Olbia for sailors: Marina di Olbia and the berths in the harbour

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In Olbia, the airport, ferry port and marina are only a few minutes apart, a practical starting point for trips in northeast Sardinia. The city's large yacht harbour is Marina di Olbia in the Sa Marinedda district, plus the new megayacht berth at Molo Brin and the pontoons at the Old Harbour. Here you'll find out where the marinas in Olbia are, how you berth, what applies in the Gulf of Olbia and which trip destinations are on the doorstep.

Which marinas are there in Olbia?

Marina di Olbia is the city's largest yacht harbour, catering for yachts of all sizes. There is also a megayacht berth at Molo Brin in the Old Harbour and the pontoons of a sailing club.

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All three are in the harbour of Olbia, but not in the same place. Marina di Olbia is on the southern shore, a good two and a half kilometres as the crow flies from the town centre. Molo Brin and the club pontoons are in the Old Harbour right by the centre. If you arrive by taxi, give the full name of the marina, not just "Port of Olbia". Otherwise you might end up at the ferry terminal on Isola Bianca.

Feature	Marina di Olbia	Molo Brin	Old Harbour
Location	Southern shore of the harbour, Sa Marinedda district	Southern side of the Old Harbour, right by the centre	Southern side of the Old Harbour on Viale Isola Bianca, near the island of Peddone with the Archaeological Museum
For whom	Yachts of all sizes up to 150 m	megayachts only, 40 m and above	Pontoons of Circolo Nautico Olbia
Operator	D-Marin (Marina di Olbia Yacht Services)	D-Marin	Circolo Nautico Olbia
VHF channel	9	enquire locally	enquire locally
Visitor berths	on request	for yachts based there only	on enquiry to the club

The Old Harbour in the centre

The Old Harbour is Olbia's historic harbour; it borders directly onto the waterfront promenade and the old town. On its southern side lies Molo Brin, the tip of which faces Tavolara. Since 2025 Molo Brin has been developed as a berth exclusively for megayachts of 40 metres and above; it is not intended for cruising yachts.

Part of Molo Brin is used by the sailing club Circolo Nautico Olbia. Its site includes floating pontoons, quay walls and water areas for club members and leisure boats; the concession runs until the end of 2036. The pontoons are on Viale Isola Bianca, near the Archaeological Museum on the island of Peddone. From there you are a few minutes' walk to the promenade and Corso Umberto I. Whether a visitor berth is available and which boat length fits is best checked in advance directly with the club.

The remaining quays in the Old Harbour, Molo Vecchio and Molo Bosazza, were used by leisure boats during the season for around 20 years. As a rule, mooring there is now prohibited; only during maestrale conditions has the harbour office recently assigned berths temporarily. The harbour authority has amended the harbour plan so that in future a harbour for smaller leisure boats can be developed along these approximately 650 metres of quay. Until then, you only berth there with explicit assignment.

Where is Marina di Olbia?

Marina di Olbia is on the southern shore of the harbour, in the Sa Marinedda district on Via Piovene. The airport, town centre and ferry terminal are each only a few minutes away by car.

Until recently the marina was managed by the company Marina di Olbia Yacht Services. In spring 2026 the marina chain D-Marin took it over, together with Molo Brin. Digitally networked service pedestals stand at the berths; the marina is guarded and video-monitored around the clock.

Marina di Olbia	Details
Position	ca. 40° 54.98′ N, 009° 31.53′ E
Operator	D-Marin, Marina di Olbia Yacht Services
Berths	more than 200, for yachts up to 150 m
Maximum draught	5,2 m
VHF channel	9
Fuel station	fuel berth around 200 m long, for up to seven yachts simultaneously
Safety	24-hour security service, video surveillance
Address	Via Piovene 8, Loc. Sa Marinedda, 07026 Olbia

You enquire about berths via the marina's website is suitable.

Facilities at Marina di Olbia

The most striking feature is the long fuel berth: at around 200 metres it is one of the largest on Sardinia's north coast, and up to seven yachts can refuel simultaneously. Before a trip towards the Costa Smeralda or La Maddalena, this saves you the detour to another fuel station.

For technical work and repairs, several boatyards are nearby, and through the marina you have access to a network of more than 50 service partners for owners and crews. How sanitary facilities, Wi-Fi and laundry service are organised is best enquired about in advance from the marina.

How do you berth at Marina di Olbia?

