Ferries to Sardinia: routes, ports and best crossings
Sardinia ferries at a glance
- routes from Italy, France, Corsica and Spain
- main arrival ports: Olbia, Porto Torres, Golfo Aranci and Cagliari
- shorter crossings from Livorno, Civitavecchia and Piombino
- choose the arrival port close to your stay, not just the shortest sailing
Ferry to Sardinia: fastest, easiest and best routes to compare
Sardinia is one of the easiest Mediterranean islands to reach by ferry, especially if you are travelling with a car, campervan or motorbike. You can sail from mainland Italy, southern France, Corsica and Spain, with routes arriving at ports such as Olbia, Golfo Aranci, Porto Torres, Cagliari, Arbatax and Santa Teresa di Gallura.
The best ferry to Sardinia is not always the shortest crossing. For most trips, the better question is: which arrival port leaves you closest to your accommodation or onward route on the island?
Map: ferry routes to Sardinia
The map shows the main ferry routes to Sardinia from mainland Italy, France, Corsica and Spain. Most routes arrive in the north of the island, but Cagliari, Arbatax and southern routes can be more practical if your accommodation is in southern Sardinia.
Our straightforward top picks
- If you want the easiest mainland Italy crossing: start with Livorno to Olbia or Civitavecchia to Olbia. These are obvious routes for many travellers arriving by car from central or northern Italy.
- If you are coming from northern Italy: compare Genoa to Olbia and Genoa to Porto Torres. The crossing is longer, but it can save a lot of driving.
- If you are staying in southern Sardinia: check Civitavecchia to Cagliari, Naples to Cagliari or Palermo to Cagliari before choosing a northern arrival port.
- If you want to combine Corsica and Sardinia: start with Bonifacio to Santa Teresa. It is the classic short island-hop between the two islands.
- If you are travelling from Spain: Barcelona to Porto Torres gives you a direct crossing to northern Sardinia.
Which Sardinia ferry port should you choose?
For Sardinia, the arrival port can matter more than the crossing time. A shorter ferry can still leave you with a long drive across the island, especially in summer. Use your final destination as the starting point.
| Staying in or near | Best arrival port | Routes to compare first | Why it makes sense |
|---|---|---|---|
| Olbia, San Teodoro, Costa Smeralda, Porto Cervo | Olbia or Golfo Aranci | Livorno to Olbia, Civitavecchia to Olbia, Genoa to Olbia, Livorno to Golfo Aranci | Best fit for north-east Sardinia and the Costa Smeralda area. |
| Alghero, Sassari, Stintino, north-west Sardinia | Porto Torres | Genoa to Porto Torres, Barcelona to Porto Torres, Nice/Toulon to Porto Torres | Often easier than arriving in Olbia and driving across the north of the island. |
| Cagliari, Villasimius, Chia, Pula, southern Sardinia | Cagliari | Civitavecchia to Cagliari, Naples to Cagliari, Palermo to Cagliari | A longer crossing can save a long onward drive from northern Sardinia. |
| Arbatax, Baunei, Ogliastra, east coast | Arbatax, Olbia or Cagliari | Civitavecchia to Arbatax if available; otherwise compare Olbia and Cagliari | The east coast can be awkward from both north and south, so compare the full driving route. |
| Corsica plus Sardinia trip | Santa Teresa di Gallura or Porto Torres | Bonifacio to Santa Teresa, Ajaccio to Porto Torres | Best if you want to combine Corsica and Sardinia in one itinerary. |
| Spain to Sardinia | Porto Torres | Barcelona to Porto Torres | The direct Spain route arrives in northern Sardinia. |
Compare the main ferry routes to Sardinia
| Route | Best for | Typical crossing | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Livorno to Olbia | Tuscany, central Italy and north-east Sardinia | around 8 hours | Popular in summer, so book early with a vehicle |
| Civitavecchia to Olbia | Rome, central Italy and Costa Smeralda | around 6 hours | Check whether a day or night crossing fits your journey |
| Genoa to Olbia | Northern Italy and travellers avoiding a long drive south | around 10 hours | The ferry is longer, but the full travel day can be easier |
| Genoa to Porto Torres | Northern Sardinia and the Sassari/Alghero side | around 10 hours | Compare Porto Torres with Olbia based on where you stay |
| Civitavecchia to Cagliari | Southern Sardinia and Cagliari holidays | around 15 hours | Longer crossing, but it can save driving on the island |
| Bonifacio to Santa Teresa | Corsica and Sardinia island-hopping | around 1 hour 50 minutes | Great route, but only useful if Corsica is part of the trip |
| Barcelona to Porto Torres | Spain to Sardinia without flying | around 12.5 hours | Plan around frequency and seasonal schedules |
Ferries from Italy to Sardinia
Most ferry routes to Sardinia leave from Italy. The main mainland departure ports are Livorno, Genoa, Civitavecchia, Piombino and Naples. From Sicily, Palermo to Cagliari is the useful island-to-island option.
Livorno, Piombino and Civitavecchia
These ports are often the most practical if you are already in Tuscany, Rome or central Italy. They are strong options for Olbia, Golfo Aranci and other northern or eastern Sardinia destinations.
Genoa to Sardinia
Genoa works better if you are driving from northern Italy, Switzerland, southern Germany or France. The crossing is longer, but it can reduce the amount of motorway driving before the ferry.
Naples, Palermo and Cagliari routes
If your final destination is southern Sardinia, do not automatically book a northern arrival. A ferry into Cagliari can sometimes make the whole journey easier.
Ferries from France, Corsica and Spain to Sardinia
France to Sardinia
From southern France, routes from Nice and Toulon can be useful for northern Sardinia, especially Porto Torres and Golfo Aranci. These routes are more seasonal and less frequent than the main Italy routes, so check live availability carefully.
Corsica to Sardinia
The short hop between Bonifacio and Santa Teresa di Gallura is one of the best ways to combine Corsica and Sardinia in one trip. There are also longer crossings such as Ajaccio to Porto Torres.
Spain to Sardinia
The direct Barcelona to Porto Torres ferry connects Spain with northern Sardinia. It is a useful route for travellers building a Mediterranean road trip without flying.
Route-choice note
For Sardinia, the arrival port often matters more than the ferry duration. Olbia and Golfo Aranci work well for north-east Sardinia, Porto Torres for the north-west, and Cagliari for the south.
See all Italy ferry guides →On board and ferry route maps
Good to know before booking a ferry to Sardinia
- Book early in summer: Sardinia ferries get busy in peak holiday weeks, especially with cars, campervans and cabins.
- Choose by arrival port: Olbia, Golfo Aranci, Porto Torres and Cagliari can lead to very different onward drives.
- Check your vehicle dimensions: roof boxes, bike racks, trailers and campervans can change the fare and availability.
- Consider a cabin: on longer routes from Genoa, Civitavecchia, Naples, Barcelona, Nice or Toulon, a cabin can make the crossing much easier.
- Check seasonal routes: some France, Corsica and Spain routes run less often outside the main summer period.
Travelling with a dog? See our guide to travelling with pets on ferries.
Ferry schedule and timetable
Sardinia ferry timetables vary strongly by route, operator and season. Shorter Italy routes can run frequently in summer, while some France, Corsica and Spain routes are more limited or seasonal.
Use live availability before booking, especially if you need a cabin, are travelling with a campervan, or want a specific arrival port on the island.
Useful next reads
Useful for travellers to France
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