Reaching this paradise is surprisingly simple. We tend to imagine the most unspoilt islands as remote and hard to reach, but La Maddalena is incredibly close to the rest of the world. The journey itself becomes an exciting prelude to the calm of the archipelago.
Distances shrink dramatically thanks to excellent connections:
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From Milan, in just two and a half hours in total you can leave the city rush behind and find yourself with your feet in the water.
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From Rome, less than 2 hours are enough to go from the heart of the capital to the scent of the Mediterranean scrub.
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And for those travelling from overseas, thanks to the new direct flights to Olbia Costa Smeralda airport, just 11 hours from New York are enough to land in La Maddalena.
The last mile: the ferry ritual
Once you land in Olbia, after about 40 minutes by car you reach the port of Palau. From here, the final crossing becomes a true welcome ritual: a regular ferry service connects the island 24 hours a day, all year round, with continuous crossings every 15 or 30 minutes depending on the time of day.
The crossing takes just 15 minutes: exactly the time to step onto the outer deck, let the wind tousle your hair and watch the island’s profile draw ever closer.
Plan your route Choose your starting point below to see detailed instructions for beginning your journey to the archipelago.