Sardinia Ferry
Piombino - Olbia
The shortest crossing from Tuscany to Sardinia - Corsica Ferries sails seasonally to Golfo Aranci
- Short crossing in around 7 hours
- Seasonal departures with Corsica Ferries
- Arrival in Golfo Aranci, about 20 km from Olbia
What you should know about the crossing
Table of Contents
Getting there & the terminal
Piombino sits on the Tuscan coast south of Livorno; the port is signposted from the SS1 Aurelia dual carriageway and is the standard gateway for travellers heading to Elba. The Sardinia service departs from the same port area.
Without a car, you can reach Piombino Marittima by train, with the branch line ending right at the port. Coming from Rome or Florence, change at Campiglia Marittima.
Check-in & departure
- Corsica Ferries: at least 90 minutes with a vehicle, two hours in July and August; on foot, one hour. Check-in closes 30 minutes before departure.
If the deadline is missed, boarding is no longer guaranteed under the booking, and the ship may depart up to 30 minutes ahead of the stated time. Online check-in opens seven days before departure.
Vehicles, bikes & pets
Cars, motorhomes and motorcycles are all carried on this route; the longer check-in deadlines above apply to vehicles. The car deck is closed off during the crossing, so take anything you need on the journey up with you.
For dimensions, towing and onboard power, see Motorhomes on the ferry; the rules for dogs and cats are on Travelling with a dog on the ferry.
Arrival & onward travel
Golfo Aranci sits on Sardinia's northeastern tip. It's about twenty kilometres to Olbia, around twenty minutes by car; the town has its own railway station on the line to Olbia and Cagliari. For the Costa Smeralda, this is the shortest route in.
Tickets & fares
Booking runs through the booking window above; the starting price is pulled live from the operator's data.
The route only runs in summer with limited sailings. If your dates don't fit, Livorno - Olbia or Livorno - Golfo Aranci are the way to go instead: both run much more frequently.
Piombino - Golfo Aranci
From Tuscany to Sardinia - arriving in Golfo Aranci
Piombino lies south of Livorno and is best known as the ferry port for Elba. A seasonal service also runs from here to Sardinia, though it doesn't end in Olbia itself but in Golfo Aranci, about twenty kilometres to the northeast.
Corsica Ferries operates the route in summer with a handful of sailings. At around seven hours, it's the shortest crossing from Tuscany.
- Crossing
- approx. 7 hrs
- Operator
- Corsica Ferries
- Frequency
- occasional sailings, summer
Next departures
FAQ Piombino - Olbia
Frequently asked questions
Questions and answers about the Piombino-Sardinia ferry route
Does the ferry from Piombino go directly to Olbia? +
No. From Piombino the ferry calls at Golfo Aranci, about twenty kilometres northeast of Olbia, practically the same destination for the Costa Smeralda, around twenty minutes away by car. There is no direct Piombino-Olbia ferry.
How often does the ferry run from Piombino to Sardinia? +
Corsica Ferries operates the route seasonally with occasional summer sailings. The timetable shows which dates run. If you want a year-round or more frequent service, take Livorno - Olbia instead.
How long does the crossing take? +
The crossing takes around 7 hours, the shortest crossing from Tuscany. The timetable shows which departure runs on your travel day.
How early do I need to be at the terminal? +
Corsica Ferries requires at least 90 minutes with a vehicle, two hours in July and August; on foot, one hour. Check-in closes 30 minutes before departure. If several operators are an option, plan around the stricter deadline.
Can I take my car or motorhome? +
Yes. The longer check-in deadline applies with a vehicle. For what you should know about dimensions, towing and onboard power, see Motorhomes on the ferry.
Can I bring my pet on board? +
Dogs and cats can travel with you. Rules differ by operator and cabin type - details and the required paperwork are on Travelling with a dog on the ferry.