Sardinia is mainly a beach destination, so it’s normal that summer is the highest season. As a local, though, I love visiting Sardinia in low and shoulder season for so many reasons.
First of all, the prices will be lower for both accommodation and transport to reach the island, but the low season in Sardinia is the best time to enjoy the different experiences the island has to offer including local festivals, exploring its many archaeological sites and charming small towns, and try the many winter dishes.
If you are in the planning process and want to enjoy Sardinia beyond its beaches, delving deeper into the local culture, the off-season is when you should travel. Read on to find all the reasons to travel to Sardinia in the low and shoulder season.
8 reasons to visit Sardinia in low and shoulder season
It’s cheaper
When planning a trip to Sardinia, budgeting is one of the first steps you need to consider.
With the summer season yet to start or already finished, the prices of hotels will definitely be lower across Sardinia. This will allow you to afford a longer holiday, treat yourself to more expensive restaurants, and even check into high-end hotels you might not be able to go to in the high season.
Some examples? The same hotels in Olbia that charge between €150 and €140 for one night in August will charge between €60 and €65 for one night in November, making it less than half price.
To mention one, I just searched for Hotel Centrale in Olbia’s city center and the price I get for a double room for the night between the 12th and the 13th of August is €239 non-refundable, while for the same room and the same hotel on November 13th-14th, the price is €85 with free cancellation option.
Apart from the hotels, also the transportation to get to Sardinia will be cheaper, whether you are reaching the island by ferry or by plane.
It’s not crowded
The months of June and September and even the beginning of October in Sardinia are not the highest season but the weather is lovely and totally beach-friendly. Of course, the beaches won’t be as crowded as in July and August, especially in the week around Ferragosto (August 15th).
Apart from the beaches, this also applies to the roads. Roads in Sardinia don’t see much traffic, except those towards the coast in the high season. Off-season, there are fewer cars along the coast, so on nice days, you can go out for a walk on the beach or visit historical sites near the sea.
It has great weather
Let’s face it, the unforgiving sun of July and August doesn’t make it easy to visit any place other than the beach. If you go in any other month of the year, however, you can enjoy a more culturally rich holiday.
From fall through spring, the weather is pleasant and perfect for visiting towns inland, attending local festivities, visiting museums, and taking long walks wherever you are without worrying much about the temperatures.
The weather varies across the island, but roughly, while in summer temperatures can reach between 38°C/100°F to peaks of even 42°C/108°F, in spring and fall you can enjoy days of 20°C/68°F max. Winter is quite mild with average temps around Sardinia between 5°C the minimum and 15°C the maximum.
I love exploring small towns and taking pictures of old-style houses, and the wonderful murals that are always more frequent in Sardinia, stopping in local restaurants, and discovering little churches.
Check out my full guide to the best time to visit Sardinia!
It’s easier to go sightseeing
Many archaeological sites in Sardinia are inland and since they are uncovered and open-air, visiting them in summer can be quite challenging. Fall, however, is a great time because it’s not cold yet but not hot enough to swim anymore. And so is winter because Sardinia’s weather is never too cold.
Apart from the ancient ruins, sightseeing in Sardinia also means exploring its beautiful cities such as Cagliari, Sassari, Nuoro, Oristano, Olbia, and Alghero, as well as the many smaller towns and villages bearers of history and traditions.
Some of the best towns to visit in Sardinia that are very hot in summer but totally worth a stop include Fordongianus, Sedilo, Ghilarza, Seneghe, Posada, Galtellì, Orgosolo, Tinnura, Ozieri, and Cabras in the wonderful Sinis Peninsula that offers so much more than merely a beach experience.
While bigger cities also host covered museums and important churches such as the wonderful Museo del Costume in Nuoro and Cagliari’s Cathedral, smaller towns are to be explored on foot.
To go hiking and trekking
Sardinia offers a huge array of scenic hiking and trekking routes, but summer is not the right season for such activities. Places like Tiscali Nuraghic village, Su Gorropu Canyon, the Giara Plateau, or the peaks of the Supramonte mountain range are best to be traveled when it’s not too hot.
Even late spring and early fall might be hot for hiking long routes, so visiting Sardinia in the shoulder season of either early spring or late fall when it’s not raining is the best time to enjoy a full day out in nature.
There are plenty of festivals
Festivals in Sardinia take place all year long, and while some big ones are in summer such as Festa del Redentore in Nuoro at the end of August and the Ardia of Saint Constantine in Sedilo on July 6th, most take place in winter and spring. For those looking for
Among these, the festivals that you will love to attend in spring include Sant’Efisio in Cagliari (May 1st), La Cavalcata Sarda in Sassari (end of May), and several sagre food fairs.
Winter, on the other hand, is the season of the Carnival celebrations. Among the most famous ones are Sa Sartiglia in Oristano, Mamoiada’s Mamuthones, Ottana’s Merdules, and Is Mamutzones of Samugheo.
To spend Easter in Sardinia
Among many local festivals, one of the best periods to visit Sardinia off-season is Easter. Across the island, different towns will have different Easter traditions.
Some towns organize the Way of the Cross (Via Crucis) parading across the streets, while others celebrate inside the church and parade on the Sunday before Easter, Palm Sunday, carrying finely decorated olive and palm branches.
Charming traditional Easter celebrations in Sardinia can be seen and joined in Iglesias in the south, in Santu Lussurgiu, and in the tiny town of Tadasuni in the central Oristano province.
To look for a house!
Last but definitely not least, with so many foreigners wanting to move to Sardinia or even only looking for a nice place to buy a holiday home on the island, fresher temperatures make the search much easier.
With important factors such as prices, services, infrastructures, and connection to the rest of Italy and Europe, chances are you want to check out several areas in Sardinia before making such a purchase.
I doubt you want to go hunting for houses, villages, or even countryside farms in the summer heat. Moreover, August is generally a slower season working-wise and you might find real estate agencies closed between one to three weeks around Ferragosto.
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