Guide · From Olbia

Olbia to Tavolara: boats from the city marina

You do not need to drive to Porto San Paolo to see Tavolara. Several well-reviewed boats leave from Olbia's marina in the city, and a few more start from the beaches and from Golfo Aranci to the north.

Check availabilityfrom $87 · free cancellation

Editorial team, tavolaraboattour.comUpdated October 20, 20266-minute read28 sources

The tour for this guide Tavolara boat tour with snorkeling 4.9 (1,145 reviews) 4 hoursFrom the MOYS marina, OlbiaSnorkel gear included from$87per person Check availabilityFree to cancel until 24 hrs before your boat

Quick answer

01Where: Most boats leave MOYS, the Marina di Olbia in via Piovene, each from its own berth.
02This site's tour: Check in 9:00 AM at Dock A, Berth A44; back at 1:30 PM.
03Time ashore: One 4-hour trip docks on Tavolara for 1 hour of free time.
04Golfo Aranci: Its port lies 20 minutes from Olbia, in front of the island.¹
05Private option: A private RIB half day from the same marina, from $749.

Why a boat from Olbia makes sense

Olbia is the heart of the protected area in more than name: the city's own territory includes the islands of Tavolara, Molara and Molarotto.² If you are staying in town or arriving by ferry, a boat from the city marina saves you a drive down the coast and a hunt for parking in a small village.

Ferries from the mainland dock at the Isola Bianca port, a 5-minute walk from the seafront and Corso Umberto I, the main street into the centre.³ The tour boats do not leave from there but from MOYS, the Marina di Olbia Yachting Services in via Piovene, where several operators keep their boats side by side. If you are flying in or out of Olbia, a city start makes a boat on your first or last full day easy to fit around the flight.

The price of starting in the city is a longer crossing. Boats from Olbia leave the gulf and round Capo Ceraso before they reach the islands; one dinghy operator puts its first stop there after half an hour of sailing. You get more sea and more coastline on the way, with the granite cape and the open gulf before the first swim.

This site's tour from Olbia

From berth A44 to the islands and back

9:00 AM

Check in

Dock A, Berth A44 at Marina Moys Olbia.
9:30 AM

Departure

Out of the gulf, past Capo Ceraso.
First stop

Spiaggia del Dottore

An hour to swim and snorkel.
Later

Secret stop and aperitif

Local snacks and more snorkeling.
1:30 PM

Back at the marina

The afternoon is yours.

Finding your berth at the MOYS marina

Each operator gives its own meeting point, and the marina is large, so read your voucher carefully. This site's tour checks in at Dock A, Berth A44. The zodiac to Molara waits at berth A18 in front of the car park, and the docking half day at berth A27.

The 8-hour small-group trip berths at Dock A, slip A2, and the private RIB at berth A3 on Pier A, in front of the marina office tower. The shared catamaran meets at the My Sailing office inside the marina, and another dinghy at mooring A15, 20 metres from the car park.

Arrive in good time. This site's operator asks guests to be there 25 to 30 minutes before the start and does not refund late arrivals, and the docking half day asks for at least 10 minutes. Free parking is nearby for this site's tour, which makes an early start easier.

Meeting points

Where each Olbia boat starts

Boat	Meeting point	Hours	Rating
This site's tour	MOYS, Dock A, Berth A44	4	4.89
Zodiac to Molara	MOYS, berth A18	4	4.72
Docking half day	MOYS, berth A27	4	4.45
Small group, full day	MOYS, Dock A, slip A2	8	4.99
Beach start	Mare e Rocce, Pittulongu	4	4.71

Meeting points and durations as each GetYourGuide listing states them.

Three starts

City marina, island landing or Golfo Aranci

Sardegna: Tavolara Boat Tour with Snorkeling

Back by 1:30 PM

This site's tour

MOYS marina, Olbia

Hours: 4
Group: Up to 10
Price: from $87

See this trip

Olbia: Tavolara & Molara with 3 Swim Stops & Aperitif

1 hour ashore

Docking half day

MOYS marina, Olbia

Hours: 4
Molara: 30 minutes
Price: from $93

See this trip

Golfo Aranci: Tavolara and Molara Snorkeling Dinghy Tour

North of Olbia

Golfo Aranci dinghy

DST offices, Sos Aranzos

Hours: 4
Crew: Captain and host
Price: from $81

See this trip

Decision helper

Which start suits your stay?

