Sights · Capo d’Orso
The Roccia dell’Orso
Four kilometres from Palau, a granite outcrop worn into the shape of a bear looks out over the archipelago. The best view from the mainland, ten minutes from the car.
What you see
The rock is a block of granite that wind and salt have hollowed and carved until, from the right angle, it looks like a bear facing the sea. From the top, the whole archipelago lines up in front of you: Santo Stefano, La Maddalena, Caprera and, beyond, the outer islands and Corsica on a clear day. It is the best way to understand the geography of the boat trip you are about to take.
Tickets
| Adults | €3 |
|---|---|
| Ages 11–18 | €2 |
| Under 11 | Free |
| Groups over 15 (per person) | €2.50 |
| Combined: Roccia + Fortezza di Monte Altura + Ethnographic Museum | €7 adults · €4 ages 11–18 |
Source: rocciadellorso.com, checked October 2026.
Opening hours
Open every day from 1 April to 2 November, from 09:30. Closing time changes with the month: from 17:30 at the start and end of the season to 22:30 in August. Last entry is about 45 minutes before closing. Check the current month on rocciadellorso.com before you go.
Getting there
Drive east from Palau towards Capo d’Orso: about 4 km, 8 minutes. Leave the car at the car park and walk up the panoramic path, about half a kilometre on a gentle slope. Wear proper shoes; the granite is uneven.
Combine it with Monte Altura
The Fortezza di Monte Altura, a hilltop fort above Palau, is visited only on guided tours, hourly through the day (€5, ages 11–18 €2.50). A combined ticket for the Roccia, the fort and Palau’s Ethnographic Museum costs €7 (€4 for ages 11–18).
Questions people ask
When is the Roccia dell’Orso open?
From 1 April to 2 November, daily from 09:30. Closing time depends on the month, from 17:30 in spring and autumn to 22:30 in August; last entry is about 45 minutes before closing.
How long does the visit take?
The path from the car park is about half a kilometre, a gentle ten-minute climb. Allow 45 minutes to an hour to walk up, look around and come back down.
Can I book tickets online?
Yes, through the booking link on rocciadellorso.com, or buy on site. Visits are offered in Italian and English.
What is the Fortezza di Monte Altura?
A nineteenth-century fort on the hill above Palau, visited only on guided tours that leave every hour. Tickets cost €5 (ages 11–18 €2.50, under-11s free), or €7 together with the Roccia dell’Orso and the Ethnographic Museum.