A visit to the island in the off-season means renting a car. At least that’s how I see things, so you can get here and there, see places where you can’t go with the buses.
When is the off-season in Cyprus?
And when I say off-season, I mean November – March. After many winters here I would risk coming here in January and February only if I can get last minute tickets, after I’ve checked the weather to make sure that I’m not sitting in my room, admiring the rain.
Not that it wouldn’t be spectacular including this! When I look through the photos, I see that I was wearing t-shirt outside all year around, but surely they are different years.
In 2021 it was a warm January and half of February, without rain, then the rain and cold came until the end of March.
As you never know here how the weather will be in the long term, I choose to enjoy every sunny day but also the first rain, and the second… and so on. The temperatures are between 10 and 18-20 degrees during the day, and at night they can drop to 1 degree when it is the coldest in the coastal areas, and even below zero degrees in the mountains.
The water of the Mediterranean is the coldest somewhere around March, at 17-18 degrees I think, but even then you can go in and swim. If you are brave. My record was swimming at 18 degrees in the water.
After you’ve read everything I’ve listed below, maybe you’ll remember not to forget perhaps the most important thing – to catch the sunrise and the sunset!
Or at least one of them, on a cloudless day.
If you are not an incurable romantic or a lover of the “wilderness”, I would not really look for accommodation in resort areas. Even if there are still some restaurants and cafes open, I would prefer to just visit Ayia Napa and Protaras.
I would stay in Larnaca
I would look for accommodation in Larnaca, the city where you will most likely land. From here you can easily reach Nicosia (30 km), Limassol (60 km) and the mountains. It’s a bit of a drive to Paphos, but a quick day trip is doable if you wake up in the morning. Because there’s only about 120-150 km to go and that’s on the highway.
In Larnaca there are hotels in the central area from which you can choose and there are also enough apartments that you will find to rent.
If I could afford it and had enough days at my disposal, I would sort of split the accommodation in two – half a holiday with accommodation in Larnaca and half in Paphos.
And that’s because the western area seems very attractive to visit, including in the winter time.
And since you will most likely not come to swim in the winter, it doesn’t matter that the wind blows a little (sometimes stronger) or that it rains a little more (sometimes torrentially, with thunder, lightning and all the rest), but usually not all day 🙃
Jokes aside, if you want to explore the northern area in one vacation, with Latchi, Argaka, Pomos or the virgin area of Akamas during winter when the day is shorter it will be much better if you book a hotel room or an apartment in Paphos area.
It wouldn’t hurt to rent a 4×4 vehicle if you plan to hit the dirt roads of Akamas.
Archaeological sites and monasteries
I would look for as many objectives as possible as this for my #mustvisit list on a holiday in Cyprus. I find the archaeological sites and castles interesting, plus some of them are in areas with very nice views.
📌And here I would definitely place the Roman remains from Kourion at the top of the list. And on the way to them, I would not miss the Castle of Kolossi, very close to Limassol, which also has a history linked to the Templars.
In fact, almost all the castles here are related to the Templars who found their last refuge, before being annihilated, on the island of Aphrodite. However, you will not find their supposed treasures, which, if they existed, were looted by the conquerors. 😁
Also in Limassol, if I started with him, you also have Amathus, the royal city of Cyprus until 300 BC. A few vestiges on land and something more in the water that the authorities want to put on the tourist map for those who are passionate about scuba diving.
Don’t be too fascinated by the Marina and the seaside promenade to miss the Castle across the road, because it was there that King Richard the Lionheart married Berengaria of Navarre.
🚩See here more about Limassol 👉 Limassol, the skyscrapers city
Larnaca
In Larnaca you have the church where the tomb of Saint Lazarus, which is a #mustvisit, then you have the small Castle at the end of the promenade and next to it the Kebir mosque.
Near Larnaca, next to the salt lake where you are sure to catch some flamingos in the winter, you have the Hala Sultan Tekke Mosque, where you will find Mohamed’s stepmother. And lots of cats also.
Not far from here (by car, normally) is a Camel Park, in Mazotos. It’s nice to visit for adults too, but if you have kids too, I really recommend it.
At the exit from Larnaca towards the roundabout of the highway that takes you to Limassol you will see on the left side an aqueduct that is good for pictures if you stop for a while.
Near Larnaca is also the StravroVouni monastery, on MavroVouni mountain. There is a visiting program here and women are only allowed in the courtyard of the church, not inside the church.
Definitely at least one day to visit Ayia Napa and Protaras and Kapparis
It’s quiet and it’s beautiful. The East coast is spectacular and if you don’t like being surrounded by dozens of other tourists, winter is the ideal time to explore and take the area for a walk.
📌You must not miss the Cape Greco area – you start with the Sea Caves, then up on the rock. The road will take you to the natural rock bridge, then to the Ayio Anargirou chapel and the cave. From there where you can also admire Konnos Bay from a distance.
🚩See more ideas about what you can do in the area here 👉 Must see in Ayia Napa & Protaras
Nicosia
In Nicosia I would go and walk around those old streets and admire that new park they made at the entrance to the historical area, because it doesn’t look bad at all. I would also cross the border on foot in the occupied part to explore something else there, because I think it’s worth seeing pretty much everything there.
Cafes and restaurants are everywhere and you can choose to try the local food.
🚩 See more about Nicosia 👉 Nicosia, the world’s last divided capital
Paphos
📌Paphos district seems to me a bit like something from another movie. The landscape is different from what you will have already seen in Larnaca and Limassol, even the climate is a bit different – the winds are a bit stronger and it rains more there, so the vegetation is richer almost all year round. Plus, the landscapes and the color of the Paphos Mediterranean are well worth it.
