I have written about the average weather conditions you can expect for each month of the year in Sardinia, so you can decide which will be the best time for you to visit, depending on the style of holiday or getaway you would like.
CAGLIARI WEATHERHere is a quick overview of the weather and seasons throughout the year on the island. Below that, I have written a summary for each month in Sardinia based on my own experiences and past weather charts.
Sardinia experiences four seasons, yet the island is only 200km, from the North of Africa, which means very warm summers, that seem to stretch across the calendar. You could say that Sardinia has a 6-month summer which typically spans from May to October.
A Summary Of The Weather In Sardinia For Each Season
Summer
The heat in Sardinia begins in May, peaking in August before waning down going into October.
July and August are the two hottest months of the year averaging out at 28,5 °C (83,3 °F). During these two scorching months, the island seeing its biggest influx of tourists, which can mean busy beaches and overbooked hotels. It also happens to coincide with the Italian school’s summer break, and Sardinia is the place where thousands of Italian choose to spend their summer.
Expect long-days, blues skies, and a warm sea. Make sure you drink lots of water, use sun protection, and also I recommend booking ahead for your accommodation if you plan to stay during the summer.
Autumn/Fall
The Autumn months here are my favourite, as the weather is mild, the countryside turns bright green, and it’s also time for the olive and grape harvests. The weather slowing becomes cooler entering into winter. You can also expect many downpours and a handful of stormy days. In September and October, if you are lucky the sea will still be warm enough to enjoy a swim.
Winter
Winter in Sardinia is cold without a doubt. But there will be days during the winter, that feels like a Spring or Summers Day. The coldest months are from January to March. It doesn’t normally reach freezing on the ground, some of the mountain tops in Sardinia get a covering of snow. The cold can catch me out sometimes in Sardinia, as it does come as a surprise.
The house where I live doesn’t have a heating system we rely on a central fire, which is usually lit from November to the end of March.
Spring
Spring is one of the most beautiful times as the island begins to wake from its winter slumber and nature begins to flourish. I first came to Sardinia in May, and during that month I fell in love with Sardinia. The months of May and June allow you to explore Sardinia in a cooler climate than the months that follow.
The Wind In Sardinia
The wind is a constant companion on the island, from October to April it is most noticeable. Each year, I have experienced a week of strong wind in Sardinia which is known as the Mistral, it travels to Sardinia from the South of France. These winds can make it difficult to spend the day at the beach, but they do make Sardinia a wind sports hotspot.
Weather To Expect For Each Month In Sardinia
Starting With May
May is when Sardinia begins to open its doors to tourists, after the winter. So it makes sense to start here to give you an idea of the weather to expect.
During May, you can expect a temperature of 17°C, with highs of 22°C, and a low of 12°C during the evenings. Historically, the rain will usually fall nine days in the month, but with the strong sunshine, it’s not a problem. There are 8 hours and 40 minutes of sunshine in May, which is a big jump from 7 hours of sunshine in April.
June
June signals the beginning of the summer seasons, as the climate becomes dryer and temperatures start to rise, tempting locals and tourists to head to the beaches. The days get longer and the nights shorter, in fact, June has an average of 15 hours of daylight.
Looking at weather charts from the past, there is the chance of two days with rain, which is pretty good odds if you’re worried about the rain spoiling a holiday.
June is a warm month on Sardinia with highs of 26°C (78,8 °F). The sea has been warming up since May and begins to heat up to above 21 °C (70°F) which makes for very pleasant swimming.
July
July is one of the most popular months in Sardinia, and one of the warmest. We can normally assume that it won’t rain during July, as the sun will shine for over 330 hours during the whole month. This is an incredible 10.8 hours of sunshine, in London, you can expect 6.8 hours of sunshine on average in July.
It can heat up to highs of 30.4°C (86 °F), you can always cool down with a swim or a walk under the shade of one of Sardinia’s magical forests.
If you plan to visit at this time make sure you pack your sun protection, as you make the most of the pristine beaches and the clear blue Mediterranean sea.
I’m from the UK, so the heat during July has taken me a while to adapt to, but it’s such a beautiful time. I especially enjoy spending the evenings on the beach with friends.
Sardinia is indeed at its most busy in July and August, but you can always find your quiet corner to avoid the crowds.
All-focus
August
August manages to beat July, as being the hottest time of the year. With average high temperatures of 30.8°C (87.4°F) and lows of 19.6°C (67.3°F).
The middle of August is the busiest time of the year, the island is filled with tourists, it’s not as busy as popular destinations in Spain and Greece but for Sardinia, it’s packed. The 15th of August is a public holiday across the whole of Italy, everyone heads to the beaches for a break.
