Olbia, Sardinia Travel Guide: 3 Day Itinerary

Day 1 in Olbia

Welcome to Olbia, your coastal home base for the next few days. Luckily the international airport is right around the city center so you won't have to travel far upon arriving.

I highly recommend renting a car in Sardinia as public transportation is limited. The best choice is to rent a car from the airport so you have total freedom to explore the moment you arrive.

After picking up your car, go ahead and drop your bags and check-in or if you're like us, you'll save that for later and go directly to the beach instead.

‍

Head to the Beach

All around the island from north to south you'll find stunning beach after stunning beach. When I was first planning to visit Olbia, I was stressing over the "perfect beach" since I knew we had limited time. Now that we've spent time on Sardinia, I can say with confidence, there's hardly a beach that won't blow you away.

The northeastern corner of Sardinia really deserves the hype that Costa Smeralda carries. Emerald beaches are everywhere you look.

The only thing to keep in mind when choosing which beach to spend your day on is the time of the year. In peak summer months (July and August), Costa Smeralda becomes really crowded and is known as a bit of a luxury party destination. Think beach clubs and yacht parties. If that's not your vibe, I'd double check that the beach you're eyeing doesn't have a bar with a DJ booth, but if it is, dance it up!

But, the rest of the year, even mid-June when we visited, Olbia and the surrounding area was quiet and laid-back.

Although you'll be spoiled for choice when choosing between the beaches in Olbia, these are my top recommendations from personal experience:

• Porto Taverna: This beach was top of my list thanks to Tavolara Island in the distance. It didn't disappoint. If you visit here, be sure to give yourself some time to walk across the boardwalk over the inlet.
• Cala Banana Beach: This beach also has a view of Tavolara but this side of the island isn't as dramatic as what you'll get at the beach above. This beach is smaller and more protected so would be great for families.
• Brandinchi Beach: This one is also protected by the land, making it a super family-friendly spot for swimming. Right next to this beach is Lu Impostu and really, if you make it to one, you might as well check out the other.

‍

Dine at an Agriturismo

After you've enjoyed the sunset with a beer and/or an ice cream, it's time to head to your hotel to shower off and get ready for dinner.

I'm typically not a late dinner kind of person and if you're not either, in Sardinia, you need to become one.

All around Italy there's a fantastic thing called agriturismo. This word doesn't have a great direct translation that works because "agricultural tourism" doesn't quite cut it.

Instead, think of them as farm-to-table meets a bed and breakfast except all of the food they serve comes directly from their farm and sometimes the neighbors.

You can stay the night at an agriturismo but oftentimes you can also just go for a meal. Most of these are found in the hills or mountains of the island and are, as you might guess, in secluded parts to make room for their farm and usually, a small wine production.

If you want a taste of local culture and fresh food, I highly recommend you eat at least one meal at an agriturismo. Just come hungry - they tend to offer set menus and feed you loads here!

A few recommended agriturismi around Olbia are:

• Agriturismo San Giovanni: This is the agroturismo we chose to eat at simply because they offered dinners starting at 7pm instead of the typical 9pm. I very much enjoyed it but next time I'd like to try another.
• Agriturismo Agrisole: This one came highly recommended by our hotel. It's a more casual option than the others.
• Agriturismo Stazzu Li Paladini: Also close to Olbia, this agroturismo came highly recommended. You'll enjoy great views alongside your meal here.

‍

Day 2 in Olbia

Although you likely got to bed late after your big meal and your glasses of mirto, today is a big day where you can see more of Sardinia. Today is the perfect day to get out on the water, do some swimming, and simply relax.

‍

Go on a Boat Trip

You'll be spoiled for choice when choosing which boat trip you take today. When making your decision, I suggest you decide your budget, how long you want to be out for, and if you have a special destination in mind. You should also consider how many people you want to share a boat with. Keep in mind that, typically, the smaller the group, the higher the price tag.

Deciding this first will help you narrow down your options.

Both Viator and GetYourGuide have a number of great boat tours to choose from if you're not sure where to begin.

The most popular destinations for boat trips from Olbia (or one of the nearby port towns) are La Maddalena Archipelago and Tavolara and Molara islands.

When we were in Olbia, we ended up on a small catamaran in La Maddalena Archipelago and while I can't compare it to other boat trips in the area, I can say with confidence that it was fantastic.

We booked directly with La Dolce Vita Sardinia Catamaran and had a really fantastic day swimming, eating, drinking, and playing in the water. Just note that you'll have to catch this tour from Cannigione, which is about a 30 minute drive from Olbia.

‍

Enjoy a Low-Key Night

Likely, after the boat trip and swimming all day, you'll be exhausted. I know we were! Instead of going out for dinner, we went to the grocery store and got a few supplies and made a make-shift dinner to enjoy by the swimming pool at our hotel.

