Olbia: Tuk-Tuk tour of ancient sites with local guide

Summary

Explore Olbia’s ancient secrets by tuk-tuk with a friendly guide

You’ll ride a tuk-tuk through Olbia’s winding streets and countryside, stopping at ancient sites like the Basilica of San Simplicio, Roman aqueducts, sacred wells, medieval castles, and mysterious Nuragic tombs. With a local guide sharing stories and an audio system for details along the way, you’ll get close to Sardinia’s history in ways you’ll remember long after the engine goes quiet.

What’s the experience like?

Hands gripping the little metal bar, I felt the tuk-tuk shudder to life as our driver, Matteo, grinned back at us — “Ready?” he asked, like we were about to set off on some wild adventure instead of an archaeological tour. Sardinia’s light was already sharp that morning, bouncing off old stone and making the basilica look almost golden. We zipped past sleepy cafés and stopped at the Basilica of San Simplicio, where Matteo told us stories about Romanesque arches while an old man swept leaves nearby. The air smelled faintly of espresso and dust.

I didn’t expect to care so much about water systems, but standing by the Roman Aqueduct — you could still see moss clinging to the stones — I tried to imagine what it sounded like when water rushed through here centuries ago. Our audio guide crackled a bit but worked fine; I caught most of the details about how Romans managed water in Olbia. At Sa Testa’s sacred well, Matteo showed us how Nuragic people built these places for rituals. He let me try saying “pozzo sacro” in Italian (I butchered it), and he just laughed.

The tuk-tuk rattled up a hill toward Pedres Castle, wind picking up and carrying some wild herb smell I couldn’t place. From up there, you get this wide view over fields and rooftops — not dramatic exactly, but something about it sticks with you. We finished at the Giants’ Tombs (“Su Mont’e e S’Abe”), which honestly gave me chills; Matteo said locals still leave little offerings sometimes. I kept thinking about all those layers of history under our feet — Sardinia feels older than it looks.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore Olbia's Ancient Sites

• Visit Basilica
• Explore Sacred Well (Pozzo Sacro)
• See Roman Aqueduct
• Tour Giants' Tombs
• Visit Castle of Pedres
• Pass by Necropolis
• Pass by Museum
• Pass by Corso Umberto
• Pass by Park

Top questions

Is pickup included for this Olbia tuk-tuk tour?

No hotel pickup is mentioned; however, public transportation options are available nearby for easy access.

How many historical sites are visited during the tour?

The tour stops at several sites including the Basilica of San Simplicio, Roman Aqueduct and Cistern, Sa Testa Sacred Well, Pedres Castle, Giants’ Tombs “Su Mont’e e S’Abe”, plus other points like Corso Umberto and Parco.

Is this archaeological tuk-tuk tour suitable for all fitness levels?

Yes, it is suitable for all physical fitness levels according to the information provided.

Does the tour include a local guide or audio commentary?

The tour includes a professional driver and an audio system with speakers for optimal audioguide listening.

What languages are available for the audio guide?

The specific languages aren’t listed in the description provided.

What’s included

Your day includes comfortable tuk-tuk transportation around Olbia with a professional driver who knows these roads well. There’s an onboard audio system so you can hear stories about each site as you go — from Roman aqueducts to Nuragic tombs — all without worrying about logistics or missing any details along the way.