Reach Ogliastra by ferry
To reach central-eastern Sardinia by ferry, the best solution is to disembark in the port of Arbatax, a fraction of the municipality of Tortolì (province of Nuoro) located right in the middle of the east coast of Sardinia, precisely in Capo Bellavista. The commercial port welcomes the ships that make the round trip Civitavecchia – Arbatax and is the gateway to Ogliastra.
This is the ideal route to reach the historical-geographical region which is divided into Alta Ogliastra (Tortolì and the territories to the north), and Bassa Ogliastra (south of Tortolì), but also for those who have as their final destination any territory of the entire province of Nuoro, the administrative district of 5,638 square kilometers that extends from the Tyrrhenian coast to the mountain heart of Sardinia.
Book a ferry
Ferries Civitavecchia – Arbatax and vice versa
It is the shipping company Grimaldi Lines that sail on the route that connects the central area of the Sardinian island with the mainland. There are two departures a week from Civitavecchia, in the evening, arriving in Arbatax the next morning, after nine hours. The return is also operated twice a week; the departure time is at night, with arrival the following morning. In August, these maritime connections are strengthened with one more trip per week.
To make a reservation, you need name, surname, date of birth, number and expiry date of the passengers’ identity document and make, model and license plate of any car or motor vehicle accompanying them. You can choose between Deck Passage, Armchair, External or Internal Cabins equipped with four bunk beds, Superior Cabins, with single beds, sofa, porthole, TV and minibar, Junior Suites, like the Superior but with double bed, and Disabled Cabins, for passengers with reduced mobility. In high season (Easter, Christmas and from June to September) prices are subject to an increase. There are also bars, a self-service lounge, restaurant, shops and an area equipped for children’s entertainment on board.
Fast check-in allows you to show purchased tickets directly alongside, without first having to go to the ticket office. You must show up for boarding between an hour and a half and two hours before the departure time, depending on whether you are traveling as a pedestrian or with a vehicle. The embarkation piers are, in Civitavecchia, the Terminal Autostrade del Mare and in Arbatax the Banchina di Levante.
After the crossing in the Tyrrhenian Sea, once disembarked in Arbatax, you can stop (depending on your needs) in the area for a while or permanently, or continue to another destination in the Nuoro area, obviously being able to count on the possibility of taking the same Grimaldi Lines ferry also for the return to the base on the mainland.
How to get to the port of Civitavecchia
To get to the port of Civitavecchia with your own vehicle, if you are coming from the south, the advice is to exit the A1 at Civitavecchia Nord and then reach Tarquinia following the signs for the Interport, thus avoiding the traffic of the Grande Raccordo Anulare.
From the north, on the other hand, you have to exit at the A1 Orte tollbooth, continue towards Viterbo Sud and then towards Vetralla. From here it is necessary to continue to Civitavecchia and then on the SS1 Aurelia before finding the signs for the Interport. Varco Vespucci is the entrance to the port for vehicles. In the port area there are also three car parks for those who do not want to board the car.
If you arrive by train, to reach the ferry terminal from Civitavecchia station you can take a public bus or Portlink bus to Largo della Pace, where there are free shuttles to the maritime station terminal.
The Shuttle Bus of the SIT (Italian Transport Company) can be very convenient, because it connects the airports of Fiumicino and Ciampino to the Roma Termini railway station, and the latter with Largo della Pace, just outside the Civitavecchia port area, from where it departs the shuttle service to the quay. Tickets can also be purchased online.
