Cyprus is a really fun destination for a summer vacation, but it is also an excellent place to try for a winter one. Although it is considered part of Europe, it has Middle Eastern weather, which means that most of the year the weather is pleasant to very hot, similar to Israel.
This means that even in the winter months you can enjoy the hotels (at low prices) and enjoy pleasant weather for trips. In addition, there is snow in the mountains in the cold months, usually between January and March. For those looking for village tours, Cypriot food, great hotels and even snow, Cyprus is the perfect destination.
So, I decided to write a detailed post with all the things you can do in Cyprus in winter and give you some tips before you try to embark on a trip to Cyprus.
Tips before flying to Cyprus
SIM abroad
I personally recommend using an ESIM, which is an electronic SIM, and recommend Airalo. I was very satisfied with their user experience (simple tutorial videos for operating the SIM card) and everything worked without any special problems. I wrote more about them in an extended post on the subject of taking a SIM card abroad and also about other options such as buying a local SIM card.
Blog followers have a 15% discount code for the Airalo company to purchase an ESIM – to redeem the discount, click on this link. The discount code is already included in the link. See it at checkout.
The biggest drawback at the moment is that some devices do not support an electronic SIM. How can you know if your device supports the electronic card? Very simple: go to this link and you can see. Link to which devices support ESIM.
Car rental in Cyprus
There is no convenient public transport in Cyprus. For those who only come for a backpacking vacation, buses and taxis will provide a good enough answer, but if you also want to travel, I personally recommend renting a car. It is true that lanes go in the opposite direction, but as someone who lives here, I can say that you get used to it quickly. Car rental prices in Cyprus are quite cheap compared to other places in Europe, especially if you come in winter. You can search for a car in the Israeli search engine Papam Papam. Personally, I really like to search through them because they save me time (instead of going to several websites) and they also have the option of filtering out non-recommended rental companies.
Attractions in Cyprus
There are two websites through which you can find various attractions in Cyprus such as wine tours, jeep tours and more. I recommend searching on the following sites: Get your guide and Viator.
Snow and skiing in Cyprus
Of course, if you are already coming to Cyprus in winter (especially in January, February and March) then it is worth checking if there is snow in the mountains and going there. You can see live if there is snow and get information about the roads on the website of Cyprus Ski.
Here is a link to the Ski Live website camera. Link with information about the roads and skiing routes.
How do you get to the snow?
Before you go to the snow it is very important to check the condition of the roads. If it’s windy, you will be informed that you can only get there with 4×4 vehicles or with chains for the wheels of the car. If it’s not windy then the roads are open to all vehicles.
Directions via Google Maps to the North Face trail on Mount Olympus.
Note that there are several surf tracks along the road. I gave you a link to the route we went to where there was a cable car and a restaurant.
We went to see the snow parting from Limassol and it was about an hour drive by private car.
I personally recommend renting a car and driving independently, and you can even sleep in the area (there are several hotels there). A hotel that I have heard many recommendations about is Casale Panayiotis. We haven’t had the chance to sleep there but it gets good reviews.
If you need to buy car chains then you can find them in stores like Super Home but the rental company can also provide them for you for a nominal fee (it’s also a good idea to ask them for a demonstration of how to assemble them).
Ski site costs in Cyprus
This is a relatively cheap experience since there is no entrance fee to the ski resort and the cable car is also low-cost. The main expenses are renting or buying skiing equipment (and if you come only to sled, then generally the costs are low).
When you approach the ski resort there are stands on the road that sell sleds (we bought a simple, plastic sled for 30 euros, there were also 25-euro options). It is also possible to buy snow boots and gloves there. You can also rent equipment and clothing at the ski resort.
I recommend calling them before arrival to find out prices and details – link to the ski website.
There is a cable car at the ski site and the cost is about 7 euros both ways and there is no charge for a child. There is no entrance fee to the ski resort itself.
We bought a sled and used it in the snow near the cable car and Maya and Roman also went up in the cable car.
The ski resort also has a restaurant where you can buy hot drinks and food like pizza, soup, buns with sausage and more at cheap prices.
If you are going there by car from Limassol, then I recommend stopping halfway at the John restaurant, a place with an amazing view and good local food. And there is also a cafe next door. Arrival instructions.
Village tours in Cyprus
The pleasant weather in winter is actually a big advantage for anyone who wants to travel in the villages of Cyprus. Even the most touristic villages are significantly less crowded in winter, so you can take a leisurely stroll through each one.
Cyprus has a lot of magical villages and I wrote about them a lot in different posts: village trips from Limassol and a trip to the villages in the Troodos Mountains.
