Olbia, Sardinia: Where To Go and What To Do

Olbia is one of the main gateways to northern Sardinia. It sits on the north-eastern coast and is also the main urban centre of Gallura. Here are my recommendations as a Sardinian for the best things to do in Olbia and to help you plan your next visit.

About Olbia
Olbia has a more lively, everyday Sardinian feel that places such as Porto Cervo or Porto Rotondo. It is a working city, so you get a mixture of locals living their daily lives, cafes, restaurants, shops and bars and tourists arriving from the airport and the port. The centre is quite compact and easy to explore on foot. Corso Umberto I the main pedanstrianised street with restaurants, cafes, shops and plenty of places to sit outside. Around it you'll find small piazzas and historic buildings.

Things To Do

• Basilica di San Simplicio: a Romanesque granite church dating mainly from the 11th–12th centuries
• Archaeological Museum of Olbia: It tells the story of the city from prehistoric times through the Phoenician, Greek, Punic and Roman periods, and has remains from ancient ships discovered in the harbour.
• Make sure you drive towards Cala Gonone and rent a boat and sail around the coast - the water is beautiful!

Local Beaches

• Spiaggia Pittulongu
• Spiaggia Delle Vacche
• ​Brandinchi Beach
• Spiaggia Isuledda
• Spiaggia Bados
• Porto Istana
• Badis
• You're also very close to the beginning of the Costa Smeralda. Porto Rotondo, Portisco and eventually Porto Cervo are all to the north, while San Teodoro and some spectacular beaches are to the south.

Other Notable Beach Areas in Sardinia

• Cala Goloritzé (voted the best beach in the world!)
• La Pelosa
• Cala Mariolu 
• Cala Brandinchi 
• Is Arutas
• Su Giudeu
• Cala Luna
• Le Bombarde
• Santa Teresa Di Gallura
• Cala Domestica 
• Stintino 

Restaurants in Olbia

• Ristorante Inaqua
• Ristorante della Nonna
• Terranostra Trattoria Creativa Pizzeria
• Anticas Licanzias Bistro
• Locanda Rudalza Cucina Tipica Sarda
• Mesora Sardinia 
• Mere Ristorante Olbia
• Piperita Patty
• Agriturismo Cabu Abbas

Bars in Olbia

• The Wine Club
• Enoteca Alchimia
• Spirits Boutique Cocktail Bar Olbia

Typical Dishes You Have To Try
No trip to Sardinia would be complete without trying some of our most iconic dishes. Here are some of my favourites:

• Culurgiones: Traditional Sardinian ravioli with a potato, pecorino cheese and mint filling.
• Malloreddus alla Campidanese: A gnocchi-like pasta called malloreddus (or Gnocchetti Sardi) cooked in a fennel sausage ragù.
• Pane Carasau: A traditional crispy Sardinian flatbread, also known as “music paper bread” because of the sound it makes when you break it.
• Fregula con Arselle: Fregula is a small pasta shape made from durum wheat flour and water that resembles Isaeli couscous. It’s often served with tiny clams. 
• Maialetto: This slow-roasted suckling pig is the centrepiece of most Sardinian celebrations.
• Spaghetti Vongole e Bottarga: This is spaghetti with clams with a distinct Sardinian touch from the bottarga (salted and dried tuna or grey mullet roe).
• Pizzetta Cagliaritana: Also known as Pizzetta Sfoglia we eat these flaky puff-pastry pastries filled with tomato sauce for breakfast or as a snack.
• Pardulas: Star-shaped small cheesecakes or tarts filled with ricotta, saffron, orange and lemon zest.
• Panada: This shortcrust pie originates from my hometown. There are three different versions of the filling: eels, meat (usually lamb, pork or beef and potatoes) and vegetarian. 
• Seadas: These are crispy, deep-fried sweet pastries that look like a large ravioli and are made with pecorino cheese, lemon and honey for a true taste of Sardinia.

And if you want to have a go at making these yourself, I offer cooking classes in Sardinia where you can learn how to prepare a typical authentic three course Sardinian meal, fresh pasta or culurgiones. I've also written a cookbook all about Sardinian food which will is now available to order here!

Other Areas To Visit in Sardinia

• Cagliari: You can read more about visiting Cagliari here.
• Pan di Zucchero: A high coastal rock formation on the west coast that can be seen from the coast or by boat. You can also climb a protected climbing route (via ferrata).
• Laconi: A beautiful waterfall and park area and the drive there from Cagliari is also beautiful.
• Cala Goloritzé / Cala Luna: These areas offer amazing treks or you reach these beaches by boat. If you want to do the trek you have to reserve your space well in advance and you can do this online. 

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I hope you enjoy your stay on our beautiful island! Feel free to comment below with any questions you have.​