Olbia(Sardinian:Terranòa;Gallurese:Tarranòa) is the major city of the Gallura sub-region in northeasternSardinia.

Understand

Piazza Regina Margherita next to the Corso Umberto I

Olbia is the 4th largest settlement (by population) on the island. Since 2016 the whole Gallura sub-region including Olbia is a part of the province ofSassari.Visitors mostly use Olbia as a transit point where they arrive by plane or ferry and depart via public transport or car to see the rest of Sardinia, especially the renownedCosta Smeralda.

Tourist information

1Ufficio Informazioni turistiche,Via Dante/Corso Umberto I(at the corner with Molo Brin),☏+39 0789 52206,[email protected].Apr-Sep 09:00-20:00; Oct-Mar M-F 09:00-13:00.(updated Jul 2017)

Get in

Leaving Olbia by sea

View towards the port of Olbia

By plane

1Aeroporto Olbia Costa Smeralda(OLB^IATA)(at the south edge of Olbia),☏+39 0789 563 444,[email protected].(updated Jul 2017)

Services

• Left luggage service.09:00-22:00.Inquire at the airport's Information Desk.Daily fee per piece €10 (€6 up to 2 hr), over 80x60x20cm €12 (€8 up to 2 hr).(updated Oct 2017)

Connections

• Urban buslines 2, 10 connect the airport with Olbia centre (from 06:00 approx. every hour). Tickets are sold at the airport's Information Desk.
• A number of bus companies providedirect connectionsfrom the airport to various destinations in Sardinia: Sassari, Nuoro, Cagliari, Santa Teresa Gallura, Palau, Arzachena, Porto Rotondo, Costa Smeralda, San Teodoro, Budoni, Orosei, Cala Gonone, Alghero, Castelsardo. Tickets for ARST buses could also be bought at the ticket vending machine.

By boat

There are two ports close to Olbia.

• 2Porto di Olbia(Stazione Marittima).Connections byTirreniaferries withCivitavecchia(close toRome),Genovaand byMoby LineswithPiombino(next to the island ofElba),LivornoandCivitavecchia.The ferries' berths are at the Isola Bianca wharf. Regional buses make a stop there.(updated Aug 2017)
• 3Golfo Aranci(Stazione Marittima Golfo Aranci)(inGolfo Arancicommune).Corsica Ferriesruns 2 services a day to/fromLivorno.(updated Aug 2017)

Land connections from the Golfo Aranci:

• By train:4Stazione di Golfo AranciThe station is next to the Port of the Golfo Aranci. It is 23 km north-east from Olbia.
• By bus: a seasonal service byARST.

Railway station

By train

5Stazione di Olbia,Via Giacomo Pala, 10,☏+ 39 0789 22456.The main station in the city connects it withSassari,Cagliariand to the ferry terminal at the Golfo Aranci.(updated Jul 2017)

By bus

6Stazione ARST.Regional buses connect the city with areas of interest across the province, as well as toCagliari.The "station" is a merely a series of marked bus stops which follows the urban bus stop. The2ARST ticket vending machineis at the Corso Umberto I further east at the location of the old bus station.(updated Jul 2017)

Get around

By bus

ASPO.Provides urban bus services in Olbia. Check themapof the bus lines in the city and theirschedulesfor more details.Single 90-min €1, single 90-minon board€1.50, day pass €2.80. Tickets sold at news stalls,tabacchi,caffés, etc..(updated Sep 2017)

• InfoPoint ASPO,Via Indonesia, 9(quite out of the centre),☏+39 0789 52206,[email protected].M-F 09:00-13:00, and W F also at 16:00-19:00.(updated Jul 2017)

By car

Much of the city center is a contiguouslimited traffic zone(ZTL) composed of zones A, B and C (map and hours). Most vehicles are prohibited from accessing the main part of zone C at any time. If you're driving, avoid entering the ZTL, otherwise you will receive a fine, even in a rental car.

See

Basilica di San Simplicio

Chiesa di San Paolo

• 1Basilica di San Simplicio,Via San Simplicio.07:30-13:00, 15:30-20:00.This austere Romanesquebasilica minorewas built in 11-12th centuries. It is considered as one of the most important monuments in the Gallura region.(updated Aug 2017)
• 2Chiesa di San Paolo,Via Cagliari.Built in the middle of the 18th century. It has a characteristic tiled polychrome dome added in 1939.(updated Aug 2017)
• 3Palazzo Colonna(Palazzo comunale).A villa in a Liberty style was designed by architect Bruno Cipelli for Colonna family. It now hosts the Town Hall.(updated Aug 2017)
• 4Villa Clorinda(Collegio di San Vincenzo),Via de Filippi.A Lyberty villa in pseudo-Gothic style by the same architect. It's a private property, which belongs to a religious college. Still reportedly visitors are able to pass the gates and see the building from outside..(updated Aug 2017)
• 5Teatro Michelucci.An open-air theatre designed by the famous Italian architect Giovanni Michelucci.(updated Aug 2017)

