Olbia

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 of Sassari.
The name Olbia is from the Greek happines. These days the city rarely attracts visitors who usually arrive there by a plane or a ferry port, and than rush out to the beauties of the coasts of the Gallura including the most expensive one Costa Smeralda.

Tourist information

Ufficio Informazioni turistiche

By plane

Aeroporto Olbia Costa Smeralda

;Services

• Left luggage serviceInquire at the airport's Information Desk.

;Connections

• Urban bus lines 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 provide direct connections from 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.

• Porto di OlbiaConnections by Tirrenia ferries with Civitavecchia (close to Rome), Genova and by Moby Lines with Piombino (next to the island of Elba), Livorno and Civitavecchia. The ferries' berths are at the Isola Bianca wharf. Regional buses make a stop there.

• Golfo AranciCorsica Ferries Sardinia Ferries runs 2 services a day to/from Livorno.

Land сonnections from the Golfo Aranci:

• By train: The station is next to the Port of the Golfo Aranci. It is 23 km north-east from Olbia.
  • By bus: a seasonal service by ARST.
  
  
  Bahnfrend
  
  

  By train

  
  

  Stazione di Olbia

  phone: + 39 0789 22456
  address: Via Giacomo Pala, 10
  The main station in the city connects it with Sassari, Cagliari and to the ferry terminal at the Golfo Aranci.
  

  By bus

  
  

  Stazione ARSTRegional buses connect the city with the resorts and other locations across the province, as well as to Cagliari. The "station" is a merely a series of marked bus stops which follows the urban bus stop. The is at the Corso Umberto I further east at the location of the old bus station.

  
  

By bus

ASPOProvides urban bus services in Olbia. Check the map of the bus lines in the city and their schedules for more details.

• InfoPoint ASPO

  phone: +39 0789 52206
  address: Via Indonesia, 9

• Basilica di San Simplicio

  address: Via San Simplicio
  This austere Romanesque basilica minore was built in 11-12th centuries. It is considered as one of the most important monuments in the Gallura region.

• Chiesa di San Paolo

  address: Via Cagliari
  Built in the middle of the 18th century. It has a characteristic tiled polychrome dome added in 1939.

• Palazzo ColonnaA villa in a Liberty style was designed by architect Bruno Cipelli for Colonna family. It now hosts the Town Hall.

• Villa Clorinda

  address: 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.

• Teatro MichelucciAn open-air theatre designed by the famous Italian architect Giovanni Michelucci.

Archeological sites

• Pozzo sacro di Sa TestaThe remains of a Nuragic temple built around a sacred well.

• Acquedotto romanoSome very modest traces of the Roman aqueduct and the cisterns.

• Cabu AbbasSome remains of nuraghe.

• Castello di PedresRemains of the 13th-century castle.

• Tomba di giganti di Su Monte 'e S'AbeOne of the so-called tombs 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.

• Museo Archeologico

  phone: +39 0789 28290
  Some remains of the sunken ancient ships are of a particular interrest there.

• Parco "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.

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

• Trattoria da Leo e Lina

  phone: +39 3346667784
  address: Via Sarcidano, 7 Olbia
  Great family-run restaurant with friendly service and typical Sardinian dishes. Cheap with plentiful helpings.
• Zaza Doner Kebab, Piazza Regina Margherita. Turkish restaurant with many dishes such as Kebab, Falafel, Borek, desserts and vegan recipes.
• Sifen Wok, Chinese Self-Service Restaurant with prices remaining the same, no matter the quantity of the food eaten.

• Hotel Pellicano D'Oro

  phone: +39 0789 39094
  address: Via Mare Adriatico 34 - Golfo Aranci - 07026 Pittulongu Olbia
  4-star beach hotel in front of the sea, with restaurant, panoramic terrrace and swimming pool."

• Residence Sardegna Baia dei Delfini

  address: Loc Porto Pollo Palau
  Residence Sardinia at Porto Pollo Palau in front Maddalena island

You may encounter poor road conditions, with potholes and open grids. 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).

• Oschiri — a village of 4000 people.
• Tempio Pausania — a former mountainous co-capital of the Gallura subregion.