{"id":13290,"date":"2026-06-16T14:07:38","date_gmt":"2026-06-16T12:07:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.petagus.it\/?p=13290"},"modified":"2026-07-06T16:06:35","modified_gmt":"2026-07-06T14:06:35","slug":"how-to-get-to-palau-ferries-flights-and-by-car","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.petagus.it\/en\/come-arrivare-a-palau-traghetti-aerei-e-auto\/","title":{"rendered":"How to get to Palau: ferries, flights and by car"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 id=\"come-arrivare-a-palau-traghetti-aerei-e-auto\"><span class=\"\">How to get to Palau: ferries, flights and by car<\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"><span class=\"\">If you\u2019re planning a trip to Sardinia and want to get to\u00a0<\/span><strong><span class=\"\">Palau<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"\">, you\u2019ve come to the right place. This small town in Gallura is the ideal starting point for exploring the\u2019<\/span><strong><span class=\"\">La Maddalena Archipelago<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"\">, but also a seaside destination brimming with attractions. In this comprehensive guide, we explain\u00a0<\/span><strong><span class=\"\">How to get to Palau<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"\">\u00a0By plane, car or ferry, with all the practical information you need to organise your trip stress-free.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2 id=\"come-arrivare-a-palau-in-aereo-laeroporto-piu-vicino\"><span class=\"\">How to get to Palau by plane: the nearest airport<\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"><span class=\"\">Palau does not have its own airport. The\u2019<\/span><strong><span class=\"\">the nearest airport to Palau<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"\">\u00a0it is the\u2019<\/span><strong><span class=\"\">Olbia \u2013 Costa Smeralda Airport (OLB)<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"\">\u00a0, situated about\u00a0<\/span><strong><span class=\"\">40 km<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"\">\u00a0away. It is the main airport in north-eastern Sardinia, serving both domestic and international flights.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"dopo-latterraggio-a-olbia-come-raggiungere-palau\"><span class=\"\">After landing in Olbia: how to get to Palau<\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"><span class=\"\">Once you\u2019ve landed, you have three options for travelling the 40 km from the airport to Palau:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol start=\"1\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"><strong><span class=\"\">Car hire (recommended)<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"\">\u00a0: it\u2019s the most flexible way to explore Sardinia. At Olbia Airport, you\u2019ll find all the major car hire companies (Avis, Hertz, Europcar, Sixt and local firms). It\u2019s easy: take the\u00a0<\/span><strong><span class=\"\">SS125<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"\">\u00a0towards Palau, it will take you about\u00a0<\/span><strong><span class=\"\">40 minutes<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"\">\u00a0cars.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"><strong><span class=\"\">Regular bus services<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"\">: Some local transport operators (such as ARST or private services) run services between Olbia Airport and Palau, particularly during the high season. Journey times are longer (around 1 hour) and services are limited, so always check the latest timetables.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"><strong><span class=\"\">Taxi or chauffeur-driven car<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"\"> : a convenient but more expensive option, ideal if you\u2019re travelling with a lot of luggage or in a group.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2 id=\"come-arrivare-a-palau-in-traghetto-il-collegamento-per-le-isole\"><span class=\"\">\u00a0How to get to Palau by ferry: the ferry service to the islands<\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"><span class=\"\">Palau is best known for its\u00a0<\/span><strong><span class=\"\">port<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"\">, from where ferries depart for the\u2019<\/span><strong><span class=\"\">La Maddalena Archipelago<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"\">. But if you\u2019re arriving by sea, or want to take your car to the islands, you should be aware that:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"><span class=\"\">The\u00a0<\/span><strong><span class=\"\">port of Palau<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"\">\u00a0It is equipped to handle the boarding of cars, motorbikes and pedestrians.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"><span class=\"\">The main company operating this route is the\u00a0<\/span><strong><span class=\"\">Delcomar<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"\">, with frequent services to\u00a0<\/span><strong><span class=\"\">La Maddalena<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"><span class=\"\">The ferry crossing from Palau to La Maddalena takes about\u00a0<\/span><strong><span class=\"\">15\u201320 minutes<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"\">, and it is one of the shortest and most scenic routes in the Mediterranean.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<blockquote>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"><strong><span class=\"\">A traveller\u2019s tip:<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"\"> If you need to take your car on board, book your ticket well in advance during July and August, as places sell out quickly.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h2 id=\"come-arrivare-a-palau-in-auto-percorsi-e-parcheggi\"><span class=\"\">How to get to Palau by car: routes and car parks<\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"><span class=\"\">Travelling to Palau by car is the preferred option for those who also wish to visit the Gallura hinterland and the Costa Smeralda.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"da-olbia-40-km-40-minuti\"><span class=\"\">From Olbia (40 km \u2013 40 minutes)<\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"><span class=\"\">Take the\u00a0<\/span><strong><span class=\"\">SS125<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"\">\u00a0northwards, via Golfo Aranci and Porto Rotondo, or via the inland road that runs alongside the airport. It is a smooth, well-signposted route.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"da-sassari-alghero-circa-120-km-1h-40-min\"><span class=\"\">From Sassari \/ Alghero (approx. 120 km \u2013 1 hr 40 mins)<\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"><span class=\"\">Follow the\u00a0<\/span><strong><span class=\"\">SS131<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"\">\u00a0Head to Olbia, then carry on along the SS125 towards Palau. Alternatively, for a more scenic coastal route, you can go via Castelsardo and Santa Teresa Gallura, but this will take longer.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"da-cagliari-circa-280-km-3h-30-min\"><span class=\"\">From Cagliari (approx. 280 km \u2013 3 hours 30 minutes)<\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"><span class=\"\">Take the\u00a0<\/span><strong><span class=\"\">SS131 \u201cCarlo Felice\u201d<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"\">\u00a0Head to Sassari, then take the SS131 towards Olbia and finally the SS125 to Palau. It\u2019s a long journey but can be done in half a day.