Villages we really like are:
Kalavasos – a small and magical village a short drive from Limassol.
Lefkara village – one of the most popular villages in Cyprus that specializes in lace and gold and silver products and has a special olive farm and a stunning dam next to it.
Omodos – another well-known village in the Troodos Mountains, the village has wine production and a monastery.
Kakopetria – a village with various taverns, a playground for children and a short hike with a waterfall.
I haven’t had the chance to do guided tours here, but if you prefer tours to villages rather than traveling independently, then here are some that I found that receive good reviews:
Booking a tour to the Troodos Mountains and villages from Paphos
Booking an authentic tour to historical sites from Paphos
Booking a wine food tour and a visit to the Troodos Mountains
Booking a jeep trip from Larnaca to the Troodos Mountains
Book a wine tasting at a winery in Paphos
Feel free to write to me in the comments about additional recommendations.
Places to travel in Cyprus in winter
Waterfalls in Cyprus
There are several waterfalls in the Troodos Mountains area:
Caledonian Waterfall
Millomeris Waterfall
Chantara Waterfall
And between Limassol and Paphos there is the Prastio Waterfall.
Because there is not much rain here, most of the time there is no water in the waterfalls. It is recommended to go mainly during rainy periods in Cyprus.
Venetian bridges Bridge Tzelefos in Paphos Forest
Beautiful bridges located about 440 m in the forest of Paphos. They are on the way to the Troodos Mountains, so it is worth visiting them on the same day you go to the Troodos Mountains. The bridges are about an hour’s drive from Paphos and Limassol or an hour-and-a-half drive from Larnaca. The Gefiri Tou Tzefolu Bridge is the largest stone bridge built in Cyprus.
You can travel between the bridges by car or on foot. At the first bridge there is an option to go up the mountain to an observation point (about a 10-15 minute hike on foot). When we were there, there were many photographers who came to photograph the bridges, because they are really special.
Nature reserves in Cyprus
The winter months are an excellent time to travel in nature reserves in Cyprus because in the summer it can get too hot to hike. We hiked in February in the following two nature reserves and in Akamas we also did a 5-hour walking route.
Akamas Nature Reserve (Akamas Peninsula)
Is about an hour’s drive from Paphos. In the western part of Greek Cyprus, one of the most spectacular sites on the island of Cyprus, which is a highly recommended destination for travelers looking for a nature trip in Cyprus. The reserve is stunning and has many hiking trails as well as a blue lagoon with the clearest water there is.
There are tracks of different degrees of difficulty. The route of the Aphrodite trail is considered the most difficult, because it climbs a mountain to an observation point. There are also flat routes such as a route to the blue lagoon.
Another cool option in this reserve is to rent a buggy and travel with it in the reserve. So even if you are less into walking, you will have something to do there. Entry to the walking trails is free. There is a map at the beginning of the route that shows the distance and the options for the route. The route itself is marked all the way.
The Aphrodite route takes between 4-6 hours and you can extend it depending on the route you choose (directions). Suitable for those looking for tracks in Cyprus. If you are hungry at the end of the route or the trip in Agi, you can eat at a restaurant in the reserve that has a wide variety of food and good prices.
Cape Greco Nature Reserve
A lovely reserve located in Ayia Napa (about half an hour’s drive from Larnaca). There are hiking trails of varying degrees of difficulty, there is a beautiful natural bridge, and there are places to have a picnic. Definitely worth spending a day or half a day there.
Book a guided tour in Cape Greco from Larnaca.
Events and festivals in Cyprus in winter
December
Christmas celebrations throughout the island.
Although there isn’t an atmosphere like the one in the big European cities, there are still many decorations and lights and even parades and special activities for the children. Larnaca has a Christmas market every year at the beginning of December and there are several villages that do events especially for the Christmas .
January
Until the beginning of January you can still find decorations around the city for Christmas. They usually start taking them down in the first week.
The Epiphany Day – 6th January – this is the day when you will see families going to church with bottles to collect holy water blessed by their local priest.
February
Mid-February – Chrysorrogiatissa Monastery Fair Paphos.
Mid-February – mandarin festival (yes, there are many fruit festivals here) in the village of Arakapas.
Towards the end of February – Derynia Village kite flying competition.
March
Carnival celebrations throughout Cyprus (costume celebration).
The carnival usually starts in the first week of March and lasts about ten days. In Limassol there are two parades. One is in the Promenade area of Limassol, starting roughly from the zoo area, and the second, larger parade that mostly takes place on the main street in Limassol Arch Makarios.
