Have you ever thought about traveling to Sardinia in December? If you are not interested in a beach holiday and rather go out and about discovering the island’s culture and history, December is a great time to visit Sardinia.
In this guide, you will find plenty of tips to plan your December trip to Sardinia including where to go, traditional dishes to try, and Christmas-themed initiatives across the island.
Is December a good time to visit Sardinia?
If you ask me, December is a great time to visit Sardinia. I’m aware that the island is a great summer destination because of its stunning coastline and clear waters, but if you are more into cultural traveling and exploring the local history and traditions, the off-season is where you should come.
Check out my guide to the best time to visit Sardinia
How warm is it in Sardinia in December?
If you compare it to other Italian regions such as Valle d’Aosta and Trentino-Alto Adige, winter in Sardinia is definitely warmer. Plus, the first three weeks of December are still in the fall and apart from some rain, they are not very cold but similar to the month of November in Sardinia.
Towards the end of the month, it gets colder, especially in the evening so, if you are thinking of celebrating New Year’s Eve in Sardinia and staying out all night, I suggest wearing warm clothes including at least a hat and a scarf.
Can you swim in December in Sardinia?
Generally speaking, no, you can’t swim in Sardinia in December or the other winter months because it’s too cold. This being said, I admit that I sometimes saw locals swimming on the Poetto beach of Cagliari. Probably because it’s in the south, it’s warmer than other areas.
I think, if you wear a wetsuit, you can find days in December when you can swim in Sardinia. However, I suggest keeping in mind that Sardinia can also get very windy and the sea can turn quite rough.
Sardinia weather in December
December is one of the cold months in Sardinia but generally speaking, it offers quite mild temperatures ranging from a minimum of 6-7°C to a maximum of 13-14°C. Even though the temperatures are similar across the island, some areas, especially the mountainous ones, might get colder.
Obviously, the end of the month, so towards Christmas time, will be colder than the beginning. December 21st is also when winter starts, so expect chillier weather going towards January.
- Cagliari (south): minimum 7°C-maximum 16°C
- Oristano (center): minimum 10°C-maximum 15°C
- Sassari (north): minimum 6°C-maximum 14°C
- Olbia (northeast): minimum 7°C-maximum 15°C
- Nuoro (center-east): minimum 4°C-maximum 12°C
- Bosa (center-west): minimum 9°C-maximum 15°C
- Alghero (northwest): minimum 7°C-maximum 15°C
- Carloforte (south): minimum 8°C-maximum 15°C
Important dates in December in Sardinia
- December 24th. This is Christmas Eve and while it’s not a holiday and all the shops are open, locals get ready for the midnight Mass.
- December 25th. Christmas Day everything is closed maybe apart from some restaurants that remain open for the holidays but better check in advance.
- December 26th. Boxing Day, Santo Stefano in Italy, is also a holiday and most shops will be closed. In the historic center of the bigger cities, you will probably find some shops open.
- December 31st. This is New Year’s Eve and it’s not a holiday so shops and offices are open. They will probably close earlier than usual because, in the evening, many attend the so-called “cenone” either in restaurants or with friends. In many places, especially larger cities and towns, there will also be a public party in the local squares and streets with live shows, markets, and street food stalls.
What to do in Sardinia in December
Visit a museum
Even though not too freezing, temperatures in Sardinia in December can be quite low. What’s a better way to go sightseeing while keeping warm than visiting a museum? Thankfully, Sardinia boasts a great wealth of museums in all its provinces so no matter where you are, you can continue with your sightseeing indoors if it’s too cold or raining.
From north to south, some of the museums not to miss in Sardinia include Cagliari’s National Archaeological Museum, Museo del Costume Ethnographic Museum in Nuoro, and the National Archaeological and Ethnographic Museum in Sassari.
For smaller but extremely fascinating experiences, check out the House of Grazia Deledda in Nuoro, the Museum of Coral in Alghero, and the Museum of the Mediterranean Masks in Mamoiada.
Attend a local event
Several events take place in December 2024 in Sardinia, from food fairs to traditional Christmas traditions to be discovered. Here are some.
- “Ajò a Ippuntare” in Usini on December 7th-14th. This cultural event aims to showcase the food and wine traditions of northern Sardinia. A big part of the festival will be tasting the wine of the dozens of cellars in the area, but also conferences and traditional shows such as choir singing, displays of costumes and jewels, and folk exhibitions.
- “Weekend dei Gusti” in Sassari on December 6th-15th. This is a showcase of local wines and dishes to be sampled and enjoyed all around the streets of Sassari’s old town.
- Christmas decorations in Bono. Around Christmas time, the village of Bono in central-northern Sardinia is spruced up with beautiful lights and themed decorations. On these days, there are also plenty of events to be enjoyed in the town such as book presentations, guided tours, and food and wine initiatives. Everything will be around the Christmas theme but aimed to show the local traditions.
