Yes, August in Sardinia is for sun and swimming. Afternoons reach 90°F (32°C) in Cagliari, the sea is warm and rain is rare, so beach days and island trips are easy to plan.
The heat is the constraint. Walking sites such as Barumini and Tharros are best seen early in the day, and the first Sunday of the month brings the culurgiones festival to Sadali.
At a glance
- Cagliari afternoon high: 90°F (32°C)
- Cagliari night low: 69°F (21°C)
- Cagliari rainy days: 1.4
- Olbia afternoon high: 89°F (32°C)
- Sea near Cagliari: 78°F (26°C)
- Event: culurgiones festival in Sadali, first Sunday of August
What is the weather like in Sardinia in August?
| Month | Average high | Average low | Rain | Rainy days | Sea |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| July | 89°F (32°C) | 68°F (20°C) | 0.1 in (3 mm) | 1 | 75°F (24°C) |
| August | 90°F (32°C) | 69°F (21°C) | 0.5 in (11 mm) | 1 | 78°F (26°C) |
| September | 83°F (28°C) | 64°F (18°C) | 1.5 in (39 mm) | 4 | 76°F (24°C) |
*Long-term monthly averages.*
In Cagliari, August afternoons reach 90°F (32°C) and nights stay at 69°F (21°C). Olbia, in the northeast, is close behind with 89°F (32°C) by day and 66°F (19°C) at night.
Rain is rare. Cagliari gets one or two rainy days in the month and less than half an inch of rain in total. Olbia has about two rainy days. Pack for sun, not showers, and plan outdoor sights for the morning, when it is cooler. The sea near Cagliari averages 78°F (26°C), warm enough that a swim fits into any afternoon.
July is almost the same, with Cagliari at 89°F (32°C) and under one rainy day. September is cooler at 83°F (28°C) by day and 64°F (18°C) at night, and Cagliari sees about four rainy days. August keeps the heat of July and has a little more rain.
Where to go in Sardinia in August
Asinara National Park
Asinara sits on the northwestern tip of Sardinia and has been a national park since 1997. Admission is free. Boats go from Porto Nuovo at Stintino and from Porto Torres. In August, the island’s trails are best ridden early, before the afternoon heat.
Su Nuraxi di Barumini
This UNESCO World Heritage site is open every day of the year, so August is no problem for planning. One ticket also covers Casa Zapata and the Giovanni Lilliu Centre, with a guided tour included.
Tharros
The ancient city lies in the Sinis landscape, between the sea and the ponds. Phoenician colonists founded it at the end of the 8th century BC, and it was abandoned in 1070. Guided tours are offered, and the open ground makes a morning visit the sensible choice in this heat.
Cagliari
The Tourist Office is on the ground floor of the Town Hall, via Roma 145. The botanical garden covers five hectares (about 12 acres) and was founded in 1866 by Patrizio Gennari. Monte Urpinu Park suits families and picnics, and the Castle of San Michele hosts exhibitions and lectures.
Sadali
The village holds its culurgiones festival on the first Sunday of August, as it has every year since 1993. Its waterfall, Su Stampu de su Turrunu, is 52 feet (16 meters) high. The Trenino Verde runs guided excursions to Sadali.
What to do in Sardinia in August
Asinara by bike, horse or tourist train
The park’s trails cover five thousand hectares. You can explore them by mountain bike, on horseback, in an off-road vehicle or by tourist train. In August, the train is the easy choice in the midday heat, while bikes and horses suit the early hours.
Look for the Asinara donkey, the park’s symbol. The marine protected area around the island dates from 2002.
Su Nuraxi di Barumini with a guide
The archaeological area covers 20,000 square meters and can only be visited on a guided tour. Tours leave every 30 minutes and last about an hour. The site draws an average of 150,000 visitors a year, so go early, when the day is cooler.
Wear comfortable clothing and non-slip shoes. Tours run in Italian, English and French. Casa Zapata and the Giovanni Lilliu Centre are also guided, about 30 minutes each, leaving every 30 minutes.
Culurgiones festival in Sadali
The festival takes place on the first Sunday of August. Arrive by the Trenino Verde on a guided excursion and the trip becomes part of the day.
Tharros and the Sinis coast
The site offers guided tours and has a bookshop. Pair the visit with a swim afterward.
Isili and the San Sebastiano lake
Pedal boats can be rented on the lake, which was created by the Barrocus dam on the Mannu river. The nuraghe Is Paras at Isili stands 39 feet (12 meters) high, and the Is Janas cave can only be visited with a guide. A lake outing gives a break from the coastal heat.
Is Sardinia busy in August?
Asinara has two departure ports, Porto Nuovo at Stintino and Porto Torres, which gives some choice if one is full.
Tourist tax is charged per person and per night, and each municipality sets its own rate. It can reach 5 euros a night. In Capoterra it applies from February 1, 2026, for up to 7 consecutive nights, and children up to 14 are exempt. Loiri Porto San Paolo caps it at 10 consecutive days, and Sardara exempts children up to 12.
Can you swim in Sardinia in August?
For a protected stretch of coast, look to Asinara, whose marine protected area was established in 2002. Caprera has an information point on turtles and cetaceans that offers guided visits.
What to pack for Sardinia in August
August asks for light clothes, sun protection and one layer for the evening, with sturdy shoes for the archaeological sites.
- Light, breathable clothes for afternoons of 90°F (32°C)
- A hat and sunscreen for Tharros, Asinara and other open sites
- Non-slip shoes for the Su Nuraxi guided tour
- A swimsuit for a sea at 78°F (26°C)
- A thin layer for evenings, when Olbia drops to 66°F (19°C)
- A water bottle for bike and horse trails on Asinara
What to know before visiting Sardinia in August
Visits at Barumini run only by guided tour, and a single ticket covers Su Nuraxi, Casa Zapata and the Giovanni Lilliu Centre. Animals are not admitted, except guide dogs, which need a reservation.
Entry to the park is free.
Is August a good time to visit Sardinia?
Yes, especially for travelers who want hot weather, a warm sea and easy beach days. Rain is rare, and the guided archaeological sites stay open.
July is nearly the same, with 89°F (32°C) afternoons in Cagliari and even less rain. September cools to 83°F (28°C), with about four rainy days, and the sea is still 76°F (24°C). Shifting a month later gives up some heat and gains milder walking days.
If you want swimming, August has a sea surface averaging 78°F (26°C), a few degrees above July and September. If you want gentler temperatures for sightseeing, pick September. For families, Asinara has free admission and a tourist train.
Sources
- ncei.noaa.gov (https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/wmo-climate-normals), checked 2026-10-30
- italia.it (https://www.italia.it/fr/sardaigne/que-faire/la-sardaigne-au-dela-des-plages-laconi–sadali-et-isili), checked 2026-10-30
- fondazionebarumini.it (https://www.fondazionebarumini.it/biglietti-e-orari/), checked 2026-10-30
- fondazionebarumini.it (https://www.fondazionebarumini.it/fr/home-2/), checked 2026-10-30
- sardegnaturismo.it (https://www.sardegnaturismo.it/en/explore/asinara-national-park), checked 2026-10-30
- cultura.gov.it (https://cultura.gov.it/luogo/area-archeologica-di-tharros), checked 2026-10-30
- informacitta.comune.olbia.ot.it (https://informacitta.comune.olbia.ot.it/eventi/benvenuto-vermentino), checked 2026-10-30
- sardegnaturismo.it (https://sardegnaturismo.it/fr/itineraries/les-jardins-historiques-de-la-sardaigne), checked 2026-10-30