The sea temperature at Sardinia (Spiaggia La Cinta) today is 21.8 °C (71 °F) – cold to refreshing water, better for a short swim. The usual October average is 21.5 °C. Over the last 30 days the sea has cooled from 26.2 °C to 21.8 °C. Swimmable from June to November, when the sea averages 18 °C or more. Source: Sea Temp Map (seatempmap.com) – NASA MUR satellite data and the Copernicus Marine sea forecast.
| Month | Min | Avg | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 13.7°C / 56.7°F | 14.2°C / 57.5°F | 14.5°C / 58.2°F |
| February | 13.3°C / 55.9°F | 13.7°C / 56.6°F | 14.1°C / 57.4°F |
| March | 13.5°C / 56.2°F | 13.9°C / 57.0°F | 14.3°C / 57.7°F |
| April | 14.1°C / 57.3°F | 14.7°C / 58.5°F | 15.4°C / 59.7°F |
| May | 16.4°C / 61.6°F | 17.6°C / 63.7°F | 18.4°C / 65.1°F |
| June | 20.8°C / 69.5°F | 21.9°C / 71.4°F | 23.2°C / 73.7°F |
| July | 24.4°C / 75.9°F | 25.3°C / 77.6°F | 26.0°C / 78.8°F |
| August | 25.2°C / 77.4°F | 26.2°C / 79.1°F | 27.2°C / 80.9°F |
| September | 23.8°C / 74.8°F | 24.3°C / 75.7°F | 24.8°C / 76.6°F |
| October | 20.5°C / 68.9°F | 21.5°C / 70.7°F | 22.5°C / 72.5°F |
| November | 18.4°C / 65.2°F | 18.9°C / 66.0°F | 19.4°C / 66.8°F |
| December | 15.4°C / 59.6°F | 15.9°C / 60.5°F | 16.1°C / 61.1°F |
| Month | Min | Avg | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 10.9°C / 51.6°F | 11.7°C / 53.1°F | 13.2°C / 55.7°F |
| February | 10.8°C / 51.4°F | 12.0°C / 53.6°F | 13.7°C / 56.6°F |
| March | 11.5°C / 52.7°F | 12.8°C / 55.0°F | 14.2°C / 57.5°F |
| April | 12.9°C / 55.1°F | 14.4°C / 57.8°F | 15.7°C / 60.3°F |
| May | 16.3°C / 61.4°F | 18.1°C / 64.6°F | 19.6°C / 67.3°F |
| June | 21.3°C / 70.3°F | 23.1°C / 73.5°F | 24.4°C / 75.9°F |
| July | 24.2°C / 75.6°F | 26.2°C / 79.1°F | 27.6°C / 81.7°F |
| August | 24.5°C / 76.0°F | 26.2°C / 79.1°F | 27.6°C / 81.6°F |
| September | 21.9°C / 71.4°F | 23.2°C / 73.7°F | 24.5°C / 76.1°F |
| October | 18.9°C / 66.0°F | 20.0°C / 68.0°F | 21.2°C / 70.2°F |
| November | 15.3°C / 59.5°F | 16.1°C / 61.0°F | 17.3°C / 63.1°F |
| December | 12.4°C / 54.3°F | 13.3°C / 55.9°F | 14.6°C / 58.3°F |
5-year averages (2021–2025). Min/Max are typical daily lows and highs, not record extremes. (Copernicus ERA5)
Spiaggia La Cinta holidays
La Cinta is a sandy beach about 3 km long at San Teodoro, a resort town on the north-east coast of Sardinia, about 30 km south of Olbia. It separates the open sea from the Stagno di San Teodoro, a lagoon where flamingos and herons feed, and faces the limestone island of Tavolara.
Beaches
La Cinta curves along the lagoon, with fine white sand and water that stays shallow for a long way, so it suits families with small children. The southern end near the town has beach bars, sunbeds and water sports, and walking north takes you away from the main entrances and the crowds. Just north of San Teodoro, Cala Brandinchi and Lu Impostu are two bays with pale sand and turquoise water; in summer both require advance online booking, with daily visitor limits, and parking is arranged separately.
Things to do
Boats from Porto San Paolo, about 15 km north, circle Tavolara and stop for swimming in the Tavolara – Punta Coda Cavallo marine protected area, a popular area for snorkelling and diving. A nature walk behind the dunes of La Cinta looks over the lagoon and is good for birdwatching. In the evenings the small centre of San Teodoro fills with bars and a summer market, and Olbia and the Costa Smeralda are within a half-hour to an hour's drive. Capo Coda Cavallo, a headland just north, has viewpoints over Tavolara and small coves reached on foot.
Weather and best time to visit
At Spiaggia La Cinta the sea stays above 20 °C / 68 °F from June to October.
The beach season at San Teodoro runs from about June to September, with July and August hot, dry and crowded. The mistral, the strong north-west wind of Sardinia, blows mostly from the land here, so the east coast often stays calmer on those days, although winds from the east can bring waves. May and late September are quieter and still warm.
Hotels and where to stay
Hotels and holiday flats cluster around the centre of San Teodoro and along the road to the beaches, and many close outside the summer season. Staying in town puts the beach bars and restaurants within walking distance, while the areas near Cala Brandinchi and Puntaldia are quieter. Budoni, a few kilometres south, is a cheaper alternative with long beaches of its own.
Signature hotels: Baglioni Resort Sardinia
Airport and getting there
Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport (OLB) is about 30 km away, roughly half an hour by car. Ferries from mainland Italy and France arrive in Olbia and Golfo Aranci. A hire car makes it easy to reach the different bays; in summer buses link San Teodoro with Olbia.