Porto San Paolo suits couples and small families who want a pool and the daily boats to Tavolara island. Olbia airport is about 15 minutes away. The homes are scattered over about 11 km around the municipality, so you will need a car to reach shops and beaches.
Porto San Paolo is the small port half of Loiri Porto San Paolo, a municipality in Gallura with a second centre in the hilltop village of Loiri, about 15 km from the sea. The port faces Tavolara across a narrow strait, and daily boats cross to Tavolara and the smaller islands of Molara, Piana and dei Cavalli. The local beach of Cala Ghjlgolu has turquoise water, ochre sand and a granite rock shaped like a turtle. Our homes are scattered around the area, over roughly 11 km, rather than clustered on the waterfront. Nearly all have a pool and a garden, and most sleep around four. The tourist board gives about 15,000 visitors to the coastal town in summer.
An island across the strait, about 5 km long, whose highest point, Monte Cannone, reaches 565 metres. Boats leave from Porto San Paolo.
Small islands off Porto San Paolo in the marine protected area, reached by fast boat. Admission is free.
The hilltop village of the same municipality, with a granite-fronted church of San Nicola di Bari, about 15 km from the sea.
The town itself is about 20 km from Porto San Paolo, while its airport is only around 15 minutes away by car.
The tourist board puts the municipality of Porto San Paolo roughly halfway between Olbia and San Teodoro.
Olbia airport is the one to use, about 15 minutes by car, with a bus (line 514) listed on the same route. Olbia town is about 20 km away. Homes are spread out, so a hire car is needed for beaches, shops and the Tavolara boats.
Summer is when the coast is busy: the tourist board puts about 15,000 visitors in the coastal town. The festival of Sant'Antonio da Padova falls in mid-June and San Nicola in late August. The Una notte in Italia film festival takes place on Tavolara in July, and there is a boat fair. The tourist board gives no wind or weather detail, so check boat departures before you plan a day around them.
By boat. Daily boats run from Porto San Paolo to Tavolara and to Molara, Piana and dei Cavalli. Tavolara lies directly across a narrow strait from the village, so the crossing is short.
Clear and colourful. Cala Ghjlgolu has turquoise water, ochre-coloured sand and a granite rock shaped like a turtle, which the tourist board calls one of the most photographed in Sardinia.
Yes. The drive is around 15 minutes, and a regional bus (line 514) is listed on the route. Olbia town is about 20 km away, so the airport is closer than the town.
Loiri is the hilltop village of the same municipality, about 15 km from the sea. The two centres have been one municipality since 1979, and Loiri has the granite-fronted church of San Nicola di Bari.
Two beaches, one in a cove at each end, Spalmatore di Fuori and Spalmatore di Terra. The island is part of a marine reserve set up in 1997, and only a few families live there.
Written by the TrustedVillas team. Last reviewed October 2026.
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