Olbia Cruise Port
Olbia, Italy · Mediterranean
Cruise ships dock at Isola Bianca Cruise & Ferry Quays, Olbia.
Plan my port daysBusy ferry-and-cruise port at Isola Bianca, a flat 25-minute walk from Corso Umberto; taxis, buses or a hire car open up the Costa Smeralda, its beaches and the islands.
At a glance
Port summary
Cruise ships berth at the Isola Bianca quays, which they share with the big overnight ferries from the mainland. A free port shuttle runs from the ship to the Stazione Marittima, where you will find a bar, restaurant, tobacconist, toilets, free wifi and the taxi rank. From there Olbia's old town is 2 km away along a flat causeway: about 25 minutes on foot, 10 minutes by ASPO town bus or a short taxi ride. Olbia itself is a pleasant half day: the Corso Umberto shopping street, the Romanesque basilica of San Simplicio and the free archaeology museum with its Roman shipwrecks, which sits right on your walking route. For most visitors the draw lies beyond town. Pittulongu beach is 15 minutes away, the jet-set marinas of Porto Rotondo and Porto Cervo are 25 and 45 minutes north, and boats to Tavolara leave from Porto San Paolo, 25 minutes south. La Maddalena is possible on a long call (45 minutes to Palau plus a 15-minute ferry) but summer traffic makes it the riskiest option. Taxis are pricey, so for the Costa Smeralda a pre-booked driver or hire car usually beats a cab from the rank.
Cruise dock
Isola Bianca Cruise & Ferry Quays
Cruise ships berth at the Isola Bianca quays, shared with the large ferries from the Italian mainland. A free port shuttle runs to the Stazione Marittima; the old town is about 2 km west along the causeway.
Latitude: 40.923219, Longitude: 9.523022
See dock on port map →Getting to Olbia
From the cruise terminal to the city centre
Map & things to do
Money & payments
Cards are fine for most things, but carry €30–50 in cash for taxis, beach bars and San Pantaleo market.
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Inside the Mediterranean collection
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Typical weather
Emergency & contacts
Excursions compared
3 comparedScenic Costa Smeralda drive with Porto Cervo and Baja Sardinia
≈ 3.5 h · sold by 4 cruise lines
Cruise line
€65$72
Do it yourself
€84$93
Similar cost — pick on convenience
Take the free port shuttle to the Stazione Marittima, then a taxi (about €25, 15 min) to the car-hire desks at Olbia airport; Hertz also has a town office. Drive 40–45 min north on the SP59/SP94 to Cala di Volpe, Porto Cervo (paid parking, about €3) and Baja Sardinia, then back the same way. Buses (Sun Lines, a handful a day) and taxis (roughly €80–100 each way) are poor alternatives, so the hire car is the realistic DIY option; the costs below assume two people sharing the car.
See the DIY plan →
La Maddalena island town by public ferry from Palau
≈ 5 h · sold by 3 cruise lines
Cruise line
€110$122
Do it yourself
€105$116
Save ≈ €5Save ≈ $6 (5% off)
Take the free port shuttle to the Stazione Marittima and a taxi (about €25) to the airport car-hire desks, then drive about 50 min north via Arzachena to Palau and park near the ferry port. Leave the car and cross as a foot passenger with Delcomar or Maddalena Lines: about 15–20 min, €7.90 each way, sailings every 20–30 minutes in season, tickets at the port. Walk La Maddalena's old town, Piazza Garibaldi and the Cala Gavetta harbour on foot; buses to Palau (ARST, Turmo Travel) are too infrequent for a port day.
See the DIY plan →
Ready-made port days
9 plansOlbia on Foot, for Free
Roman shipwrecks, a Romanesque basilica and Corso Umberto's café life, all without spending a cent.
Rainy Day: Museum, Basilica and a Long Gallurese Lunch
Short taxi hops between Olbia's two best indoor sights, then a proper sit-down Sardinian lunch and food shopping.
Pittulongu: Olbia's Family Beach
Fine white sand, shallow water and Tavolara on the horizon, only 15 minutes from the ship.
Nuragic Olbia: Sacred Well and Hilltop Nuraghe
Two Bronze Age sites most visitors never hear of, one underground, one with the whole gulf at your feet.
Frequently asked questions
- Where does my cruise ship dock in Olbia?
- Your ship docks directly at the Olbia cruise terminal in Italy.
- Can I walk from the cruise port into Olbia?
- Yes. Olbia is walkable from the cruise port — many cruisers reach the city centre on foot.
- How do I get from the cruise port to Olbia centre?
- Typical options include Shuttle bus, On foot, Local bus, Taxi, Car rental. Durations and costs are listed in the transport section above.
- How much time do I need in Olbia?
- Plan for at least 3 hours ashore to see Olbia independently and return to the ship with a safe buffer.
- What currency is used in Olbia and are cards accepted?
- Olbia uses the Euro. Carry some cash for markets, taxis, and smaller vendors — cards aren't accepted everywhere.
- Is there Wi-Fi at the cruise port?
- Free Wi-Fi is available at the Olbia cruise terminal.
- When should I be back at the ship?
- Cruise lines usually require all passengers on board about 30 minutes before scheduled departure. Confirm the exact all-aboard time on your daily programme.
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