📌Also you have things to visit – Aphrodite’s Stone, the port area and the archaeological remains there, then Coral Bay and Lara Road which takes you to Akamas and to the canyons.
📌 If you go up, north, you reach Latchi and the Baths of Aphrodite, then you can go to Pomos – where they found the fertility statuette that you will find in all the souvenir shops – and Argaka. I, for one, would not miss visiting the area.
📌Then there are the mountain villages around Paphos and the Kritou Terra waterfall, which I still recommend to those who don’t suffer from claustrophobia.
🚩See more about Paphos here 👉 Paphos – follow Aphrodite’s footsteps
Troodos
About the mountains and the villages here, I can only say that it’s a good thing that this island is not that big, because you get to visit more places. In addition, you have a good chance that in winter you will leave the shore at about 20 degrees and arrive at Troodos, only a few degrees and some snow even. Sometimes enough to ski, go sledding and make snowmen. I did the last two so far.
📌Most of the mountain villages are beautiful and unique. In Omodos you have wineries and a beautiful village to take a walk. Also in the area you have a superb Venetian bridge – Tzelefos.
📌 Then there is Platres, where you can still see the traces of a glory not long gone. In the area, I think about 30 km away, there is also the most famous monastery in Cyprus – Kykkos.
📌And if you decide to go down to Nicosia you have the villages of Kakopetria – Kalopanayiotis, you have Farmacas with the mouflon reserve.
📌 If you go to the interior of the mountains – to Peledri (I found it to be the village of pomegranates and don’t miss the Tsiakkas winery at the entrance), then the road can lead to Agros, touristic but beautiful.
📌 For the brave, I recommend the Machairas Monastery – Fikardou village route.
🚩 Read here more details about Troodos 👉 Troodos – let’s explore Cyprus mountains
And since I can’t include too many excursions here without boring you, I’ll leave the link with which you can visit the island, because it’s valid both in summer and in winter. Just keep in mind that if you come in December – February, you risk snowing up in the mountains, and sometimes they close the roads for about a day, no more.
🚩 In the following material you can find inspiration for 👉 One day trips in Cyprus
Shopping trips
If you don’t want to sit in the sun in less than 20 degrees, you might want to do some shopping. All cities now have at least one Mall where you can hide if you get a rainy day. There are actually 2 in Nicosia, so you have a choice.
Otherwise, if you want to stroll through the streets and check the shops it can be pleasant since the shopping areas are in the old towns.
📌 In Larnaca the shops are a little further up Finikoudes the street. A not too complicated maze, but very pleasant to explore. For me at least 🙂
📌 In Limassol you will find the Mall in the Zakaki area, and in the old center, near the port and the Marina, you have Anexartisias street with all kinds of shops.
📌 In Nicosia there is one Mall before entering the city, next to the only Ikea store on the island, and you have another one at the exit of the city, on the way to Troodos. Also on the way to Troodos, they opened in the fall of 2021 the first village outlet concept called Neo Plaza, in case you want to look for it on a map. I haven’t been there yet, so I can’t tell you what it’s like there. Plus, you can check the shopping area in the old town.
What I wouldn’t miss!
You will definitely eat and drink something while you are on vacation on the island. If you are here for the first time, here are some ideas on what you should try.
Beverages
It is impossible not to taste a Commandaria – a liqueur wine – which is attested from 800 BC and is practically the oldest wine still produced. That’s for dessert.
As an aperitif, you can start with a cold Zivania, from the freezer, as it is drunk on the island.
If you want a good wine during the meal, I would recommend a Xinistery from the Tsiakkas winery and if you are passionate about red wine, definitely a Marafeftico. Both wines are dry or demi-dry and are produced from grapes specific to the island.
Now, if you get through Omodos or if you somehow find it through a store, I recommend again a Marafeftico Mavro from the Zenon winery. You will not regret. They also have a collection of red wine there, at 50 euros a bottle, but which absolutely makes all the money.
Also for fun, you can find a blue wine, also Xinistery, from the Linos winery, also in Omodos. Otherwise, if you’re passionate about tasting and you’re not the one behind the wheel, all I can say is enjoy it, and don’t go on the road on an empty stomach.
Food
Cypriot cuisine is somewhat similar to Greek, so here you will find meat and fish Meze, souffla, mousaka, pastitio (baked meat pasta). What is specific to the place, however, is kleftiko – traditional oven-baked ship. Also, traditional would be Afelia.
Then you must have heard and probably already tasted haloumi – the cheese that is put on the grill.
And if you see a tavern that looks very shabby, in a village or even in the city, but where there are many locals eating, I strongly recommend you to stop there. It certainly has good prices and portions that you can barely eat.
Now, if you are more of a vegetarian, you have to choose more carefully where you eat, because on the island, about 40 kg of meat is consumed per capita per year, according to the last study done. Sprinkled with a lot of lemon, if that matters…
Fruits
Don’t miss the local fruits. If you enter the supermarket and see that it is written that the fruits are loco – buy with confidence!
Cypriot bananas, small and maybe not very eye-catching, are the best I’ve eaten.
So are their clementines and apples. Then you have winter and guava, which is from the island and which is excellent, you also have avocado, oranges, grapefruit and pomelo.
If you discover others that I haven’t mentioned, try it with confidence! Oh, and how could I forget the lemons!?! If you pass by a tree on the street, you can take it with confidence because it’s not illegal or something.
Just don’t go into people’s yards to pick, because there might be some problems then!
If you resisted reading, at least diagonally, until the end and ended up on vacation on the island, don’t hesitate to tell us what you liked!