British Airways (BA) has announced it’ll be expanding its route network for summer 2026 with a new service between London Stansted and Olbia in Sardinia. 

Flights are now available to book for dates from May 23 and September 27 2026, and run twice a week on Saturday and Sunday. Prices start at £115 each way for economy plus, which includes 23kg of checked baggage. Holidaymakers will also have the option to upgrade to Club Europe, BA’s business class, which includes extras such as bigger seats and 32kg of luggage.

Ian Romanis, managing director of BA Cityflyer, said in a statement: “Olbia from Stansted Airport is perfect for a getaway to Sardinia’s crystal-clear waters and stunning Mediterranean landscapes, and complements existing British Airways services from London City and Heathrow Airports.”

Olbia in Sardinia is becoming an increasingly popular destination, with a 38% increase in visitors in 2024. Set on the northeast coast of Sardinia, it’s close to a number of the island’s stunning beaches such as Spiaggia Le Saline, which has coarse but golden sands and turquoise seas popular among wind surfers. The smaller Spiaggia Pittulongu outside the city has a little less space, but offers soft white sands and clear seas. You can also rent a sunbed if you’re planning a day at the beach and want somewhere to recline.

A big draw of the city, and Sardinia in general, is the amount of sunshine it receives. It gets around 290 days of sun a year, and in the peak season of July and August, there’s more than 11 hours of sunshine a day on average.

Medieval Basilica di San Simplicio is one of the city’s most recognisable sights. Built in the 11th and 12th centuries, it’s made in granite and covered in beautiful carvings. The church is set in the older part of Olbia, which has traditional narrow streets with cafes, shops, and bars.

One of the oldest sites in Olbia is the Acquedotto Romano, a Roman aqueduct that dates back to the 2nd century. There’s no entry fee, you can simply park and wander around the Roman ruins, and there’s plenty of signage that explains more about life during the period. Another archeological site to visit is Nuraghe Riu Mulinu Cabu Abbas, just to the north of the city. While it’s a 30-minute uphill hike, it’s worth it to visit this ancient settlement and learn about life in the Bronze Age when the ruins were part of a thriving community.

In town, the Olbia Archaeological Museum showcases some of the treasures found during local excavations, featuring artefacts from eras ranging from Phoenician to Greek, through to modern times.

But not everyone has a positive impression of Olbia. In a Reddit thread where a poster asked “What is Olbia like in general?”, they received a raft of mixed reviews of the coastal city.

One poster answered: “Been here for a week for work and it’s not great, not terrible. You’ll definitely want a car to go explore other towns and beaches. We did a catamaran day trip which was a great way to swim in cool spots without dealing with the insanely packed beaches.”

Another said: “It’s just a starting point. I enjoyed the city center but those few hours was the extent of my visit in Olbia besides the airport.” A third added: “Honnestly, it is not a nice city. The center is nice but around, it doesn’t feel safe and it is pretty ugly.”  

Of course, other opinions are available. Another wrote on the same thread: “Just got back. Absolutely loved it. Went to a tiny beach that was almost empty.”

And, once you land in Olbia, you don’t need to stay in the city itself. Just a 35-minute taxi ride away is the glamorous Costa Smeralda, known for its luxury resorts and long beaches with turquoise seas. Or just south of the city is San Teodoro, famous for its Caribbean-style beaches, lively nightlife, and areas of natural beauty such as Monte Nieddu, a mountainous area with black rocks which can be explored by quad bike. 

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