The town is situated by the Tyrrhenian Sea, 5 km east of Tortolì. The port is used by ferries to and from Civitavecchia and Olbia . Thanks to its strategic position, Arbatax is the port of Ogliastra. An excellent tourist destination to spend holidays with family or friends. The marina is one of the cheapest in Sardinia. The Rocce Rosse beach, which has always been a symbol of Arbatax, consists mainly of pebbles and rocks and can be easily reached from the town by following the signs for the Port. Not far from the center, next to the port, there is the small but convenient Arbatax railway station, known to be the final stop on one of the most evocative sections of the Trenino Verde. This locomotive starts from Mandas, in the province of Cagliari, crosses mountains, woods, rivers, countryside and various small towns in Ogliastra and slowly reaches the sea after traveling 159 km. The closest airport is the Cagliari airport about 150 km from the town. Today, the economy is focused on tourism. Mussels are farmed in the nearby lagoon and fresh fish are on sale from the fishing cooperative. The red rocks are a tourist attraction.