Olbia is a city in northeastern Sardinia, just off the southwestern coast of Italy. This beautiful and scenic region of the island of Sardinia is a popular destination for European holidaymakers, and indeed, holidaymakers from around the globe. Its quaint streets and long, winding roads make it perfect to explore by car.
Here at Holiday Cars, we will provide you with some of the best tips and advice on driving in Olbia and its surrounding areas. From parking to road-tripping, we’ve got you covered.
How to Plan Your Route and Avoid Traffic in Olbia
Driving Rules and Regulations in Italy
Before stepping into your hire car and setting off to explore Olbia by road, there are a few rules and regulations which should be taken into account first:
General Rules and Regulations
- Like with most European countries, cars drive on the right-hand side of the road and overtake on the left. This is the opposite side of the road to the UK.
- For a road accident or emergency, call 118 for the ambulance service. For the police, call 113. If you need to call the Fire Department, call 115.
- The blood alcohol limit in Olbia is the same as the rest of Italy – 0.5g/L. However, for drivers under 21 years of age, or those who have held their driving licences for less than 3 years, there is a zero-tolerance policy for blood alcohol levels.
- It is a legal requirement to wear a seatbelt at all times when driving in Olbia – this applies to drivers and passengers. If you are caught not wearing one, you can be fined anywhere from €80 to €323.
- Children under 12 years old are not allowed in the front seat and must sit in the back.
- It is customary for drivers to be given a car with a full tank of fuel in Olbia, and indeed in Italy. It is therefore expected to return the car with a full tank of fuel, too – so make sure to budget for this.
Speed Limits in Italy
The speed limits in Italy are very similar to the speed limits in many other European countries. If you are visiting Olbia from a country such as the UK or the USA, it is important to remember that the speed limit signs are in kilometres per hour, not miles per hour. Here is a handy conversion guide to the most common speed limits in Italy and Olbia:
- Residential and urban areas: 50km/h (30mph)
- Built-up areas: 50 – 70km/h (30 – 45mph)
- Outside built-up areas: 90 – 110km/h (55 – 70mph)
- Motorways: 130km/h (80mph)
How to Navigate Toll Roads in Italy
Unlike the mainland, there are no toll roads in Sardinia, meaning that you can drive for free across the island. However, there are a few rules to bear in mind should you be planning on driving on mainland Italy either before or after your visit to Olbia.
The majority of motorways on the Italian mainland are toll roads. The prices can vary, and are usually dependent on the type of car that you drive – smaller cars will generally be cheaper than larger cars. As an average, it will usually cost an average family-sized car about €9 per 100km of motorway that they travel on.
Most of the toll booths are operated manually in Italy, so be prepared to pay in cash. However, some accept card payments, and some even accept contactless mobile payments from apps such as Apple Pay or Revolut.
Tips for Driving in Olbia
Navigation: Olbia is a popular destination in Sardinia, so can be difficult to navigate through its bustling streets and traffic. Using a system such as Apple Maps or Google Maps can help to give real-time updates while also planning the best journey and route for you.
Rush Hours: If you can avoid the main rush hours in and around Olbia, your driving experience will be much better. Staying off the roads between 07:00–09:00 and 16:00–18:30 makes for a much smoother driving experience.
Alcohol Driving Limit: The tolerance for drivers under 21 or those who have held their driving licence for less than three years is absolutely zero. Even those over 21 or drivers who have had their licences for more than three years must be under 0.05% blood alcohol level. The safest and most sensible thing to do is avoid alcohol altogether if you are planning on driving.
Vehicle Type: Personal preference and necessity play a huge part in which vehicle type you can opt for. However, larger vehicles such as Jeeps and people carriers may find it more difficult when driving through Olbia, as the roads can be very narrow. On the other hand, a smaller family-friendly car might be the better option, as they are just as reliable when it comes to city centre driving as they are when it comes to motorway driving.
Parking Options and Tips in Olbia
Parking in Italy
In Italy, parking is kept simple by an easy-to-remember colour scheme. Here are the different colours and what they mean – the same applies in Olbia (and Sardinia) as on the mainland:
- White spaces: it is free to park in a white space. These are typically found at supermarkets.
- Yellow spaces: For those with a disabled parking permit only.
- Blue spaces: Blue means these spaces must be paid for. Usually, this is via a nearby parking meter.
- Pink spaces: Pink spaces are reserved for pregnant women or parents travelling with children under 3 years old.
Parking in Olbia
Because Olbia’s roads can get quite busy, it is best to drive around using a navigation tool such as Google Maps. As for parking options, most of the parking in the city is free, however, keep an eye out for any blue spaces which mean that you have to pay to park there.
Car Hire Services and Prices in Olbia
There are several car hire services in and around Olbia – including companies such as Avis, Budget, Europcar and Keddy – all of whom offer several different makes and models of car for hire. At the cheaper end of the spectrum, prices start from £18.33 per day for a car such as the Fiat 500, and for something larger like a Volkswagen T-Roc, you can be looking at hire prices from £48.22 per day.
Olbia Airport and Car Hire Facilities
Olbia Airport is only 3.6km from the city centre, and be reached in less than 10 minutes by car. Picking up your car from Olbia Airport makes sense as that is where most of the suppliers are based, and it gives you the flexibility to go out and explore what Olbia, and indeed the rest of Sardinia, has to offer. By booking through a reliable comparison site like HolidayCars.com, you can be assured that you are getting the very best deals available to you.