How to get to Sardinia: the complete guide
A comprehensive guide on routes and travel options
Sardinia, the second largest island in the Mediterranean, is a dream destination renowned for its turquoise waters, rugged coastline and deep-rooted traditions. Whether you're looking to spend lazy days under the sun on Sardinia’s finest beaches, wander through its historic towns, or set off on a Sardinian camper adventure, you will not be disappointed.
When planning your trip, check out our Sardinia travel guide that covers the basics, from must-visit beaches and sightseeing highlights to where to stay and local tips. The island is well-connected, with 7 ports linking it to the Italian mainland, Sicily, France, Corsica and Spain, as well as 3 international airports. You can learn more about the Sardinian ports and find the best route for your trip.
Next up, we cover in greater detail your options on how to get to Sardinia by ferry from:
From Northern Italy
Getting to Sardinia from northern Italian cities is fairly straightforward, with the ports of Genoa and Savona offering year-round and seasonal ferry connections to Porto Torres, Olbia and Golfo Aranci. The ferry companies that usually serve the connections from Genoa are Grandi Navi Veloci, Moby Lines, and Tirrenia, while Corsica Ferries handles the crossings from Savona.
How to get to Sardinia from Genoa
The Genoa-Porto Torres ferry is available daily and takes about 11 hr on average to reach Sardinia, while tickets cost from about €26. Alternatively, the ferry from Genoa to Olbia is a bit faster, taking roughly 10 hr and ticket prices start from €30. This ferry route though is less frequent, with 2 to 7 crossings per week, and usually runs from March to the end of the year.
For summer trips, you may also want to consider the Genoa-Golfo Aranci ferry, which is usually available in July and August. The journey between the two ports lasts about 10 hr, while ticket prices start at around €40.
Getting to Sardinia from Savona
For trips from the northern coast of Italy to Sardinia during the summer, you also have the option of traveling from Savona. You can hop on the ferry from Savona to Golfo Aranci which usually operates every week in June, with trips lasting about 11 hr and tickets starting from €17.
For a trip to Sardinia later in the year, the weekly Savona-Porto Torres ferry connection is available in September. The journey can take 17 hr and the cost of tickets starts at €28.
La Pelosa beach, one of the most beautiful in Sardinia, has an old tower
From Central Italy
The ports of Livorno, Piombino, and Civitavecchia in the central region of Italy offer more options to Sardinia. Specifically, Grimaldi Lines, Moby Lines and Corsica Lines operate ferry routes to Olbia, Golfo Aranci and Porto Torres in the north, Arbatax on the eastern coast, and Cagliari in the south. The routes from Livorno and Civitavecchia are generally available year-round, while the ferries from Piombiono are seasonal.
Traveling from Livorno to Sardinia
The ferry from Livorno to Olbia has daily departures and takes 9 to 10 hr to get there for €21. Alternatively, you can hop on the Livorno-Golfo Aranci ferry, which is less frequent with 3 days a week in the off-season, but increases to daily departures in the summer. Tickets generally start from €16.
Ferries to Sardinia from Piombino
During the summer, from June to September, you can usually catch a ferry to Sardinia from Piombino. Specifically, the Piombino-Golfo Aranci line operates up to 3 times a week, while the Piombino-Olbia ferry is available 5-7 times per week. The journey takes 5.5 to 6 hr and ticket prices start from €15 and €27 respectively.
Getting to Sardinian from Civitavecchia (Rome)
If you are leaving from the port of Civitavecchia, which is about 80 km northwest of Rome, you have even more travel options. The Civitavecchia-Olbia is available daily and takes 8 hr to reach Sardinia, with ticket prices starting from €31. The ferry from Civitavecchia to Porto Torres usually runs 1 to 5 times a week. The journey generally lasts about 9 hr and tickets cost from €26.
The Civitavecchia-Cagliari ferry route is active up to 3 times a week during the high season and takes 13 to 15 hr. Ferry ticket prices to the southern port in Sardinia start from around €43.
Finally, you can also hop on the ferry from Civitavecchia to Arbatax, which is usually available 2-3 times a week. You can expect the trip to last about 9 hr and ferry tickets cost from €30.
The city of Cagliari is the most important port on the southern shores of Sardinia
From Southern Italy and Sicily
You can travel to Sardinia from Southern Italy or Sicily, by catching a ferry from Naples or Palermo. The ferry routes to Cagliari, on the southern coast of Sardinia, are active throughout the year: the Naples (Calata Porta di Massa)-Cagliari runs 3-4 times a week and takes about 15 hr, while the Palermo-Cagliari ferry is usually available weekly and the journey lasts 12 hr. These ferries are operated by Grimaldi Lines, with ticket prices starting from about €30 and €40 respectively.
