Olbia is unusual among Italian airports: the transfer is the expected, default option for most passengers. The Costa Smeralda's resort-focused clientele largely travels with pre-booked drivers. Here is how the two options compare.
Olbia taxis
The taxi rank is outside arrivals, clearly signed. Within Olbia city the meter runs on the comune's tariff. For destinations beyond the city — Porto Cervo, Porto Rotondo, Arzachena, Palau — taxi pricing is unregulated. Drivers quote freely.
This is not necessarily a problem. Competition keeps prices honest in high season and rates are generally in line with transfer pricing. However, the lack of regulation means two drivers can quote very different numbers for the same Porto Cervo journey. There is no mechanism to insist on a lower fixed fare as there is in Rome or Naples.
For short-stay or budget travellers going to Olbia itself, the taxi is perfectly fine. For longer Costa Smeralda distances, the absence of regulated pricing introduces uncertainty.
Pre-booked transfers
The dominant choice for Costa Smeralda guests. Prices are fixed at booking: EUR 25-40 to Porto Cervo, EUR 20-30 to Porto Rotondo, EUR 40-55 to Palau. The driver meets you in arrivals with a name sign. Many luxury hotels in the area actively recommend this approach to guests.
Price comparison
| Destination | Taxi | Pre-booked transfer |
|---|---|---|
| Olbia centre | metered on the comune tariff | EUR 15-25 |
| Porto Rotondo | quoted by the driver | EUR 20-30 |
| Arzachena | quoted by the driver | EUR 25-35 |
| Porto Cervo | quoted by the driver | EUR 25-40 |
| Baia Sardinia | quoted by the driver | EUR 30-45 |
| Palau | quoted by the driver | EUR 40-55 |
Fixed-price private transfer
OLB Olbia City Center
From€114for 2 passengers
Other destinations
The transfer column is a price you can fix before you fly. The taxi column is not really a price at all — outside Olbia it is whatever the driver at the front of the rank decides to ask, which is exactly why the pre-booked transfer is the default here.
When the taxi wins
For Olbia city itself: it is a 4 km hop on a regulated meter, and the taxi is immediate. Walk out, join the rank.
For spontaneous travellers who did not pre-book: taxis are there on arrival and the prices are reasonable.
When the transfer wins
Costa Smeralda destinations: Pre-booked transfer offers a fixed price at or below taxi rates, plus a driver in arrivals. No reason not to book.
Groups: Transfer pricing is per vehicle. For 4-8 people, one transfer price beats multiple separate taxi fares.
Families with children: Child seats available on request. Taxis carry none.
Peak season (July-August): Taxi availability at the rank decreases when multiple charter flights land simultaneously. A pre-booked driver is guaranteed regardless of how many other passengers are competing for taxis.
Late-night arrivals: Pre-booked driver is confirmed. Taxi availability after midnight is limited in shoulder season.
Luxury property guests: Hotels like Cala di Volpe, Romazzino, or Villa del Golfo are down access roads that require specific local knowledge. Pre-booked drivers who regularly service these properties navigate efficiently.
The OLB market reality
Olbia Airport exists largely to serve the Costa Smeralda luxury market. This market is overwhelmingly pre-booked. Transfer operators here are professional, experienced, and priced competitively. The taxi-vs-transfer comparison tilts more decisively toward transfers here than at almost any other Italian airport.