Oristano
Oristano is a small city on Sardinia's west coast, used as a base for the Tharros ruins, the Sinis peninsula and its quartz-sand beaches.
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Oristano sits on the Gulf of Oristano, on the west coast of Sardinia. It was the seat of the Giudicato of Arborea, one of the island's medieval Judicates, and its old center still shows that past. Each year around late February, the city holds Sa Sartiglia, a horseback carnival in which riders gallop through the streets and try to pierce a suspended star with a wooden pole. Nearby, the Phoenician, Punic and Roman ruins of Tharros sit on a headland above the sea.
Oristano suits a slower trip built around ruins, walks and beaches, with little nightlife. Plan one or two nights in the city, then a full day on the Sinis peninsula, where the beach at Is Arutas is known for its quartz sand. Late spring and early autumn are the easiest months for swimming and walking the coast. Summer is hot, and the beaches are busier. Trains run from Cagliari, so you can reach the city without a car, but a car makes the peninsula's beaches much easier to reach.
Oristano in five
- Drive out to Tharros and the Sinis peninsulaThe ruins of Tharros and the church of San Giovanni di Sinis sit on a headland west of town. Go in the morning, and check the site's official page for opening hours and tickets.
- Leave the sand where it isRemoving sand, shells or stones from Sardinian beaches is banned, and the quartz-grain beaches near Oristano are the type visitors tend to take. Take photos instead.
- Book early for Sa SartigliaThe carnival horse race in the old town takes place around Carnival in February or March, when rooms fill. Check the official dates before you book.
- Visit the Mont'e Prama statues in CabrasThe stone giants of Mont'e Prama are shown in the museum in nearby Cabras. Check the museum's official site for opening hours and tickets, and combine it with the lagoon.
- Rent a car, or use the train from CagliariTrains connect Oristano with Cagliari, but the peninsula needs a car or a taxi. Plan the rail leg first, then collect a car in town.Cagliari travel guide
Things to do in Oristano
See all attractions in Oristano
Need to know
- Airport
- Cagliari (CAG) or Alghero (AHO), about 1.5–2 hours
- Getting there
- Train or bus from Cagliari in about 1–1.5 hours
- Getting around
- A car for the peninsula; walking in town
- Best base
- Oristano old town
- Time needed
- 1–2 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh13°Low7°Mild, quietJanuaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 72 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
- FebruaryPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh15°Low7°Mild, SartigliaFebruaryPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 61 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, Sartiglia
- MarchPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh16°Low8°SpringMarchPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 61 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring
- AprilPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh19°Low10°Warm, greenAprilPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 59 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, green
- MayClear9 rainy daysHigh22°Low13°Warm, quietMayClear
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 75 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, quiet
- JuneClear3 rainy daysHigh28°Low18°Beach seasonJuneClear
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 23 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Beach season
- JulyClear1 rainy dayHigh31°Low21°HotJulyClear
Best
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 3 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot
- AugustClear3 rainy daysHigh31°Low21°Hot, busyAugustClear
Best
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 20 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, busy
- SeptemberClear7 rainy daysHigh27°Low19°Warm seaSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 50 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm sea
- OctoberClear8 rainy daysHigh23°Low16°MildOctoberClear
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 58 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild
- NovemberRain13 rainy daysHigh18°Low12°WetNovemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 136 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet
- DecemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh15°Low9°MildDecemberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 84 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild
Average daily high and low in Oristano, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Oristano
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
12
- Feels like
- 11°
- Humidity
- 75%
- Wind
- 4 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Oristano
09:37 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today19°7°0%Monday: Partly cloudy. High 19°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue19°7°3%Tuesday: Fog. High 19°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Wed23°11°3%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 23°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Thu20°15°25%Thursday: Rain. High 20°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 25%.
- Fri19°14°21%Friday: Rain. High 19°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 21%.
- Sat19°10°10%Saturday: Fog. High 19°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 10%.
- Sun22°9°5%Sunday: Cloudy. High 22°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 5%.
Updated 09:37 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Every year
- Jan–FebCarnival of MamoiadaSardinia, a day trip
Before you go to Oristano
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Rules for Oristano, checked
- Non-EU visitors can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area. Check entry rules on the official Italian visa site before you book.Source
- Dial 112 for police, fire or an ambulance anywhere in Italy.
- Cover shoulders and knees before entering the cathedral or other churches in Oristano.
- Some antiques and cultural objects need an export licence to leave the EU. Check with the Italian Ministry of Culture before buying at fairs.Source
Plan around Oristano
A colorful river town on the west coast
Read the guideCagliariThe island capital to the south
Read the guideAlgheroA walled harbor town on the northwest coast
Read the guideOlbiaSardinia's northeast gateway
Read the guideAll of ItalyCities, coasts, lakes and the Alps
Read the guideEES, explainedPassport checks at Schengen borders
Read the guideOristano FAQ
Is Oristano worth visiting?
Yes for a quieter side of Sardinia, with the Sinis peninsula, Tharros and long sandy beaches nearby. The city itself is small, so it works best as a base for one or two nights.
How do I get to Oristano from Cagliari?
By regional train or bus, about 1 to 1.5 hours. Check timetables, because services are limited on Sundays. A car makes it easier to reach the peninsula afterward.
What is Sa Sartiglia?
A medieval-style horse race and carnival event in Oristano, held around Carnival in February or March. It draws many visitors, so book rooms early and check the official dates.
What can I do in Oristano in one day?
See the cathedral and the old center in the morning, drive to Tharros and San Giovanni di Sinis, and finish with a beach or the lagoon at Cabras. Check opening hours first.
Are the beaches near Oristano good?
Yes, with quartz-grain sand, clear water and few crowds outside high summer. Remember that removing sand or shells is banned, and check beach access and parking before you go.