Your December weather guide
CoolWeather in Sardinia in December
Sardinia in December suits a cool-weather break, not a winter beach holiday. Average daytime highs are around 14°C, nights fall to 9°C and the sea is cold at about 15°C. For a UK traveller, the appeal is milder afternoons rather than dependable warmth. Go if you are happy walking in layers and changing plans around rain; choose another month if swimming, long evenings outdoors or reliable sunshine are central to your trip.
Long-term climate averages for Olbia (Costa Smeralda), not a forecast · 1991-2020
Sardinia, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Olbia (Costa Smeralda).
- Average daytime high
- 13.9°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 17°C
- Average night-time low
- 8.8°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 5°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +6.2°C
- London averages 7.7°C in December
- Sea temperature
- 15.2°C
- year to year: 14°C to 16°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 4.2h
- 46% of 9.1 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 9
- 62 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 81%
- Days over 25°C
- 0%
- none over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 21.1°C
- 2010-12-08
- Record low 1991-2020
- 1.1°C
- 1996-12-27
- Flight from London
- ≈ 2 h 24 min
- 1358 km, short-haul (estimate for a direct flight)
Records are observed extremes within 1991-2020, not typical holiday conditions. Warm-day percentages are shares of days, not day counts.
How December compares
December is the 10th warmest month of the year in Sardinia and ranks 91st of 134 destinations we compare for December - see where else is hot in December. Within Italy it is 2nd of 16 (Italy in December). Against London's average high of 7.7°C in December, Sardinia is 6.2°C warmer by day and 6.1°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in December
The typical December day in Sardinia peaks at 13.9°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 16.9°C or more. Days over 25°C are rare. Nights average 8.8°C; one night in ten drops to 5.4°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings - it is genuinely cool after dark. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest December day here reached 21.1°C (2010-12-08) and the coldest night 1.1°C (1996-12-27).
Rain in December
Wet (more than 8 rainy days): about 9 days with 1 mm or more, 62 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest December was 2004 with 163 mm, the driest 2015 with 6 mm. Humidity averages 81%.
Sea temperature in December
The sea averages 15.2°C - too cold for most (under 18°c). Depending on the year it ranges from 14.3°C to 16.4°C. For the warmest sea here, come in August (25.2°C).
Sunshine and daylight
Around 4.2 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 9.1 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 07:40 and sets about 16:55 local time in mid-December. Average cloud cover is 53%.
Is December a good time to visit Sardinia?
December is not the strongest month here: cool days and frequent rain. The best months for Sardinia on our scoring are July, August, June; months averaging 25°C or more: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep.
Milder afternoons, but pack for wet weather
December can feel comfortable for walking when conditions are dry, but it is not warm enough to rely on light clothing alone. The warmest days reach around 17°C or more, while the coldest nights fall to about 5°C or below. Pack layers, a warmer outer layer for evenings and a waterproof jacket rather than just an umbrella. About 9 days have rain, so leave room to rearrange outdoor plans instead of building the trip around uninterrupted dry weather. You may be able to shed a layer during a milder afternoon, but keep it with you if you will be out after daylight fades.
Plan around short days, not beach time
The sea averages 15.2°C, which makes casual holiday swimming an unappealing prospect unless you already enjoy cold water. Treat time by the sea as a chance for a walk rather than a swim, and bring something warm to put on when you stop moving. There are about 4.2 hours of sunshine within 9.1 hours of daylight, so do not confuse a brighter spell with an all-day sunny forecast. Put your longer outdoor plans into the daylight window and keep evenings flexible. This is a better fit for travellers content with cool conditions than for anyone hoping to spend most of the trip lounging outside.