- Notte de Chelu in Berchidda. This event goes on from December 8th through the whole month with initiatives carrying on until January 6th in the quaint town of Berchidda in northern Sardinia. The city center is spruced up for the festivities with beautiful decorations and events to show the local foods and wines as well as artisans and their creations.
Visit Sardinia’s Christmas markets
Plenty of great Christmas markets populate towns, cities, and villages across Sardinia for the whole duration of the festivities. From December through January 6th, you can take a stroll around the themed stalls in all the provinces.
In the Oristano province, you can experience the Yule vibe in towns like Narbolia, Uras, Terralba, and the same Oristano city where little wooden huts populate the central Piazza Roma.
You will find wonderful Christmas markets also in the Barbagia area in towns like Esterzili, Dorgali, and Nuoro itself. Heading more north, if you are staying in the Olbia region, don’t miss the colorful Christmas village of Golfo Aranci, while in the north-eastern part of the island, Stintino will lay out ice-skating rings and the historic center of Alghero will host a vibrant Christmas village of Santa Klaus with a rich calendar of events.
Southern Sardinia doesn’t stay behind. Apart from the series of events organized by the regional capital Cagliari including an artisan Christmas market and plenty of entertainment initiatives, you can enjoy a lovely Yule spirit in many towns of this part of the island.
In Senorbì, the “town-museum” of the late artist Pino Sciola, for example, you can enjoy the beautiful Christmas village.
Tuck into the local food
Any time is a good time to sample Sardinia’s culinary delicacies, but the chilly weather around Christmas time calls for comfort foods to keep you warm and fulfilled. Depending on where you are, you will find different recipes, but some to keep in mind if you find them include lamb-stuffed panadas (bread baskets), lamb in an artichoke stew, different types of roasted meat from piglet to little goat to lamb, and the always cherished fregula pasta with seafood.
You will also find many different pastries such as the ever-present panettone that actually originates in Milan, the local pabassini, torrone nougat from Tonara, tziriccas stuffed with wine must, and mostaccioli.
Visit smaller towns
When it’s not raining, December is perfect to go around and explore Sardinian towns. In fact, this is exactly when you should take advantage and discover Sardinian traditions and culture.
One of the villages worth visiting certainly is Fordongianus, a small hamlet in central Sardinia where you can easily reach on foot the archaeological site of the Roman baths and also visit the fantastic Aragonese House.
Not far from Fordongianus is the Guilcer area of central Sardinia and if you are into culture and history, I suggest not missing places like the Sacred Well of Santa Cristina in the Paulilatino territory, the town of Ghilarza where the House Memorial of Antonio Gramsci, several ancient churches, and a large Aragonese Tower are, and the quaint village of Sedilo where is the important Iloi Archaeological Park and the ancient sanctuary devoted to St. Constantine the Great.
Beautiful towns to visit in December in Sardinia are also Ozieri in the Sassari province where is the ancient St Michael cave, Tinnura, a tiny hamlet entirely painted with wonderful murals, and the colorful coastal town of Bosa.
Visit Cagliari
Located in the south of the island and close to the sea, Cagliari is very likely to offer a mild climate. Truth be said, it’s always a good idea to visit Cagliari because it’s a lively city where you can enjoy a diverse range of experiences in any season.
Cagliari in December is a great place to soak in the Yule spirit of the island through the many events and initiatives as well as try local dishes, treat yourself to some trendy shopping, and enjoy a walk along the beach in the nicest days.
Explore Sardinia’s ancient history
With thousands of archaeological sites scattered across the island, exploring as many as you can is a fantastic way to enjoy December in Sardinia.
From the already mentioned Santa Cristina Sacred Well and Iloi Park to the nearby Nuraghe Losa, head to famous sites like Barumini’s Su Nuraxi nuraghe, Nora and Tharros ancient Punic cities, and Torralba’s Santu Antine Nuragic complex with the amazing frescoed domus de janas ancient necropolis of Sant’Andrea Priu on the way to Bonorva.
What to wear in December in Sardinia
December is not the coldest month in Sardinia but you should still pack warm winter clothes. Areas like the mountains of Nuoro’s province in towns like Fonni or Tonara will certainly be colder than Cagliari, Oristano, or Carloforte, but keep in mind that you will need some sort of jacket everywhere.
These are some of the clothing items I suggest packing for Sardinia in December.
- Warm trousers. Wool or warm cotton, better if loose so they are comfortable to walk around.
- Walking shoes. Winter sneakers are a great option because comfortable when walking for hours on end.
- Ankle boots. On rainy days, these are ideal.
- Jumpers/sweaters.
- Long-sleeved tops.
- Hat/scarf/gloves. The gloves might not be needed in some areas and not every day but a scarf is what I wear every day in winter across Sardinia (and Italy in general).
- Jacket. A warm casual jacket is useful for your daily sightseeing.
- Coat. This can be for a fancy outfit if you are planning to join some party or go out for dinner.
- Fancier outfit. Especially if you are thinking of coming around Christmas time and New Year’s Eve and are planning to attend an event or join a party.
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