Best Time to Visit Larnaca

Spring and autumn: the sweet spots

March to May and October to November are the months we'd pick. April is mild and mostly dry, with long bright days for walking the Finikoudes seafront or poking around the Church of Saint Lazarus. By May it's 26°C and beach weather has properly arrived, though the sea is still fresh.

October is the easy-going one. The sea has had all summer to warm up, and evenings stay soft enough for dinner outside. November turns greyer and wetter, but it's still mild. Cyprus also hosts the Kataklysmos festival (the Flood Festival), which is held around Pentecost in late spring or early summer. In Larnaca it brings concerts, boat races and water games along the seafront.

Summer: hot, dry and busy

June to September is beach season, and it's reliable. Rain almost never falls. July and August are the hottest months, both with highs of 33°C and warm nights of 27°C. Afternoons are sticky and slow. Do what locals do: swim at Mackenzie Beach or Finikoudes, then eat late.

These are also the busiest weeks. School holidays bring families, and flights into Larnaca airport fill up. If you hate crowds, aim for June or September. Both are still warm and swimmable, with a bit more room on the sand.

Winter: quiet, green and sometimes wet

December and January are the wettest months, with January the wettest at 75 mm over 11 days. December is close behind at 70 mm. You'll get grey spells, but also bright, cool days with only about five hours of sun on average.

It's a good time for city breaks and cheap, quiet stays. Walk around the Hala Sultan Tekke, a mosque beside the Salt Lake, where flamingos often gather in winter when there's water. Epiphany on 6 January is a local highlight. In Larnaca, a priest throws a cross into the sea and swimmers dive in to catch it.

February is a pleasant surprise. It's drier than January, and the almond blossom is out. Travelling with kids? Skip winter for beach plans, but it's fine for sightseeing.