'Before time, there was faith, and before faith, there was food!,
Italy is usually considered to be a country that's devoted to Christianity. But Sardinia, an Italian Dominion and one of the three biggest islands of the Mediterranean, seems to value its food culture with a lot more fervor than is given credit for “ as an old Sardinian adage quoted above goes to show.
Many people visiting Italy have a set itinerary in mind. Very few of them care enough to venture out of the box and see things that one may not readily associate with Italy. Sardinia falls under that category, and that's much the reason why, we have dubbed Olbia “ the biggest city in Sardinia after the capital Cagliari “ as an overlooked gem.
The prime impetus for that argument is the fact that with bigger islands “ and arguably more famous ones “ like Sicily take all the limelight away from Sardinia when the discussion comes to tourism in the region. Pop culture influences of these islands further make things skewed against Sardinia, forcing it to fly low and under the tourism radar.
We always, however, try to feed that sense of discovery which can be said to be unique to wanderers and habitual travelers. Hence, we are pretty sure that many of our readers would love to know more about Olbia in particular and Sardinia in general, so that they could weigh in their options when they start forging the plans for their next holiday.
Perhaps, this short and sweet informative article about hotels in Olbia might go a fair bit of distance in acclimatizing tourists to the city.
Budget Hotels in Olbia
As has been made abundantly clear in the introductory part of this article, Olbia is not really a hot property when it comes to tourism in the Mediterranean region. And the fact that there are quite a few formidable competitors in this region doesn't help its case at all.
However, this is, in any way whatsoever, to say that Olbia is devoid of any sort of tourism. There is a good deal of tourism that hospitality industry operators can draw business from, and that's why, a handful of cheap hotels and budget lodging options in Olbia need to be discussed here.
Capo Ceraso Resort is the first option we have zoomed in at after some intensive research of budget Olbia hotels. Although it loves to call itself a resort, it is, in reality, a budget hotel that can give you the best of contrasts “ spacious, clean rooms overlooking the Mediterranean and affordable room tariffs with flexible check-in and check-out times. Average prices, during the peak season of summer, start from $60 per night.
On a more subdued level, Bed and Breakfast Giardinos can be picked, if you want a quiet, comfortable stay without any frills. It is located centrally in Olbia, meaning that you won't have to break a sweat just to get a cab to embark upon sightseeing journey!
Luxury Resorts and Hotels in Olbia
It's a given, when we talk about a Mediterranean tourism destination, that it is riddled with a number of luxury resorts that tourists can have the liberty of choosing from. Olbia is not much of an exception, as over one dozen five star resorts are housed in the city, allowing tourists to handpick the kind of luxury they wish to enjoy.
Hotel Ollastu Residence ticks all the boxes that one can think of while selecting a luxury hotel. It has got artsy suites and gigantic swimming pools, a peacefully secluded location and an insurmountable industry reputation. When it comes to pricing, however, it seems to break all the barriers of sanity, as nightly prices of over $500 mean that it's not really a cup of tea for every one of us. But if it works for those who can afford it, we've got no worries!
That brings us to the next pick in this category. This one is named pretty pithily, barring no holds and pulling no punches “ Hotel Martini. If they haven't got you at 'hello', we'll be really surprised. On a more serious note, it's a sheer pleasure to stay at Hotel Martini because it is much less expensive than many other lavish hotels in Olbia but just as luxurious and rewarding.
Sightseeing in and Around Olbia
Mediterranean destinations usually tend to get monotonous in terms of sightseeing potential, as the sun and sand are much the same everywhere. But Olbia is a pleasant exception to that tacit rule, as it offers a number of diverse attractions other than its pure beaches and relaxing weather.
Museum of Archaeology in Olbia is one such attraction that never fails to wow its visitors. Located near the famous Port of Olbia, this is a modern museum that documents and presents artefacts, excavated items and other memorabilia that signify the history of Olbia. Right from Roman times to modern era, a variety of interesting specimens of pottery, weaponry and household paraphernalia vividly tell the story of the past.
Outdoorsy tourists can head to Capo Figaro, a small natural preserve that is a sanctuary from the hustle that is very typical to port towns. Here, you can find many adventurous activities like mountain trails and hiking to indulge in.
Apart from these, one thing that tourists cannot miss out on is the local food culture. From exotic fish recipes to locally made wines, Olbia's food scene is thriving, to say the least.
Hotels Near Olbia Airport
Olbia-Costa Smeralda Airport services Olbia domestically. If you land on the island by air, you will not really be required to find cheap hotels near the airport, as the downtown of the city is hardly a 10-minute drive.
Best Time to Visit Olbia
Olbia, being a Mediterranean city, features excellent weather throughout the year.
In high summer “ April and May “ tourist footfall is heightened, prompting Olbia hotels to make the most of it by hiking nightly tariffs.
To avoid being at the receiving end of this stick, tourists can visit Olbia in early summer (March) or early fall (September) when the weather is certainly pleasant.