Ferries to Sardinia: routes, ports and best crossings
Ferry to Sardinia: which crossing is right for you?
There are more than fifteen ferry routes to Sardinia, but most travellers only need to look at four of them. Around two thirds of all ferry passengers to the island arrive in Olbia, and most of them come from Livorno or Civitavecchia. Coming from northern Italy or France? Then Genoa and Toulon are worth a look.
Our advice is simple: first decide where on Sardinia you are staying, then pick the crossing. Sardinia is bigger than it looks on the map. From Olbia to Cagliari is about 270 km, so a ferry to the wrong port can easily cost you half a day of driving.
Map: ferry routes to Sardinia
All ferry routes to Sardinia from Italy, France, Corsica and Spain. Click a port for the routes and live prices.
Ferries from Italy to Sardinia
The most popular routes first. Click a route for live times and prices for your dates.
Ferries from France, Corsica and Spain to Sardinia
The four most popular ferries to Sardinia
1. Livorno – Olbia: the classic
The busiest route to Sardinia. Moby and Grimaldi Lines both sail all year, with up to four departures a day in summer. The crossing takes 8 to 9 hours, so you can choose between a day sailing (on the island in the early evening) or a night ferry with a cabin that gets you to Olbia around 07:30. Fares start at about £40 per person (Moby, one way, without a car).
Best for: Tuscany, Florence, and anyone driving down from the UK via France or Switzerland who wants the shortest route to the Costa Smeralda. Check Livorno – Olbia prices
2. Civitavecchia – Olbia: the ferry from Rome
Civitavecchia is Rome’s ferry port, about an hour by car or train from the city. Tirrenia sails to Olbia every night all year, with extra day sailings in summer. GNV and Grimaldi add sailings from June to September. The crossing takes about 7 to 8 hours, and fares start at about £37 per person.
Best for: combining Rome with Sardinia, or travellers coming from central and southern Italy. Looking for a ferry from Rome to Sardinia? This is the one. From Civitavecchia there are also ferries to Porto Torres, Arbatax and Cagliari. Check Civitavecchia – Olbia prices
3. Genoa – Porto Torres and Genoa – Olbia: from northern Italy
Driving from the UK, Genoa is the closest Italian port to Sardinia: about 740 miles from Calais, more than 100 miles less than Livorno. Moby/Tirrenia sail Genoa – Porto Torres every day of the year, and GNV also runs in season. Allow 11 to 12.5 hours, overnight, from about £36 per person.
Genoa – Olbia is seasonal: Moby and GNV sail from May to October, up to seven nights a week, in 10.5 to 13 hours. GNV’s outbound fares start at around £25 per person. Check Genoa – Porto Torres · Check Genoa – Olbia
4. Livorno – Golfo Aranci: often the cheapest
Corsica Ferries (Sardinia Ferries) sails from Livorno to Golfo Aranci, 18 km north-east of Olbia, at least once a day all year, and twice a day from May to September. In summer the crossing takes about 7.5 hours, longer in winter. This is often the cheapest way to Sardinia: from about £15 per person, and cars from around £30.
Best for: the Costa Smeralda and Gallura on a budget. Check Livorno – Golfo Aranci prices
Sardinia ferry routes compared (2026)
| Route | Operator | Crossing | Sailings | From (per person) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Livorno – Olbia | Moby, Grimaldi | 8 – 9 h | Up to 4 a day, all year | £40 |
| Civitavecchia – Olbia | Tirrenia, GNV, Grimaldi | 7 – 8 h | Daily, all year | £37 |
| Genoa – Porto Torres | Moby/Tirrenia, GNV | 11 – 12.5 h | Daily, all year | £36 |
| Genoa – Olbia | Moby, GNV | 10.5 – 13 h | Up to 7 a week, May – Oct | £25 |
| Livorno – Golfo Aranci | Corsica Ferries | 7.5 h (longer in winter) | 1 – 2 a day, all year | £15 |
| Civitavecchia – Porto Torres | Grimaldi | 7.5 – 8 h | Up to 7 a week | £37 |
| Civitavecchia – Arbatax | Grimaldi | 9 h (overnight) | 2 a week (3 in August) | £34 |
| Civitavecchia – Cagliari | Grimaldi | 13 – 15 h | 3 a week | £37 |
| Naples – Cagliari | Grimaldi | 15 h | 3 a week | £31 |
| Palermo – Cagliari | Grimaldi | 12 h | Weekly | £35 |
| Piombino – Golfo Aranci | Corsica Ferries | 6 h 15 | 1 – 4 a week, July – August | £22 |
| Toulon – Porto Torres | Corsica Ferries | 10 – 17 h | 1 – 5 a week, all year | £16 |
| Nice – Porto Torres | Corsica Ferries | from 10.5 h | 1 – 4 a week, July – August | £17 |
| Sète – Porto Torres (new) | Corsica Ferries | overnight | Weekly, April – September (not August) | £39 |
| Bonifacio – Santa Teresa | Moby, Ichnusa Lines | 50 min | Several a day in summer | £37 |
| Barcelona – Porto Torres | Grimaldi | 11 – 13 h | 2 – 5 a week | £33 |
Lowest fares per person, one way, as published by the operators in October 2026 and converted from euros. Seat or deck only; cars and cabins cost extra. Piombino – Olbia is not running in 2026.
