Marina di Portisco on Sardinia: travel, harbour info and destinations

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Marina di Portisco lies on the western shore of the Gulf of Cugnana in northeastern Sardinia, north of Olbia and just short of the Costa Smeralda. Here you can read how to get from Olbia airport to the marina, where to park and shop, what wind to expect, which sailing destinations are near the gulf and how skippers berth in the marina.

Marina di Portisco: Location and harbour at a glance

Marina di Portisco lies in the western part of the Gulf of Cugnana, in the Portisco district of the municipality of Olbia. Opposite, on the other shore of the gulf, lies Porto Rotondo.

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The harbour basin is protected by a long main breakwater with three arms and a second, angled breakwater. The buildings on the quays are built of Sardinian granite in the style of the Gallura, the landscape in the northeast of the island. Since 2021 the concession has belonged to the marina group IGY Marinas and a Sardinian operator of boat fuel stations. Since then the marina has appeared as IGY Portisco Marina; it is the same facility.

Arriving at trip departure in Marina di Portisco

The journey is short, as Olbia airport and ferry port are not far away. The following sections accompany you from the terminal to the quay.

From Olbia airport to the marina

Olbia Costa Smeralda airport lies south of Olbia, about ten minutes from the town centre. Taxis wait outside the terminal, the hire car desks are right next door. By car to Marina di Portisco takes about 20 minutes. Give the driver the full name "Marina di Portisco", as there are several landing places in the Gulf of Cugnana.

Another airport in northern Sardinia is Alghero. From there the drive across the island is considerably longer; for a trip departure in Portisco, Olbia is the obvious choice.

By car, train or ferry

Ferries from the Italian mainland dock in Olbia at the terminal on Isola Bianca or at the smaller harbour of Golfo Aranci northeast of Olbia. From Olbia ferry port the drive to the marina is about as short as from the airport. This is convenient if you bring your own car over to the island.

On Sardinia, follow the coastal road between Golfo Aranci and Porto Cervo and follow the signs to Portisco. If you are already on the island, you can also come by rail: Italian railways offer combined train and bus tickets from all parts of Sardinia to Olbia Airport. For the final stretch to the marina, take a taxi or hire car.

Where in the marina is my boat?

If you are arriving as crew: the pontoon is stated in your trip documents. The marina office is staffed from October to April Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and at weekends and public holidays from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. In May and September the hours are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., from June to August 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (as of October 2026).

Parking

There is a paid car park at the marina. Those arriving without their own car who want to be mobile on site can hire cars, scooters and bicycles directly at the marina. The marina also provides vehicles for skippers and crews to run errands.

Laundry

There is a laundry at the marina.

Shopping for the trip

For your first shop you do not need to leave the marina: the supermarket is only a few steps from the berth. Next to it there is a delicatessen and a wine and spirits shop. All three will deliver to your boat on request. This is convenient if you do not want to carry drinks and heavy provisions across the pontoon.

Larger supermarkets are in Olbia. The Olbia Mare shopping centre with a large supermarket is in the Sa Marinedda district on state road 125, not far from the airport. Further supermarkets are in the town centre, for example on Corso Vittorio Veneto and on Via Barcellona. Anyone arriving by hire car from the airport is best off doing the big shop there and then driving on to the marina.

Doctor, pharmacy and emergency services

The nearest hospital with an emergency department (Pronto Soccorso) is the Giovanni Paolo II hospital in Olbia. In summer the Gallura health service usually opens walk-in clinics for holidaymakers in several coastal towns. There are several pharmacies in Olbia.

• 112: general emergency number, free from all networks
• 1530: Coastguard (Guardia Costiera) for emergencies at sea, free of charge
• At sea: VHF channel 16

What facilities does the Marina di Portisco offer?

Marina di Portisco has 589 berths for yachts up to 90 metres, free Wi-Fi, a fuel station and a boatyard. Restaurants, shops and a hotel are right at the harbour.

Feature	Details
Position	approx. 41° 02.0′ N, 009° 31.4′ E
Operator	IGY Marinas (IGY Portisco Marina)
Berths	589, of which 41 for superyachts
Maximum yacht length	90 m
Water depth at the quays	up to 10 m
Fuel station	Petrol and diesel
Safety	24-hour security service, video surveillance
Contact	Strada Panoramica Costa Smeralda, 07026 Olbia, telephone +39 0789 33520

The marina is once again carrying the Blue Flag in 2026, the environmental award for harbours and beaches. At the harbour you will find bars and restaurants, including a pizzeria, as well as an ice cream parlour, boutiques, a newsagent and tobacconist and a cash machine. Some restaurants also deliver food to boats. Berth enquiries go through the marina's website.

What's the weather like for sailing in Portisco?

The prevailing wind in northeast Sardinia is the Maestrale from the northwest, internationally also known as the Mistral. On strong days it blows at more than 30 knots and quickly builds up rough seas off the coast.

All year round the scirocco from the southeast also occurs on the northeast coast. In the marina you lie protected behind the breakwaters. Anyone heading to La Maddalena in the north in a maestrale will be beating against wind and waves.

If you are joining a trip as crew for the first time, expect the route to be determined by the wind rather than a fixed plan. In a strong maestrale the crew would rather stay a day in harbour or choose a short destination. An overview of the maestrale, scirocco and other winds is given in our article on most important winds in the Mediterranean.

Which destinations are near Portisco?

From Portisco you can reach the offshore islands, the bays of the Costa Smeralda and the La Maddalena archipelago in short passages. The distances are rounded over-water routes on the usual course; for exact planning use the chart.

