Your March weather guide

Mild

Weather in Sardinia in March

Sardinia in March suits a mild-weather break, not a beach holiday. Average daytime highs of 15.4°C make walking and spending time outdoors appealing with layers, but the sea is cold at 13.6°C. With about 8 rainy days, you also need room to adjust your plans. For a UK traveller, the draw is gentler daytime weather rather than reliable warmth: go if you enjoy being outside without summer heat, not if swimming is the priority.

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
15.4°C
9 in 10 days stay below 19°C
Average night-time low
8.8°C
coldest 10% of nights: 6°C or lower
Compared with London
+4.9°C
London averages 10.5°C in March
Sea temperature
13.6°C
year to year: 13°C to 14°C
Sunshine per day (est.)
6.3h
54% of 11.7 h of daylight
Rainy days (1 mm+)
8
56 mm over the month
Humidity
76%
Days over 25°C
0%
none over 30°C
Record high 1991-2020
28.9°C
2001-03-24
Record low 1991-2020
0.8°C
1996-03-06
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 March compares

March is the 9th warmest month of the year in Sardinia and ranks 94th of 134 destinations we compare for March - see where else is hot in March. Within Italy it is 2nd of 16 (Italy in March). Against London's average high of 10.5°C in March, Sardinia is 4.9°C warmer by day and 5.5°C warmer at night.

Daytime and night-time in March

The typical March day in Sardinia peaks at 15.4°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 18.7°C or more. Roughly 1 in 1000 days top 25°C. Nights average 8.8°C; one night in ten drops to 6.0°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings - it is genuinely cool after dark. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest March day here reached 28.9°C (2001-03-24) and the coldest night 0.8°C (1996-03-06).

Rain in March

Some rain (4-8 rainy days): about 8 days with 1 mm or more, 56 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest March was 1996 with 205 mm, the driest 1994 with 0 mm. Humidity averages 76%.

Sea temperature in March

The sea averages 13.6°C - too cold for most (under 18°c). Depending on the year it ranges from 13.1°C to 14.1°C. For the warmest sea here, come in August (25.2°C).

Sunshine and daylight

Around 6.3 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 11.7 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 06:34 and sets about 18:28 local time in mid-March. Average cloud cover is 46%.

Is March a good time to visit Sardinia?

March is not the strongest month here: mild days. The best months for Sardinia on our scoring are July, August, June; months averaging 25°C or more: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep.

Mild afternoons, cool evenings

The average daytime high is comfortable for walking in layers, but it is not a promise of warmth throughout the day. The warmer end of March can reach 18.7°C or more, making a dry afternoon pleasant for sitting outside. Evenings need a different approach: the average night low is 8.8°C, and the coldest nights fall to 6°C or below. Pack a jumper and a jacket rather than relying on light holiday clothes. March works best if you prefer being active to lying in the sun, with outdoor plans focused on the milder part of the day and warmer clothing ready for later.

Useful sunshine, with rain to plan around

March brings about 6.3 hours of sunshine a day within 11.7 hours of daylight, so there is scope for time outdoors without expecting clear skies from morning to evening. About 8 days receive measurable rain, making a waterproof jacket a sensible part of your packing. Keep your schedule flexible rather than committing every day to long stretches outside. The monthly figures cannot tell you how rain will fall during your stay, so a short visit could feel wetter or drier than the average suggests. This is a reasonable month for travellers happy to work around the weather, but less suitable if reliable sunshine is essential.

The sea is the main compromise

The sea averages 13.6°C, firmly in the cold category rather than merely bracing. Its March range of 13°C to 14°C also means that a warmer year does not turn this into a comfortable swimming month. Treat time by the water as an opportunity for a walk or a sit in the sunshine, with a layer ready when you stop moving. A mild afternoon can feel inviting on land while the water remains cold. If your holiday depends on relaxed sea swimming and spending most of the day in swimwear, March is not a good match.

A little perspective

Sardinia through the year

March is highlighted. See how it compares with the rest of the year.

Monthly climate averages

Swipe sideways on a phone; the month stays in view.

Sardinia monthly climate averages, 1991-2020; March is the selected month.
MonthDayNightSeaSun/dayRain mmRainy daysDays 25°C+
January12.9°C7.4°C13.8°C4.45680%
February13.2°C7.1°C13.3°C5.54380%
MarchSelected15.4°C8.8°C13.6°C6.35680%
April18.0°C10.7°C14.6°C7.15380%
May22.1°C14.2°C17.3°C8.444617%
Junebest26.8°C18.1°C20.9°C11.117369%
Julybest30.0°C21.0°C23.8°C12.77196%
Augustbest30.3°C21.5°C25.2°C11.212298%
September25.8°C18.6°C23.6°C7.837664%
October21.9°C15.5°C20.9°C5.765816%
November17.1°C11.7°C17.9°C4.378100%
December13.9°C8.8°C15.2°C4.26290%

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
Bars show average daytime highs and night-time lows; circles mark the average sea temperature. Same scale for every month. Exact values are in the table.

Best months here

On warmth, low rainfall and sunshine, start with these.

Keep exploring

Similar in March

Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.

A little more detail

Sardinia in March FAQs

Plain answers, grounded in the averages.

Is Sardinia hot in March?

Sardinia is mild in March: the average daytime high is 15.4°C and nights average 8.8°C. Roughly 1 in 1000 March days reach 25°C.

Can you swim in the sea in Sardinia in March?

The sea around Sardinia averages 13.6°C in March, which is cold for swimming without a wetsuit. Between 1991 and 2020 it ranged from 13°C to 14°C depending on the year.

How much does it rain in Sardinia in March?

Sardinia sees about 8 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 56 mm of rain in a typical March. The wettest March between 1991 and 2020 was 1996 (205 mm) and the driest was 1994 (0 mm).

How sunny is Sardinia in March?

Sardinia gets around 6.3 hours of sunshine a day in March out of 11.7 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).

How does Sardinia compare with the UK in March?

Sardinia is on average 4.9°C warmer than London by day in March (15.4°C against 10.5°C).

What is the hottest March on record in Sardinia?

Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest March day in Sardinia reached 28.9°C on 2001-03-24, and the coldest night dropped to 0.8°C on 1996-03-06.

How much warmer is Sardinia than London in March?

Sardinia's average daytime high is 15.4°C, compared with London's 10.5°C - a difference of 4.9°C. That offers a milder daytime break, but it is still jacket-and-layers weather rather than summer warmth, especially once evening arrives.

Is the flight short enough for a brief break?

The flight from London takes about 2 h 24 min, so Sardinia is a short-haul option. March makes sense for a brief trip if you want mild conditions and can keep outdoor plans flexible, rather than relying on beach weather.

Should I choose March or wait for summer?

Choose March for mild weather if cool evenings, some rain and a cold sea are acceptable trade-offs. July, August and June are the best-rated months overall, making them stronger alternatives if March sounds too cool for your plans.

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