Day 1 in Olbia

Welcome to Sardinia! Upon arrival, you will go through customs and immigration. Should you opt to purchase a transfer to your hotel; a representative will be waiting for you as you exit immigration. Make your way to Olbia and arrive at your hotel. Check in and do not give in to jet lag! There is so much for you to see and do!

Arrive in the historic center of Olbia and visit the key sights right away. Walk along Olbia`s waterfront and take in the beautiful views of the Gulf of Olbia, including the Faro dell`isola Bocca, a lighthouse sitting on an island in the middle of the gulf. Learn about Olbia`s history, from the time of the Phoenicians to the present day, by viewing the artifacts and exciting exhibits at the Museo Archeologico di Olbia.

Walk down perhaps the most bustling street in Olbia, the Corso Umberto I, and grab a quick bite to eat at a cafe. From there, visit the Chiesa di San Paolo Apostolo, dating from the Middle Ages; you can get there from Corso Umberto I by turning right on Via Cagliari. Afterward, visit the Piazza San Simplicio, where the city`s parish church, the Basilica di San Simplicio, is located. A few streets north, across Canale Zozo, sits Parco Fausto Noce, a beautiful green space which is the largest public park in Sardinia. Spend some time at the park and then go back to the Corso Umberto I and take a stroll through some nearby piazzas, such as the Piazza Regina Margherita and the Piazza Giacomo Matteotti before returning to your accommodations at the end of the evening.

Day 2 in Olbia

In the morning, take the Trenino around the historic center; you might see a few more points of interest that you may want to explore further. After the Trenino ride, return to the Infopoint Tourist Center and buy a ticket to Lido di Pittilongu for some beach time. After lunch, return to town and utilize private transportation (car, taxi, etc.) to visit some sights north of Olbia. First stop is just to the north of town, near Cabu Abbas, to visit the 2500-year-old fort of Nuraghe Riu Mulinu. From here, you can go northeast to the beach towns of Porto Rotondo and Golfo Aranci, both alluring in their own rights and both offering accommodation options should you decide to stay the night there. Whatever you decide, make sure to carve out some time to enjoy the public beach at Cala Moresca, on Capo Figari. Return to your accommodations at the end of the evening, whether they are in Olbia or outside Olbia.

Day 3 in Olbia

In the morning, wake up early and travel to the hillside village of San Pantaleo, west of Golfo Aranci and Porto Rotondo. If you arrive in San Pantaleo on a Thursday, you can enjoy shopping at a lively open-air market, one of the most popular in all of Sardinia. After spending most of the morning in San Pantaleo, drive through Olbia and make your way south of the city to two historic sites: the Castello di Pedres, once home to the Judicate of Gallura; and the Tomba dei Giganti Su Monte S`Abe, a Phoenician-era burial ground. Afterward, head to Porto San Paolo and take the ferry to Isola Tavolara, which was once considered the smallest kingdom in the world. Isola Tavolara, like Isola Molara and Capo Coda Cavallo to the south, are part of the same nationally-protected marine reserve, where you can watch for Corsican seagulls and peregrine falcons in their natural habitats. If you have time, return to Porto San Paolo, where you can head west to Porto Istana, a coastal hamlet off the beaten path, or southeast to Capo Coda Cavallo. Return to your accommodations at the end of the day; if you want to stay south of Olbia, you can find available hotels during your trip`s booking process.

Additional Days in Olbia

If you loved the luxurious beach surroundings you experienced when you visited Porto Rotondo, head west and north past San Pantaleo up to the town of Porto Cervo, considered one of the most high-end luxury resorts in Sardinia, and a jewel on the Costa Smeralda. House prices here command top dollar (or top euro), at over €30,000 a square foot! The town itself is situated to the south and west of the marina and yacht club, created and frequented by one of the world`s richest men, the Aga Khan. After you`ve vacationed in Porto Cervo, how could you stay anywhere else?

If you want to explore the coastline south of Olbia, head south from Capo Coda Cavallo to San Teodoro, a beautiful beachside town whose population explodes from a few thousand in winter to over 50,000 in summer. San Teodoro`s world-renowned beach is La Cinta, sitting on a cape with the Tyrrhenian Sea beachside and the San Teodoro Lagoon on the other side, where you can see thousands of pink flamingos on a good day. The cape stretches nearly to Puntaldia on the other side, where there is a famous golf course that allows you to play 18 holes while enjoying great views of the sea.

Your Last Day in Olbia

Depart your hotel and head to the airport for your return home. We recommend that you purchase a private transfer; if so, a representative will meet you at the hotel in time to take you to the airport for your flight out. We hope you enjoyed Olbia and the Costa Smeralda!