If you are thinking of leaving a car at Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport while spending a few days in La Maddalena, the airport’s official long-stay car park is straightforward but not necessarily the closest option to the ferry. As of September 2026, Olbia Airport lists long-stay rates of €38 for three days, €58 for five days and €70 for seven days, with the price rising by €6 per additional day after day 15. The important question is therefore not only how much airport parking costs, but whether leaving the car in Olbia makes sense for the rest of your itinerary.

The official airport car parks are operated by GEASAR. More than 1,100 spaces are available in total, and the parking facility operates 24 hours a day. Long-stay parking is divided between Sector A and Sector B, both approximately 50 metres from the terminal. Sector A is partially covered and Sector B is fully covered. citeturn0search0

Olbia Airport long-stay prices in 2026

The current official tariff for Sectors A and B is €20 for 24 hours, €30 for 48 hours, €38 for 72 hours, €48 for four days and €58 for five days. Six days cost €68 and seven days €70. From there, the published prices are €76 for eight days, €82 for nine, €88 for ten, €94 for eleven, €100 for twelve, €106 for thirteen, €112 for fourteen and €118 for fifteen days. Each subsequent day costs €6. citeturn0search0

These figures come from the airport operator rather than third-party parking websites, which may show older prices. GEASAR currently warns that construction connected with the new rail link to Olbia station and restyling work in the parking areas may cause disruption over the coming months. It advises travelers to arrive with enough time to check parking availability. citeturn0search0

Long-stay parking can be purchased at the parking office, which is open daily from 7:00 to 23:00, or online. Payment on departure is also available through the staffed office and automatic payment machines. citeturn0search0

But La Maddalena ferries leave from Palau

This is the detail that can catch first-time visitors: the ferry to La Maddalena does not leave from Olbia Airport. The regular sea connection is between Palau and La Maddalena. The Municipality of La Maddalena confirms that Cala Gavetta and the island are reached by ferry from Palau, while Sardegna Mobilità lists the Palau–La Maddalena route among Sardinia’s public-service island connections. citeturn0search11turn0search8

So if you park at Olbia Airport, you still need to travel north to Palau without your car. That can make sense if you are flying out of Olbia immediately after returning from La Maddalena, or if the airport is the natural point at which you want to leave a rental or private vehicle. It is less convenient if your only reason for using the airport car park is to avoid taking the car on the ferry.

Before deciding, compare the complete journey: parking cost, transport between Olbia and Palau, ferry schedule and the number of days you plan to spend in the archipelago.

Can you take the car to La Maddalena instead?

Yes. The Palau–La Maddalena ferry services carry vehicles as well as foot passengers. Sardegna Mobilità states that the public-service route is currently operated by Delcomar, with fares varying by season and between residents and non-residents. Other ferry services also publish fares for passengers traveling with cars. citeturn0search8turn0search9

Taking a car across can be useful if your plans involve moving around the main island independently. On the other hand, visitors staying close to La Maddalena town or planning boat excursions may decide that a vehicle is unnecessary for part of the trip.

Drivers should also remember that the La Maddalena Archipelago is a protected national park. Specific rules and authorizations apply to certain activities in park waters, particularly boating, anchoring and navigation. These marine permits are separate from ordinary ferry transport for a road vehicle. citeturn0search7

Airport parking or parking closer to Palau?

There is no universal answer. Leaving the car at Olbia Airport is attractive when the airport is the beginning or end of the wider trip and you value an official 24-hour facility close to the terminal. For a seven-day stay, the current official long-stay tariff of €70 also makes the cost easy to calculate in advance. citeturn0search0

If the main objective is simply to leave the vehicle on mainland Sardinia while taking the ferry as a foot passenger, parking in or around Palau can reduce unnecessary backtracking. Availability and local parking conditions can vary with the season, so travelers should check current options before driving there, especially during the busy summer period.

For anyone choosing the airport option, use the official Long Stay Sectors A or B rather than the Short Stay area. Sector C is designed for short stays and carries a published daily rate of €27 for each 24-hour period, making it substantially more expensive for a multi-day trip. citeturn0search0

The practical calculation is simple: Olbia Airport’s official long-stay parking currently costs €38 for three days, €58 for five days and €70 for a week. It is a convenient, clearly priced option, but travelers heading specifically to La Maddalena should remember to include the onward journey to Palau before deciding where the car should spend the holiday.