Private transfer from Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport to Le Saline Olbia

Le Saline sits on the coast just north of Olbia, taking its name from the old salt pans behind the shore, where flamingos and other birds gather in the shallow lagoon. The beach is long, sandy and shallow for a good distance out, which makes it a favourite with families and with beginner windsurfers and kitesurfers when the Mistral picks up in the afternoon. It looks out towards the flat-topped island of Tavolara and the Gulf of Olbia. It's busiest from June to September; you'll find beach bars, a couple of kiosks and space to walk, plus the neighbouring beaches of Pittulongu and Bados a short drive further north. Off-season it's quiet and used mainly by local walkers.

The journey is short and almost entirely flat. Leaving Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport you skirt the edge of Olbia and pick up the coastal road heading north towards Pittulongu and Golfo Aranci. Most of the route runs through the outskirts of town and then along the coast, with the salt pans and lagoon appearing on your right as you approach. The final stretch turns off the main coast road onto smaller local roads leading directly to the beach parking and the strip of houses and bars behind it. There's no mountain driving and nothing steep or winding; the whole thing is usually around twenty minutes outside peak traffic. In July and August the road out of Olbia and the beach approaches can slow noticeably.

Le Saline is not a single resort with one entrance but a stretch of beach with several access points and small car parks, so tell the driver which section you want — the main Le Saline parking, or the quieter ends towards Pittulongu. If you're staying in a villa or B&B in this area, have the exact address or a pin, as many properties sit on unnamed lanes behind the dunes. Bring supplies: the kiosks are seasonal and there's no large supermarket right at the beach, though Olbia's shops are minutes back down the road. The shallow water and afternoon wind are great for kids and watersports but mean it's exposed on windy days. Given the short distance, this is an easy transfer even with late-arriving flights.