TOP 10 Things to Do in Olbia, Sardinia [100% worth doing]

Where to Stay in Olbia

Still at the planning stage of your trip to Olbia?

Well, finding the right home base is an important step to having a great trip, so here are some good recommendations before we get down to business!

✅ Overall Best – Citroom – green city rooms: located in the heart of the old town, this guesthouse offers clean, large, and well-equipped rooms (some even have a balcony) at a fair price.  

💰 Best Budget – Casa Lucia: this place, located at a 15-minute walk from the city center, offers comfy and stylish rooms with free parking. 

⭐️ Best Luxury – L’Essenza Hotel: located right inside Olbia city center, this 4-star hotel provides fully equipped and comfy rooms, a generous and tasty breakfast as well as a great terrace. 

List of the 10 Best Things to do in Olbia

Discover below 10 fun things to do in Olbia, including all the best Olbia attractions and must-sees, but also a few unmissable places nearby. 

Let’s jump right to it! 👇

1. Wander around Olbia city center 

One of the main attractions in Olbia is its historic center. Go to Corso Umberto, the city’s main shopping street, and then take the time to stroll through the charming picturesque streets that surround it.

Take a break at one of the many cafés in the central squares such as Piazza Matteotti or Piazza Margherita. Whether it’s for a drink, lunch, or dinner, you will find nice restaurants all along the way where you can enjoy local food.

But most importantly, don’t miss tasting the traditional gelato, the famous Italian ice cream. Choose the pistachio flavor at GAP Gelateria Artigianale, you won’t regret it! 

2. Take a spin on the Olbia Ferris Wheel  

Want to see the city from above? Then ride the Olbia Ferris Wheel! 

Opened in 2019, the Ferris wheel is situated on the seafront in the Parco i Giardinetti, a small green park right in front of the Museo Archeologico, and is visible from Corso Umberto.

Locally known as La Ruota Panoramica, it is for sure one of the best things to do in Olbia at night or at the downfall thanks to its lighting and offers great views of the bay. 

3. Learn more about Sardinia at the Museo Archeologico

Located in front of the old port and easily recognizable thanks to its modern architecture, visiting the Museo Archeologico allows you to learn more about the history of Olbia and Sardinia, from the time of the Nuraghi to the Roman conquest.

Among other things, this museum showcases some of the remains of 24 Roman and medieval ships that were found on this site, supported by clear explanatory videos.

If you want to visit, check the museum’s last opening hours in advance, as you may find it closed for several hours in the afternoon and on weekends.

4. Discover San Paolo Church

Located in one of the streets adjoining the Corso Umberto is the Chiesa di San Paolo, a church built on the site of an ancient temple. 

The church of San Paolo is easily recognizable thanks to its multicolored dome and its stone exterior. Although the church has roots that go back to the Middle Ages, it houses modern frescoes celebrating recent saints and popular religious figures. 

5. Visit the Basilica di San Simplicio

The Basilica of San Simplicio is another church you should visit when in Olbia. 

Located just outside the historic center in the square of the same name, it is a remarkably well-preserved Romanesque granite basilica dating from the 11th and 12th centuries.

Don’t miss entering it to admire the remains of historical frescos that decorate the interior walls.

6. Go swimming at Spiaggia Pittulongu

Spiaggia Pittulongu is considered as Olbia’s main beach. Located east of the city center, the beach is easily accessible by bus line 04 in 20 minutes or by car in 15 minutes.  

Pittulongu Beach is an amazing stretch of white sand bordered by crystal clear water, typical of Sardinia. Popular with both locals and tourists, it is the perfect place to cool off, enjoy water activities or just soak up the sun.

On the beach, you can rent umbrellas, sunbeds, snorkeling equipment, and more. You will also find bars, restaurants, and cafés to spend a wonderful day at the beach.

Looking for beaches close to Olbia? Click here to disocover the 10 best beaches around Olbia.

7. Take a boat trip to Isola Tavolara

Tavolara island is a big rock located a few kilometers off the coast in front of Olbia.

This huge block of limestone, set on a sea of turquoise shades, offers a very impressive landscape and has rich marine life. It is indeed a place of choice to watch dolphins!

From the port of Porto San Paolo, you can reach the island by boat in about 15 minutes. There, you can enjoy the beautiful beaches of the island, snorkeling or diving.

