easyJet Names Sardinia #6 Best Family Destination in Europe — What This Means for Olbia

The airline's 2026 Family Holiday Index puts northeast Sardinia's gateway city firmly on the map. Direct flights from £35. Here's the practical guide for families choosing Olbia as their base.

Tavolara island from Pittulongu beach — one of the closest beaches to Olbia centre. © RENTAL12

What the easyJet Family Holiday Index Actually Measures

easyJet published its 2026 Family Holiday Index ranking Europe's top destinations for families travelling with children. The index scores destinations on five factors: ease of reaching the airport from the UK, beach and water access, price level, quantity of family activities, and overall family-friendliness. Spain dominated the top ten with six entries. But sitting at number six — above many better-known destinations — was Sardinia, labelled by easyJet as the "Caribbean of Europe."

The ranking was covered by the Birmingham Mail (23 March 2026), which noted Sardinia's "vast choice of beaches, family activities, and straightforward accessibility from the UK" as the key drivers.

"Sardinia performed well as a family destination due to its vast choice of beaches, family activities, and straightforward accessibility from the UK." — Birmingham Mail, reporting on easyJet's 2026 Family Holiday Index

Why Olbia Is the Right Base — Not Just a Stopover

The article specifically names Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport as the key access point for northeast Sardinia, with easyJet serving it from London Gatwick, London Luton, Bristol, and Edinburgh. Fares start at £35.60 one way in May. The flight is under three hours — comfortably within the attention span of most children.

What the index doesn't tell you is that Olbia is far more than a hub airport. The city has its own identity: a compact, walkable historic centre along Corso Umberto, 15+ beaches within a 20-minute drive, direct boat trips to the protected marine areas around Tavolara island, and easy day-trip access to Costa Smeralda and La Maddalena Archipelago. For families, staying in Olbia rather than in a resort hotel gives you all of this plus genuine Italian city life — markets, trattorias, gelato, and local neighbourhoods.

Pittulongu beach — 5km from Olbia centre, shallow water, family-safe year-round. © RENTAL12

Three Things the easyJet Article Doesn't Tell You About Sardinia Families

Practical Information: Flying to Olbia in 2026

Questions About Sardinia Family Holidays

What is easyJet's Family Holiday Index and where did Sardinia rank? +

What is easyJet's 2026 Family Holiday Index and where did Sardinia rank in the European rankings?

easyJet's Family Holiday Index scored destinations on beaches, activities, price, and ease of travel from the UK; Sardinia ranked #6 in Europe in 2026, called the "Caribbean of Europe."

easyJet's Family Holiday Index evaluates European destinations on five criteria: airport accessibility from the UK, beach quality and water access, overall price level, quantity of family-friendly activities, and general family-friendliness. In 2026, Spain dominated the top ten with six entries. Sardinia came in at #6 — the only Italian destination in the top ten — with the index citing its beaches, ease of access, and family activity range. easyJet and UK travel media dubbed it the "Caribbean of Europe."

Which easyJet flights go to Olbia from the UK? +

Which UK airports have direct easyJet flights to Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport in 2026?

easyJet flies to Olbia from London Gatwick, London Luton, Bristol, and Edinburgh, with fares from £35.60 one way in May 2026.

easyJet operates seasonal direct services to Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport (OLB) from four UK airports: London Gatwick, London Luton, Bristol, and Edinburgh. Fares start from £35.60 one way for May 2026 departures. Flight time ranges from 2.5 to 3 hours depending on origin. The airport is 4km from Olbia's city centre — about a €15 taxi or a short car hire.

Why is Olbia a better family base than a Costa Smeralda resort? +

Why should families stay in Olbia rather than a Costa Smeralda resort for a Sardinia holiday?

Olbia gives families access to the same northeast Sardinia beaches as Costa Smeralda at significantly lower cost, plus a genuine Italian city experience, more dining variety, and self-catering options.

Costa Smeralda resorts are beautiful but expensive — prices reflect the clientele of superyachts and designer boutiques. A family of four in a self-catering apartment in Olbia's Old Town can access identical beaches (Capriccioli, Romazzino) by car in 25 minutes, enjoy authentic trattoria dinners for €12–18 per person, and have the freedom of a kitchen for breakfasts and packed lunches. Olbia itself has excellent family beaches (Pittulongu, Bados) 10 minutes away. For most UK families, Olbia gives 80% of the Costa Smeralda experience at 40–50% of the resort cost.

What makes Sardinia beaches safe for young children? +

Are Sardinia's beaches near Olbia safe for young children and toddlers?

Yes — beaches near Olbia including Pittulongu, Bados, and Porto Istana have extremely gentle gradients, calm clear water, and remain shallow for 30–50 metres from shore, making them ideal for young children.

The beaches immediately around Olbia are some of the most child-friendly in the Mediterranean. Pittulongu and Bados have fine sand and very shallow entry — the water barely reaches a 4-year-old's knees 20 metres from shore. Porto Istana is sheltered and glassy. There are no dangerous marine animals, no rip currents, and no significant wave action on most summer days. The calmest conditions are typically in the morning (before afternoon sea breeze). Lifeguards are present at the main beaches from June–September.