A little perspective
Sardinia through the year
December is highlighted. See how it compares with the rest of the year.
| Month | Day | Night | Sea | Sun/day | Rain mm | Rainy days | Days 25°C+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 12.9°C | 7.4°C | 13.8°C | 4.4 | 56 | 8 | 0% |
| February | 13.2°C | 7.1°C | 13.3°C | 5.5 | 43 | 8 | 0% |
| March | 15.4°C | 8.8°C | 13.6°C | 6.3 | 56 | 8 | 0% |
| April | 18.0°C | 10.7°C | 14.6°C | 7.1 | 53 | 8 | 0% |
| May | 22.1°C | 14.2°C | 17.3°C | 8.4 | 44 | 6 | 17% |
| Junebest | 26.8°C | 18.1°C | 20.9°C | 11.1 | 17 | 3 | 69% |
| Julybest | 30.0°C | 21.0°C | 23.8°C | 12.7 | 7 | 1 | 96% |
| Augustbest | 30.3°C | 21.5°C | 25.2°C | 11.2 | 12 | 2 | 98% |
| September | 25.8°C | 18.6°C | 23.6°C | 7.8 | 37 | 6 | 64% |
| October | 21.9°C | 15.5°C | 20.9°C | 5.7 | 65 | 8 | 16% |
| November | 17.1°C | 11.7°C | 17.9°C | 4.3 | 78 | 10 | 0% |
| DecemberSelected | 13.9°C | 8.8°C | 15.2°C | 4.2 | 62 | 9 | 0% |
Day = average daytime high, night = average night-time low, 1991-2020.Sun is hours per day; rainy days count 1 mm or more.
Day, night and sea
Monthly average temperatures, 1991-2020
- Day
- Night
- Sea
Best months here
On warmth, low rainfall and sunshine, start with these.
Keep exploring
Similar in December
Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.
Portugal · 15°C by day · sea 15°C
Lisbon
Spain · 13°C by day · sea 15°C
Salou
Spain · 13°C by day · sea 15°C
Barcelona
Greece · 13°C by day · sea 16°C
Skiathos
Spain · 13°C by day · sea 15°C
Lloret de Mar
A little more detail
Sardinia in December FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Sardinia hot in December?
Sardinia is cool in December: the average daytime high is 13.9°C and nights average 8.8°C. Days over 25°C are rare in December.
Can you swim in the sea in Sardinia in December?
The sea around Sardinia averages 15.2°C in December, which is cold for swimming without a wetsuit. Between 1991 and 2020 it ranged from 14°C to 16°C depending on the year.
How much does it rain in Sardinia in December?
Sardinia sees about 9 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 62 mm of rain in a typical December. The wettest December between 1991 and 2020 was 2004 (163 mm) and the driest was 2015 (6 mm).
How sunny is Sardinia in December?
Sardinia gets around 4.2 hours of sunshine a day in December out of 9.1 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Sardinia compare with the UK in December?
Sardinia is on average 6.2°C warmer than London by day in December (13.9°C against 7.7°C).
What is the hottest December on record in Sardinia?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest December day in Sardinia reached 21.1°C on 2010-12-08, and the coldest night dropped to 1.1°C on 1996-12-27.
How much warmer is Sardinia than London in December?
Sardinia's average daytime high is 13.9°C, compared with 7.7°C in London, a difference of 6.2°C. That is a useful improvement for daytime walks, but it still means cool weather rather than the warmth you would expect from a summer holiday.
Is December suitable for a short break from the UK?
The flight from London takes about 2 h 24 min, so Sardinia is a short-haul option. December suits a short break if you accept cool temperatures and possible rain, rather than needing each day to deliver beach weather.
When should I go instead for warmer holiday weather?
July, August and June are the better choices overall in the monthly comparison. December is cool and wet, so shifting your trip to those months makes more sense if warmth is a priority rather than simply having milder afternoons than at home.
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid) and NOAA Coral Reef Watch 5 km sea temperatures, 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at Olbia (Olbia (Costa Smeralda)). Sea temperature from the nearest 5 km sea cell, 2.3 km from that point. Sunshine hours are estimated from average cloud cover.Records are the highest and lowest daily values in that 30-year period, not all-time records. These are climate averages, not a forecast for your trip. How we measure holiday weather
- Hot · 25°C+
- Warm · 20°C to below 25°C
- Mild · 15°C to below 20°C
- Cool · below 15°C