Molara Island Island
Uninhabited Mediterranean island with rugged coastline
Off Sardinia's northeast coast near Tavolara, Molara Island is a small, mostly uninhabited isle inside a marine protected area. Day‑trippers arrive for boat trips, rocky coves, seabird colonies and snorkeling in clear coastal waters.
Molara Island at a Glance#
About Molara Island#
A small, uninhabited island off the north-eastern coast of Sardinia, Italy, lying close to the shoreline near the Tavolara-Capo Coda Cavallo area and the town of San Teodoro.
The island is characterised by rocky granite coastline, small sheltered coves and coastal scrub. Remains of past human settlement and a lighthouse are visible, and the island is visited for short nature and sightseeing trips rather than long stays.
Molara has evidence of past habitation and periodic use over centuries; structures on the island today reflect abandoned settlement and maritime navigation needs. It has not supported a permanent modern population and is principally a landscape and wildlife resource.
Situated off the NE coast of Sardinia, Molara sits close to the islands and headlands of Tavolara and Capo Coda Cavallo, within easy boat distance of the mainland harbors around San Teodoro.
- Access: Uninhabited for most of the year and reached by private boat from the nearby Sardinian coast, with landing points on rocky or pebbly shores rather than developed harbors.
- Visitor note: Noted for coastal scenery and ruins rather than visitor infrastructure, so trips are typically short visits or part of boat excursions.
How to Get to Molara Island#
Molara is reached only by boat. Regular excursion boats and private charters leave from Porto San Paolo (near Olbia) and from the resorts around San Teodoro. The crossing is short - typically under 30 minutes from Porto San Paolo - but services are seasonal (late spring to early autumn). Arrange return transportation with your skipper, as there are no facilities on the island.
Tips for Visiting Molara Island#
- Hire a local boat from Porto San Paolo or San Teodoro rather than join a large charter - smaller skippers will drop you in a quiet cove and wait.
- Bring a snorkel: the rock-strewn coves around Molara are best explored from the water; marine life and Posidonia meadows are common.
- No facilities on the island - pack shade and take all rubbish back to the mainland.
- Avoid landing during seabird breeding season (spring) if possible; keep to paths and rock ledges to minimise disturbance.
Best Time to Visit Molara Island#
Warm months (late spring to early autumn) are best for boat access and swimming; winter visits are possible only by private boat and are windy and raw.
Weather & Climate near Molara Island#
Temperate climate with warm summers (peaking in August) and cool winters (coldest in February). Temperatures range from 8°C to 27°C. Semi-arid with limited rainfall with a pronounced dry season.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Good | 8° - 13° | 10° | 48 mm | partly cloudy | 75% | 4.5 m/s | 0.2 low | 9.5h |
| February | Good | 8° - 12° | 8° | 56 mm | partly cloudy | 75% | 4.7 m/s | 0.4 low | 10.5h |
| March | Good | 9° - 14° | 11° | 53 mm | partly cloudy | 78% | 4.7 m/s | 0.8 moderate | 11.8h |
| April | Very Good | 10° - 16° | 13° | 43 mm | partly cloudy | 80% | 4.8 m/s | 1.2 high | 13.1h |
| May | Excellent | 14° - 20° | 17° | 28 mm | partly cloudy | 80% | 4.1 m/s | 1.6 very high | 14.3h |
| June | Ideal | 18° - 24° | 21° | 17 mm | mostly sunny | 79% | 4.3 m/s | 2.1 extreme | 14.8h |
| July | Ideal | 21° - 27° | 24° | 5 mm | clear | 76% | 4.2 m/s | 2.2 extreme | 14.6h |
| August | Ideal | 21° - 27° | 24° | 18 mm | mostly sunny | 75% | 4.0 m/s | 1.8 very high | 13.6h |
| September | Ideal | 19° - 24° | 21° | 30 mm | some cloud | 74% | 4.0 m/s | 1.2 high | 12.3h |
| October | Very Good | 15° - 20° | 18° | 59 mm | partly cloudy | 78% | 3.9 m/s | 0.7 moderate | 11.0h |
| November | Very Good | 11° - 16° | 14° | 56 mm | partly cloudy | 77% | 4.2 m/s | 0.3 low | 9.8h |
| December | Acceptable | 9° - 13° | 11° | 83 mm | partly cloudy | 75% | 4.6 m/s | 0.2 low | 9.2h |
