Getting ashore
Alghero is normally an anchorage port. Ships anchor offshore and passengers go ashore by tender, which usually lands at the marina beside the historic centre. The CruiseMapper wiki page says rough seas can delay or stop tendering, so allow extra time for the return tender and keep to the ship’s stated last-tender time. Once you land, a shuttle is generally unnecessary, because the old town starts beside the harbour. Other guides disagree on whether there is a dedicated cruise terminal, and the wiki page does not describe one, so check the ship’s notice for the landing point on the day.
Terminal and berths
No terminal or berth is described on the CruiseMapper wiki page. Passenger traffic for the wider area is handled at Porto Torres, about 30 km (18.6 miles) north, where ferries serve Barcelona, Civitavecchia and Genoa. Some other guides name two quays, Banchina Dogana and Banchina Sanità, but the wiki page does not confirm them, and this entry does not rely on them. The port itself is a fishing and pleasure harbour in the town centre. The landing point can change between calls, so confirm it with the ship before you go ashore.
Into town and transport
The old town starts beside the harbour. The cathedral, the defensive towers and the seafront ramparts are about 5 to 15 minutes’ walk away. San Giovanni and Lido Beach lie about 1.5 km (0.9 miles) from the old town and are reachable on foot. Maria Pia Beach is about 4 km (2.5 miles) north of the historic centre. Taxis and local buses are useful for beaches and sights outside town. Regional buses run infrequently, so do not rely on a tight connection. Boat trips to Neptune’s Grotto usually leave from the harbour, and a road transfer to Capo Caccia is possible but physically demanding.
Sights
The old town takes 2 to 3 hours and holds the cathedral of Santa Maria, the Church of San Francesco and small squares. Along the waterfront are the Torre di Porta Terra, the Torre di Sant’Elmo and the Bastioni Marco Polo promenade. Neptune’s Grotto needs about half a day, including the coastal boat trip. Nuraghe Palmavera, about 10 km (6.2 miles) north-west of Alghero, and Porto Conte lie outside town, and the Las Tronas coastal area is reached on the longer walk. The cliffside Escala del Cabirol at Capo Caccia is a staircase of about 660 steps each way, so consider that before choosing the outing.
Walking routes
Two walking routes are described. The easy old-town and ramparts circuit is about 2 km (1.2 miles), roughly 30 minutes of walking and 2 to 3 hours with stops, on uneven paving with occasional steps. The moderate old-town and coastal walk is about 5 km (3.1 miles) round trip, taking 70 to 80 minutes of walking and 3 to 4 hours in total, with limited shade. On a short call, the easy circuit fits the time better than the coastal walk.
Food & shopping
The CruiseMapper wiki page has no food section. It mentions shops in the old town selling local coral jewellery and shopping streets on the walking route. No restaurants are named in the sources read, so check current options near the marina before setting out. Coral jewellery is the local craft to look for in the old town. Opening times for shops and food outlets were not given, so check them on the day. Coral jewellery is sold in the old town, and the walking route passes the main shopping streets, so that is the easiest area to browse on a short call.
Money & connectivity
The wiki page covers neither money nor mobile connectivity. Euro is the currency in Italy, and the currency link below gives the current reference rate. Card acceptance in the old town was not confirmed in the sources read, so carry some cash for small purchases such as coffee and souvenirs. Mobile data was not covered either. Check roaming charges with your provider before you land, and consider saving an offline map of the old town for the walk. The sources read give no cash point locations, so allow time for an ATM stop before the tour if you need cash.
Practical tips
Wear shoes that grip cobbles, uneven paving and steps. Check opening times for churches, museums and the cave before you set out. Confirm both the Neptune’s Grotto boat departure and the cave’s status on the day, as conditions change quickly. The wiki snapshot is dated 19 October 2026 and lists MS Hamburg (19 October, 08:00 to 21:00) and Enchanted Princess (21 October, 08:00 to 16:00). Other listings name different ships and dates, so treat all calls as unverified until checked against the live schedule.
Accessibility & mobility
The old town has cobbled lanes, uneven paving and steps, and the coastal walk includes slopes with limited shade. Tendering can be delayed by rough seas, which affects step-free boarding. Ask the ship about tender assistance and whether a taxi can meet you at the marina. The sources read do not confirm wheelchair access.