Sardinia Ferry
Civitavecchia - Olbia
The fastest ferry from Rome to Sardinia, just over seven hours to the Costa Smeralda
- Shortest crossing from the mainland: just over 7 hours
- Daily with Tirrenia, plus Grimaldi Lines
- ADM Terminal, around 1.5 km from Civitavecchia railway station
What you should know about the crossing
Table of Contents
Getting there & terminal
All Sardinia ferries depart from the ADM Terminal (Autostrade del Mare), Via Prato del Turco 1. It sits in the port just before the berths and is the year-round starting point for Olbia, Cagliari, Porto Torres and Arbatax.
By car, take the A12: the Civitavecchia Nord exit is about 5.5 kilometres from the port, Civitavecchia Sud about 7 kilometres. Without a car, get off at Civitavecchia railway station, about a kilometre and a half from the terminal.
Check-in & departure
- Tirrenia: 90 minutes with a vehicle, 30 minutes on foot before departure. Travellers needing assistance and without a vehicle should check in 60 minutes ahead.
- Grimaldi Lines: at least two hours with a vehicle, at least one hour on foot before departure.
Grimaldi offers an express procedure on the Sardinia routes: show your ticket directly in the marshalling area instead of queuing at the counter. Keep a valid photo ID ready.
Vehicle, bike & pet
Cars, motorhomes and motorbikes travel on this route; the longer check-in deadlines above apply to vehicles. The vehicle deck stays closed during the crossing, take everything you need on the way with you.
What applies to dimensions, towing and onboard power is on Motorhomes on the ferry; the rules for dogs and cats are under Taking a dog on the ferry.
Tickets & fares
Booking runs through the booking window above; the from-price comes live from the operator's data. Since the crossing is short enough for a day trip, you can often travel without a cabin here, though it's still worth it for the overnight sailings.
If there are several departures on the same day, check both operators, crossing time and price differ, and in high season vehicle spaces sell out first.
Civitavecchia - Olbia
The shortest crossing from the mainland to Sardinia
Civitavecchia is Rome's ferry port and lies closest to Sardinia. The crossing to Olbia takes just over seven hours, short enough for a day sailing, but also bookable overnight.
Tirrenia runs the route daily, several times on many days; Grimaldi Lines adds further sailings. Coming from Rome or central Italy, this route saves the longest overland journey.
- Crossing
- approx. 7 hrs. 30 min.
- Operators
- Tirrenia, Grimaldi
- Frequency
- daily, often several times
- From price
- €23
- Grimaldi Lines
- Tirrenia
Next departures
FAQ Civitavecchia - Olbia
Frequently asked questions
Questions and answers about the Civitavecchia-Olbia ferry route
Which operators sail from Civitavecchia to Olbia?+
Tirrenia sails daily, several times on many days. Grimaldi Lines also serves the route.
How long does the crossing take?+
The crossing takes just over 7 hours, the shortest connection from the Italian mainland to Sardinia. Which departure runs on your travel day is shown in the timetable.
How early do I need to be at the terminal?+
With a vehicle, Tirrenia requires 90 minutes, Grimaldi Lines two hours. On foot, 30 minutes are enough with Tirrenia, one hour with Grimaldi. Plan around the stricter deadline if more than one operator is an option.
Can I bring my car or motorhome?+
Yes. The longer check-in deadline applies with a vehicle. What you should know about dimensions, towing and onboard power is on Motorhomes on the ferry.
Can I bring my pet on board?+
Dogs and cats may travel. The rules vary by operator and cabin type, details and the papers you need are under Taking a dog on the ferry.