Climate and Weather of Sardinia
Surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea, the island of Sardinia is one of Italy's two autonomous island regions—the other one being Sicily. Due to its extensive coastline of approximately 1,200 miles (1931 kilometres), the vibrant island gets more extensive hours of sunshine in comparison to other holiday destinations in Europe, resulting in long, warm summers spanning up to nearly six months in a year. Sardinia is home to exquisite beaches, as well as the infamous nuraghe or the historical remnants of architecture left by the Nuragic civilisation, making the island both a top tourist and historical hotspot in Italy.Sardinia has a temperate Mediterranean climate. As such, the weather and climate in Sardinia are hot and dry during summer from July to September. Meanwhile, spring is from March to June, and autumn is from October to November, where both spring and autumn are particularly mellow and pleasant. Winter spans from December to February, and is mild and humid with occasional hot days. In terms of sunshine, Sardinia enjoys 7 hours of sunshine each day in April on average, and up to an average of 11 hours in July.
August is Sardinia’s warmest month, while January is the coldest. The average maximum temperature in August ranges around 30°C in Alghero, while temperatures average around 32°C in Cagliari. On the other hand, January brings cooler, mellow temperatures with an average maximum temperature of 14°C in both Alghero and in Cagliari.
Sardinia has its fair share of rainfall but not as heavy all year-round. Precipitation in the island follows the temperate Mediterranean climate pattern of mild, mellow winters. October is Sardinia’s wettest month, while July is the driest. Average precipitation in Sardinia for the month of October is moderate from 50 mm rainfall in Cagliari to 81 mm rainfall in Alghero. Meanwhile, average precipitation in Sardinia for the month of July ranges around 5 mm in Alghero.
Why is it windy in Sardinia?
Sardinia is usually accompanied by the Maestrale, or the prevailing northwest wind. The Maestrale is known to bring strong bursts of wind, particularly affecting northern Sardinia the most. This makes the island a popular destination to kitesurfers and adventure junkies.
Does it snow in Sardinia?
Sardinia is among Italy's precious treasures. Among these treasures is the snowy mountains of the Gennargentu National Park with an elevation of 1,834 meters (6017 ft).
As a matter of fact, Sardinia has four ski resorts catering to winter sports. Gennargentu National Park has two known ski resorts, namely Bruncu Spina and S' Arena. Meanwhile, the province of Nuoro is home to the other two ski resorts, namely Monte Spada and Separadorgiu.
When is the best time to visit Sardinia?
The best time to visit Sardinia is from May to September. The mentioned period is usually when the seas have just the perfect warmth and humidity for beach activities such as swimming and diving, as well as inland travel involving tours to museums and other historical sites during the daytime.
We do not recommend travelling to Sardinia during utumn, as heavier rainfall and stronger winds may disrupt your itinerary due to unfavourable weather conditions. We encourage planning your itinerary accordingly to get a glimpse of Sardinia's wonders as it is not only a remarkable island, but Sardinia gives Italy its innate charm.
Are you interested in more detailed information for various cities in Sardinia?
Please select the city you plan to visit, or one closest to your destination. For each selected city, you will see the following graphs:
1. Yearly average minimum and maximum temperatures
2. Monthly averages of precipitation throughout the year (rainfall, snow etc)
3. Monthly average hours of sunshine throughout the year
Additionally, some pages provide historical weather data such as humidity, wind speed, and water temperature.