VAN-COMPARATOR Guide
Sardinia by campervan: ferry versus renting in Olbia — the smart maths
Take a rented van on the ferry or fly and rent in Olbia? A costed comparison, north and east itineraries, and Sardinia's overnight parking rules.
Sardinia is a campervan island: wild coastline, quiet roads, and a dense network of stopovers and campsites. Two ways in: put a mainland rental van on the ferry, or fly to Olbia and rent on the spot. The maths almost always favours the second.
The ferry option: budget generously
From Livorno, Genoa or Civitavecchia, a 6 m van with 2 passengers costs €300–550 return in high season (overnight crossing, cabin extra). Add the drive to the ferry terminal, and check one crucial point: many Yescapa and Goboony contracts exclude islands or require written approval from the owner, sometimes with an insurance surcharge.
Renting in Olbia: the simple play
Direct flights from all over Europe, pickup 15 minutes from the airport, and vehicles already suited to the island. Expect €90–150/day for a campervan in summer, €60–90 in May–June and September–October — by far the best months: warm water, empty roads, gentle prices.
Two one-week itineraries
- Northern loop: Costa Smeralda, the La Maddalena archipelago (van in the car park, island shuttle), Santa Teresa, Alghero and the Bosa coast road — the island's most beautiful drive.
- Eastern run: the Gulf of Orosei, Cala Gonone, the Baunei supramonte, the beaches of Ogliastra. Wilder, with superb hiking and some of the island's most dramatic scenery.
Parking: the Sardinian rule
Wild camping is banned and patrolled in summer, especially within 300 m of beaches. Private aree di sosta (€12–25 a night) and inland agricamping farms do the job perfectly — see our stopovers guide. To compare available vans in Olbia across Yescapa, Goboony, Roadsurfer and Indie Campers at a glance, run a Van-Comparator search with your dates. If you're unsure about size, a 6 m converted van remains the best compromise on Sardinian roads, which narrow quickly once you leave the main axes.