Olbia is the gateway to the pearly white beaches of Sardinia's northeast coast and the sparkling Costa Smeralda. This is where jet-setters, film stars and the ‘glitterati’ arrive to indulge in 'la dolce vita' Sardinian-style. With a Greek name meaning ‘happy’, Olbia used to be a little fishing village but has now grown to become Sardinia’s busiest ferry port, complete with an international airport and tons of tourist amenities. The countryside is cloaked in aromatic wild herbs, the macchia, and the surrounding sea glows in every hue of electric blue, in a little known and exclusive place waiting to be discovered.
In the area known as Gallura, the Gulf of Olbia is spectacularly backed by an amphitheatre of granite mountains and extraordinary wind-sculpted rock formations. To the south of the city rises the knife-edge of Tavolara Island, towering over the bay. To the north is the glamorous Costa Smeralda and other resorts, all lapped by the same limpid turquoise seas. Inland awaits a different world, going back into the mists of time. The area around Arzachena is honeycombed with prehistoric sites, all reminders that this is one of Europe’s oldest islands. Olbia and its surrounding areas offer a staggering diversity of sights and attractions, as well as dining, shopping and truly unique vistas and experiences.Read More