You call ahead on VHF channel 9 before entering and moor at the berth assigned to you by the marina staff. Mooring is done with stern lines to the pontoon; at the bow you hold onto a buoy or at some berths with your own anchor.

Which method applies at your berth will be told to you by the staff on the radio. Before entering, prepare stern lines and fenders on both sides and have a boat hook ready to pick up the bow line. After mooring, you register at the marina office.

What applies when entering the port of Olbia?

The port of Olbia is a major ferry port, and you share the approach with ferries and cargo vessels. The harbour regulations therefore set out clear rules (as at: October 2026):

• Inside the actual harbour, i.e. west of the lighthouse on the Isola della Bocca, sailing is not permitted. Exceptions apply only for training and examination passages.
• In the buoyed approach channel, around 1.1 nautical miles long, the maximum speed is 8 knots; in the rest of the harbour the maximum is 4 knots.
• In the approach channel and in the turning basin off the Isola Bianca, stopping, anchoring, fishing and swimming are prohibited.
• The harbour authority control centre operates on VHF channel 11; listening watch and emergency calls are on channel 16.

In the Gulf of Olbia there are also mussel farms. In the outer gulf there are traffic routes for ferries and cargo vessels. Keep outside these as far as possible, staying close to the coast, and cross the traffic routes at right angles and briskly. In the approach channel you then proceed in the buoyed fairway, take down the mainsail in good time before the lighthouse and give way to outbound ferries.

Good to know for the first day at Marina di Olbia

You can do the main shop near the marina; restaurants and smaller shops are in the centre. Olbia itself has a hospital with an emergency department.

Shopping and provisions

In the same district as the marina, on the SS 125 state road at Sa Marinedda, close to the marina there is the Olbia Mare shopping centre, open all year, with a large supermarket. It is the nearest large supermarket to the marina; for the weekly shop with full bags a taxi is still worthwhile.

Other larger supermarkets are in the town, for example on Corso Vittorio Veneto in the centre and on Via Barcellona. By hire car or taxi you are there in a few minutes. If you come by hire car from the airport, you can do the shopping on the way. Whether a provisioning service delivers directly to the berth is something you enquire about in advance from the marina.

Parking and refuse

Whether and under what conditions you can park at the marina is something you clarify in advance with the marina office. You separate refuse into transparent bags according to paper, plastic, glass, general waste and organic waste; organic waste only in compostable bags. Black bags are not collected.

Doctor and pharmacy

Olbia has a hospital with an emergency department (Pronto Soccorso). In summer there is usually a duty surgery for holidaymakers in Olbia (Guardia medica turistica). Where it is currently located and when it opens will be told to you by the marina office. You will find pharmacies in the town centre.

Emergency numbers in Italy

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

How do you get to Olbia and the marina?

The quickest way is by air: Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport lies a few kilometres southeast of the centre, and you can reach the marina by taxi in just a few minutes. Those travelling by car take the ferry from the Italian mainland.

By air

Taxis wait outside the terminal at the airport, with car hire desks right next door. Town buses also run to the city centre. When taking a taxi to the marina, it's best to say "Marina di Olbia, Sa Marinedda" so the driver doesn't take you to the ferry port.

By ferry, train and car

Ferries from the Italian mainland berth at the terminal on Isola Bianca. From there it's about a five-minute walk to the seafront promenade and Corso Umberto I, the old town's shopping street. The marina is only a few minutes away from the ferry terminal by car, an advantage for anyone bringing their car to the island.

If you're already on Sardinia, you can reach Olbia by train. The Italian railway offers combined train and bus tickets to Olbia Airport from all parts of the island.

What's the weather like for sailing in Olbia?

The prevailing wind on Sardinia is the Maestrale from the northwest, better known to us as the Mistral. On strong days along the northeast coast it blows at more than 30 knots and quickly builds a rough sea.

The Scirocco from the southeast also blows along the northeast coast throughout the year. Plan longer passages, for instance towards La Maddalena, with an eye on the forecast and warnings. An overview of the Maestrale, Scirocco and other winds is given in our article on the most important winds in the Mediterranean.

Which marine weather forecast applies in Olbia?

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.

Anyone with a NAVTEX receiver on board can pick up the La Maddalena station. It transmits weather forecasts in English (identifier R, 518 kHz) at 06:50 and 18:50 UTC and in Italian (identifier I, 490 kHz) at 09:20 and 21:20 UTC — in summer, therefore, two hours later local time. Before a passage round Capo Figari in particular, it's worth checking the warnings, even if it looks calm in the gulf.