Which Sardinian port should you choose?
This is the question that really decides your crossing. Start with where you are staying:
| Staying in | Arrival port | Routes |
|---|---|---|
| Olbia, Costa Smeralda, Porto Cervo, San Teodoro, La Maddalena | Olbia or Golfo Aranci | Livorno, Civitavecchia, Genoa (Olbia); Livorno, Piombino, Toulon (Golfo Aranci) |
| Alghero, Sassari, Stintino, Asinara | Porto Torres | Genoa, Civitavecchia, Toulon, Nice, Sète, Barcelona, Ajaccio |
| Santa Teresa, northern Gallura | Olbia, Golfo Aranci or Santa Teresa (from Corsica) | see above, or Bonifacio – Santa Teresa |
| Ogliastra, Golfo di Orosei, Cala Goloritzé | Arbatax (or Olbia) | Civitavecchia – Arbatax |
| Cagliari, Villasimius, Chia, Pula | Cagliari | Civitavecchia, Naples, Palermo |
Staying in Alghero? Then don’t book a ferry to Olbia just because it is quicker or cheaper. Porto Torres is only 35 km from Alghero, while from Olbia you still have about 140 km to drive.
Ferry to southern Sardinia: Cagliari and Arbatax
Most ferries arrive in the north. Is your holiday in the south? Then a ferry straight to Cagliari can save you a long drive. Grimaldi Lines sails Civitavecchia – Cagliari three times a week (13 to 15 hours, overnight), Naples – Cagliari three times a week (15 hours) and Palermo – Cagliari once a week. That makes the last one handy for combining Sicily and Sardinia.
For the east coast there is Civitavecchia – Arbatax: twice a week overnight, about 9 hours, leaving at 20:00 and arriving at 05:00. These are public-service routes, so they run all year but not every day. Plan your trip around the timetable.
Ferry to Sardinia from France
Driving down from the UK? Then a ferry from southern France saves you the drive through Italy. All routes from France are run by Corsica Ferries (Sardinia Ferries):
- Toulon – Porto Torres: all year, 1 to 5 times a week, 10 to 17 hours depending on the sailing. From about £16 per person. Check prices
- Toulon – Golfo Aranci: seasonal, May to September. Check prices
- Nice – Porto Torres: July and August, 1 to 4 times a week, from about 10.5 hours. Check prices
- Sète – Porto Torres: new since April 2026. Weekly from April to September (not in August), from about £39 per person. Handy if you come from western France or Spain. Check prices
La Méridionale’s old Marseille – Porto Torres route is no longer on sale. Corsica is also an option: drive across the island and take the short crossing from Bonifacio (see below).
Sardinia and Corsica: Bonifacio – Santa Teresa
The short hop between the two islands takes just 50 minutes. Moby and Ichnusa Lines sail several times a day in summer; in winter there is a reduced subsidised service. Fares start at about £37 per person. This is the crossing for a road trip combining Corsica and Sardinia. Note that the route can be suspended in bad weather, as the Strait of Bonifacio can be rough.
There are also longer crossings from Ajaccio and Porto-Vecchio to Porto Torres (seasonal). For all options, see our guide to the ferry between Corsica and Sardinia. Travelling on to France? See ferries to Corsica.
Passport: UK travellers need a passport for both islands.
Ferry to Sardinia from Spain
Grimaldi Lines sails Barcelona – Porto Torres all year, 2 to 5 times a week, overnight in 11 to 13 hours. The same ship continues to Civitavecchia, so you can also use this route for a Spain – Sardinia – Rome road trip. Fares start at about £33 per person. Check Barcelona – Porto Torres
Driving from the UK to Sardinia
There is no direct ferry from the UK to Sardinia. You cross the Channel and then drive to a Mediterranean port. Distances from Calais (pure driving time, without stops):
| Port | From Calais | Driving time | Ferry to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sète | 675 miles | about 11 h | Porto Torres |
| Toulon | 705 miles | about 11.5 h | Porto Torres, Golfo Aranci |
| Genoa | 740 miles | about 12.5 h | Porto Torres, Olbia |
| Nice | 765 miles | about 12.5 h | Porto Torres |
| Livorno | 850 miles | about 14.5 h | Olbia, Golfo Aranci |
| Civitavecchia | 1,000 miles | about 17.5 h | Olbia, Porto Torres, Arbatax, Cagliari |
In practice that means two days on the road, plus tolls in France and Italy (and a vignette if you drive through Switzerland). Our pick from the UK: Genoa – Porto Torres or Toulon – Porto Torres for the north-west, and Genoa – Olbia or Livorno – Olbia for the Costa Smeralda. A night ferry also saves you a hotel night. For the Channel crossing, see ferries to France.