Pick the line closest to your plans

I am staying in Olbia without a car I want to walk on Tavolara I am staying near Golfo Aranci I am staying at Pittulongu I want the boat to ourselves

This site's tour

It starts and ends at the city marina.

The docking half day

1 hour of free time at the island's pier.

The DST dinghy

It leaves from Sos Aranzos in Golfo Aranci.

The beach start

Board on the beach of Mare e Rocce.

The private RIB

A private group for up to 12 people.

Olbia represents the heart of the Marine Protected Area including, within its municipal territory, the islands of Tavolara, Molara and Molarotto.

Area Marina Protetta Tavolara Punta Coda CavalloSource 2

This site's tour from the city marina

The tour this site books leaves at 9:30 AM and is back at 1:30 PM, with a small group of up to 10. It is run by Oltremare Charter, rated 4.89 from 1,145 reviews and starts from $87.

On the way out its highlights name Capo Ceraso, then the listed stops follow: Spiaggia del Dottore for an hour of swimming and snorkeling, a cruise through the protected area, a secret stop with the aperitif and local snacks, the Orecchio di Ulisse cave seen from the boat, Punta Spalmatore and a last swim off Tavolara. Masks and snorkels are included for everyone.

It is a good match for travelers with an afternoon plan: lunch in the old town, a beach, or an early flight home. Because it starts and ends in the city, you need no car at all if you are staying near the marina. Bring a small bag rather than a suitcase: this site's operator does not allow luggage or large bags on board, and pets stay at home too.

Map

Tavolara, Molara and the coast from Olbia to San Teodoro

Where the boats leave from, the islands and their landing places, and the beaches that face them.

Map of the coast of north-east Sardinia from Olbia and Golfo Aranci to San Teodoro, with Tavolara and Molara offshore — Olbia to San Teodoro

Map of Tavolara, Molara, Molarotto and the small islands off Porto San Paolo — Tavolara and Molara

Map of the beaches between Capo Ceraso and La Cinta, facing Tavolara and Molara — The coast facing the islands

1
Olbia marina (MOYS)
This site's tour checks in here at Dock A, Berth A44, and several other boats to the islands leave from the same marina.
In Google Maps ↗
2
Golfo Aranci
A port 20 minutes from Olbia, facing Tavolara, where dolphin trips and some island boats start.¹
In Google Maps ↗
3
Figarolo
A pyramid-shaped limestone islet off Cala Moresca, where the dolphin trips look for a pod of bottlenose dolphins.⁴
In Google Maps ↗
4
Porto San Paolo
The village opposite the island: the ferry office is in Via Molara, and wooden boats leave from the floating docks.⁵
In Google Maps ↗
5
Tavolara
A limestone and granite mountain rising from the sea, 560 m high and 4 km long, in Olbia's territory.⁶ ⁷
In Google Maps ↗
6
Molara
The second largest island of the protected area, uninhabited, with its pools on the south-west side.⁸ ⁹
In Google Maps ↗
7
San Teodoro
The harbor where the dinghy tours of the archipelago set off each morning.
In Google Maps ↗
8
Capo Ceraso
A headland passed on the way out from Olbia; a disused military road leads to its old fortifications.¹⁰
In Google Maps ↗
9
Spalmatore di Terra
The landing place, with a little port, places to eat, a few houses and the protected area's info point.¹¹ ¹²
In Google Maps ↗
10
Punta Cannone
The summit, reached by a guided trek and a short via ferrata; climbing on the island has been restricted since 2025, so ask the operator first.
In Google Maps ↗
11
Punta Timone
Site of the NATO radio station built in 1961; the protected area's map marks a military area with no entry.¹³ ¹⁴
In Google Maps ↗
12
Piscine di Molara
Clear pools among granite rocks, with an anchoring zone for boats up to 30 m.⁹ ¹⁵
In Google Maps ↗
13
Molarotto
A small granite rock in the integral reserve, home to a lizard subspecies found nowhere else.¹⁶
In Google Maps ↗
14
Isola Piana
An island off Porto San Paolo with little beaches of fine greyish sand.¹⁷
In Google Maps ↗
15
Isola dei Cavalli
A small island with a beach of fine, firm sand and shallow water.¹⁸
In Google Maps ↗
16
Spiaggia del Dottore
The first swim stop of this site's tour and of several other boats.
In Google Maps ↗
17
Porto Istana
A bay of four beaches at the foot of Capo Ceraso, twenty minutes by car from Olbia.¹⁹
In Google Maps ↗
18
Porto Taverna
Dunes with a pond behind them, where water birds can be seen.²⁰
In Google Maps ↗
19
Cala Girgolu
Known for the turtle-shaped rock called La Tartaruga.²¹
In Google Maps ↗
20
Cala Brandinchi
Very light sand and turquoise water almost opposite the island; access is booked from 1 June to 30 September.²² ²³
In Google Maps ↗
21
Lu Impostu
One kilometre of white sand dunes with junipers, the twin of Brandinchi.²⁴
In Google Maps ↗
22
Capo Coda Cavallo
A strip of granite land sheltered by Tavolara, with Molara and the islet of Proratora in front.²⁵
In Google Maps ↗
23
La Cinta
San Teodoro's most famous beach, an arch of fine white sand facing the island.²⁶
In Google Maps ↗

