Stays · Destination Guide
Two protected archipelagos, one granite-and-gorgonian diving road trip
Accommodation listings are not available for this destination yet. Use the local planning notes to choose your base.
Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport is the primary gateway. It sits close to Olbia, the road toward Porto San Paolo and San Teodoro, and the northbound route to Palau. Most international service is European and seasonal, so winter itineraries often connect through an Italian hub. Alghero is a workable secondary airport but adds a long cross-island drive.
Travelers bringing a car can also use overnight or daytime ferries from mainland Italy to Olbia or Golfo Aranci, then continue by road. For La Maddalena, reach Palau and take the frequent passenger and vehicle ferry. For Tavolara, drive to Porto San Paolo and use a seasonal passenger boat for a beach visit; dive boats depart under separate operator arrangements.
A split stay is recommended. Allocate the first block to Palau or La Maddalena and the second to Porto San Paolo, San Teodoro, or Olbia. Do not plan a tight same-day connection between a morning dive boat, the La Maddalena ferry, and a departing flight.
A rental car is the most resilient choice for a split trip. It links Olbia Airport, Palau, Porto San Paolo, San Teodoro, archaeology sites, and weather-cancellation alternatives.