Situated at the base of the Capo Figari headland, Golfo Aranci overlooks the Gulf of Olbia and had always been an important port of call for goods since the beginning of the XX century. In 1961 the National Railways opened a ferry service for cars and passengers, which up till then had been Olbia's appanage. From then on the Golfo Aranci, Gallura's second gateway to the sea, started to develop its tourist profile thanks to the area's great beauty and to its proximity to the fashionable hotspots of the Costa Smeralda. The fishermen from Ponza who were attracted here by the richness of the sea bed and also the Gallura area's middle classes who spent their summers here, also contributed to its development as a tourist centre, together with an important historical research survey indicating that the area has been populated since Prehistoric times, confirmed by the presence of a sacred Nuraghic well at Milis. The actual name of Golfo Aranci, which long ago was known as Figari for the abundance of fig trees, derives from the presence of a beach called Sos Aranzos, one of the most beautiful in the Bay of Sassari, causing the derivation from "gulfu di li ranci" (gulf of crabs), as it was identified on maps, to be abandoned. Legend tells however, that the name comes from the wreck of a ship carrying a load of oranges.

From Golfo Aranci all the way to Olbia, low and regular coasts come one after another, characterised by little inlets and beaches of fine white sand most of which have tourist facilities. There are 24 beaches to be found in this area, all differing in size and easy to reach, some of which are situated in the village centre. One of the curious features of the village is the old fishing village which lies on the sea shore at the end of the inhabited centre and where you find coloured little houses and fishmongers' where you can buy good fresh fish all year round. Tourist structures and services are continually on the increase thanks to the hard work put in by the local council with the aim of making a stay in Golfo Aranci all the more pleasurable and easy, comprising among other things, the building of a tourist port. On Via Libertà, there is plenty of chance to do some shopping in the charming shops selling craftwork and typical local products, which liven up a walk around the centre in the summer months. The Parish Church of San Giuseppe, dedicated to the Patron Saint of the village attracts many curious visitors who wish to take a look at a number of marks on its wall that seem to resemble Padre Pio. The village offers all its tourists the chance to go trekking, to do water sports and go scuba diving in its crystal-clear water and for lovers of local cuisine, the chance to find excellent fish dishes in the local restaurants or to find fresh fish all year round.