargius-flamingos · Revisado: 2026-11-13

- Duración: 2 h
- Temporada: All year
- Para quién: All ages

Walk or bike ride · 2 h · Free · All year

Between the centre of Cagliari and Poetto beach there are salt pans that stopped producing salt in 1985 and are now the Molentargius-Saline Regional Nature Park: about 1,600 hectares of ponds, canals and dykes surrounded by four municipalities. It is unusual to have this inside a city: you leave a neighbourhood of apartment blocks and ten minutes later you have hundreds of pink flamingos in front of you, feeding in the shallow water. According to the park itself, in recent years the Molentargius pond has been the most important site in the Mediterranean for flamingo nesting.
What you see
The flamingos are here all year, in greater or lesser numbers, and you can see them from the paths without getting close: the water is shallow and they keep their distance. There are also other wetland birds: the park is one of the places in Sardinia with the most species, and some routes are named after birds, such as the little egret (Garzetta) or the little owl (Civetta). The old salt-works buildings and the straight dykes are a reminder that this was a place of work.
The routes
The green areas are free to enter and free of charge. There are walking routes through natural areas (Perdabianca, Is Arenas, Perdalonga) and cycle-and-walking routes you can do on foot or by bike: Saline, Garzetta, Civetta, Olivastro, Oleandro and Tamerice. They are flat and suitable for all ages. The park's website does not publish the length or access points of each one: ask for the map at the infopoint or download it from its website before you go.
The park also has guided boat trips along the canals and electric minibus tours, organised by the Molentargius Environmental Education Centre and local companies. Prices and times are not published on its website; ask at the infopoint or on 070 379191.
Opening hours and rules
The green areas are open every day: from 6:30 to 21:00 from 1 March to 15 October and from 7:00 to 18:00 from 16 October to 28 February. The infopoint is open from 8:30 to 20:30 from April to September and until 18:30 from October to March. Cars are for reaching the car parks only. The park advises against bringing a dog, and if you do, always keep it on a lead. Do not pick flowers or branches and do not light fires.
When to go
First thing in the morning or at the end of the afternoon: the light is better for photos, it is cooler and there is more bird movement. Bring binoculars, water and a hat; there is no shade on the dykes.

## Cómo llegar y contacto

- Coordenadas: 39.2215, 9.142

## Cerca de aquí

- [Hotel Regina Margherita](https://www.geocalia.com/en/italy/sardinia/cagliari-south-coast/where-to-stay/hotel-regina-margherita), a 2.3 km
- [Ristorante Luigi Pomata](https://www.geocalia.com/en/italy/sardinia/cagliari-south-coast/where-to-eat/luigi-pomata), a 2.3 km
- [Antico Caffè](https://www.geocalia.com/en/italy/sardinia/cagliari-south-coast/where-to-eat/antico-caffe), a 2.3 km
- [A walk through Castello, Cagliari's walled quarter, from the Saint Remy bastion](https://www.geocalia.com/en/italy/sardinia/cagliari-south-coast/things-to-do/castello-and-saint-remy-bastion), a 2.4 km
- [Poetto Beach, eight kilometres of sand beneath the Sella del Diavolo](https://www.geocalia.com/en/italy/sardinia/cagliari-south-coast/things-to-do/poetto-beach), a 2.7 km

## Consejos

### Bring binoculars
The flamingos stay far from the paths.

### Go by bike
The cycle-and-walking routes are flat and long.

### Continue to Poetto
The beach is on the other side of the park.

## Preguntas frecuentes

### How much does it cost to enter Molentargius?
Nothing: the green areas are free to enter.

### Are there flamingos all year?
Yes, in greater or lesser numbers; the park is one of their most important breeding areas in the Mediterranean.

### Can you go by bike?
Yes, along the cycle-and-walking routes.

### Can I go with a dog?
The park advises against it; if you bring one, always keep it on a lead.

Destino: [Cagliari and Sardinia's South Coast](https://www.geocalia.com/en/italy/sardinia/cagliari-south-coast.md)