What does a ferry to Sardinia cost, and how do you book it cheaply?
The fares in the table above are the lowest per person, without a car and without a cabin. In winter you pay the least. On Moby, for example, Genoa – Porto Torres starts at €43 per person in winter and €65 – 70 in summer.
What you really pay with a car
The “from” fares are for one person without a car. These are the average one-way prices that travellers were quoted on Direct Ferries over the last 30 days, without booking fees (October 2026):
| Route | With a car | With a campervan | With a cabin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Livorno – Olbia | £199 | £302 | £370 |
| Civitavecchia – Olbia | £206 | £334 | £317 |
| Livorno – Golfo Aranci | £202 | £339 | £410 |
| Genoa – Porto Torres | £295 | £550 | £485 |
| Genoa – Olbia | £298 | £499 | £490 |
| Toulon – Porto Torres | £247 | £336 | £365 |
Livorno and Civitavecchia are clearly cheaper with a car than Genoa, but Genoa saves you 100 to 250 miles of driving each way. Expect higher prices in July and August.
- Book early for summer. Moby and Tirrenia open their 2027 bookings in autumn. Book between 1 October and 30 November 2026 and you get a 20% voucher towards a next trip (travel until 27 September 2027).
- Take a night ferry. It saves you a hotel night and a day of driving. Book a cabin early in July and August.
- Look beyond the “from” price. Since 2026 the full EU ETS emissions surcharge is added to ferry fares, so compare the final price.
- Resident fares are not for tourists. The cheap “residenti Sardegna” fares are only for people living in or born on Sardinia.
- Travelling with a dog? Moby, Tirrenia, GNV and Grimaldi have pet cabins or kennels, but numbers are limited. Book early. See travelling with a dog on a ferry.
- Camper or motorhome? Enter the exact length and height when booking, including bike racks and roof boxes.
FAQ: ferry to Sardinia
How long is the ferry to Sardinia?
From Italy the crossing takes 7 to 9 hours on the most popular routes (Civitavecchia – Olbia about 7 to 8 hours, Livorno – Olbia 8 to 9 hours). From Genoa allow 10.5 to 13 hours, from Naples to Cagliari 15 hours. The shortest crossing is Bonifacio (Corsica) – Santa Teresa in 50 minutes.
What is the best ferry to Sardinia?
For most people Livorno – Olbia or Civitavecchia – Olbia: both sail all year, several operators run them and they arrive close to the Costa Smeralda. For Alghero and the north-west, Genoa – Porto Torres is better.
Is there a ferry from Rome to Sardinia?
Yes. Rome’s ferry port is Civitavecchia, about an hour from the city. From there Tirrenia, GNV and Grimaldi sail to Olbia (7 to 8 hours), and Grimaldi also sails to Porto Torres, Arbatax and Cagliari.
What is the cheapest ferry to Sardinia?
Livorno – Golfo Aranci with Corsica Ferries is often the cheapest, from about £15 per person one way. Toulon – Porto Torres from France starts at around £16. Prices are lowest outside July and August.
Can you get a ferry to Sardinia from France?
Yes. Corsica Ferries sails from Toulon to Porto Torres all year, plus seasonal sailings from Toulon to Golfo Aranci, Nice to Porto Torres (July and August) and, new since 2026, Sète to Porto Torres.
Is there a ferry from the UK to Sardinia?
No. From the UK you cross the Channel and drive to a ferry port in France or Italy. Toulon and Genoa are the closest, about 705 and 740 miles from Calais.
Which port in Sardinia should I sail to?
Olbia or Golfo Aranci for the Costa Smeralda and the north-east, Porto Torres for Alghero and the north-west, Arbatax for the east coast and Cagliari for the south.
Can you take the ferry from Sardinia to Corsica?
Yes. The quickest crossing is Santa Teresa di Gallura – Bonifacio with Moby and Ichnusa Lines, in about 50 minutes. There are also seasonal ferries from Porto Torres to Ajaccio and Porto-Vecchio.
Useful for travellers to France
Tips for ferry travellers
Do all ferry ports have ships that transport autos?
Hi Randy,
Thanks for your question! We’ve recently updated the page and routes to Sardinia, and as far as we can see, all ferries allow car transport. However, in most cases, it requires a reservation.
To ensure you can bring your car on your desired date, we recommend booking well in advance.
Hope this helps!
Best regards – Team Ferrygogo