The town itself is small and harbour-oriented. It does not have the designer-boutique feel of Porto Cervo or the urban energy of Olbia. What it has instead is directness: you arrive, you board, you leave. The strait between Palau and La Maddalena is visible from the harbour, and there is something motivating about being able to see your destination before you even cast off.

For guests who care most about time on the water and in the islands, that directness is the entire point. Every hour spent transferring to a more famous base is an hour not spent swimming at Cala Corsara or anchored off the pink granite of Spargi. Palau minimises wasted time and maximises the part of the trip that people actually remember.

It is also a strong choice for families. The waters between Palau and the archipelago are relatively sheltered, the distances are short enough for children to stay comfortable, and the anchorages offer shallow sandy entries that work well for swimming with younger guests. Combine that with a skippered charter and you have a trip format that is genuinely relaxing for parents as well.

The nearest airport is Olbia Costa Smeralda (OLB), roughly 40 minutes by car. There is no train service directly to Palau, so a pre-booked transfer or hire car is the standard approach. Some charter companies can arrange pickup from the airport as part of the booking package — worth asking when you enquire.

If you are combining Palau with time in other parts of Sardinia, it sits well as either the starting or ending point of a north-east loop. Many guests fly into Olbia, transfer to Palau, charter through the islands and along the coast, then return to Olbia or Porto Cervo for their final night.