Archeological sites

• 6Pozzo sacro di Sa Testa(by bus line 4 toPozzo sacrostop).The remains of a Nuragic temple built around a sacred well.(updated Aug 2017)
• 7Acquedotto romano.Some very modest traces of the Roman aqueduct and the cisterns.(updated Aug 2017)
• 8Cabu Abbas(Riu Mulinu).Some remains ofnuraghe.(updated Aug 2017)
• 9Castello di Pedres(6 km from Olbia).Remains of the 13th-century castle.(updated Aug 2017)
• 10Tomba di giganti di Su Monte 'e S'Abe(next to the Castello di Pedres).One of the so-calledtombs of giants,a Nuragic tomb on the South of Olbia. This one is considered to be one of the largest ones and better preserved in Sardinia.(updated Aug 2017)

Do

Piazza "coperta" del Mercato

• 1Museo Archeologico(at the Peddona islet at the old port),☏+39 0789 28290.Tu-Su 09:00-14:00, 17:00-21:00.The recovered remains of ancient shipwrecks are of particular interest.Free admission.(updated Aug 2017)
• 2Parco "Fausto Noce".It's a nice and the largest urban park in Sardinia. Some say though that at times it looks rather deserted, so you may not feel quite safe yourself there then.(updated Aug 2017)

Buy

Olbia has the only mall and the only McDonalds for hundreds of miles – for many people there that is a good thing.

Eat

An invitation for a drink

Budget

• 1Trattoria da Leo e Lina,Via Sarcidano, 7,☏+39 3346667784.Great family-run restaurant with friendly service and typical Sardinian dishes. With plentiful helpings.(updated Feb 2023)
• 2Zaza Doner Kebab,Piazza Regina Margherita.Turkish restaurant with many dishes such as Kebab, Falafel, Borek, desserts and vegan recipes.(updated Feb 2023)
• 3Pak Kashmir Doner kebab,Via Regina Elena, 64.(updated Feb 2023)
• 4Pizzeria Porto Romano,Via Porto Romano, 21.(updated Feb 2023)
• 5Al Ciclope,Via Dettori, 5.(updated Feb 2023)
• 6Pizzeria Del Corso,Corso Umberto I, 181.(updated Feb 2023)
• 7La Tigella,Via Goffredo Mameli, 1.(updated Feb 2023)

Mid-range

• 8Ristorante Terra e Mare da Anna,Via Antonelli, 8.(updated Feb 2023)
• 9Il Bistro',Piazza Brigata Sassari.(updated Feb 2023)
• 10La Sosta,Via Talenti, 41.(updated Feb 2023)
• 11Red Lion Irish Pub steak house,Via Capotesta, 35.(updated Feb 2023)
• 12Kyoo sushi restaurant,Via S. Simplicio, 2.Menù alla carta(updated Feb 2023)

Splurge

• 13kelos restaurant,Via della Stampa, 11.(updated Feb 2023)
• 14Il Mattacchione,Via Copenhagen, 82.(updated Feb 2023)

Sleep

• 1Hotel Pellicano D'Oro(Hotel Pellicano D'Oro),Via Mare Adriatico 34 - Golfo Aranci,☏+39 0789 39094.4-star beach hotel in front of the sea, with restaurant, panoramic terrace and swimming pool.Room rates from €120.
• Residence Sardegna Baia dei Delfini,Loc Porto Pollo Palau.Residence Sardinia at Porto Pollo Palau in front Maddalena island

Stay safe

You may encounter poor road conditions, with potholes and open drains. Also the skill of some drivers leaves something to be desired. For women, it's better not to walk alone late at night, just to avoid the possibility to meet drunk homeless people (who are usually harmless though).

Cope

• Mater Olbia Hospital,Strada Statale 125 Orientale Sarda,☏+39 0789 18999,[email protected]
• Giovanni Paolo II Hospital, Via Bazzoni - Sircana (Località Tannaule),☏+39 0789 552200,☏+39 0789 552999,[email protected]
• San Giovanni di Dio Hospital, Viale Aldo Moro,☏+39 0789 552200,[email protected]
• Police Station, Via del Castagno,☏+39 0789 550700,[email protected]
• Carabinieri Olbia Centro (National gendarmerie of Italy), Via Gabriele D'annunzio 78,☏+39 0789 21221
• Carabinieri reparto territoriale (National gendarmerie of Italy), Via degli Astronauti,☏+39 0789 644500
• Vigili del fuoco (Fire Department), Via Santa Lucia,☏+39 0789 602019
• Guardia Costiera (Coast Guard), Viale Isola Bianca 8,☏+39 078956360,☏+39 0789 26666,☏+39 0789 26492,[email protected]

Go next

• Tempio Pausania— a former mountainous co-capital of the Gallura subregion.