Reading the Wind: How Sardinia Tells You Where to Go

How to Read It — and the Tools That Actually Help

In Sardinia, the wind is never background noise.

It is structure. It shapes the sea, decides which coast opens and which one closes, and quietly determines whether a beach day feels effortless or exhausting.

Many visitors experience this as unpredictability. In reality, Sardinia is one of the most readable islands in the Mediterranean — if you stop asking “Is it windy?” and start asking “Wind from where, and for whom?”

Today, a small ecosystem of tools makes this reading possible, even for non-experts.

Why Wind Matters More Here Than Almost Anywhere Else

Sardinia’s exposure is extreme: long, open coastlines meet deeply carved bays, cliffs, and inlets. A strong Maestrale can roughen the west coast while leaving eastern beaches calm and luminous. A Scirocco can turn the east uncomfortable while the north remains sheltered.

This means:

• the same wind can ruin one beach and perfect another

• distance matters less than orientation

• forecasts without context are often misleading

The key is not avoiding wind, but placing yourself correctly within it.

The Big Picture: Understanding the System

Windy

Windy is the best place to start.

Its animated maps make wind direction, intensity, and timing intuitive. Switching between forecast models reveals uncertainty and trends — essential for planning one or two days ahead.

Use it to: understand what is moving across the island

Don’t use it alone to: choose a specific beach.

Windguru

Windguru focuses on exposed points and coastal spots.

Its table-based forecasts are precise, especially for wind-dependent activities, but assume you already understand how exposure works.

Use it to: compare wind strength at known locations

Limit: little help if you don’t know how a bay is oriented

ARPAS Sardegna

ARPAS changes the game. Instead of models, it provides real-time measurements from local stations across Sardinia. This matters on days when forecasts disagree or local effects dominate. ARPAS doesn’t predict how the day should be — it shows how it is, right now.

Use it to:

• confirm conditions before leaving

• understand sudden changes

• verify which forecasts are over- or under-estimating wind

It’s factual, not pretty — and that’s exactly its strength.

The Local Intelligence Layer: From Data to Experience

Bentu

Bentu is built specifically for Sardinia, and it shows.

Instead of asking you to interpret wind data, Bentu translates it into consequences:

• which beaches are sheltered today

• where the sea will feel calm or restless

• how wind direction affects this coast, not Sardinia in general

It’s wind explained at human scale.

Best for: travelers who want clarity, not charts

Maybay

Maybay focuses on the smallest meaningful unit: the bay.

By combining wind, waves, and orientation, it answers the question that actually matters:

Will this specific beach feel good today?

It’s visual, fast, and practical — especially useful when choosing between several nearby beaches.

Best for: daily decisions, micro-planning

Limit: depends on aggregated data rather than live stations

How to Use These Tools Together (Without Overthinking)

A simple, effective approach:

1. Windy: Understand the general situation.

2. Windguru: check strength and timing

3. ARPAS: Verify real conditions.

4. Bentu/Maybay: Decide where to go.

This turns weather from guesswork into choice.

Wind as a Filter, Not a Problem

Locals don’t cancel plans because of wind—they relocate.

• Maestrale (NW): east coast, sheltered coves

• Scirocco (SE): north or west, or bays with protection

• Strong everywhere: cliffs, viewpoints, walks instead of open beaches

Once you stop chasing “perfect weather” and start reading the coast, Sardinia becomes surprisingly consistent.

There is almost always a good place to be.

The wind doesn’t take that away—it tells you where to look.

Note on availability and costs

Some of the apps and websites mentioned in this article—such as Windy, Windguru, Bentu, or Maybay—offer free basic versions but may include paid features, subscriptions, or premium data. Availability, pricing models, and features can change over time and may differ between web and mobile apps. Readers are advised to check the respective platforms directly for current terms and costs.

Editorial independence & transparency

The apps and websites mentioned in this article are referenced purely for editorial reasons. This content is not sponsored, not paid, and not commissioned by any of the providers listed. No commercial partnerships or affiliate relationships exist in connection with this article.

All tools are mentioned based on independent research and practical relevance for travelers in Sardinia.