Ciao a tutti! I'm considering traveling from Rome to Olbia, Sardegna. I've seen that the ferries leave around 10.30 at night from Civitavecchia, about 1.5 hours by train and then 500 meters to the port from the station. Taxis and shuttles seem to be €150-200. Can anyone suggest the best way to accomplish this? I'm travelling alone and getting myself to the port late at night seems precarious. I'd consider flying but I want to spend a few days in Rome before heading north. I plan to take the ferry from Olbia to Livorno to continue my journey to Bologna and the north. I'd appreciate any insight into what the port is like if I go at a more reasonable time etc. Grazie.

What time of year?

I searched a week in mid-May. Yes, there is the overnight ferry at 10:30 p.m., but also a non-stop Aeroitalia flight at 9:40 p.m. from FCO to Olbia. I haven't been to the Civitavecchia port at night, but I would fly anyway. I'm not a fan (or a good sleeper) on overnight ferries. In any event, flying would be faster, cheaper, safer.

Olbia to Livorno is another very long ferry ride, followed by a long-ish train ride to Bologna. Unless you were stopping along the way from Livorno to Bologna, I'd fly that leg as well. If you were planning a stop, investigate whether you should fly back to FCO and train from there to the interim stop. Depending on the day, it will likely still be faster than the ferry + train from Livorno, could be cheaper or equal overall, but might not work well with your plans.

Take a taxi from Civitavecchia railway station to the ferry.
Be aware that you will again have to look for a taxi after arrival at Olbia Isola Bianca.
If not, you will have to walk half an hour or so in order to reach the city.

After arrival at Leghorn (Livorno), you need again a taxi in order to get to the railway station.
You will then finally arrive at Bologna at 11am.
On certain days, Volotea and Ryanair have dirty cheap direct flights from Olbia to Bologna.

Thank you guys for responding. After talking with a friend, I have come to the conclusion that flying is the best option. I took the overnight train from Milazzo, Sicily to Roma Termini last year and really loved it. I was ascribing the same kind of enjoyment to the ferry but I gather it is not all that comfortable and takes too much time.

Do either of you have any suggestions for a 5 day itinerary? Do you have experience with any guided tours (or what we used to call "package deals") that would include transfers and hotels?

Thanks again. PS I am looking at going around mid-May this year.

Will you rent a car? The island is big... almost 5 hours to drive the length. Public transportation is a mixed bag. Rail routes are limited. Bus routes are good but service is infrequent and, according to locals we spoke with, not reliable. Maybe things have improved, but you'd have to check.

We've visited twice... The first time for a week, and the second time for 3 days (I think, it's been a while). Both times with a car. We enjoyed the northern and central parts of the island more than the far south. I especially liked the La Maddelena islands and several archeological sites. When we were at the southern end, it seemed more crowded everywhere, but to be fair our reaction was also affected by not-great weather.

For archeological sites like Barumini, Isili, Tharros, Pula you would better fly into Cagliari

Overnight ferries are usually pretty comfortable (if you get a cabin), but they usually make sense if you are taking your own car with you or if you're on a very tight budget (and skip the cabin and sleep on the deck or in a seat). If there is a cheap flight at a convenient time, I'd probably get that, even if it meant paying for one extra night's accommodation in Sardinia.

That said, if you do want to take the ferry for the novelty, I don't think it would be a problem. You'd be boarding basically at dinner time (you can't board at the last minute) in a busy town and port with a bunch of other people, not hanging out in a lonely spot of the port deep into the night.

Hi, all, and thanks again.
Jean, I will be renting a car and yes I'm primarily interested in the Maddalena archipelago area. I also have friends in Santa Teresa Gallura so I might drive there.
Neckervd, meh not really interested in the archaeological sites.

So, due to a friend's limiting timeline, I might have to do Rome first (end of April) and take the late afternoon flight to Olbia. Problem is can't fly from Fiumicino straightaway as int'l flight gets in too late for the 9am one and the other flight is like 4.30 so don't want to hang around airport all day.

So here's another idea: Fly to Olbia from Rome on afternoon flight (picking up car at airport 6pm-ish) for 6 nights. (At that hour and considering daylight savings should I drive to Palau that night or stay in Olbia somewhere?)
Then, instead of flying to Bologna (flight gets in like midnight; I do have a friend who probably would pick me up, but it's not ideal), I could take the overnight ferry with a cabin to Livorno and then go to Pisa for a couple of nights. Livorno looks kind of nice. I've been to Pisa many years ago and wouldn't mind seeing it again, but I wonder if it would be nice to stay overnight in Livorno first. Ferry gets in around 7am the next day so I could store my bag and have a look around before taking train to Pisa which is not very long.

Cheers, guys!

I see there is a day ferry from Olbia to Livorno (10:00 for 9 hours, so around 17:00 arrival time). Do you think there is a problem with seasickness? I was on a small cruise ship years ago and was seasick crossing the Gulf of Lyon (Genoa to Barcelona) but I don't think this journey is anything like that. Any idea?

If the 9am flight to Olbia is too early, you could take the 13.00 flight to Alghero

Olbia - Livorno vessels: 55 000 gross tonnage. The risk to get sea sick is very small.
I took this ferry several times, without any problem.

Not all Sardinia - Bologna flights arrive late.
Volotea has Thursday and Sunday Olbia - BLQ flights arriving at 13.30, whereas Ryanair arrives every Tuesday at 18.00
and,
from Alghero, daily except Tuesday, late mornning or in the afternoon.

Wow, thank you. Too many choices! Thursday Volotea Olbia to Bologna could be a solution. Seeing Pisa again would be cool though.

Yikes! Need to get onto my international flight from Brisbane to move forward with the itinerary.

Appreciate your help.