Top things to do in Olbia
Attractions, tours and activities in Olbia
Olbia: the city's best neighbourhoods
Find a great area to stay in Olbia
About Olbia
Including tips for the best time to visit Olbia
Located off Italy’s mainland on the island of Sardinia, Olbia is a coastal city known for its cultural landmarks, scenic port and cafe-lined piazzas.
Right from its Greek name, Olbia has been influenced by several cultures and civilisations over its illustrious past. The highlight is the Romanesque Basilica of St Simplicio, which dates back to the 11th century and is dedicated to the city’s patron saint. Every summer, Olbia’s biggest festival is held to honour St Simplicio with fireworks, horse races and cultural processions through the streets. The other significant religious monument is St Paul Church, crowned by a colourful, mosaic-patterned dome. After soaking up the city’s history, you can head to the main street of Corso Umberto I for some shopping and round off your day at an atmospheric wine bar or alfresco cafe on Piazza Regina Margherita.
Olbia is a popular starting point for the white-sand beaches and resort towns of Costa Smeralda (meaning ‘Emerald Coast’ in Italian). Aptly named for the emerald waters that gently lap the shore, the strip of land is home to some of the island’s best beaches – Spiaggia del Principe, Capriccioli and Romazzino to name a few. You can rent a car and drive to any of these beaches for an afternoon of swimming, snorkelling or simply relaxing in the sun. Closer home, you can check out the beaches of Pittulongu or Le Saline.
Tonight
From £90 per night
This weekend
From £180 per night
Next weekend
From £174 per night
| Most popular time to visit | October–December |
| Cheapest time to visit | January–March |
| Local currency | € 10 = £8.56 |
| Language | Italian |
| Average weekend price | £54 per night |
| Average weekday price | £53 per night |
| Typical stay | 2 nights |
Olbia reviews
What other travellers say about Olbia
Olbia is a practical town to stay in because you can travel...
29 September 2023
Olbia is a practical town to stay in because you can travel by bus or car to Sardinia’s top attractions. There is a lot of action on the Corso Umberto and surroundings but overall I found only a few good places to eat. The airport is close and easy to reach via public transportation. All in all I would recommend it as a place where you spend the night but you plan your day to day visiting the amazing beaches and hikes.
If you are travelling around northern Sardinia then I would...
15 September 2023
If you are travelling around northern Sardinia then I would recommend a visit to Alghero rather than Olbia. There are very few places of interest in Olbia and the traffic network is very hard to negotiate with confusing signage in many parts.
A trip to Olbia felt like visiting the 'real' Italy.
7 September 2023
A trip to Olbia felt like visiting the 'real' Italy. Tourists per se are not specially catered for, although there are tours of La Maddalena from Palau, dolphin spotting etc. But what you do get is a warm welcome from local people. Lively bars, but not thumping clubs. - and the food is amazing, with a particular focus on local delicacies as well as fresh fish and seafood. Easy to get to local beaches (Bados and Pittulongu) which have beach bars. plenty of loungers and parasols to hire for the day. Turquoise waters, sandy beaches.
Olbia is near aeroport, port, beaches, attractions, resorts.
10 August 2023
Olbia is near aeroport, port, beaches, attractions, resorts. Lovely evenings in the car-free corso (main road) with restaurants, bars, market, karaoke, entertainers, hotels. 15 minutes drive to amazing Porto Rotondo and San Teodoro.
Olbia is awesome, there are so so many restaurants to choose...
5 August 2023
Olbia is awesome, there are so so many restaurants to choose from we went to a different one most nights when not at the hotel. People are lovely and friendly - a really good atmosphere in the main town. Felt safe and happy when away from the hotel
Nice Centro and waterfront.
14 July 2023
Nice Centro and waterfront. Seemed authentic and residential city. Only stayed one evening, but seemed some good restaurants and pleasant to walk around. Although pleasant, was better for transit spot than base and we were glad that we had stayed in another location for additional travel in the area. NOTE: taxis are difficult to come by and did not answer phone on a Monday morning although we were informed they would by a driver. Be sure to schedule ahead if needed.
Popular places to stay in Olbia
Stay in some of the best accommodation Olbia has to offer
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NEW-suite Monte Nero - the best price vs quality Olbia, Italy
From £161 per night
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Suite Da Gabry 2 Olbia, Italy
From £63 per night
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Blue Island - Luxury House Olbia, Italy
From £83 per night
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Attico Vespucci Luxury Penthouse Olbia City Centre, Olbia
From £300 per night
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La LocanDina Olbia, Italy
From £67 per night
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Other accommodation in Olbia
Choose from a wide variety of places to stay in Olbia
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Apartments
From £22 per night
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Villas
From £58 per night
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Cabins
From £88 per night
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Cottages
From £45 per night
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Serviced Apartments
From £42 per night
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Holiday Homes
From £45 per night
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Guest Houses
From £21 per night
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B&Bs
From £21 per night
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Homestays
From £19 per night
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Self Catering Accommodation
From £22 per night
