When is the best time to visit Cyprus?

Visiting Cyprus in March - April

You’ll find mild temperatures, little rain and sparse crowds, making it a good time to visit for sightseeing or to soak up the Mediterranean sun. Additionally, prices remain affordable. However, it’s still cool to swim for all but the hardiest of souls. Orthodox Easter and Holy Week celebrations, which often fall in April, make it a festive time to visit.

Events & Festivals

• Carnival celebrations, usually in March, mark the run-up to Lent. The largest is the Limassol Carnival, 12 days of festivities that culminate in the Grand Parade on the Sunday before Clean Monday.
• Clean Monday is the start of Lent and a public holiday, celebrated with traditional fasting foods like shellfish as well as by flying kites.
• Cyprus National Day, on the first of April, commemorates the creation of the National Organization of the Cypriot Struggle, which was created to protest British rule on the island.
• The most important holiday of the Orthodox calendar is Easter, which is proceeded by Holy Week events like processions. It usually falls in April or early May.

Visiting Cyprus in May - June

May and June are two of the best months to visit Cyprus. Clear skies and warm temperatures mean it’s an excellent time to take advantage of pools and beaches. It’s also still comfortable enough for sightseeing, especially if you start early. Crowds are starting to increase, but haven’t reached the density you’ll find later in the season.

Events & Festivals

• Held on the first Sunday in May, Anthestiria (the Festival of Flowers) fetes the arrival of spring with an elaborate parade featuring floats made entirely of flowers.
• The most important holiday of the Orthodox calendar is Easter, which is proceeded by Holy Week events like processions. It usually falls in April or early May.
• Celebrated 50 days after Easter, Kataklysmos is a water festival dedicated to Noah’s salvation from the flood, with boat races and water-throwing competitions.

Visiting Cyprus in July - August

Both temperatures and crowds are at their peak in July and August. This is the driest, sunniest time of year, and hot midday temperatures reach into the mid-30s °C (mid-90s °F). For all but the most heat-tolerant people, the weather is good for sitting pool-side or swimming in the sea, but too hot to be comfortable exploring and sightseeing for long periods.

Events & Festivals

• Dormition, on 15th August, is an important religious holiday that marks the death of the Virgin Mary.

Visiting Cyprus in September

This is a great month to visit. The weather is still warm enough to enjoy the beach, but without the soaring temperatures of July and August. Children are back in school and there are fewer families in the resorts, making September a slightly quieter month that still enjoys excellent weather.

Visiting Cyprus in October

Cyprus remains warm and sunny with temperatures in the mid- to high-20s °C (high-70s to low-80s °F) throughout October. The sea has retained its warmth after months of hot sun, so you can still swim, and the lower temperatures are great for sightseeing. Many hotel rates begin to drop as well, making October one of the best times of year to visit.

Events & Festivals

• Marking the country’s independence from the British, Independence Day, on 1st October, is celebrated with festivals and a military parade in Nicosia.
• Ochi Day, on 28th October, commemorates the date in 1940 when the Greek Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas said ohi (no) to Mussolini’s demand for the Axis forces to occupy parts of Greece.

Visiting Cyprus in November

November is a quieter time of year here, and hotel prices tend to fall. Weather remains mild, however, with warm temperatures that are great for exploring.

Visiting Cyprus in December

Temperatures in December are cool and comfortable, though you might experience some rain. Christmas is a festive time, though less significant than Easter in the Orthodox church.

Events & Festivals

• For Christmas Day and Boxing Day, Cypriots go home to visit family, eat traditional foods and attend church.