Last Updated on April 29, 2024 by Sam
Winter is a wonderful season to visit Cyprus for a variety of reasons. For starters the temperatures are more bearable than the sweltering summer months, it’s less busy, and accommodation is cheaper. In fact, the winter months are such a great time to visit Cyprus that flamingos migrate to the island during this time every year! Whether you want to discover unique celebrations like the Limassol Carnival, or simply enjoy a bit of sun – winter holidays in Cyprus can be unforgettable and unique. Find out why you should visit Cyprus in winter and the benefits of visiting at this time below!
Why you should visit Cyprus in winter
Hiking
Hiking is one of the best things to do in Cyprus in the winter. The mild temperatures during winter are much better for long walks and hikes, particularly when compared to the blistering hot summer months!
Not only are the temperatures more bearable for hiking, but also the trails are generally less busy. This means you can appreciate the stunning natural beauty of Cyprus with little to no crowds!
There are plenty of brilliant hiking trails around Cyprus, and we particularly loved hiking through the Machairas Forest and the Madari Circular Trail in the Troodos Mountains. If you are hiking during winter in Cyprus then you may even encounter snow in the Troodos Mountains, which is not something people necessarily expect to encounter in the country! Other popular hiking trails in Cyprus include the Aphrodite Trail and the Atalante Loop.
Regardless of the time of year you visit Cyprus, if you plan on hiking then we recommend downloading the AllTrails app and signing up for an account! The app lists a variety of brilliant walks and hikes of all difficulties, and it’s extremely useful for navigating and making sure you stay on the right path! Click here to visit the AllTrails website and download the app today!
Prices are more affordable
Another reason to visit Cyprus in the winter months is that it’s cheaper and therefore more affordable compared to the summer months. During the busier summer months you can expect to pay more for hotels, rental cars, and even tours.
Winter in Cyprus runs from late December through to March, and during this time you can find some great deals. For example during winter a rental car can cost less than €10 per day, but in the summer months you will likely pay more than double this amount per day. Click here to find amazing value rental cars on the Discover Cars website!
If you do decide to rent a car then we recommend checking out our guide to driving in Cyprus!
Hotels and flights tend to be similarly discounted, especially if you are flexible with the dates you plan to visit. We managed to get return flights from London to Cyprus for less than €60 when travelling with only hand luggage, which is great value for two flights of over four hours each!
If you are looking to visit Cyprus on a budget, then a winter trip could be the ideal solution for you! We recommend using Booking.com to discover the best winter accommodation deals in Cyprus – so click here to find amazing places to stay on the Booking.com website!
Escape the crowds
Winter in Cyprus reveals a quieter and more serene side to the island. It’s a far cry from the busyness of the peak summer months, and so visiting during winter is a great way to escape the crowds!
If you want to explore the island’s ancient ruins, cute villages, Troodos Mountains, and more, then winter is an ideal time to visit. Not only are the temperatures more bearable, but also these places are far less busy than during summer.
Fewer tourists has other advantages too, as it gives you more chance to interact with the locals. Talking to locals is one of the best ways to discover a country’s culture, so take the chance to learn about the country from Cypriots themselves!
Of course, depending on what you are looking for, in some instances visiting Cyprus in the winter isn’t the right choice for you. If you are looking to enjoy the Ayia Napa nightlife or spend your days relaxing on the beach, then the winter season in Cyprus isn’t the right time to visit!
Winter Festivals and Celebrations in Cyprus
Visiting Cyprus in winter allows you to enjoy some of the unique celebrations that take place during this time of year. Between December and March the island celebrates Christmas, the Epiphany, and the Limassol Carnival.
Throughout December there are Christmas markets in several villages around Cyprus, including Pano Lefkara, Derynia, and Fikardou. Expect to find a variety of stalls full of food, drinks, crafts, and more! During your stay you may also hear Kalandas, which are ancient Christmas songs that are the local version of Christmas carols. Click here to find out more about the villages with Christmas displays!
The majority of the population in Cyprus is Orthodox Christian, and so on the 6th January they celebrate the Epiphany – which marks the baptism of Jesus. It is a public holiday in Cyprus, and one way it is celebrated is by a priest throwing a cross into the water and young men and boys dive in to retrieve it.
Another brilliant celebration is the Limassol Carnival, which has a number of different events over the course of 10 days – normally in March. The final day of festivities culminates in the Grand Festival with a number of parades and floats. It’s definitely an event not to miss if you happen to be in Cyprus during winter!
Other villages in the Limassol also host their own events during carnival. We spent our time staying in the tiny village of Kalavasos – and there was even a celebration there!
Winter sun in Cyprus
Winter in Cyprus offers a welcome escape from the cold weather across the rest of Europe. In the main cities of Larnaca, Paphos, Limassol, and Nicosia, average high temperatures sit around 16-19 degrees celsius between December and March.
It’s not exactly sunbathing weather every day, but it’s substantially warmer than most other places in Europe – where temperatures often get below zero in winter! Thankfully some days are definitely warm enough for the beach – as we found out for ourselves.
On average it rains approximately 7 days each month during winter in Cyprus, and there are some cloudy days too. Despite this, it’s still one of the best European destinations for escaping the cold and enjoying some sun during the winter months!
Of course you can head further afield if you want to enjoy warmer weather, with options like spending 2 weeks in Bali or even a road trip along Australia’s east coast – but a winter trip to Cyprus is an easier and more affordable option!
The island can be a little cold at times during winter, so it’s important to pack a coat and some warmer clothing – particularly for the evenings. You may not expect it but it even snows in Cyprus during winter, but this really only happens on Mount Olympus and other peaks of the Troodos Mountains – which is a wonderful place for hiking!
Flamingos visit Cyprus in winter
An added bonus of visiting Cyprus in the winter is the chance to see flamingos – with tens of thousands of these beautiful birds migrating to the island. Flamingos can only be seen in Cyprus between November and March, so visiting during winter is essential to get a glimpse of them.
They can be seen at a few spots around the island, with a particularly good spot being the Larnaca Salt Lake. We saw hundreds, if not thousands, of flamingos at this salt lake on each of our visits – and had some brilliant close-up views from just metres away!
Our best views of flamingos at the Larnaca Salt Lake was along the salt like hiking trail. This trail leads close to the water and sometimes the flamingos are right next to you by the shore. Click here to see the exact location on Google Maps!
During the winter months it’s possible to see flamingos all around the lake, so wherever you walk you are likely to see some. On our first visit we did see quite a lot near the Hala Sultan Tekke Mosque, which you can see from the shores of the lake.
Other places to see flamingos in Cyprus during winter include the Limassol Lake, Oroklini Lake, and even the airport – where we were fortunate enough to see some in flight as we came in to land. Seeing flamingos was one of the highlights of our time on the island, so if you are visiting during winter make sure to add it to your Cyprus itinerary!
Skiing in Cyprus
Better known for its beaches and warm weather, Cyprus is hardly the most obvious ski destination. The winter months do bring a fair amount of snow to the Troodos Mountains though, and so it’s possible to ski on the slopes of Mount Olympus – the island’s highest point.
Skiing is normally possible from early January until the end of March, but exact dates obviously dependent on the weather. The Cyprus Ski Club operate four ski lifts at the Troodos Ski Centre, with daily ski passes costing €15 on weekdays and €25 on weekends for non-members.
Click here to find out more on the Cyprus Ski Club website!
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