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"parcheggi-a-palau\"><span class=\"\">Car parks in Palau<\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"><span class=\"\">During the high season, it can be difficult to find a parking space. The village has several car parks:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"><strong><span class=\"\">Pay-and-display car parks<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"\">\u00a0near the harbour and the seafront (recommended for those due to board a ferry).<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"><strong><span class=\"\">Free car parks<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"\"> in the outlying areas, from where you can walk to the centre in 5\u201310 minutes.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"come-arrivare-a-palau-con-i-mezzi-pubblici\"><span class=\"\">\u00a0How to get to Palau by public transport<\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"><span class=\"\">If you don\u2019t want to drive, you can use the intercity buses operated by the\u00a0<\/span><strong><span class=\"\">ARST<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"\"> which connect Olbia (and its airport) to Palau. Services are more frequent during the summer months, but are limited in winter. I\u2019d recommend downloading the app or checking the ARST website for up-to-date, real-time timetables.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"tabella-riassuntiva-come-raggiungere-palau\"><span class=\"\">Summary table: how to get to Palau<\/span><\/h2>\n<div class=\"ds-scroll-area ds-scroll-area--show-on-focus-within ds-scroll-area--enabled _1210dd7 c03cafe9\">\n<div class=\"ds-scroll-area__gutters\">\n<div class=\"ds-scroll-area__horizontal-gutter\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"ds-scroll-area__vertical-gutter\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th><span class=\"\">Half<\/span><\/th>\n<th><span class=\"\">Route<\/span><\/th>\n<th><span class=\"\">Weather<\/span><\/th>\n<th><span class=\"\">Recommended for\u2026<\/span><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><strong><span class=\"\">Flight + Car<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span class=\"\">Olbia (OLB) \u2013 Palau via the SS125<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span class=\"\">40 mins<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span class=\"\">Anyone who wants freedom of movement and to explore the surrounding area as well.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong><span class=\"\">Plane + Bus<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span class=\"\">Olbia (OLB) \u2013 Palau with ARST<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span class=\"\">~1 hour<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span class=\"\">Travellers travelling light and on a tight budget.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong><span class=\"\">Cars<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span class=\"\">From any town in Sardinia via the SS125\/SS131<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span class=\"\">Variable<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span class=\"\">Families or groups bringing beach equipment.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong><span class=\"\">Ferry<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<td><span class=\"\">Palau \u2013 La Maddalena (and surrounding islands)<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span class=\"\">15\u201320 mins<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span class=\"\">Those continuing on towards the archipelago (by car or on foot).<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"palau-non-solo-punto-di-partenza\"><span class=\"\">Palau: not just a starting point<\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"><span class=\"\">Remember that\u00a0<\/span><strong><span class=\"\">Getting to Palau<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"\">\u00a0It\u2019s not just the first stop on the way to La Maddalena: this town offers\u00a0<\/span><strong><span class=\"\">wonderful beaches<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"\">\u00a0(such as Porto Pollo Beach and Sciumara),\u00a0<\/span><strong><span class=\"\">hiking trails<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"\"> with sea views and a lively nightlife. That\u2019s why many travellers choose to stay here for the whole of their holiday.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"consigli-finali-per-il-tuo-viaggio\"><span class=\"\">Final tips for your trip<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"><strong><span class=\"\">Book everything in advance<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"\">: both flights and ferries to the islands, especially if you\u2019re travelling in July and August.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"><strong><span class=\"\">Check the weather and sea conditions<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"\">: Ferry crossings may be suspended in rough seas.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"><strong><span class=\"\">Make sure you bring comfortable clothing and walking shoes<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"\"> if you\u2019d like to explore the trails in the La Maddalena Archipelago National Park.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 id=\"hai-bisogno-di-altre-informazioni-su-palau-e-la-maddalena\"><span class=\"\">Would you like any further information about Palau and La Maddalena?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\"><span class=\"\">If you\u2019ve found this guide useful, do keep exploring our blog to discover\u00a0<\/span><strong><span class=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.petagus.it\/en\/what-to-see-in-palau\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">What to see in Palau<\/a><\/span><\/strong><span class=\"\">, the\u00a0<\/span><strong><span class=\"\">best beaches<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"\">\u00a0and the\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.petagus.it\/en\/boat-trips-la-maddalena-from-palau\/\"><strong><span class=\"\">boat excursions La Maddalena<\/span><\/strong><\/a><span class=\"\"> Not to be missed. Have a good trip! \ud83d\ude97<\/span><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Come arrivare a Palau: traghetti, aerei e auto Se stai pianificando un viaggio in Sardegna e vuoi raggiungere\u00a0Palau, sei nel posto giusto. Questo piccolo centro della Gallura \u00e8 il punto di partenza ideale per esplorare l&#8217;Arcipelago di La Maddalena, ma anche una meta di mare ricca di attrazioni. In questa guida completa ti spieghiamo\u00a0come arrivare [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13305,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13290","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-default"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.petagus.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13290","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.petagus.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.petagus.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.petagus.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.petagus.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13290"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.petagus.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13290\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13397,"href":"https:\/\/www.petagus.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13290\/revisions\/13397"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.petagus.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13305"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.petagus.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13290"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.petagus.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13290"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.petagus.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13290"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}