This also drives up prices of accommodation, flights, tours, and many other expenses you can imagine for a holiday.
If you are searching for the sun and dreaming of your holiday on the white beaches of Sardinia, then don’t worry you’ll still have an amazing time. Just make sure to book ahead.
as the hottest time of year. The sea has had more time to warm up by August averaging at 25°C (77°F)
September
September is perfect. The uncomfortable heat has passed and so have the crowds. It’s also a month when the cost of accommodation and travel drops by 40%.
The average temperatures are around 22°C in Sardinia during September with a high of 26°C, so it still perfect conditions for a beach holiday.
The nights are very enjoyable, and cooler making for a more comfortable sleep without the need for air conditioning.
Also the figs will be ripe, after having the summer to be sweetened by the hot sun.
October
In Sardinia, in October the weather is mild, with the introduction of more winder and rainier weather. There are still many warm days throughout the month, that would suit a trip to the beach, with a high temperature of over 23.1°C (73.6°F).
Similar to September the costs of accommodation and travel are much cheaper than the summer months. Everything from renting cars, flights, and even eating out. I urge you to take advantage of travelling to Sardinia during the offseason while the weather is still nice. This includes May, June, September, and October. If you have the flexibility for deciding when to take your vacation then come to Sardinia in one of these great four months.
November
November is when the island begins to cool dramatically from the previous months. I will still be continuing the olive harvest, but maybe no longer wearing shorts. The average temperature is around 13°C, still in double-figure, but maybe not the time for a beachside holiday.
Also, November is the second most rainy month of the year in Sardinia. It’s a good month for a nature walk or exploring the ancient sites across the island. The cost of travelling is much cheaper, but as it is the offseason many tourist facilities and accommodation will be closed.
There are highs of 18.3°C which can make for a very pleasant day, and still, make Sardinia a great location to escape the cold gripping Nothern Europe at this time.
December
December is one of the coldest months, with the towns in the mountains almost reaching freezing. The days are shorter and wetter. Last December was cold and wet but I do recall several days including Christmas Day when the weather felt like June. Heading to the South of the island will give you a few extra degrees of warmth during December, and maybe a little more sunshine too.
The average high-temperature, in December, in Sardinia, is 15.4°C (59.7°F), while the average low-temperature is 6.6°C (43.9°F). 8 days out of 31 normally experience rain.
When the cold temperature is mixed with the wind it can feel super cold here in Sardinia. I remember some days harvesting the olive which was almost unbearably cold, it’s differently the time to relax by the fire, and celebrate with family, friends and to enjoy some good Sardinian food.
January
We have made it to the start of the year, and to the coldest month of the year in Sardinia, with an average temperature of 10°C, holding on for double figures. You need to be wearing a coat when out and about, and you probably won’t want to visit the beach. It’s deep into the off-season, flight to and from Sardinia are super cheap, and the island is quiet.
The rain and unpleasant conditions drive away from most tourists. If you don’t mind the cold it could be a nice time for walks and cultural exploration.
February
February is one of the wettest months of the year and also one of the most humid. It’s a touch warmer than January but you will know you are in winter. During February, you find me walking about in a thick coat and a woolly hat, its really cold. The average temperature is 11°C (52°F).
There is not much tourism happening in February, and the Sardinians are dreaming for the arrival of spring. One plus is that the Oranges are ripe.
March
The island is slowly waking up in March, but sometimes the sunshine can be deceiving, as it is usually followed by cold weather. Some of us that can no longer wait until spring, make some trips to the beach to enjoy a spell of sunshine. But the beaches will still be almost completely empty.
March is a good month to explore the island, there’s a good amount of daylight hours and everything is calm. For me, March is too early to declare the end of winter here in Sardinia. But according to the stats the average high temperature in March 16.5°C.
April
We have made it to April, which concludes the weather summary for each month. It also happens to be the month in which I am writing this, and I can clearly surmise the weather I have experienced throughout April.
April in Sardinia is the transition from winter to spring. The weather throughout the month is very unpredictable, the Italians call it the ‘crazy’ month of weather, one moment it can be sunning, then raining. Let’s just say its not a good idea to pack your umbrella away just yet.
The beginning of April strongly hinted at Spring, with some summer-like conditions. We were missing rain for the beginning half of April, which was bad for the garden. Luckily, the last 4 days have been raining in a row which is a very unlikely event in Sardinia, but it’s great for the garden.
That being said the average high-temperature is 18.6°C (65.5°F), and the average low-temperature is 8.9°C (48°F), which is pretty warm. You can definitely have some very enjoyable days in the sun, also the length of the days feels much longer.
April marks the being of Sardinia’s 6-month summer.
