📷 Photo by Jordi Vich Navarro on UnsplashSardinia’s Orientale Sarda
The SS125 from Olbia to Cagliari: white beaches, the Gulf of Orosei and some of the wildest coast in the Mediterranean.
- Distance
- 264 km (164 mi)
- Driving
- 3 h 39 min
- Suggested days
- 5
- Stops
- 8
- Countries
- Italy
- Updated
- September 18, 2026
At a glance: 5-day road trip of about 264 km (164 mi) with 8 stops, from Olbia to Cagliari. About 3 h 39 min of driving in total.
More road trips in Italy · More road trips from Olbia
Route description
From Olbia, where most ferries from the mainland arrive, the SS125 heads south to San Teodoro, with the long white beach of La Cinta and a lagoon behind it. Beyond it, the road continues down the coast to Orosei, a small town with old churches at the edge of the Gulf of Orosei.
From Dorgali, a road through a tunnel drops to Cala Gonone, the harbour for the gulf. From here, boats run to Cala Luna, a crescent of sand under limestone caves, which you can also reach on a four-hour coastal path.
South of Dorgali, the SS125 climbs through the Supramonte mountains, one of the wildest stretches of road in Sardinia, with many bends and few villages. From the plateau above Baunei, a steep hike of about an hour and a half leads down to Cala Goloritzé, a white-pebble cove below a limestone spire; access is paid and limited in summer.
The road descends to Arbatax, known for its red porphyry rocks by the sea, and continues south to Cagliari, with its hilltop Castello quarter and the long Poetto beach. Book ferries well ahead for July and August, fill up before the mountain stretch, and stay at campsites rather than parking on the beaches overnight.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Olbia
Italy - 228 km
San Teodoro
Italy - 355 km
Orosei
Italy - 415 km
Cala Gonone
Italy - 58 km
Cala Luna
NatureDorgali, ItalyA crescent of sand under limestone caves, reached by boat from Cala Gonone or on a four-hour coastal path.
- 617 km
Cala Goloritzé
NatureBaunei, ItalyA white-pebble cove below a limestone spire, reached on a steep hike of about an hour and a half. Paid access in summer.
- 723 km
Arbatax
Italy - 8118 km
Cagliari
Italy
Suggested stages and overnight stops
5 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.
- Day 1: Olbia → San Teodoro · 28 km · 0 h 23 minOvernight nearby, for example: Camping Cala D'Ambra (< 1 km); Campeggio San Teodoro La Cinta (< 1 km).
- Day 2: San Teodoro → Cala Luna · 78 km · 1 h 05 minOn the way: Orosei, Cala Gonone.Overnight nearby, for example: Campeggio Cala Gonone (7 km); Agriturismo Camping Nuraghe Mannu (4 km).
- Day 3: Cala Luna → Cala Goloritzé · 17 km · 0 h 14 minOvernight nearby, for example: Camping Mare Blu (14 km); Camping Girasole (16 km).
- Day 4: Cala Goloritzé → Arbatax · 23 km · 0 h 19 minOvernight nearby, for example: Camping Girasole (3 km); Camping Cigno Bianco (4 km).
- Day 5: Arbatax → Cagliari · 118 km · 1 h 38 minOvernight nearby, for example: Camper Cagliari Park (2 km); garden sharing Officina Equestre (17 km).
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually April–May and September–November. Still fine, with some compromises, in March, June and December. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.
Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons
Practical notes for the road
- Italy: Motorway tolls. Tolls on most autostrade; pay at the barrier by card or cash. Motorway limit for cars: 130 km/h.
Road rules and fees change. Check official sources before you travel.
FAQs
How long is Sardinia’s Orientale Sarda?
5-day road trip of about 264 km (164 mi) with 8 stops, from Olbia to Cagliari. About 3 h 39 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Sardinia’s Orientale Sarda?
We suggest 5 days: about 3 h 39 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Sardinia’s Orientale Sarda start and end?
It starts in Olbia and ends in Cagliari.
Which countries does Sardinia’s Orientale Sarda pass through?
Italy.
Where can you camp along Sardinia’s Orientale Sarda?
OpenStreetMap lists 50 campsites and motorhome stopovers within 20 km of the stops on this route. For example: Camping Cala D'Ambra, Camping Sa Marina and Agriturismo Vistamare.
When is the best time for Sardinia’s Orientale Sarda?
The most pleasant months are usually April–May and September–November. Still fine, with some compromises, in March, June and December. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
