Cala Gonone
Cala Gonone is a harbor town on Sardinia's Gulf of Orosei, where boats reach Cala Luna and the Bue Marino cave and trails lead inland toward the Gorropu gorge.
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Cala Gonone is a harbor town on the east coast of Sardinia, on the Gulf of Orosei, in the comune of Dorgali. Most people come for the boats. Trips leave the harbor for Cala Luna, a cove you reach by water or on foot, and for the Bue Marino cave, a sea cave entered by boat. Trails run inland from the town toward the Gorropu gorge in the Supramonte, which is among the deepest canyons in Europe.
The town suits travelers who want a beach stay with a few boat or hiking days. A car makes the wider area easier to reach. Plan the coves one day at a time, and check boat schedules and trail access before you set a date, since both change with the season and the weather. Gorropu can close after heavy rain, so keep a spare day. Two to four nights covers one boat day, one hike and time to swim.
Cala Gonone in five
- Book boats by the sea, not the dateBoats to the coves and the Bue Marino cave leave from the harbor and cancel when the sea is rough. Leave a spare day, and choose a cancellable booking.
- Check the rules for Goloritzé and GorropuAccess to Cala Goloritzé and to the Gorropu gorge is managed locally and may need a reservation or ticket in season. Read the official booking pages before you drive out.
- Rent the car in Olbia or CagliariDriving takes roughly 2 to 3 hours on winding roads, and there is little public transport. Collect the car at the airport and fuel up before the coast road.Cagliari travel guide
- Start trails early and carry waterShade is scarce on the cove walks and canyon paths, and midsummer heat is intense. Go before 9am, take more water than you expect and wear shoes with grip.
- Pick June or SeptemberThe sea is warm, boats run and the harbor is calmer than in July and August. May suits hikers who want cool mornings on the trails.
Things to do in Cala Gonone
See all attractions in Cala Gonone
Need to know
- Airport
- Olbia (OLB) about 2 hr by car; Cagliari (CAG) 2.5–3 hr
- Getting there
- By car; infrequent buses via Dorgali
- Getting around
- Harbor on foot; boats and a car for trailheads
- Best base
- Cala Gonone near the harbor
- Time needed
- 2–3 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh11°Low4°Quiet, closedJanuaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 80 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Quiet, closed
- FebruaryPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh13°Low5°Quiet, closedFebruaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 44 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Quiet, closed
- MarchPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh14°Low5°Spring walksMarchPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 71 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring walks
- AprilPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh17°Low7°WildflowersAprilPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 65 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wildflowers
- MayPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh21°Low11°Warm, hikingMayPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 88 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, hiking
- JuneClear5 rainy daysHigh28°Low16°Warm seaJuneClear
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 34 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm sea
- JulyClear1 rainy dayHigh32°Low20°Hot, busyJulyClear
Good
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 5 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, busy
- AugustClear4 rainy daysHigh31°Low20°Hottest, busyAugustClear
Good
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 22 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hottest, busy
- SeptemberClear7 rainy daysHigh26°Low16°Warm seaSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 53 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm sea
- OctoberClear8 rainy daysHigh21°Low12°Mild, quietOctoberClear
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 53 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
- NovemberRain12 rainy daysHigh16°Low8°Rain, closingNovemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 90 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rain, closing
- DecemberPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh13°Low6°Quiet, closedDecemberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 55 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Quiet, closed
Average daily high and low in Cala Gonone, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Cala Gonone
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
9
- Feels like
- 7°
- Humidity
- 79%
- Wind
- 10 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 23%
Cala Gonone
09:37 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today13°8°23%Monday: Cloudy. High 13°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 23%.
- Tue17°9°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 17°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed17°9°62%Wednesday: Thunderstorms. High 17°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 62%.
- Thu16°14°74%Thursday: Thunderstorms. High 16°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 74%.
- Fri19°11°44%Friday: Fog. High 19°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 44%.
- Sat17°9°6%Saturday: Cloudy. High 17°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 6%.
- Sun17°8°5%Sunday: Cloudy. High 17°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 5%.
Updated 06:37 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Every year
- Jan–FebCarnival of MamoiadaSardinia, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Cala Luna and the covesabout 20–40 min by boatSandy coves under limestone cliffs, reached by boat or on a long hike.
- Grotta del Bue Marinoabout 30 min by boatA sea cave on the coast, visited on a guided boat trip when the sea allows.
- Dorgaliabout 15 min by carHill town with crafts, a base for Gorropu and inland tracks.
Before you go to Cala Gonone
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Cala Gonone, checked
- Most non-EU visitors can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area. Check entry rules on the Italian visa site before you book.Source
- Dial 112 for police, fire or an ambulance anywhere in Italy.
- Gorropu gorge can close after heavy rain. Check with local guides or the park authority before you set out.
- Many restaurants add a cover charge (coperto) to the bill. Check the bill before you add a tip.
Plan around Cala Gonone
Regions, rail, entry rules and money
Read the guideCagliariSouth Sardinia's capital and main airport
Read the guideOlbiaNortheast gateway for ferries and flights
Read the guideOristanoLagoons and beaches on the west coast
Read the guideGetting around EuropeRail, buses and when a car pays off
Read the guideCala Gonone FAQ
Is Cala Gonone worth visiting?
Yes, for the coves and the cliff scenery, which are among Sardinia's best. It is small and quiet outside midsummer, so it suits beach and hiking days more than a city-style stay.
How do you get to Cala Gonone?
By car, mostly. From Olbia it is about 2 hours, from Cagliari about 2.5 to 3. Buses run via Dorgali but thinly, so check ARST timetables if you cannot drive.
Can you reach Cala Luna on foot?
Yes, but the trail is long and exposed, and many visitors return by boat. Check trail and boat information locally, and avoid the walk in the midday heat.
When is the Bue Marino cave open?
Visits depend on the sea state and the season, so there is no fixed schedule. Ask the boat operator in the harbor in the morning, and keep a second plan for rough-water days.
How many days do you need in Cala Gonone?
Two days gives one boat day and one hiking day. Three lets you absorb sea-day delays. Add Dorgali and Gorropu if you like canyon walks.