Europe · Beach and resort guide
Reliable Mediterranean sun, history and a long season for a relatively short flight.
Is it right for you?
A strong fit for
Families, couples and reliable winter sun.
We would think twice for
Travellers hoping for lush green scenery in summer, because Cyprus bakes gold and dry by July, and its beauty at that time of year is beaches and blue water rather than landscapes.
What we would want you to know
The north and south of the island operate under different arrangements, worth knowing before you plan.
We’ve been here
Cyprus is one of the places we have visited ourselves. When clients ask about it, our first question is which end of the island: Paphos in the west is slower and steeped in history, while Ayia Napa and Protaras in the east have the brighter sand and the livelier evenings.
Map and areas
The harbour district of Paphos, with a seafront promenade, the castle, the Roman mosaics of the archaeological park and a long line of hotels on the coast road. Beaches are mostly small and rocky, so hotel pools do much of the work. Flat and easy to walk.
A crescent of golden sand north of Paphos, the west's main sandy beach, with a strip of restaurants and bars behind and villas on the hill above. Busy in summer; buses and taxis run into Paphos.
Cyprus's liveliest city, with a restored old town and castle, a smart marina and a long seafront promenade lined with big hotels. The beaches are grey sand and busy with locals, so stay here for restaurants and shops rather than a resort feel.
A resort of small, calm, sandy bays and clear water on the east coast, with hotels along a quiet coast road. Evenings are family-friendly, and the rocky coves towards Cape Greco are good for snorkelling.
Pale, powdery sand at Nissi and Makronissos is the draw. The small central square still parties hard in summer, but hotels on the edges of town are calm and suit families, and the old monastery in the middle of town is a quiet surprise.
Pine forest, stone villages and painted churches inland from the coast, noticeably cooler in summer. A night or two in a village such as Platres breaks up a beach fortnight, and in winter there can be snow on Mount Olympus above.
Weather and seasons
Cyprus has a long season. The sea off Paphos is still around 22°C in November, and October days average 28°C, so autumn half term works here when much of Greece is closing. July and August are fierce, near 32°C on the coast and hotter inland, which is hard work with small children or for sightseeing. Winter is mild and bright, good for walking and long stays, though at about 17°C in January the sea is too cold for most. In January and February the Troodos mountains often have snow.
Worth timing a trip around
Around ten days of costume parades, children's parades and street parties before Lent, ending with the grand parade through the city.
The biggest festival of the year: candlelit processions on Good Friday, midnight services with fireworks on Saturday and lamb roasted outdoors on Sunday. Book restaurants ahead.
The Festival of the Flood, held at Pentecost, brings water fights, boat races and stalls to the seafronts, and is biggest in Larnaca.
For a week or so in the Municipal Gardens, Cypriot wineries pour tastings each evening alongside live music and traditional dancing.
| Month | High | Low | Sea | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 18°C | 9°C | 17°C | 83 mm |
| February | 18°C | 9°C | 17°C | 37 mm |
| March | 20°C | 10°C | 17°C | 22 mm |
| April | 23°C | 12°C | 18°C | 12 mm |
| May | 26°C | 16°C | 20°C | 6 mm |
| June | 29°C | 19°C | 24°C | 0 mm |
| July | 32°C | 22°C | 27°C | 0 mm |
| August | 32°C | 23°C | 28°C | 0 mm |
| September | 30°C | 21°C | 27°C | 0 mm |
| October | 28°C | 18°C | 25°C | 13 mm |
| November | 24°C | 14°C | 22°C | 28 mm |
| December | 20°C | 11°C | 19°C | 76 mm |
Temperatures are 2015 to 2024 averages from NOAA records for Pafos Intl, 8 km away at 12 m. Rainfall is from the same station and shows the typical (median) month, so one freak storm does not skew it. Sea temperatures: NOAA OISST, 1991 to 2020.
Sand, shingle and swimming
Fine white sand and shallow turquoise water, with a sandbar you can wade across to a small islet. Lively, with music from the beach bar in summer; go early for calm.
A small, sheltered sandy bay in Protaras with calm, clear water and a little islet offshore. Very popular with families, so it fills up by mid-morning.
A small cove near Cape Greco reached by a steep road, with calm water and pines on the slopes above. Good snorkelling, but space is limited.
Dark sand beneath white chalk cliffs east of Limassol, split into small coves with tavernas above. Quieter than the city beaches.
A chain of sandy coves west of Ayia Napa, a little calmer than Nissi and good for families who want the same pale sand without the party.
Things to do
Roman villas with vast, detailed floor mosaics, plus the ruins of an odeon and a fort by the harbour. Go early or late, because there is almost no shade.
Underground tombs cut from the rock beside the sea, some with Doric columns, used by leading Paphos families in Hellenistic and Roman times. The steps are uneven, so wear decent shoes.
