Cyprus in winter, between a mild coast and snow

The Cypriot winter has two faces, which is why I like it. On the coast you can stroll in a light jumper without the crowds, and an hour’s drive away, in the Troodos, there may be snow and open pistes. Here’s the weather from WMO data, what to do and the dates worth knowing. For the rest of the year, see Cyprus weather.

Winter weather

In Larnaca and Paphos, average highs range from 17.4 °C in January to 19.6 °C in December, with lows from 7.8 to 11 °C. This is the rainy season, with 80 to 100 mm a month on the coast and around 10 to 12 rainy days monthly. Up at Prodromos, in the Troodos, January stays at a 6.9 °C high and around 1 °C overnight, with 165 mm of rain, while Nicosia’s low is close to 6 °C.

Skiing on Olympus

The season, the Cyprus Ski Club says, normally lasts from the first days of January until March is out, on the slopes of Mount Olympus, at 1,951 metres, 2 km from Troodos village and about 12 km from Platres. There are four lifts, the chairlift on the FIS-approved Zeus run, a drag lift on Hera and two at Sun Valley, opening from 9:00. In 2026 an adult paid €15 for a weekday pass, €25 at weekends and €100 for a week; 2027 prices weren’t published yet. To stay nearby, see hotels in the Troodos. Everything you need for the snow is in skiing in Cyprus.

To sleep close to everything, search places to stay in Platres on Expedia and filter by area before price.

Village Christmases

In 2026 the nine Christmas villages named by the Deputy Ministry of Tourism are Fikardou, Lefkara, Agros, Kakopetria, Deryneia, Lofou, Kyperounta, Kalopanagiotis and Statos-Agios Fotios, open from 21 November 2026 until Epiphany 2027. Which days each one opens hasn’t been announced yet.

Holidays

According to the Central Bank, Friday 25 December 2026 is a holiday, and in 2027 so are Friday 1 and Wednesday 6 January. Green Monday falls on 23 February in 2026 and 15 March in 2027. The whole list is in public holidays in Cyprus.

If you are short on time, see the best tours in Platres and pick one that fits your day.

The quiet season

According to CYSTAT, 156,959 visitors arrived in December 2025, 112,100 in January and 133,760 in February, against more than 600,000 in August. UK arrivals drop to 18,701 in January. It’s the quietest time for towns and ancient sites, and the easiest for finding a room.

What to pack

For the coast, layers, a jacket and something waterproof, as it rains on roughly one day in three in January. For the mountains, a proper winter coat, gloves and grippy shoes, especially if you’re heading for the snow. And if you drive up towards Olympus, look up the latest road report on the Cyprus Ski Club website first.

Where the bus does not go, a car does: compare car hire in Limassol before you arrive rather than at the desk.

Month by month

If you already know the month, there’s more detail in Cyprus in January and Cyprus in February.

If you’re torn between seasons, the best time to visit Cyprus compares them all, and autumn, my favourite, is in Cyprus in autumn.

The month that opens winter is covered in Cyprus in December, and its festivities in Christmas in Cyprus. If you head into the mountains at this time of year, pack a proper coat, as I explain in packing list for Cyprus.

To sleep close to everything, search places to stay in Platres on Booking.com and filter by area before price.