Weekend in Olbia

Olbia's main pedestrian street, lined with shops, cafes, and granite-paved pavements. A lively stroll through the historic core ends at the waterfront.

Tip: Go in early evening when the street fills with locals doing the 'passeggiata'. Best light for photos is around 6pm in summer.

Central square with a fountain, shaded trees and a few benches. Overlooks the port. Local kids kick footballs around, old men play cards.

Tip: The gelato shop on the east side does a decent pistachio scoop for €2.50.

Olbia's main pedestrian street, lined with low-rise buildings, shops, and a few gelaterias. Not tourist-heavy – it's where locals do their shopping. Good for people-watching and a cheap gelato.

Tip: Visit on a Saturday morning when the market stalls set up near the street's mid-point. Prices for cloth and fruit are lower than at the tourist stands.

Central square near the port with a 1930s fountain, palm trees, and benches under shade. Surrounded by liberty-style buildings and gelaterie.

Tip: The best gelato is at Caffè Olbia just off the square – ask for 'pistacchio' or 'ricotta e pere'. Sit on the low wall by the fountain at sunset.

Working ferry port with views of the Gulf of Olbia. Watch ferries from mainland Italy and Sardinia dock and depart. Benches along the quay, a few cafes nearby, and clean public toilets.

Tip: Best at sunrise (around 6:30am in summer) when the light hits the water and the port is quiet. Bring coffee.

Central square featuring a sacred Nuragic well from the 9th century BC, visible through a glass cover in the pavement. Odd but fascinating mix of ancient and modern.

Tip: Look down near the fountain—the well is lit at night. Pair with a gelato from Gelateria Chiccheria across the square.

A 1930s church built over a medieval chapel, with a striking Art Deco facade and a dome decorated with Sardinian ceramic tiles. Inside, the simple whitewashed walls focus attention on the altar.

Tip: Check if the crypt is open—it contains ruins of the earlier 12th-century church. Best light for photos is late afternoon.

A granite church built between the 11th and 12th centuries, blending Romanesque and Pisan styles. Inside, rough stone walls and a simple altar; outside, a quiet square with views o

Tip: Go around 5pm on a weekday when the afternoon sun lights up the pink granite blocks. No queues.

A 12th-century granite Romanesque church, one of Sardinia's oldest. Quiet interior with rough stone arches and ancient fresco fragments.

Tip: Check the crypt door – often unlocked on weekday mornings. The carved stone faces on the outer east wall are easy to miss.

The old commercial pier and seafront promenade offering clear views of ferries, yachts, and the neighbouring hills.

Tip: Walk to the very end of Molo Brin at sunset – you get a clear sightline to Tavolara Island. No tourists bother.