Where can you go from Olbia?

From Olbia, the marine protected area around Tavolara, the coast of Golfo Aranci and the Costa Smeralda all lie close together, so the first passage can be short. Distances are rounded nautical miles over water on the usual course; for precise planning, the chart applies.

Golfo Aranci and Tavolara

Golfo Aranci on the northern side of the outer gulf lies around 7 nautical miles away. To the south you can reach the island of Tavolara with its headland Spalmatore di Terra in around 8 nautical miles. Tavolara belongs to the Tavolara–Punta Coda Cavallo marine protected area. You may neither motor nor anchor in its core zones. In the remaining zones, when motoring within 300 metres of the coast you may do no more than 5 knots, and between 300 and 600 metres no more than 10 knots. Anchoring is permitted only on sand or gravel, never on seagrass meadows (Posidonia). For the buoy fields you need authorisation from the protected area management (as at October 2026).

Porto Rotondo and Costa Smeralda

Northward, the course leads out of the gulf round Capo Figari. Porto Rotondo lies around 16 nautical miles away, and Porto Cervo on the Costa Smeralda around 20 nautical miles.

La Maddalena

Further north still lies the La Maddalena archipelago, a national park. Anyone wishing to motor, anchor or moor to a buoy there with a boat not registered locally needs prior paid authorisation from the park management. Anyone caught without it pays 40 per cent more if checked at sea. Binding information is available from the park management; an overview is offered by the park portal for La Maddalena National Park.

What can you do ashore in Olbia?

Olbia is a harbour town with a long history, and most destinations for a day off lie at the Old Harbour and in the old town. As the crow flies it's a good two and a half kilometres from the centre, and you can be there by taxi in a few minutes.

• Archaeological Museum: It stands on the small island of Peddone at the Old Harbour, around 1.7 kilometres as the crow flies from the marina. The building recalls a moored ship. Excavations in the ancient harbour uncovered eleven wrecks of Roman merchant ships that burned around 450 during a Vandal raid. Two of them are on display on the ground floor, along with oar blades and two masts.
• Basilica of San Simplicio: The Romanesque granite church in the centre was built in several phases between the 11th and 13th centuries and was the area's first episcopal seat. On 15 May Olbia celebrates its patron saint here.
• Corso Umberto I: The old town's main street runs from the harbour into the centre, with shops, cafés and restaurants. For an evening before the trip starts, it's the obvious address.
• Sacred well of Sa Testa: On the northern edge of the city towards Pittulongu lies a Bronze Age sacred well, built in the 12th to 11th century BC. A staircase with 17 steps leads down into the domed well chamber. The site is freely accessible; on the town bus you take line 4 to the Pozzo Sacro stop.
• Beaches of Pittulongu: North of the town lie the beaches of Pittulongu, including La Playa, Squalo, Pellicano and Bados. For an afternoon's swimming, take a car or taxi.

Trips from Olbia on Törnfinder

From Olbia you can quickly reach the Costa Smeralda, La Maddalena or head for Corsica. Trips around the island can be found on Törnfinder under cabin charter in Sardinia, offers throughout the country under Sailing in Italy, and trips in the wider region under Cabin charter. If you're sailing with a crew for the first time, the page on

Frequently asked questions

Which marina in Olbia is the largest for sailing yachts?

Marina di Olbia in the Sa Marinedda district on the southern shore of the harbour. It accommodates yachts up to 150 metres. In the Old Harbour are the Molo Brin, reserved for megayachts from 40 metres upwards, and the pontoons of the sailing club Circolo Nautico Olbia.

What VHF channel does Marina di Olbia use?

Channel 9. The harbour authority control station operates on channel 11; listening watch and emergency calls are on channel 16.

Is sailing allowed in Olbia harbour?

No. West of the lighthouse on Isola della Bocca, sailing is prohibited. In the approach channel the limit is 8 knots; in the rest of the harbour it is 4 knots.

How far is Olbia airport from the marina?

Olbia Costa Smeralda airport lies a few kilometres southeast of the centre. From Marina di Olbia you can be there by taxi in a few minutes.

Do I need a permit for La Maddalena?

Yes. With a non-local boat you need a paid permit from the park administration before sailing, anchoring or mooring in the national park.