End of March – mandarin festival in the village of Dierona.
More information about the festivals.
Cyprus in winter with children
Outdoor playgrounds for children
One of the most convenient things to do with children in the winter is to go to outdoor playgrounds. In Cyprus there are not too many playgrounds like that, but you can find in every city at least one indoor playground that is really nice.
Our favorite games.
In Limassol –
Agora Arcade, which is also inside an indoor market. From a playhouse suitable for babies from about 9 months, to children up to 5-years-old. There are slides into a ball pool, a small horse carousel, and a maze for children. There is a seating area for parents and you can bring food from the indoor food market. The food market has several food stalls, and computer games for the older children.
The Hunnies & Bunnies playhouse is close to the mall and is suitable for babies up to the age of 4-5. It’s a playhouse with seating for parents and a small cafe with wooden games and role-playing games, as well as a small outdoor playground.
In Larnaca –
The Fun Factory playground is a large playground with a seating area and a restaurant, and many games for children. Suitable mainly for toddlers up to about 8 years old.
Paphos –
The Cosmic Arcade is next to the mall. A huge playground that is suitable for both babies and older children because there are also colliding cars and bowling.
Museums for children
Museum of Illusions in Limassol Paradox museum. A cute museum that is suitable for spending an hour to an hour-and-a-half with the children.
Link to book tickets to Paradox museum
Rope parks
If the weather is nice then a rope park can be a great attraction for children even in winter.
There is a rope park in the Troodos Mountains called Sparti.
There is also a rope park at the City of Dreams hotel in Limassol that you can enter for a fee even if you are not a hotel guest.
Where to sleep in Cyprus in winter. Recommended hotels for winter
In my opinion, one of the most fun things in Cyprus is that there are many great hotels and most of them also have heated pools. So, even if you are flying with children or if you are a couple, you can enjoy the pool at the hotel (by the way, I happened to see people entering the outdoor pool and the sea even in the middle of February).
I have made lists of recommended hotels in Paphos and Limassol and most of them have heated pools.
A post about recommended hotels in Paphos.
A post about recommended hotels in Limassol.
If you are looking for a special hotel that will suit a couple in the winter, I think the Minthis Hotel in Paphos is a perfect place for couples in the winter because it has a spa with a heated pool for adults only, with an amazing view of the mountains.
A hotel recommended for children in winter is Olympic Lagoon Paphos because it also has a heated pool and activities for children, such as a mini disco and baby, children and youth clubs.
I, however, do not recommend staying in resort towns like Ayia Napa and Protaras. These are great towns for a vacation in the summer, but in the winter everything there is deserted. My recommendation is to stay in cities like Larnaca, Paphos and Limassol (these three cities are on the sea) or stay in the Troodos Mountains for a more wintery experience.
The biggest advantage for me in hotels in Cyprus in winter is that they cost much less; it can even be half the price of summer because it is considered off season. We always take advantage of this to go to 5-star hotels here at a cost of 200 euros, compared to in the summer, when the cost can reach 500 euros per night and even more (depending on the hotel).
Bonus for blog followers
If you are planning to come to Cyprus and are looking for someone to plan an itinerary for you that you can do independently with a car (minimum for 3 days) or if you want to do a private trip with a driver (also suitable for large groups) then I recommend contacting Rony Schwartz. We met not long ago and I was very impressed by his knowledge of Cyprus (he has been living here for 5 years in Paphos) and beyond that he is really charming and has been planning trips for many years.
Link to Roni’s WhatsApp for contact
If you book a “private trip” for a family, or a small group, Roni will make for you a “detailed plan for a sightseeing day, with a culinary emphasis”, in Paphos, or Larnaca, or Limassol, including warm recommendations! Such a program costs 50 – 40 euros normally, but you will get it for free.
If you order a trip planning you will get one day at my expense, pay for three days planning and you will get four.
If you book a trip for a group of over 7 participants, you will receive a shuttle to the airport and back at an attractive price or a detailed culinary trip planning for an independent trip for free.
In conclusion, Cyprus is a fun destination for winter as it is a combination of a vacation in pleasant weather with touches of a real winter in the snow. In winter you can stay in the best hotels at attractive prices, you can enjoy the Christmas atmosphere and enjoy various festivals and special trips to magical villages and the Troodos Mountains.
Hope my post helped you. If so, I would very much like you to respond here in the comments, and if you have any more questions, then you are also welcome to ask them in the comments or write to me on the blog’s social networks: Facebook and Instagram.
Looking for more information about Cyprus? I have more posts about Cyprus on my blog.