Open the map in Google Maps

Checklist

Leaving from Olbia

Before you go

Note your berth number from the voucher
Arrive 25 to 30 minutes early for this site's tour
MOYS marina, not the Isola Bianca ferry port

On board

Passport or ID card
Swimwear, towel and extra water
Sunscreen and a hat

Price check

Olbia boats for your group

Choose a boat and how many are going

This site's tour4 hoursfrom $87 Zodiac to Molara4 hoursfrom $81 Docking half day4 hoursfrom $93 Golfo Aranci dinghy4 hoursfrom $81

People 2

Total from$173

pp from $87

Check availabilityfree cancellation

Totals multiply each trip's lowest per-seat GetYourGuide price by your party size, converted at the day's ECB rate; the booking page shows the exact sum.

Video

From City Streets to Seaside Dreams: Olbia and its Beaches

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Other boats from Olbia

The docking half day is the one to choose if you want to set foot on the island. It gives 30 minutes at the Molara pools, sails under the cliffs past the Grotta della Chiave, stops at Cala Girgolu, then docks at Tavolara's pier for 1 hour of free time with a bar and restrooms. It is rated 4.45 from 312 reviews.

The zodiac from berth A18 swims over the wreck of the Chrisso near Porto San Paolo, visits the natural pools of Molara and runs past Tavolara's cliffs to Punta Spalmatore, with a captain and a host on board. For a whole day, the 8-hour small-group trip includes brunch on board and is rated 4.99 from 291 reviews. Two catamarans complete the choice for a long day: one from the port of Olbia serves lunch on board and lasts 7.5 hours in high summer, and a shared one boards at the MOYS marina at 9:30 AM with up to 12 guests and a seafood lunch at Capo Coda Cavallo.

There is also a beach start north of the city. A 4-hour inflatable-boat tour leaves the beach of Mare e Rocce at Pittulongu, where you board with your feet in the water, and makes a longer 45-minute stop on Tavolara. It is not available to pregnant women.

Tavolara from Golfo Aranci

Golfo Aranci, north of Olbia, has a small port 20 minutes from the city, facing the island.¹ The first of its five town beaches looks straight out over the gulf to Tavolara, and boat excursions to the protected area start from the town.²⁷

The main option is a 4-hour snorkeling dinghy that leaves the DST Sardegna Diving & Snorkeling Team offices at Sos Aranzos. Its route follows the Olbia zodiac's: the Chrisso wreck, the natural pools of Molara, Tavolara's cliffs and Punta Spalmatore, with two crew on board. It is rated 4.75 from 254 reviews and starts from $81.

Hotels near Cala Moresca, inside the Capo Figari protected area, also organise boat trips into the Tavolara marine area.²⁸ If your hotel is near Golfo Aranci, you can pair a Tavolara day with a dolphin trip from Golfo Aranci on another day: the same operator's offices are the starting point for both.

City start or village start?

Choose the city if you are staying in Olbia, have no car or want the shortest transfer from the airport or ferry. You trade a slightly longer ride out for the convenience of walking to the boat. Choose Porto San Paolo or San Teodoro if you are already on that coast or want the shortest crossing and more time in the water. If you have a car and a spare day, try a different start the next time and compare the coastline you see.

Either way, compare what each listing promises at the islands rather than the start. Some boats land you on Tavolara, some keep you on board between swims, and the time at the Molara pools varies from boat to boat. The listing's own stop list is the best guide.

Each boat on this page repays a cancellation lodged 24 or more hours before sailing, which is useful on a coast where wind can change plans overnight. Check the forecast the evening before, and keep a spare day in your trip if the boat is the highlight.

Book your seat