Petra tou Romiou, the sea stack where legend says Aphrodite came ashore, on the coast road between Paphos and Limassol. Best at sunset; the beach is pebbly.
Ten small churches and monasteries in the Troodos mountains are UNESCO-listed for their Byzantine wall paintings, and Kykkos, the island's best-known monastery, sits in the forest above. Cover shoulders and knees.
A wine village on the southern slopes of Troodos with a monastery, a cobbled square and small wineries, and a good lunch stop on a mountain day.
A clifftop Greco-Roman city west of Limassol, with a theatre facing the sea that still stages summer performances and mosaic-floored houses below.
Boats from Latchi run along the wild Akamas peninsula to the Blue Lagoon for swimming and snorkelling. The water is calm and clear, but busy with boats at midday in summer.
The divided capital: walk Ledra Street to the crossing point and on into the north's old town, with its Ottoman inn and cathedral turned mosque. A thought-provoking day that most beach holidays miss.
A national forest park of sea cliffs and caves at the south-east tip, with walking and cycling trails along the edge. The sea caves are best seen by boat or from the cliff path in the morning.
From about November to March, flamingos gather on the salt lake beside Larnaca airport, with the Hala Sultan Tekke mosque on its shore.
Food and drink
A slow procession of fifteen or more small plates, from dips and salads to grilled halloumi, sausages and slow-cooked meat, ordered per person. Arrive hungry and pace yourself.
The island's own squeaky cheese, best grilled or fried and eaten straight away, or fresh with watermelon in summer.
Lamb slow-baked in a sealed clay oven until it falls off the bone. Some tavernas make it only on certain days, so ask ahead.
Grilled sausages of minced pork and lamb wrapped in caul fat, served in pitta with salad.
A sweet dessert wine made from sun-dried grapes in villages below Troodos, said to be one of the oldest named wines still in production.
A clear, fiery grape spirit sipped ice-cold from small glasses, and traditionally rubbed on aches and colds.
Money
Cyprus prices a little above Greece like for like, and the season is the big lever: April, May, October and November bring summer-like weather at lower prices. In the east, family hotels compete hard on all inclusive. In Paphos we lean towards half board, because the harbour and old-town tavernas are part of the reason to go. Car hire is good value, and with driving on the left it feels familiar to UK drivers.
Flights and transfers
Paphos and Larnaca both take direct flights from Leeds Bradford, Manchester and Newcastle, and it is one of the longer Mediterranean flights, which is exactly what buys the extra warmth. We pick the airport to match the resort: Paphos for the west, Larnaca for Ayia Napa and Protaras in the east.
Flights from UK airports
Route check September 2026. Some routes are seasonal and schedules change, so we confirm the live options when we quote.
Practical details
2 hours ahead of the UK
Euro (€)
Greek and Turkish; English is widely spoken
Type G (UK three-pin), 240V
On the left
Safe to drink but often desalinated; many people buy bottled for the taste
Check for a service charge on the bill; otherwise around 10 percent
Entry for British passport holders
Visa. No visa needed for stays of up to 90 days. Cyprus is not in the Schengen area, so days here do not count towards your Schengen 90.
Passport. Issued less than 10 years before you arrive, valid for at least 3 months after you leave, with a blank page.
Summarised from the FCDO travel advice on gov.uk, checked 29 September 2026. Rules change: read the current entry requirements and the full travel advice before you go.
Questions we get asked
Paphos suits couples and older travellers who like history, harbour dinners and a slower pace, with hotel pools rather than big beaches. Ayia Napa and neighbouring Protaras suit families and beach lovers, with wide, sandy beaches. If nightlife matters, Ayia Napa; if it must be avoided, Protaras.
Mild and often sunny: January days are typically around 18°C, good for walking, the archaeological sites and long lunches. It is not beach weather, as the sea drops and evenings are cool, but it suits winter sun seekers who want gentle warmth rather than heat.
Yes. The easiest way is on foot through the Ledra Street crossing in Nicosia. Driving across is possible, but most hire cars from the south are not insured in the north, so you would need to buy separate cover at the crossing. We talk through the options before you travel.
Yes. Cyprus drives on the left, road signs are in Greek and English, and a motorway links Paphos, Limassol, Larnaca and Ayia Napa. Hire cars carry red number plates, which tells other drivers to give you room. Mountain roads in Troodos are narrow and slow.
Partly. The square and the streets around it still host a big summer club scene for young adults, but the town has grown well beyond that, with family hotels along the beaches either side. Choose the hotel's position carefully and the party is easy to avoid.
Around 4 hours 40 minutes from Leeds Bradford. It is one of the longer Mediterranean flights, which is the price of the extra warmth, so with young children we look carefully at departure times.
Photographs
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