Even though most tourists flock to the island in summer to enjoy its sandy beaches, I think the best time to visit Sardinia is in spring to have the chance to visit also the inland without sweating and in February if you are interested in the traditional Carnival celebrations.
If you are planning your trip to Italy and are wondering when to travel to Sardinia, this handy guide will tell you what to do and where to go every month depending on what your interests and preferences are.
Best time to visit Sardinia – Comparing month by month
January in Sardinia for crowd-free holidays
January is a winter month in Italy and in Sardinia, the climate is overall mild even in the coldest season. There will be colder areas such as the mountains in Nuoro province and towns like Mamoiada, Orgosolo, and Fonni.
In January, in many towns in Sardinia, you can attend the festival in honor of Sant’Antonio Abate that takes place with bonfires lit up across the streets. It’s not celebrated all over Sardinia and if you want to experience it, some of the places you can go to are Ghilarza, Sedilo, and Mamoiada where the traditional masquerades of the Mamuthones make their first annual appearance.
February in Sardinia for traditional Carnival
February is the month of Carnival in Italy and in Sardinia, you will find very traditional festivals. Some of the most famous Carnival celebrations in Sardinia include the horse races of the Sartiglia in Oristano, the rhythmic dance of the Mamuthones masks in Mamoiada near Nuoro, and the Boes and Merdules in Ottana.
Check out my guide to spending February in Sardinia
March in Sardinia for a traditional Easter
March offers a bit of unstable weather across Italy including Sardinia, but the coldest months are over and the rain never really lasts too long. This year, Easter is on March 31st, if you are spending Easter in Italy and would like to see some very traditional ceremonies, make it a point to head to Sardinia and you won’t be disappointed.
There are many places where they organize traditional celebrations for Easter in Sardinia. These include cities like the capital, Cagliari, and Iglesias as well as smaller towns like Tadasuni and Santu Lussurgiu.
Apart from the ceremonies, Easter in Sardinia is celebrated with delicious seasonal bread and cakes.
April in Sardinia
Visiting Sardinia in spring is a gratifying experience if your goal is sightseeing. Without the oppressive summer heat, it’s possible to walk around towns and cities without sweating and panting.
While March weather is unpredictable, April starts to be more stable and launching the hiking and trekking season.
May in Sardinia for hiking and traditions
May is perfect for hiking in Sardinia, especially at the beginning of the month because towards the end the temperatures usually start rising and long hikes become harder. Some great places to hike in May in Sardinia include Su Gorropu Canyon in the Ogliastra region and Sella del Diavolo in Cagliari.
Apart from hiking, Cagliari is a fantastic destination to visit in Sardinia this month because, between the 1st and the 4th, they celebrate Sant’Efisio with a long parade of traditional costumes and ox carts.
June in Sardinia for crowd-less beaches
It’s no secret that Sardinia is a famous beach destination. Most beach tourists flock in July and August making June one of the best months to enjoy Sardinia’s coastline without the crowds.
Apart from the quiet and silence, June is a beautiful month for its early-summer light perfect for photography, and also because the extreme heat hasn’t started yet. Mornings and evenings are pleasant so when you want a break from the beach you can go out and visit one of the quaint towns in Sardinia even if they are far from the coast.
July in Sardinia
It might be my age but I’m growing always more intolerant of the summer heat. July is one of the hottest months in Sardinia and what you can do is pretty much limited to swimming and sunbathing.
In the evening, you can enjoy a night out in the city or some afternoon festivals like the horse race of Sedilo’s Ardia on July 6th.
August in Sardinia
August is also a very hot month in Sardinia but often in the second half, the weather begins to change. The 15th of August is known as Ferragosto in Italy and even though it’s a religious holiday, it’s mainly celebrated with everyone hitting the beach. On this day and for the whole week around it, the beaches of Sardinia will be crammed, including small ones like S’Archittu.
If you are interested in knowing more about the culture of Sardinia, the last Sunday of August is one of its most important festivals celebrated in Nuoro and its Ortobene Mount, the Sagra del Redentore. You will see traditional shows and parades as well as religious ceremonies.
September in Sardinia
September is a perfect month to enjoy the beach in Sardinia, and even though quieter than August, the beaches won’t be empty. The weather will still be hot and the ideal clothes are pretty much the same as those you would wear in August.
The last month of summer might give some fresher days as a well-deserved break from the August heat.
October in Sardinia
October is a fantastic month to visit Italy in general and if large cities such as Rome and Florence are crowded, Sardinia starts to be calmer than during the summer rush.
The weather is perfect for sightseeing all around the island and learning more about the local life, its culture, traditional cuisine, and historical sights. Some days in October in Sardinia are also quite warm and some still go for a quick swim. If you do that, I suggest going during the hottest hours of the day.
November in Sardinia
In November, the weather starts to be spoiled and temperatures begin to drop. Even though you might find some rain and cloudy skies, I like November in Sardinia as this is when you can have a truly authentic experience, similar to Eastertime.
November starts with Toussaint and the Day of the Dead. On Toussaint, schools and offices will be closed, and also most shops in smaller towns. On the Day of the Dead everything reopens but you will see locals heading to the cemeteries to bring flowers to their loved ones deceased. This is the time of the year when the traditional “pabassini” cakes are due, even though you will find them all year in many pastry shops.
The rest of the month is quiet and perfect for visiting archaeological sites scattered across Sardinia, strolling around towns and cities, on the nice days (that are quite a few!), you can even go to some beach town for a meal with a view.
Read our full guide to visiting Sardinia in November
December in Sardinia
December marks the end of fall and the beginning of winter and in Sardinia the weather is still quite mild, even though slightly colder than November. Please note that apart from some mountainous areas, winter in Sardinia is never too cold to bear.
Cities and towns will be adorned with the typical Christmas lights and every church will host a nativity scene. On Christmas Day and Boxing Day, smaller towns are likely to be very quiet and shops will be closed.
Read our full guide to visiting Sardinia in December
The best time to visit Sardinia for the beaches
The biggest beach season in Sardinia is summer, particularly the months of July and August when the coast is literally packed with tourists, shades, and lounges. Due to the huge crowds, I’m not a big fan of August in Sardinia. Too hot to visit inland towns, quite expensive, and too crowded to go to the beach, I think the best time to go to Sardinia to enjoy its coastline is June and September.
The best time to go to Sardinia for sightseeing
If you are planning your trip to Sardinia to go sightseeing, then all the seasons except summer are a great time. Summer is very hot and it’s very difficult to visit any place other than the beach so if you are interested in exploring towns and cities like Cagliari, Oristano, Sassari, Nuoro, Olbia, or towns like Fordongianus and San Sperate home to Pino Sciola sounding stones museum, the best seasons to visit Sardinia are the low and shoulder seasons such as spring and fall.
The best time to travel to Sardinia for its traditions
To experience traditional Sardinia, I would suggest aiming at the occasions of local festivals such as Carnival in February, S’Ardia of Sedilo in July, Sant’Antonio Abate in January, or food fairs that are all year long across the island.
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