Where To Get The Ferry To Sardinia: 6 Best Harbors + Routes

Do you want to take the ferry to Sardinia? This post is for you! I live in Sardinia, but I travel all the time to and from the island so I have explored every means of transportation to get here.

Getting to Sardinia by ferry is one of the two ways to reach the island and the only viable option if you are traveling with your own vehicle (car or motorbike).

There are several ferries to Sardinia every day and, despite them being less frequent during the winter, it’s always possible to travel to Sardinia by ferry, no matter the season.

In this post, I will share all there is to know about traveling to Sardinia by ferry – with tips on the best routes. But first of all, let me tell you why you should consider doing it!

Why Should You Take The Ferry To Sardinia?

Truth be told, I usually recommend flying to Sardinia and then renting a car when you are on the island. It’s easier, and definitely quicker. Yet, some travelers find taking a car ferry to Sardinia to be a better option.

Traveling by ferry is usually the most common option for families with small children (it’s easier to just pack everything in the car rather than fit a stroller, toys and anything the child may need and take it on the plane), and is also very appreciated by people who are afraid to fly or can’t take a plane for whatever reason.

The main downside of taking a car ferry to Sardinia is that it can be very expensive – and you will have to book months ahead of your trip to find a spot at a reasonable price, especially if traveling in the summer.

All ferries have cabins – the most comfortable option if you’re taking the overnight ferry to Sardinia – and comfortable chairs for passengers. Moreover, there are a lot of common spaces such as restaurants, playgrounds for the kids and so on.

How Long Is The Ferry To Sardinia?

One common question I get is “how long is the ferry to Sardinia?”

There is no straightforward answer – it depends on the route and on the kind of trip you choose.

You will have a choice of both a day ferry and an overnight ferry to Sardinia.

The day one is generally the fastest ferry to Sardinia from mainland Italy (you are looking at a 5.5 to 6.5-hour trip), as they are usually on fast ferries. The fastest ferry to Sardinia is the one that travels from Piombino, a small town in Tuscany, to Olbia.

The overnight ferry to Sardinia takes between 8.5 and 12 hours depending on your departure city and on the sea conditions, but you will have a chance to overnight in a cabin. This is also the cheapest ferry to Sardinia, usually.

If you find that getting a car ferry to Sardinia from Italy (or elsewhere in Europe) truly is your best option, continue reading for the best routes.

Getting The Ferry To Sardinia: Best Routes

There are several companies that operate the ferry to Sardinia – Tirrenia, Grandi Navi Veloci, Moby, Grimaldi Lines, Corsica Ferries, among others.

The island has six harbors directly linked to a dozen cities, both Italian and European. For example, you can take a ferry to Sardinia from Rome. There’s a ferry to Sardinia from Naples. There even is a ferry to Sardinia from France and a ferry to Sardinia from Barcelona.

Not all of them dock in the same places.

Here’s a list of the main Sardinian harbors and the cities that the ferries to Sardinia travel to and from.

Cagliari

Cagliari harbor is located inside the city and is only 200 meters (0.1 miles) away from the bus and train station, making your trip to Sardinia very easy from the beginning.

Docking in Cagliari means you’ll get to see a beautiful city (I am probably biased because this is where I am from) and enjoy the pretty views of the area as soon as you arrive, or as soon as you depart.

Whether you are going to stay in one of the many resorts, visit somewhere in the hinterland, or drive to another location, Cagliari is an excellent starting point.

You can travel to Cagliari by ferry from Civitavecchia (outside of Rome) every day. There are also ferries from Palermo (once a week) and Naples (three times per week). No ferries from outside Italy travel to Cagliari.

I recommend using Direct Ferries for information on ferry tickets and routes to Cagliari – this is one of the most powerful engines that helps you by pulling out the best deals on ferries around Europe.

Olbia

Olbia is the busiest harbor in Sardinia and the classic gateway to Porto Cervo. The ferry area in Olbia is located in the Isola Bianca docking terminal, and the harbor itself is just a short drive from the city center.

Most of the people coming to Olbia just pass by the city and drive straight to their final holiday destination.

While Olbia historic center is small, if you have an extra day on the island during your trip and your ferry is departing from there, take the opportunity to explore a bit. The city is well-served by public transportation, there are some lovely churches and nice restaurants too.

You can take a ferry to Olbia from Civitavecchia (near Rome), Genoa and Livorno (there are several daily departures), as well as Piombino – each of them is located in mainland Italy.

The ferry from Piombino to Olbia runs once a week and it’ the fastest ferry to Sardinia – it only takes 5.5 hours to travel to the island. Departure is in the afternoon, so you have plenty of time to make your way to Piombino (on the coast of Tuscany) from other places in central and northern Italy.

There are no ferries to Olbia from outside of Italy.

