Table of Contents:
How to get to Olbia from Olbia airport
When to travel to Olbia
Olbia, along with Cagliari, is considered to be the largest town in Sardinia. It is located in the northeast of the island. Olbia is the main “gateway” to the well-known Costa Smeralda shore. Besides, Olbia is famous for its historical and archaeological monuments, as well as its special vibes. Doubtless, Olbia is very visited by tourists. Most often, travelers come to Olbia for excursion purposes, and then go on vacation to the resorts of the Emerald shore.
You can visit Olbia at any time of the year. The local climate is quite mild and perfectly suits for long distance strolling around the town. Sightseeing is available in Olbia all year round. But most tourists visit Olbia when relaxing at the Sardinian sea resorts and it means that Olbia is mostly visited during summer time. Please, note, that July and August can be quite hot months in Sardinia so long-distance walking can be rather difficult. But most of the year, except months mentioned above, the local weather is certainly good for both hiking in the mountains and sightseeing in the towns.
How to get to Olbia
Where do you fly into to get to Olbia? You can get to Olbia both by air and by water, since the town is located in a Gulf and has access to the sea. An international airport is located 5 km from the center of Olbia, where flights land from various cities around the world. There are both direct and connecting flights to Olbia. The current flight timetable can be checked via specialized online services such as Aviasales and others.
How to get to Olbia from Olbia airport
By public transport: You can get from the airport to Olbia by public transport or by taxi/transfer. Regular buses run between the airport and the town, just use routes No. 2 and No. 10). The schedule can be checked on the official website of the ASPO carrier. Buses depart from the airport every half an hour throughout the day. Please, note, public transport does not operate at night. In general, public transport in Sardinia is not well-developed, therefore, to get to the Costa Smeralda resorts from the airport, you have to make a change in Olbia.
By taxi: You can also take a taxi from the airport to the town, but it is worth considering that it is customary for taxi drivers in Sardinia to leave a tip of 10% of the cost of the trip. As an option, you can also order an individual car transfer in advance before your arrival (the cost is approximately the same as a taxi). The travel time by taxi or transfer to the city is about 25 minutes. You can book a transfer via different international services such as Kiwitaxi and other similar ones.
By car: Another way to get from the airport to Olbia and then move freely around the island is to rent a car at the airport. This option is very popular in Sardinia, since public transport is poorly developed here. Roads in Sardinia are free and, for the most part, of good quality, so traveling by car here can be quite comfortable and fast. At Olbia Airport you can find a huge number of offices of international car rental companies, including Alamo, Autovia, Ecovia, Enterprise, Europcar, Firefly, Hertz, Locauto, Rhodium, Sicily by car, Sixt, WinRent and many others.
To register a car for rent, it is enough to have a standard set of documents with you, including a passport, an international driving license and a bank card. At Olbia Airport you can rent a car of any size, for instance, small, medium, large cars, minivans, SUVs and premium cars. You can book the desired class of car in advance via various online services such as Discover Cars, Economybookings, etc. Olbia Airport and Olbia are connected with Strada Statale #127 (see on the map).
Where to stay in Olbia
Olbia is a fairly large town in Sardinia, so you can find a lot of different accommodation options here, for example, hotels of different star categories, bed and breakfasts, apartments, guest houses, holiday homes, etc. Most hotels in Olbia are concentrated either in the historical center or on the shore.
Hotel Panorama 4* is located in the center of Olbia and has a rooftop with a panoramic terrace overlooking the town. A gym and spa area are available. Guests can stay in standard and superior rooms. Breakfast is included in the price. All rooms are also equipped with a coffee pot or a kettle. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel and is free of charge. Free public parking is provided on site. The front desk is open 24 hours a day and offers luggage storage;
Grand Hotel President 4* is located in the town center and has views of the Olbia Gulf. There is a restaurant, a bar and a panoramic terrace for relaxing on site. You can stay in rooms of various categories. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel and is free of charge. Free private parking is provided on site. The front desk is open 24 hours a day and offers luggage storage;
Your Bed& Breakfast is a family-run hotel in the center of Olbia. The hotel has a terrace. Guests can stay in rooms of various categories. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel and is free of charge. Luggage storage services are available at the front desk;
B& B Antares is a hotel located in the center of Olbia. You can stay in rooms of various categories, including family rooms. Breakfasts are paid additionally. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel and is free of charge. Free public parking is provided nearby. The front desk is open 24 hours a day and also provides luggage storage services.