Since we stayed up in the hills (more on where to stay later), it was a super relaxing way to end a really fun day.

If you've worked up an appetite, try another agriturismo tonight or head into Olbia for a great dinner.

‍

Day 3 in Olbia

Although your trip is almost done, you hopefully have a few more hours to hang out in Sardinia. If you have a later flight, I recommend spending your morning in the historic center of Olbia.

Most people don't come to Sardinia to shop or hang out in town, most come for the beaches, sea views, and nature, which is why I've left this at the end of your trip.

Olbia's old town is small but really cute, with small alleyways and a large marina. I recommend roaming around without much of a plan to see what you stumble upon. At the very least, you'll find plenty of restaurants or a cute place to grab a coffee outdoors to soak up the last bit of the Sardinian sun.

‍

‍

Olbia Travel Tips

Now that you know how to spend your 3 days in Olbia, let's talk logistics to make your trip run smoothly.

‍

How to Get to Olbia

Getting to Olbia is fairly simple, depending on where you're coming from. Their international airport has flights from nearly every country in Europe and a number of choices from both mainland Italy and France.

If you prefer to travel via ferry, you can get to Olbia from Civitavecchia, Genoa, Livorno, or Piombino. I suggest using Omio to see your options and plan your travel if going by ferry.

‍

Olbia vs. Other Parts of Sardinia

I mentioned before that you're likely not visiting Sardinia for the cities but rather the beaches and nature. And lucky for you, the entire island is filled with things to do, places to visit, and views in all directions. Even inland, the mountainous island makes for great hiking.

In general, Italian friends told us that Costa Smeralda is the most touristic place to visit. That initially deterred us until low flight prices convinced us to give it shot. While I don't have the rest of Sardinia to compare Olbia and the surrounding area with, when we visited mid-June it was still quiet. The summer months might be another story.

If you're not sold on Olbia, you could also arrive to:

• Cagliari: This is the capital of the island and the biggest city. It's where most locals live so it is open all year-round compared to tourist destinations. If you prefer to see south Sardinia, flying or taking the ferry here will be more convenient.
• Alghero: This is a cute beach town on the northwest coast. They have a small airport or, for more options, you could arrive at Sassari. If you don't want the tourism of Olbia or the size of Cagliari, you might prefer Alghero.
• La Maddalena: I mentioned the entire archipelago before but here I'm referring to the small town on the biggest island of the archipelago. It's a bit more difficult to get to and will require an extra boat ride from Palau but if you have the time, I hear it's worth visiting.
• Inland: The interior of Sardinia is far more mountainous than I realized. Not nearly like the Dolomites but still full of hiking trails, great views, and unique landscapes. This is most likely where you'll head if you prefer staying overnight at an agriturismo.

Just note that the drive times between each of these destinations can be up to a few hours. I would only recommend hopping from one to another if you have more than 3 days in Sardinia.

‍

Where to Stay in Olbia

Convinced Olbia is the spot for you? Now it's time to book your hotel. Contrary to what you might think, I actually dissuade you from staying right in the city center and instead you book a place in the hills or around the beaches that surround town.

There are plenty of hotels to choose from but my top recommendations are:

• Budget Stay: Casa Sacuri: While the room itself is simple yet clean, stay close to beaches and Olbia without having to pay beachfront prices.
• Mid-Tier Stay: Casagliana Suite Resort: This is where my husband and I stayed during our trip to Sardinia. The views, the tranquility, spacious rooms, and the great location made it a perfect retreat for us.
• Luxury Stay: Bella Darsena Portorotondo: Enjoy more space at this two-bedroom apartment and walking distance to a few beaches on Costa Smeralda.

‍

Best Time to Visit Sardinia

Sardinia gets 4 seasons so you'll want to plan your trip wisely if you have swimsuits on your mind. It likely won't snow or drop below freezing in the winter, it'll still be too chilly to spend much time on the water and it'll definitely be too cold to get in.

The best time to visit Sardinia for plenty of fun in the sun is between May-October. To be on the safe side though, I recommend cutting that window down to June-September. In mid-June, I swam plenty but the water was super cold so I needed to heat up before diving right in.

The most popular time to visit Olbia are July and August, so depending on what you want to do on vacation, you might prefer to join the crowds or avoid those months completely.

‍

You'll Love Your Trip to Olbia

With mild winters and easy access from mainland Italy, there's no excuse not to visit Olbia or Sardinia in general. While I do recommend you plan this trip around nature, not the cities and towns themselves, Olbia makes for a great base to see just what all the hype around Costa Smeralda is all about.