I recommend using Direct Ferries for information on ferry tickets and routes to Olbia.

Golfo Aranci

Golfo Aranci is located in the northeastern coast of Sardinia, just 20 km (12.4 miles) from Olbia. It is mostly known for the many beauties of its territory. There are many beautiful beaches here – my personal favorite is Cala Moresca.

Did you know that the beaches of Golfo Aranci were the one of the filming locations of the Little Mermaid?

The harbor of Golfo Aranci is actually one of the busiest on the island! Golfo Aranci is the other gateway to the beautiful Gallura Region and a great option for many tourists, since it serves the purpose of lessening the tourist flow towards the bigger city nearby.

Golfo Aranci town center is only 1 km (0.6 miles) from the docking area and the beautiful beaches and tourist attractions are just a few minutes’ drive from there.

You can travel to Golfo Aranci from Livorno (there are daily departures) and Genoa in Italy.

There sometimes are also ferries from Bastia (Corsica, France); Nice and Toulon (France) – though these are not regular services so you should check carefully before planning.

I recommend using Direct Ferries for information on ferry tickets and routes to Golfo Aranci.

Santa Teresa Di Gallura

Santa Teresa di Gallura is a pretty famous tourist destination, with stunning beaches and numerous attractions, that will leave every visitor satisfied with their stay. I go there often, and love the choice of long sandy beaches and small coves that provide the perfect snorkeling experience.

Not many, however, know that this small town on the Northern Coast of Sardinia, only a short distance from other excellent places like Palau and not far from La Maddalena Archipelago, is also the location of a small harbor.

This is where the Corsica ferry to Sardinia arrives. The majority of people arriving and departing from Santa Teresa di Gallura come from or go to Corsica. The only route available here is the one to and from Bonifacio, on the southern tip of Corsica, west of La Maddalena Archipelago.

I recommend using Direct Ferries for information on ferry tickets and routes from Corsica to Santa Teresa di Gallura.

My posts How To Get From Corsica To Sardinia and How To Get From Sardinia To Corsica provide more insights on how to travel between the two islands.

Porto Torres

Porto Torres harbor was built by the Romans and has never ceased its activity. The city itself is nothing special, though there is a beautiful Roman bridge you can check out and the lovely Balai Beach which is perfect to spend a few hours relaxing in the sun and swimming.

If you happen to be docking here, be sure to check them out before reaching your final holiday destination!

The harbor is just a short drive from the city center and the beach is nearby too.

Porto Torres is an excellent harbor if you are planning to stay in northern Sardinia: you will dock in a favorable spot to Sassari, the second biggest city in Sardinia.

Porto Torres is also the best harbor if you wish to travel to Asinara Island – there’s a direct ferry from Porto Torres to Asinara, but you can’t take your car to the island. And it’s close to Stintino, home to uber-famous La Pelosa Beach, and Alghero, the Catalan city of Sardinia.

You can take a ferry to Porto Torres from many destinations in Italy and elsewhere in Europe – this is probably the best place to travel to by ferry thanks to its many connections.

There are three weekly ferries from Civitavecchia; and two daily ferries from Genoa.

Porto Torres is connected by ferry to Barcelona (Spain) with three ferries every week.

There is a weekly ferry from Porto Vecchio, and two weekly ferries from Ajaccio – both cities are in Corsica (France).

Porto Torres is also connected to mainland France. You will also find a weekly ferry from Nice, and two ferries per week from Toulon.

I recommend using Direct Ferries for information on ferry tickets and routes to Porto Torres.

Arbatax

Arbatax is a marine hamlet of Tortolì, which has become one of Ogliastra’s most important towns thanks to its – mainly commercial – harbor.

Famous for the gorgeous beaches (especially Porto Frailis) and its Rocce Rosse (Red Rocks, also celebrated in a fun music festival), Arbatax’ economy revolves around fishing and the cargos docking and leaving the harbor.

There are also boat trips to the Gulf of Orosei that depart from Arbatax harbor, so a ferry to this town is a good option if you want to explore Ogliastra and the beautiful beaches of this part of Sardinia.

You will only find ferries to Arbatax from Civitavecchia, the harbor near Rome.

I recommend using Direct Ferries for information on ferry tickets and routes to Arbatax.

Further Readings

For more information on how to get to Sardinia and how to move around the island, you may want to read these posts:

• How To Get To Sardinia
• Which Is The Airport For Sardinia?
• The Best Options For Flights From London To Sardinia
• How To Travel By Public Transport In Sardinia
• A Guide To Renting A Car In Sardinia
• How To Get From Rome To Sardinia
• The Best Amsterdam To Sardinia Flights
• The Best Paris To Sardinia Flights
• How To Get From Naples To Sardinia
• How To Get From Barcelona To Sardinia
• How To Get From Sicily To Sardinia
• How To Get From Florence To Sardinia

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