Introduction

Olbia is a busy industrial town and it has a busy port. For most people, it is the first impression they get of the beautiful island of Sardinia. The city itself is not as impressive as the coast nearby, which is why many people do not linger in Olbia.

Population

Olbia has about 43,000 inhabitants, although its streets give the impression that it is bigger. This has to do with the many tourists who land in Olbia, on their way to elsewhere on Sardinia.

Location

Olbia is located on the north-east side of the island of Sardinia, which is located to the east of the mainland of Italy. Olbia is on roughly the same altitude as Naples and is located on the Tyrrene Sea.

Economy

In the past, the port of Olbia was used above all to export grain, which led to economic growth. At the moment, many tourist ships dock in Olbia. The tourist sector is very important to Olbia. First of all because most tourists arrive in Olbia's harbor or airport on their way to other locations on the island, or to discover Olbia itself.

Near Olbia's harbor there are many bars and restaurants. Because its surroundings are beautiful, it has one of the most magnificent coastal areas in the Mediterranean, it attracts a wide variety of tourists, from jet setters to backpackers.

Airports

Olbia Airport, also known as Aeroporto Olbia Costa Smeralda, is located a few kilometers to the south-east of the city. This airport processes, for example, flights from the larger airports in Italy.

Public transport

The local public transport company is called ASPO. Bus number 8 will take you to and from the airport. ARST buses depart from the port and bus station to nearby resorts, like Costa Smeralda. There are also train connections to other big cities on Sardinia, like Sassari. There are ferries to Livorno and Civitavecchia. The latter is very popular, because it offers a fast ferry service. We recommend booking the fast ferry service at least three weeks in advance.

Traffic and Parking

Olbia has no traffic or parking problems. You can bring your rental car in the ferry from the mainland. From Olbia, you can explore the rest of the island by car.

Hotels

Olbia has several hotels. There is nothing special to report. There are also many hotels and holiday resorts in the surrounding area.

External Sources

For more information about Olbia, we recommend Google, and the following sources:

• Wikipedia, Olbia
• Regional information
• Sardegna Turismo