Travel Essentials: Cyprus

Before finalising your next big adventure devote some time to pre-planning to ensure you are as best prepared as possible. Included here you'll find useful 'Essential Info' with links through to the experts in Travel Health Advice, Visa Regulations, Government Travel Advice, Books and Maps.


To get the most out of your next adventure it makes sense to consider some of the very local factors that combine to make up what you feel is the best time to travel to a destination. Many of these factors are very personal - some people prefer to travel when the weather is not too hot, or sites too crowded - others prefer to travel when a traditional local event is taking place. Taking into account the dates of public holidays can also make sense as these may have an impact on opening times of attractions, shops and restaurants, or might affect public transport or other services. Conversely public holidays can be a time of great local festivities and celebrations providing a feast of local expressionism and culture.

Climate

Cyprus enjoys an intense Mediterranean climate of hot dry summers starting in mid-May and lasting until mid-September and rainy, quite mild winters from November to mid-March. Spring and autumn are effectively short intervals in between, characterised by smooth weather. With almost year-round clear skies and sunshine, daylight length ranges from 9.8 hours in December to 14.5 hours in June. 


Cyprus's climate is characterised by hot summers and mild winters. There is a significant seasonal difference between mid-summer and mid-winter temperatures that ranges from 18° C inland to about 14° C on the coast. The difference in daily maximum and night minimum temperatures is also quite significant. In winter they range from 8° to 10° C on the lowlands and 5°to 6° C on the mountains and in summer from 16° C on the central plain and 9°to 12° C elsewhere.


Daily temperatures during the hottest months of July and August,range between 29° C on the central plain and 22° C on the Troodos Mountains . The average maximum temperatures for these two months range between 36° C and 27° C. In January, the coolest month, the indicative daily temperature is 10° C on the central plain and 3° C on the higher parts of the Troodos Mountains while the average minimum temperatures are 5° C and 0° C.

 
Seasonality

Cyprus enjoys a very sunny climate compared with most countries with 11.5 hours of bright sunshine per day over the six summer months. Even during the months of December and January, there is 5.5 hours of sunshine. 


 

 
National Holidays  
16 Jun 2008 Orthodox Whitsun Monday
15 Aug 2008 Assumption Day
01 Oct 2008 Cyprus Independence Day
28 Oct 2008 Ochi Day
25 Dec 2008 Christmas Day
26 Dec 2008 Boxing Day
01 Jan 2009 New Years Day
06 Jan 2009 Epiphany
25 Mar 2009 Greece Independence Day
01 May 2009 May Day
National Events