Beach hotels that get good reviews from vacationers include:
Pelican Beach Resort& Spa 4* is located right on the shore. Guests have access to a restaurant with a panoramic terrace, an outdoor swimming pool, an outdoor gym and a spa area. You can stay in rooms of various categories. Breakfast is included in the price. Some rooms have balconies. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel and is free of charge. Private parking is provided on site for an additional cost and upon reservation. The front desk is open 24 hours a day and offers luggage storage services;
Stefania Boutique Hotel 4* is located 100 meters from the beach. The hotel has a swimming pool with a relaxing terrace and a restaurant. There is also a gym. Guests can stay in rooms of various categories. The type of meals offered is breakfast or half board. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel and is free of charge. Free private parking is provided on site. The front desk serves guests 24 hours a day and offers luggage storage services;
Hotel Abbaruja 3* is located outside the town, surrounded with a garden and 100 meters from the nearest beaches. There is a bar at the hotel. Guests can stay in double rooms. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel and is free of charge. Free private parking is available on site. Luggage storage services can be found at the front desk.
What to see in Olbia
In the old part of Olbia, quite a few historical monuments from different periods have been preserved, which have managed to maintain their authenticity. For example, here are the fragmentarily preserved fortress walls of Civita Terra Nova, the Church of St. Paul (built in the 13th century), the National Archaeological Museum, the medieval Basilica of San Simpliccio (built in the 12th century), and the Romanesque church of San Paolo (built in the 17th century) and much more. Also, in the town center you can find the shopping street called Corso Umberto I with a wide variety of mono-brand boutiques, Besides, you can have a great time in local cafes with authentic cuisine here.
Of course, it is worth exploring the surroundings of Olbia, as the famous Costa Smeralda shore and the picturesque La Maddalena archipelago are located here. The archipelago consists of several small islands, that are made of pink granite. All 7 islets, the main one of which is La Maddalena, can be visited thanks to numerous boat excursions that depart directly from the port of Olbia. The islands of the archipelago are famous for their picturesque cliffs, secluded beaches and amazing countryside. You can swim and sunbathe here all the day long. The island of Caprera will also delight you with fresh coniferous air, since juniper, myrtle and pine grow here.
As for the Costa Smeralda shore, there is a large number of holiday destinations, but all the resorts of the Emerald Shore have one thing in common – beautiful untouched snow-white beaches.
The beaches of Olbia
Despite the fact that Olbia is a fairly large town in the northeast of Sardinia and a famous port, there is also a place for beaches. The beaches of Olbia, as well as throughout the Costa Smeralda, are white sandy, have a gentle entrance to the water, but the main difference is their more urbanized appearance. If throughout the Costa Smeralda you can find quite a few wild beaches untouched by civilization, then in Olbia itself all the beaches are well equipped with sun loungers and umbrellas that can be used for an additional fee. There are also open-air cafes, changing cabins, toilets, showers, etc. The beaches of Olbia offer a great beach holiday.
Popular beaches within the town include Lido del Sole, Le Saline, Capo Ceraso, Marina Maria and others. In the immediate surroundings, the beaches of the village of Pittulongu are popular, namely the beach of Bados, del Pellicano and Mare a Rocche. A little further, at a distance of about 30 km, there are the magnificent deserted beaches of the resorts of Porto Rotondo and Porto Cervo.
Take a note! When going on a trip to Italy, do not forget to take out a travel insurance, which is useful for receiving a tourist visa and for solving emerged medical problems when travelling in another country. You can purchase an insurance via online services, for example, via EKTA and others. You can choose from different modes, including quiet, active or extreme rest.
Photo above the article: Gabriel Garcia Marengo
The author is Julia Mam
Julia is an experienced traveller, BA in International Relations and Languages and true lover of planning trips in advance. Learn more…