Additionally, from April to October, it is possible to travel from La Maddalena, a popular day-trip destination just off the coast of Sardinia, to Palau. This ferry trip lasts 20 minutes and tickets usually cost about €5. Maddalena Ferries serves this route with up to 21 crossings per day.
The island of La Maddalena is just off the northern shores of Sardinia
From France, Corsica and Spain
Sardinia is not only well-connected to Italy but also accessible by ferry from France, Corsica, and Spain. Whether you're traveling from mainland Europe or planning a multi-destination trip, there are several ferry routes available throughout the year. Below, you'll find details on the ferry connections to Sardinia from Nice, Toulon, Bonifcaio, Ajaccio, Porto Vecchio, L’Île Rousse, Bastia, and Barcelona.
How to travel to Sardinia from mainland France
From mainland France, your options are the ports of Nice and Toulon, with Corsica Lines serving the ferry routes. The Nice-Porto Torres ferry route is usually available seasonally, from April to September, with up to 4 crossings per week and an average duration of 9 hr. Ticket prices for this journey usually start from about €21.
Further south along the French Riviera, you can travel to Sardinia throughout the year by catching the ferry from Toulon to Porto Torres, which is available up to 2-3 times per week. Ticket prices start at €17 and the journey can take 10 to 16 hr, depending on the route and season.
The ferry from Toulon to Golfo Aranci is less frequent, with up to 2 crossings per week. The cost of tickets starts at €26 and the ferry line is usually available in the summer, from June to the end of September.
Golfo Aranci is one of the most popular ports in the north of Sardinia
Ferries to Sardinia from Corsica
If you are wondering whether to visit Corsica or Sardinia, why not experience both? Thanks to multiple ferry connections between the two islands that run throughout the year it is easier than ever. Ferries from Corsican ports to Sardinia are usually operated by Corsica Lines, Moby Lines and Ichnusa Lines.
The ferry from Bonifacio to Santa Teresa Gallura runs daily with up to 7 crossings per day during the high season. Ticket prices start at €17, with the journey lasting 50 min to 1 hr, depending on the ferry company.
The Ajaccio-Porto Torres ferry is usually available up to 2-3 times per week and takes 3 to 4 hr to reach Sardinia. Ferry tickets for this journey usually cost from around €22.
From Porto Vecchio, you can travel daily to Golfo Aranci throughout the year, while the ferry route to Porto Torres usually runs 1-3 times per week during the summer. The ferry trip lasts 4 to 5 hr, while ticket prices start from €17 and €20 respectively.
For trips to Sardinia during the summer, you can also hop on a ferry at L’Île Rousse for Porto Torres. Ferries usually depart once a week and take 6.5 hr to reach Sardinia, while ticket prices start from €21.
Finally, there is also a less frequent ferry line from Bastia to Golfo Aranci, with up to 4 crossings per week, from February to June. The journey takes 5 to 7.5 hr and the cost of tickets starts at around €20.
Sardinia is just a stone's throw away from Corsica
How to reach Sardinia from Spain
It is possible to travel to Sardinia from Spain throughout the year, thanks to the Barcelona-Porto Torres ferry line. Typically there are up to 5 crossings per week and journeys generally last 11 to 13 hr. Ticket prices start at around €30 and the ferries on this line are operated by Grimaldi Lines.
Can you fly to Sardinia?
Yes, Sardinia has 3 airports, in Cagliari, Olbia, and Alghero, which serve both domestic and international flights to the island. You can fly to Sardinian from many major Italian cities and European destinations, especially during the summer.
However, if you want to bring your car, motorcycle or camper van (or simply want to enjoy a more scenic and flexible journey), then traveling by ferry in Italy is your best option. Additionally, on ferries, you can generally bring more luggage than on airplanes.
If you are still unsure whether it is best to travel to Sardinia by ferry or plane, the more leisurely pace means you can start soaking in Sardinia’s beauty the moment you set sail!
Book ferry tickets to Sardinia
With Ferryhopper, you can find the best way to travel by ferry to Sardinia from the Italian mainland, Sicily, as well as ports in France, Corsica and Spain. On our search engine, you can check all ferry routes, schedules and companies. Compare prices and book ferry tickets to Sardinia online without hidden fees!
