If you have a serious emergency while traveling in Sardinia, the number to remember is 112. The European Single Emergency Number, known in Italy as NUE 112, is active throughout Sardinia and can connect callers with the appropriate emergency service, including medical emergency services, police, Carabinieri, firefighters and sea rescue. For international visitors, it is the simplest emergency number to save before arriving on the island.

The Autonomous Region of Sardinia confirms that 112 can be called free of charge from either a mobile or landline. It also works when a phone has no SIM card, is locked or has no remaining phone credit. The regional system includes multilingual support for foreign callers. citeturn0search0turn0search7

Call 112 if you need an ambulance

For a serious medical emergency, visitors can call 112 and explain that medical assistance is required. The 112 operator receives the emergency request, gathers essential information and transfers the case to the appropriate second-level operations center. For medical emergencies, this means the Sardinian emergency medical system. citeturn0search1turn0search26

The traditional Italian medical emergency number 118 remains active in Sardinia. AREUS, Sardinia’s regional emergency and urgent-care authority, continues to list both 118 for medical rescue and 112 as the European Single Emergency Number. Calls made to the older emergency numbers are routed through the 112 system. citeturn0search3turn0search7

For a traveler, however, remembering one number is easier: 112 works for a medical emergency as well as situations requiring police, firefighters or maritime rescue.

What happens when you call 112?

The call is answered by Sardinia’s Single Response Center. The operator identifies the nature of the emergency and routes the information to the service that needs to intervene. The regional government says the system can obtain caller identification information and approximate mobile-phone location; when the official Where Are U app is used, GPS data can provide the emergency center with a more precise position. citeturn0search1turn0search8

This can be particularly useful in Sardinia, where visitors may need assistance on an unfamiliar coastal road, hiking trail, beach or rural route without an obvious street address. Even with location technology, callers should describe where they are as clearly as possible.

Sardinia’s Alpine and Speleological Rescue service advises people requesting rescue to provide the exact location, municipality and province when known, GPS coordinates if available, visible landmarks or terrain, their personal details and the phone number from which they are calling. It also advises keeping that phone available so rescuers can call back if necessary. citeturn0search6

Does 112 work for tourists who do not speak Italian?

Yes. Sardinia’s official 112 information states that the Single Response Center has a multilingual interpreting system capable of managing calls from foreign users. Travelers should speak clearly and immediately state the language they need if communicating in Italian is difficult. citeturn0search1turn0search7

When possible, be ready to explain what happened, where you are, how many people need assistance and whether there is an immediate danger such as traffic, fire, water or a fall. Do not hang up until the operator tells you to do so.

What about 116117 for non-urgent medical help?

Not every health problem requires an ambulance. Sardinia also operates 116117 for non-urgent healthcare needs. In May 2026, the regional government confirmed that the service operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week and is designed to direct people toward appropriate non-emergency medical and community health services. citeturn0search9

This distinction is useful for visitors. A life-threatening condition, serious accident or other immediate emergency belongs with 112. A medical problem that needs guidance but is not an emergency may be appropriate for 116117.

Other emergency numbers still work

Alongside 118 for medical rescue, the traditional numbers 115 for firefighters, 113 for police and 1530 for maritime emergencies remain active. Sardinia’s regional 112 service states that calls to these numbers are routed to the Single Response Center. citeturn0search0turn0search7

That is why 112 is the most useful number for a visitor to memorize. You do not have to decide which Italian emergency service should receive the first call; the 112 center can direct the request appropriately.

Save 112 before your Sardinia trip

Emergencies are rare, but knowing the system in advance is useful whether you are driving around the island, swimming, hiking, sailing or staying in a city. Save 112 in your phone and make sure everyone traveling with you knows it.

If something serious happens, call 112, state your location and the nature of the emergency, answer the operator’s questions and keep your phone available. The call is free, the service covers the entire Sardinian territory and multilingual assistance is available for international visitors. citeturn0search0turn0search11