Ready to discover Isola Tavalora? 👉 Book your boat trip to Isola Tavolara here 👈

8. Explore the archeological sites near Olbia

The area of Olbia is home to some exceptional archaeological sites to explore located not too far from the city center: 

• Pozzo Sacro di Sa Testa – 10 min drive from the city center or bus line 04: this archaeological site features the ruins of a sacred well dating back to the late Bronze Age.  
• Nuraghe Riu Mulinu – 12 min drive from the city center: it is a Nuraghic fortification located at the top of the hill of Cabu Abbas, which offers a nice view over the Gulf of Olbia.
• Castello di Pedres & the Giants’ Grave of Su Mont’e s’Abe – 13 min drive from the city center: it is a medieval castle located with Nuraghic graves at the top of a hill behind the airport that also offers a beautiful view of the surroundings.

9. Go on a day trip to La Maddalena

La Maddalena is one of the greatest places in Sardinia and it is less than 1 hour from Olbia!

This site listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site is an archipelago composed of several unspoiled islands nestled in an absolutely heavenly setting and greatly protected from human development. It is best known for its incredibly turquoise-clear waters and pink rocky landscapes. 

Cala Napoletana in La Maddalena Archipelago

To get there, you need to take a 15-min ferry from the town of Palau, which is located about a 45-minute drive from Olbia. To discover the archipelago, you can either choose to take a boat trip or drive around it (the first option is best if you only have 1 day). 

Ready to go? 👉 Book your boat trip to La Maddalena here 👈

10. Hike the Capo Testa peninsula

Located close to the town of Santa Teresa Gallura about 1h20 from Olbia, Capo Testa is a tiny island connected to the mainland through a thin strip of land. 

This former granite quarry is famous for its unique landscapes. Its granite rocks sculpted by the wind and the sea along with its azure waters are indeed very scenic. On a clear day, you can even see the Corsican cliffs of Bonifacio!

But above all, the peninsula offers splendid hikes that you can punctuate with bathing in beautiful wild creeks such as Cala Spinosa. The Capo Testa – Monte La Torraccia – Guardia del Corsaro trail is the most popular hike in the area.   

FAQ About Visiting Olbia

Is Olbia worth visiting? 

Well, here is what I personally think based on my own experience.

Olbia is so small with such a tiny center and so few landmarks that you can get around it in 1-2 hours. Also, its architecture is not very impressive and its beach is nice, but far from being the most beautiful on the island.

On the other hand, the town is close to some outstanding places that you need to see if you are in Sardinia, so it is a good stopover.

Nes & I landed at Olbia airport and spent only an afternoon in town. We think it was the perfect amount of time to enjoy Olbia as we had enough time to visit it all at a normal pace. But if we hadn’t landed there, we probably wouldn’t have added Olbia to our itinerary.   

Olbia or Cagliari? 

Definitely Cagliari! 

As Sardinia’s capital city, Cagliari is much bigger than Olbia with much more landmarks, monuments, and food options so it’s 100% worth a visit. We really liked walking around the city and its main beach (Spiaggia del Poetto) is great too. 

Depending on what you want to see (north or south Sardinia), one can be better than the other. But if you had to choose between visiting Olbia or Cagliari, I recommend you opt for Cagliari. 

What to do in Olbia when it rains? 

Olbia doesn’t offer lots of indoor activity so you won’t have many options. 

But here are a few things to do in Olbia Italy on a rainy day: 

• visit the Museo Archeologico
• taste local wine at Tenute Olbios 
• relax at the Mercure Hotel Spa (open to visitors)

Visit Sardinia

Going to Sardinia? Here are further readings that will help you plan your trip to Sardinia:

👉 Here is the main travel guide: 7 Days Itinerary in Sardinia (with free map)

If you are looking for Sardinia’s best beaches, here are other dedicated guides:

• All the Most Beautiful Beaches in Sardinia
• The Best Beaches in La Maddalena archipelago
• The Best Beaches in Northern Sardinia
• The Best Beaches in Southern Sardinia
• The Best Spots to Snorkeling Sardinia
• The Best Beaches Near Olbia

Also, find below my guides to discovering some of Sardinia’s best attractions: 

• Visit Cala Goloritze in the Gulf of Orosei
• Hiking Guide to Cala Napoletana, La Maddalena
• Discover Masua’s Porto Flavia & Pan di Zucchero
• Visit Laveria Lamarmora
• Discover Tharros Archeological Site
• Hiking Capo San Marco
• Visit Neptune’s Cave
• Full Guide to Spiaggia di Cala Li Cossi

Finally, if you’re looking for a home base in Sardinia, you will find my best accommodation recommendations below:

• The Best Areas to Stay in Sardinia
• The Best Place to Stay in Sardinia for Couples
• The Best Places for Nightlife in Sardinia

I hope you enjoy your trip to Olbia; if you have any questions, let me know in the comments below.

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