- ~45 mindrive from Olbia to Palau
- 20–35 minboat time Palau → the islands
- ~1h 10mindirect Olbia charter crossing, one way
- 1 hourtypical Olbia-tour minibus transfer to Cannigione
- From $58tours departing Palau
What "Boat Trips from Olbia" Actually Means
Olbia Costa Smeralda is Sardinia's busiest gateway airport, so it's the natural place to start a search — but Olbia itself isn't close to the La Maddalena Archipelago. Most listings that say "La Maddalena tour from Olbia" are, in practice, a minibus transfer of about an hour to Cannigione port, followed by a boat departure from there — convenient if you have no car, but you're still travelling by road first, and you're paying for the transfer either way.
Genuine boat departures directly from Olbia Marina do exist, but the crossing itself takes around an hour and ten minutes each way, which eats deep into the time you'd otherwise spend swimming at Spargi, Budelli and Santa Maria. The honest, practical answer is simpler than any of that: drive about 45 minutes north to Palau — see our Palau ferry guide for the crossing itself — and board a full-day tour from there. Palau sits just 20–35 minutes by boat from the islands, so nearly all of your day is spent in the water rather than on the road or at sea getting there.
Olbia Departure Options, Compared
Extra travel time, swim time and price for each realistic way to reach the archipelago from an Olbia base.
| Option | Extra travel | Typical price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drive to Palau, book direct | ~45 min each way by car | From $58 per person | Most travellers — best swim-time ratio |
| "Olbia" tour (minibus to Cannigione) | ~1 hour minibus transfer | ~$130+ per person | No car, want door-to-door pickup |
| Direct private charter from Olbia Marina | ~1h 10min boat crossing each way | ~$2,000+ per boat (up to 12) | Large groups wanting true door-to-door by sea |
| Golfo Aranci catamaran trip | Similar to Olbia, not meaningfully closer | Varies by operator | Travellers already based in Golfo Aranci |
Short version: unless a private charter or zero driving is non-negotiable, driving yourself to Palau gets you more islands, more swimming and a lower price than any tour marketed as leaving "from Olbia."
Other Experiences You Might Enjoy
Palau rewards the short detour with a lot more than one boat day.
Once you're in Palau, most travellers build the day around a full-day La Maddalena Archipelago boat tour — swimming at the Budelli natural pools, sunbathing at Santa Maria, snorkelling at Spargi's Cala Corsara and viewing the Pink Beach from the water. A small-group RIB or the Cannigione dinghy tour is the most flexible way to also reach Razzoli and the Porto della Madonna natural pools, while catamaran and sailing tours add a Sardinian lunch on board.
If your trip allows more than one day, cross to La Maddalena town and Caprera — Garibaldi's island — on foot or by scooter, and check our season guide to time your visit for warm water and thinner crowds.
Getting from Olbia to Palau
The drive is short and scenic — here's how to make it, with or without a car.
By rental car (recommended)
About 40 km via the SS125 through Arzachena, taking 40–45 minutes in normal traffic. Book your car at Olbia airport well ahead for July and August, when demand and prices both spike.
By bus
ARST line 601 connects Olbia, the airport, Arzachena and Palau a few times a day (roughly 57 minutes from Olbia centre). It's workable for a relaxed day but not ideal for catching an early tour departure — check current timetables before relying on it.
From the Costa Smeralda
Cannigione and Arzachena sit 30–40 minutes from Palau; Porto Cervo about 35 minutes. If you're based there, the drive to Palau is barely longer than the minibus transfer most "Olbia" tours already use.
Once you're in Palau
Park near the marina and board your boat tour directly — no need to cross to La Maddalena island first. See our Palau ferry guide if you do want to visit La Maddalena town itself.
The Boat Tour We Recommend from an Olbia Base
One best-seller from Palau, plus a Cannigione option for anyone who'd rather not drive that far north.
The Tour We Recommend from Olbia
The most-reviewed La Maddalena tour on the platform, departing Palau — from $58, with free cancellation and far more swim time than any tour marketed as leaving directly from Olbia.
From Sardinia: La Maddalena Archipelago Full-Day Boat Tour
Why we recommend it: 4.6 stars across 5,100+ reviews, departing from Palau — a 45-minute drive from Olbia that still leaves you a full day of swimming, versus over two hours of round-trip transit on a direct Olbia charter.
Drive to Palau, board mid-morning, and cruise to Budelli's natural pools, a Pink Beach viewing, a swim at Santa Maria and snorkelling at Spargi's Cala Granara, with free time in La Maddalena town before heading back.
- Departs Palau, 45 minutes from Olbia
- Swim & snorkel stops at three islands
- Pink Beach viewed from the water
- Multilingual guide commentary on board
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead
National Park landing fee (€2.50–€5, cash) paid at check-in. Check live dates and book below.
La Maddalena: Caprera, Spargi, Budelli & Santa Maria Boat Tour
Departs Cannigione — closer to Olbia and the Costa Smeralda than Palau — on a small-group dinghy that reaches coves larger boats can't, including a stop at Caprera's wild Cala Brigantino.
Real Alternatives Nearer Olbia
Not the La Maddalena Archipelago, but genuinely good days out if the drive to Palau isn't for you. These aren't tours we offer, so we're not linking to bookings for them.
Tavolara Island
A dramatic limestone massif rising 565 metres, nicknamed "the world's smallest kingdom." The surrounding marine protected area is genuinely excellent for snorkelling and diving, with consistently strong reviews for operators running half- and full-day trips.
Dolphin & coastal trips
Shorter dolphin-watching and snorkelling excursions in the Tavolara marine reserve, running from Marina di Olbia and Golfo Aranci. A gentler, shorter day than the archipelago — pleasant, but a different kind of experience.
Boat Trips from Olbia: Frequently Asked Questions
Direct departures, the Palau drive, and what's actually nearby — answered honestly.
Are there boat trips that leave directly from Olbia?
Genuine departures exist but are rare and expensive — a private charter from Olbia Marina takes around 1 hour 10 minutes each way to reach the archipelago, eating deep into swimming time, and can cost roughly $2,000 or more for a private boat. Most tours marketed as leaving from Olbia are actually a minibus transfer of about an hour to Cannigione, followed by a boat departure from there.
Is it better to drive to Palau than book an Olbia tour?
Yes, for almost everyone. Palau is about 45 minutes from Olbia by car and sits 20–35 minutes by boat from the islands, so you spend the day swimming rather than travelling. Many "Olbia" tours already involve an hour of road transfer to Cannigione, so driving yourself to Palau instead adds little extra time while giving you more control over the day.
What if I don't have a car in Olbia?
The ARST bus line 601 connects Olbia and the airport to Palau, though it's infrequent and not ideal for catching an early tour departure — budget extra time and check current timetables. A minibus-transfer tour that collects you in Olbia is the practical no-car option, though it takes longer than driving yourself and gives you less say over the schedule.
Are there good boat trips nearer to Olbia if I don't want to travel to Palau?
Tavolara Island, reached from Porto San Paolo about 15–20 km south of Olbia, is a genuinely good alternative — a dramatic limestone island with a marine protected area, strong for snorkelling. Golfo Aranci also runs shorter dolphin-watching and coastal trips. Neither matches the scale or variety of the La Maddalena Archipelago, but both are legitimate, closer options if that's your priority.
How long does it take to get from Olbia to Palau?
About 40–45 minutes by car via the SS125 through Arzachena, or around 57 minutes direct by ARST bus line 601 from Olbia city centre. From Olbia Airport, allow closer to 45–50 minutes by car. See our Palau ferry guide for what happens once you arrive.