Olbia is a small town in the north of Sardinia, which is rightfully considered the main gate of the island. Ferries from the mainland constantly go to the port of Olbia, tourists fly to the international airport to explore the Emerald Coast of the Costa Smeralda.
The town itself is constantly growing and developing. Despite the poverty of historical architecture and the insufficient external beauty of the coast (there are much more picturesque places in Sardinia), Olbia undoubtedly deserves attention, if only because the urban infrastructure is very developed here. Here are the best restaurants and bars in Sardinia, shops and other entertainment. In addition, from Olbia it is quite easy to get to other towns of Sardinia, as well as go to the mainland for a couple of days.
How to get to Olbia
In Olbia there is a large international airport where planes arrive from all over Italy, and during the season and charter flights from the CIS countries and Russia. You can find a convenient flight for suitable dates in the form below.
Blogoitaliano has already written a separate article on how to get from Olbia airport to the city.
In addition to aircraft, ferries from the mainland arrive in Olbia. Every day, passenger ships from Livorno, Civatavecchia and Genoa approach the city port.
Olbia has the largest airport in Sardinia Costa Smeralda
Developed in Olbia and the railway connection. The railway lines of the Italian carrier Trenitalia connect Olbia with Cagliari, Sassari and Golfo Aranci.
In the town itself, it is most convenient to travel by car, which can be rented directly at the airport. It will not be difficult to find both city buses and taxis. However, the city of Olbia in Sardinia itself is small, its main attractions can be bypassed on foot.
Hotels in Olbia
In Olbia you can find accommodation for every taste and budget, from budget apartments or small guest houses to luxury villas and spa hotels with panoramic views. Pleasantly delight guests and the optimal combination of price and quality. True, you should be prepared for the fact that in the season prices always creep up. You can find the most suitable accommodation option by using the search link below.
Beaches of Olbia
Olbia is not yet the Emerald Coast, however, in the town and its immediate surroundings there are several nice landscaped beaches.
Pittulongu Beach is especially popular. It is very easy to get here by public transport and by car. Free parking is available nearby. There are plenty of water activities available for holidaymakers, including windsurfing and parasailing lessons. Pleased with the presence of a large number of excellent restaurants, including Mediterranean cuisine.
Le Saline Beach
For a relaxing family vacation, we recommend heading to Bados Beach, where trains run. Travel time no more than 25 minutes. There is also plenty of water fun and small cafes and pizzerias.
Four picturesque beaches of Porto Istana, separated by picturesque cliffs, are most often chosen by windsurfing enthusiasts, but surfers who wish to ride the waves go to the beaches of Le Saline and Punta Corallina.
Sights of Olbia
They go to Olbia to relax, and not to admire the sights. Nevertheless, for a couple of evening walks, a cultural program will certainly be found.
In the historical center of the city, many ancient buildings and churches have survived, both from the time of the Roman Empire and the later Middle Ages.
Attention is drawn to the remains of the medieval city walls of Civita - Terra Nova and Roman baths scattered in the center.
In addition to fragments of walls from the time of the Roman Empire, an ancient aqueduct has been preserved
Among the religious sights, we advise you to pay attention to the basilica in honor of the heavenly patron Olbia San Simplico, built in the XII century. and up to the middle of the XIX century. served as the cathedral of the city. The second famous church is the church of St. Paul, located on a hilltop on Cagliari street.
The Basilica of San Simpliczko for many years served as the Cathedral of Olbia
Do not ignore urban archaeological excavations, which resulted in the discovery of many historical artifacts from the early times to the end of the XIX century. All exhibits are kept in the Archaeological Museum of Olbia. The museum is open from Wednesday to Sunday, morning and evening. Entrance to the museum is free.
Many historical artifacts found during excavations are kept in the National Archaeological Museum
You can enjoy the evening coolness and relax from the hustle and bustle in the largest Fausto Noce park in Sardinia, located right in the city center.
Well, for shopping and a good mood, it is best to go to the port, where all kinds of city fairs are organized on warm summer evenings. Central shopping street Corso Umberto I will also appreciate good shopping. In addition to numerous shops and souvenir shops, you can still find cozy restaurants and cafes.
What to see in the vicinity of the city
Of the ancient sights in the vicinity of Olbia, the nurages on the top of the Kabu Abbas mountain, the tomb of the giants Su Monte and S'Aba, the ruins of Pedres castle and the sacred source of Sa Testa are of particular interest.
Source of Sa Testa - the oldest building in the vicinity of Olbia
For incredible landscapes, you can go along the Emerald Coast, stretching along the coast from Olbia to Palau for as much as 60 km. Numerous resort towns and villages are scattered along the Costa Smeralda: Porto Cervo, Adzarkena, Pulichino, Abbiadori, etc. In addition, you can go to the neighboring small islands from the coast. Every day, ferries go to the island of Capuchin monks, and to the island of Li Nibani, chosen by outlandish birds, and to the Snake island and even to the uninhabited island of Mortorio.
Be sure to visit the islands of the La Maddalena archipelago, where the national park is now located. The archipelago includes seven relatively large islands and more than a hundred small ones. The islands of pink granite immersed in the green, like hats hanging over the emerald sea waters, will not leave anyone indifferent.
La Maddalena - the largest island of the same name archipelago
The largest and most populated island of La Maddalena. All ferries with tourists arrive here. The nature of La Maddalena is rich and diverse and, despite the large number of tourists, continues to delight with breathtaking landscapes and fine white sand beaches.
The rocky island of Spargi is considered the most picturesque.
The neighboring islet of Caprera, connected to the first footbridge, is known for the fact that Giuseppe Garibaldi lived here for many years. The island now has its museum.
Another paradise island of the archipelago is Sparji, which, according to many tourists, is considered the most beautiful. The travelers are fascinated by the incredible beaches covered with fine almost white sand.
The pink beach of Budelli is recognized as one of the best beaches in the Mediterranean.
However, we recommend going to the island of Budelli for the best beaches. He became famous all over the world thanks to his incredibly beautiful pink beach. Pink sand was formed as a result of leaching of crushed remains of corals and other marine microorganisms. The beach is located in a bay surrounded by granite rocks, which allows you to enjoy complete harmony with nature.
Local kitchen
As in other towns of the coast, in restaurants of Olbia you can often find dishes from various seafood. Especially popular is the Lobster Catalan Style lobster, which can be tasted at Le Caravella Restaurant.
Do not ignore meat. In Olbia, and in Sardinia as a whole, he is very fond of. A traditional Da Gimmy pork steak is usually served with a glass of local Officina Del Gusto wine.
In Sardinia, seafood and all kinds of pastas are very popular.
All kinds of pastas are popular in the city. Their distinctive feature is a variety of sauces made by hand according to old recipes.
We recommend heading to the Osteria del Mare and La Palma restaurants for fish specialties. If you want to try something with a purely local flavor, look at the restaurants Gallura, Barbagia and the already mentioned Le Caravella.
In the end
As you can see, in Olbia you can organize an unforgettable vacation. And if you are planning to go to Sardinia in the near future, or are looking for other places to stay in Italy, we recommend that you sign up for our free course with useful life hacks from experts in the country. This knowledge will help to significantly save on vacation and see what over 95% of travelers miss.
Other interesting articles:
- Costa Smeralda Airport in Olbia and how to get to the hotel
- The best beaches of Sardinia
- Sights of Sardinia: 10 most interesting places
- Car rental in Italy: everything you need to know when booking a car
