Olbia Airport is one of the three main airports on Italy’s island of Sardinia, and is located approximately four kilometres from the city centre of Olbia, on the Costa Smeralda, or Emerald Coast. For this reason, the airport is commonly referred to as Costa Smeralda Airport, and it has the official airport code of OLB. Approximately one and a half million passengers per year travel through Olbia Airport, many of which are on their way to enjoy the beautiful beaches in the area, and other more historical sights. The best way to get around Sardinia is in your own rented car, and there are a variety of car hire companies available at Olbia Airport.

The Olbia Airport car hire companies can be found in the arrivals area of the terminal building. The terminal is just a single building, with arrivals on one side and the departures area on the other, therefore, passengers will easily find their way around the building. The various facilities are also clearly marked. Passengers will find the car hire companies of Hertz, Avis, Sixt, Budget, National, Alamo, Thrifty, Auto Europa, Easycar, Dollar, Europcar and Targarent at Olbia Airport.

Vehicles can be hired directly from the rental counters at the airport, or in advance, from your chosen car hire company’s website. All the companies mentioned offer comprehensive websites which display all their vehicle categories available at this rental location, as well as passenger and luggage capacity details for example vehicles in each category, in order to assist customers in choosing the right size of car for their holiday or business trip. The websites also have plenty of information regarding the rental procedures and policies that need to be followed when hiring a vehicle. Most car hire companies require their customers to select a car category, rather than a vehicle by its specific make and model, but certain companies do offer this option. Hertz has three collections of vehicles that can be booked by make and model, and Budget offers their Street Fleet rental cars under ‘My Choice’ for this purpose.

Passengers hiring a vehicle from Olbia Airport need to meet the minimum age requirement of 21, and should have a valid drivers license in their name. The drivers license should also have been held by the renter in his/her country of residence for at least a year prior to the rental date. Some car hire companies require foreign renters to have an International Driving Permit as well. A young driver fee may be applicable to younger drivers, between the ages of 21 and 25, and this is a rate payable per day of rental, and per underage driver registered on the rental contract, up until a maximum of ten rental days. A major credit card in the name of the primary renter is required for payment of the rental period, and most car hire companies accept the cards of American Express, Diners Club, Eurocard / MasterCard and Visa. They may even offer their own charge cards. Cash or debit cards are mostly not accepted as forms of payment.

The island of Sardinia is famous for its magnificent white beaches, and clear blue waters, and a rented vehicle is by far the best way to explore the region. Although there is an excellent bus transport network in Sardinia, some of the best beaches are only accessible by car. It is also wonderful to drive along the beautiful coastline, and enjoy views of the sea. The town itself is quite small, and certain areas can easily be travelled on foot, or even by bicycle, but a rented car is a good way to get around the town as well, and is especially useful when taking day outings to view some of the areas surrounding Olbia. The island has many so-called nuraghi, which are circular stone towers that may have been used as a refuge place during times of danger, or as locations from where to defend the nearby settlements. The nuraghi of Cabu Abbas, or the Riu Mulinu, is found nearby Olbia, and is a good example of one of these strange rock constructions. Many tourists who enjoy nature also like to drive out to Ogliastra, and spend time on its beautiful and unspoiled coastline. 

Even though it is often recommended to not attempt to drive in Italian cities, due to the ‘different’ driving habits of the locals, which is rather aggressive and impatient, Sardinian drivers are a bit more peaceful and relaxed!  Drivers should though always obey the road rules in Sardinia, by not exceeding speed limits and remaining sober while behind the wheel.

Passengers collecting their rented vehicles should ensure that they know which type of fuel to use (diesel or petrol), and should ensure they are comfortable with the workings of the vehicle before driving away.  Most car hire companies offer 24 hour emergency roadside assistance with every vehicle they hire, therefore make sure that you have been provided with the number to call in an emergency situation. Vehicles should be returned to the relevant car hire company in the same condition as they were received, except for reasonable wear and tear. Although vehicles are cleaned before their next rental, try not to return your vehicle too dirty, as you may be liable for extra cleaning costs. Return the vehicle with a full or empty fuel tank, depending on the car rental option for which you made payment.

Further information regarding the car rental offices at Olbia Airport can be found on the airport’s official website at http://www.geasar.it/eng/airport.

• Alamo Olbia
• Auto Europa Olbia
• Avis Olbia
• Budget Olbia
• Dollar Olbia
• EasyCar Olbia
• Europcar Olbia
• Hertz Olbia
• National Olbia
• Sixt Olbia
• Targarent Olbia
• Thrifty Olbia