Mortorio and Soffi

The small islands of Mortorio and Soffi lie off the coast northeast of the gulf, about 4 nautical miles away. They have bays and natural rock pools and make an obvious destination for the first day. At Mortorio, unknown persons occasionally demand money for an alleged parking ticket. This is fraud; report it to the Coastguard on 1530. Anchor on sand where possible, not on seagrass meadows (Posidonia).

Costa Smeralda and Porto Cervo

To the north follow the bays of the Costa Smeralda with beaches such as Liscia Ruja and Cala di Volpe. Porto Cervo lies about 9 nautical miles away. Porto Rotondo lies opposite on the eastern shore of the gulf and is quickly reached by boat.

La Maddalena

The first islands of the La Maddalena archipelago are around 12 nautical miles away, the main town of La Maddalena around 16. The archipelago is a national park. Anyone who does not live on La Maddalena needs prior paid permission from the park authority to sail, anchor and moor in the park (as of October 2026). If it is only issued during an inspection at sea, it costs 40 per cent more. Some particularly protected bays may only be visited with an environmental guide. The park's regulations are subject to change. Binding information is available from the park authority; an overview is provided by the park portal for La Maddalena National Park.

Southbound: Golfo Aranci, Tavolara and Olbia

Southbound the course leads round Capo Figari. Golfo Aranci lies about 11 nautical miles away, the island of Tavolara about 15 and Marina di Olbia about 17. Tavolara belongs to the Tavolara–Punta Coda Cavallo Marine Protected Area, in whose core zones you may neither navigate nor anchor. How to arrive in Olbia, shop and where the berths are can be read in our profile of Marinas in Olbia.

What can you do on a harbour day in Portisco?

Portisco itself is small; the beach and restaurants are right at the marina. For a day off, the beach, the village of San Pantaleo in the granite mountains and Porto Rotondo opposite are good options. The distances are as the crow flies from the marina.

Beach and islet of Portisco

Between the harbour and Portisco's small granite islet lies a strip of fine white sand with shallow water and a few rocks. The islet sits at the end of a half-submerged rocky tongue and is covered with maquis. You can snorkel well among the rocks.

Rena Bianca beach

Rena Bianca beach lies a good kilometre from Portisco. It's long, with fine white sand, and is framed by rocks and maquis. There's a sunbed hire service and restaurants.

San Pantaleo

San Pantaleo lies about 5 kilometres west in the granite mountains above the gulf; by car or taxi you're there quickly. The village grew up at the end of the 19th century around a small country church and is known for its artists. In spring and summer a well-known market is held on Thursdays. Scenes for the 1977 James Bond film "The Spy Who Loved Me" were shot in the church square. Walking trails lead through rocks and cork oak forests.

Porto Rotondo open-air theatre

Porto Rotondo lies less than two kilometres away on the other shore of the gulf, but by road you drive round the gulf. The open-air theatre there opened in 1995; the idea came from the sculptor Mario Ceroli. The semicircular tiers of seats in rough-hewn granite offer 700 places, and arches and obelisks of granite frame the stage.

For skippers: Berthing and sea weather at Marina di Portisco

At Marina di Portisco you call ahead by telephone before entering and berth at the place assigned to you by the staff. Marineros assist with berthing.

Registration and Berthing

Registration is through the marina's telephone number, +39 0789 33520. Channel 16 is the distress and calling channel monitored by the coastguard.

The berths are on floating pontoons. Before entering, have bow and stern lines ready, fenders on both sides and a boat hook to hand. After making fast, report to the marina office with boat papers and identity documents.

Approach in the Gulf of Cugnana

The Gulf of Cugnana is a long, narrow bay; the marina lies on its western shore. Winds in the gulf are funnelled along the coast, so it can turn gusty in the entrance even on a calm day.

Expect plenty of small boat traffic in summer. Boats and pedalos are hired out on the beach next to the marina; dinghies, inflatable boats and jet skis are hired from the marina itself. Therefore drive slowly near the beach and the entrance and keep a lookout for swimmers and snorkellers.

Fuel station and boatyard

At the marina's fuel station you can get petrol and diesel. For work on boats there is a travel lift, a self-propelled boat transporter, a slipway and businesses for technical services and refit. Waste oil and old batteries are handed in at the marina's collection points.

Which marine weather forecast applies in Portisco?

For Italian waters, the weather service of the Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare) issues the official marine weather forecast. It is updated every six hours and includes gale warnings; the coastguard broadcasts it by radio.

Sea state charts and gale warnings can also be found on the marine weather page of the weather service. Anyone with a NAVTEX receiver on board can pick up the nearby La Maddalena station. It transmits weather reports in English (call sign R, 518 kHz) at 06:50 and 18:50 UTC and in Italian (call sign I, 490 kHz) at 09:20 and 21:20 UTC, which in summer is two hours later local time. It's worth checking the warnings before a longer passage north, even if conditions look calm in the gulf.

Sailing trips from Portisco on Törnfinder

Current trips from Portisco can be found on Törnfinder under trip overview. Trips around the island can be found under cabin charter in Sardinia, offers throughout the country under Sailing in Italy.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get from Olbia Airport to Marina di Portisco?

By taxi or hire car in about 20 minutes. Both are available directly at the terminal. From Olbia ferry port the journey is similarly short.

Can I park at Marina di Portisco?

Yes, there is a pay car park at the marina.

Is there a supermarket at Marina di Portisco?

Yes, right on the pontoon. It also delivers to your boat. You'll find larger supermarkets in Olbia.

What is Marina di Portisco called today?

Since 2021 the marina has been known as IGY Portisco Marina. This refers to the same facility on the western shore of the Gulf of Cugnana, operated by the marina group IGY Marinas.

How far is it from Portisco to La Maddalena?

The first islands of the archipelago lie around 12 nautical miles away across the water, the main town of La Maddalena around 16. If you don't live on La Maddalena, you need a paid permit from the park authority before entering the national park.