Civitavecchia to Olbia Ferry (Rome to Sardinia)

Ferry operators on the Civitavecchia to Olbia route

Four companies operate the Rome to Sardinia ferry route, the most-served Sardinia connection from mainland Italy.

Tirrenia is the long-standing operator on this route, running daily year-round service. Tirrenia provides preferential rates for Sardinian residents and those born in Sardinia, with the offer extending to family members and vehicles in tow. Up to 9 sailings weekly. Crossing time approximately 8 hours.

Grimaldi Lines operates 7 weekly sailings, with crossings around 7 hours 30 minutes. Grimaldi vessels include LNG-powered ships emphasizing environmental sustainability. Grimaldi offers a 20 percent senior discount (60+ years) on Sardinia routes with promo code SENIOR.

GNV (Grandi Navi Veloci) operates seasonal crossings (2 weekly) at high speeds, with the fastest crossings at 5 hours 30 minutes.

Moby Lines is the leading Italian shipping company in passenger and car transport to the Mediterranean islands, with over 130 years of tradition. Moby operates seasonal service with the shortest crossings on the route.

How long is the ferry from Rome to Sardinia?

The fastest crossing is 5 hours 30 minutes (Moby Lines and GNV high-speed services). Most ferries take 7 to 8 hours. Daytime crossings depart from 8 AM to 2 PM; overnight crossings depart from 10 PM to 11:30 PM, arriving in Olbia in the early morning.

How much does the Civitavecchia to Olbia ferry cost?

Standard foot passenger tickets start at €22 in low season (November to March), rising to €45-€55 per person in peak summer (July to August). With a car, prices start at €75 in low season and reach €195 in peak. Cabin supplements add €35-€90. A family of four with a car and cabin pays approximately €210 in low season and €380 in August.

Departure and arrival ports

Ferries depart from Civitavecchia, the main passenger port serving Rome, located 80 kilometers northwest of the capital. The port is reachable by train from Roma Termini in approximately 1 hour (regional or InterCity trains run regularly). The port is in the city center, walkable from the train station.

Ferries arrive at Olbia Isola Bianca, the most modern and best-equipped port in Sardinia, located 3 kilometers northeast of Olbia city center. From Olbia airport (10 km from the port), rental cars and shuttle buses are available. From Olbia, drive to the Costa Smeralda (Porto Cervo, Porto Rotondo) in 30-40 minutes, or to Cagliari (260 km south) in 3 hours.

When to book your Civitavecchia to Olbia ferry

For peak season (July and August), book 2 to 3 months in advance, especially with vehicles. Cabin space sells out earliest. Many operators (Moby, Tirrenia, Grimaldi) run advance booking discounts of 20 percent if booking January through March for summer travel.

Travel tip: Civitavecchia is Rome's port

Civitavecchia is the practical access port for Rome (80 km, 1 hour by train from Termini). Many travelers searching for "Rome to Sardinia ferry" do not realize the port is named Civitavecchia. The ferry plus a car gives the most flexibility for exploring Sardinia: from Olbia, the Costa Smeralda is 30 minutes; the rest of the island opens up in a day's drive.