Car hire in Olbia
1 office in Olbia · airport pick-up · Italy
Olbia is the gateway to north-eastern Sardinia and the natural stopover for exploring the Costa Smeralda, that stretch of crystal-clear coves and pink granite running from Porto Cervo to Palau. The town has a pleasant centre with a lively café scene, but its main role is to serve as a base: everything memorable lies within an hour's radius.
In Sardinia a car is non-negotiable. The good beaches are spread along dozens of kilometres of coastline, many at the end of minor roads with no bus service, and the granite interior of the Gallura hides villages and viewpoints no tour covers. Collecting your vehicle at Olbia airport on landing is the trip's first smart move.
Search cars in OlbiaWhy hire a car in Olbia
- Olbia airport is barely 10 minutes from the centre, with a direct run out towards the Costa Smeralda and the SS125.
- The best coves (Brandinchi, Capriccioli, Spiaggia del Principe) can only be reached by road, and it pays to be able to switch beaches according to the day's wind.
- The Gallura interior, with Tempio Pausania, the cork-oak woods and the rocks of Aggius, has no useful public transport.
Day trips near Olbia
- Costa Smeralda — Porto Cervo, granite coves and turquoise waters amid Mediterranean scrub: Sardinia's most famous stretch of coast, around 30 minutes away.
- San Teodoro and Cala Brandinchi — White sand and shallow water nicknamed 'little Tahiti', perfect for families, around 25 minutes away to the south.
- Palau and La Maddalena — From Palau, around 40 minutes away, a short ferry crosses to the La Maddalena archipelago; you can bring the car aboard to explore its islands.
- Gulf of Orosei — Further south, Cala Gonone and its limestone cliffs hide caves and coves reachable by boat, around 1 hour 15 minutes away via the SS125.
Where to pick up your car
- Aeropuerto de Olbia
Final prices in euros · book without paying · free cancellation up to 72 h before.
Frequently asked questions
When should I book a car in Olbia?
As far ahead as possible if you're travelling between June and September: demand in Sardinia soars in summer and the island's fleets sell out. In low season there is far more availability and better rates.
What's driving like in the area?
Good: the SS125 and the Costa Smeralda road are in fine condition. The final approaches to some coves are narrow tracks; take it slowly and arrive early in summer, as the beach car parks fill up by mid-morning.
← Back to home · Also in Italy : Alghero · Bari · Bologna · Brindisi · Bergamo · Cagliari · Catania · Florence