Tavolara Island Island

Tavolara is a small limestone island off the northeastern coast of Sardinia, Italy, notable for a sheer mountainous profile rising directly from the sea. The island and nearby waters form part of a protected coastal and marine environment.

The island’s central feature is the steep ridge of Monte Tavolara, which forms dramatic cliff faces and a distinctive silhouette visible from the Sardinian coast. Boat trips around the island are the normal way to view the cliffs, seabird colonies and the shoreline; landings are limited and regulated in parts of the reserve.

Despite its proximity to Olbia and Porto San Paolo, Tavolara remains lightly inhabited and chiefly valued for its wild coastal scenery, diving and marine protection. The surrounding marine protected area helps conserve underwater habitats and limits certain activities.

Tavolara has a long local history of small-scale grazing and fishing and entered broader public notice through 19th century visitor accounts; later conservation measures established protections for its coastal and marine environments.

Located off Sardinia’s northeastern shore near Porto San Paolo and the city of Olbia, the island is a short boat ride from the Sardinian mainland and sits at the entrance to the Gulf of Olbia.

• Access: The island sits off the northeastern Sardinian coast near Porto San Paolo and the town of Olbia, and is reached by small boat services when landing is permitted.
• Conservation: Tavolara has historically been sparsely populated and is noted for steep cliffs and a largely unspoilt shoreline within a marine conservation area.

What to See#

• Monte Tavolara: Monte Tavolara is the steep limestone massif that dominates the island and rises sharply from the sea to a high peak.
• Marine protected area: The surrounding marine area is part of a protected zone with clear waters, important seabird colonies and coastal cliffs used for viewing and boat excursions.

Most visitors reach Tavolara by boat from Porto San Paolo (about 10-15 minutes by motorboat) or from Olbia’s marina (about 40 minutes). Private charters and scheduled excursion boats operate in summer; confirm landing permissions when booking as some areas fall within marine-protected zones.

• Book a boat from Porto San Paolo or Olbia's Cala S. Paolo in advance during summer; operators run single-day landing trips and circumnavigation tours.
• Bring binoculars and a waterproof jacket - weather changes fast and the island is prime for seabirds and grazing goats.
• Respect marine protected area rules: anchoring is restricted in parts of the marine reserve and fishing is regulated.
• If landing, aim for early morning to avoid the midday excursion-boat surge; the small sandy coves fill quickly.