Hotels in Figari/Golfo Aranci

Golfo Aranci

Golfo Aranci sits on the northeastern tip of Sardinia, roughly 25 km north of Olbia along the SS125. The name — Gulf of Crabs — refers to the broad, shallow bay that cuts into granite headlands, producing water clarity rare even by Sardinian standards. The town grew around its ferry terminal, which operates Grimaldi and Moby Lines crossings to Civitavecchia, making it the first Sardinian stop for travelers arriving from mainland Italy by sea.

Most visitors are beach-focused. Cala Moresca, a sheltered inlet 2 km south of the port, draws snorkelers to posidonia meadows just below the surface. The longer Spiaggia di Golfo Aranci stretches north of the harbor and suits families — shallow gradient, no current, and a promenade of bars and trattorias serving aragosta alla catalana, the lobster-with-tomato dish traditional to this stretch of coast. Day-trippers use Golfo Aranci as a base for the Costa Smeralda resorts 30 km north or the marine park at Tavolara island, visible from the waterfront.

The town operates a small train service — the Trenino Verde — connecting inland to Sassari during summer months, useful for those without a car. Hotel supply concentrates in the 3-star segment; larger resort properties cluster in the surrounding coastline rather than the town center itself. The ferry port runs year-round, but peak accommodation demand falls between June and September.