Cyprus in December, a mild Christmas

December in Cyprus is a Christmas without real cold on the coast, with occasional rain and the mountains decked out. Forget the beach; this is a month for towns, villages and festivities. This page draws on the WMO, CYSTAT, the Central Bank and the Deputy Ministry of Tourism. For the wider season, see Cyprus in winter.

December weather

In Larnaca the average high is 19.2 °C and the low 9.8 °C, and in Paphos 19.6 and 11 °C. Nicosia stays at 17.8 °C and drops to 7.3 °C at night. Proper rain returns, with 80.9 mm in Larnaca and 86.5 mm in Paphos, over about ten days. The Troodos are another world, with a 9.3 °C high at Prodromos and 151 mm of rain.

Christmas villages

Until 6 January 2027 the ministry’s nine Christmas villages stay open, with Fikardou, Lefkara, Kakopetria and Agros among them. And on 19 and 20 December, the small theatre at Nicosia’s Presidential Palace will host another Christmas village, under a ministry call. The details are in Christmas in Cyprus. The other five are Kalopanagiotis, Kyperounta, Lofou, Deryneia and Statos-Agios Fotios.

If you are staying the night, see the best hotel deals in Nicosia for your dates: the well-placed rooms go fast.

December holidays

Christmas Day, Friday 25 December 2026, is a public holiday and the 26th falls on a Saturday, according to the Central Bank. In 2027, Christmas Day and the 26th fall on a Saturday and Sunday. The rest are in public holidays in Cyprus. In 2027 Christmas Day and Boxing Day both fall at the weekend.

A quiet month

December 2025 brought 156,959 visitors, 18 % up on December 2024, according to CYSTAT. Israel was the month’s top market, at 19.1 %, with the UK right behind on 19.0 %, or 29,826 visitors.

So you do not lose the morning at the ticket office, browse tickets and tours in Nicosia on GetYourGuide.

Skiing

Not yet. The Cyprus Ski Club normally opens the Olympus slopes in early January, so December is for seeing the snow, if there is any, rather than skiing on it.

What to pack

Layers, a jacket and a waterproof for the coast, plus a coat, hat and gloves for the mountains, where the low is around 3 °C.

If you would rather go at your own pace, see the car hire deals in Nicosia: the earlier you book, the more cars are left to choose from.

Compared with 2024

According to CYSTAT, December 2025 was 18 % up on a year earlier. Of all visitors, 56.4 % came on holiday, 32 % to see friends and relatives and 11.3 % on business.

The coast in December

With highs of 19 °C, the coast is good for strolling in the sun and eating outside on fine days. Nights, though, drop to around 10 or 11 °C in Larnaca and Paphos, and to 7 °C in Nicosia.

If you are staying the night, see the best hotel deals in Nicosia for your dates: the well-placed rooms go fast.

My December plan

Nicosia or Limassol as a base, a couple of Christmas villages and New Year’s Eve in town. To compare, Cyprus in November is milder and Cyprus in January brings the ski season.