Italian island with perfect ‘little Tahiti’ beach gets new direct UK route

Olbia is located on the Northern coast of Sardinia (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

With white sandy beaches, ancient ruins, a quaint town square filled with cafes and restaurants, and easy access to the popular Costa Smeralda, Olbia has everything you could want from a Sardinian getaway.

And if that sounds like your dream holiday, you’re in luck, as British Airways is launching a new flight route from the UK to Olbia — right in time for summer.

As of May 25, BA will offer a weekly service between London City and Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport, making it easier than ever for Brits to visit the spectacular Italian island with over 200 beaches.

Many are regarded as the most beautiful in the world, and one is even nicknamed ‘Little Tahiti’.

While BA flights to Olbia are currently available from Edinburgh and Heathrow airports, the central outbound airport and shorter journey time of this new addition is an exciting prospect for UK holidaymakers.

What to see and do in Olbia

Olbia, a small industrial town, is often seen as a base for exploring surrounding areas such as the Costa Smeralda, or Emerald Coast.

However, tour operator Viator argues it ‘boasts some of Sardinia’s most stunning coastlines’ with ‘crystal-clear turquoise water and white-sand beaches, like Spiaggia Pittulongu, Punta della Saline, and Bados.’

Tavolara Island is well worth a visit (Picture: Getty Images)

To get a feel for the Gallura city, take a wander around the shops, restaurants and bars along the Corso Umberto, and watch the world go by with a coffee from Piazza Regina Margherita’s numerous cafes.

Or, if history’s more your thing, head to the Museo Archeologico – which houses all sorts of ancient artefacts and relics – before visiting the Basilica of San Simplicio, a world-renowned and incredibly well-preserved church dating back to the 12th Century.

About 20 minutes from Olbia is Porto San Paolo, where you can take a ferry to the rugged, marine-protected island of Tavolara.

Popular with hikers and snorkellers alike, it features an array of wildlife, striking rock formations and pristine beaches.

‘Little Tahiti’

While Sardinia boasts dozens of otherworldly beaches, one of the most sought-after shorelines is Cala Brandinchi, otherwise known as ‘Little Tahiti’.

More French Polynesia than Mediterranean, this half-mile cove on Sardinia’s northeastern coast has pillow-soft sand and translucent azure water that need to be seen to be believed.

Best of all, the beach is about a 25-minute drive from the Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport.

Marooned 120 miles off the Italian mainland, Sardinia is home to some of the world’s best beaches (Picture: Getty Images)

But a word of warning: just like Cala Goloritze, another of Sardinia’s most popular beaches, you’ll need to reserve a spot at Cala Brandinchi.

During peak season, from June 1 to September 30, visitors are capped at 1,500 per day. You can get a QR code for access here.

How much do flights to Olbia cost? And how long does the journey take?

Depending on when you travel, round-trip fares from London City to Olbia via British Airways start from £258, with the journey taking around 2 hours and 10 minutes.

Alternatively, the airline offers flights from Edinburgh or Heathrow, priced from £121 return and taking an average of 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Olbia is less than three hours by plane from UK airports (Picture: Getty Images)

Direct flights are also available between the UK and Olbia from the likes of easyJet, Jet2 and TUI and Ryanair.

According to Skyscanner, the average journey time is 2 hours and 36 minutes, with last-minute tickets from as little as £37.

This isn’t the only change BA has made to its schedule this year.

Next month, it will launch two more Italian routes – Rimini on the Adriatic Coast from London Heathrow, and Salerno on the Amalfi Coast from London Gatwick – and twice-daily flights to Tokyo.

This comes alongside the airline’s return to the Georgian capital of Tbilisi after a 12-year hiatus, and to Kuala Lumpur for the first time in five years.

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing [email protected].