Warm sea most of the year. Snow in February.
Cyprus sits between Europe and the Middle East, which is why the year has a shape most of Europe does not: a long warm sea, a genuine winter on the mountain, and a gap between the coast and inland in August that decides where people live.
Typical daily low to high · °C · this month highlighted
Solid bar: coast (Limassol / Larnaca). Dashed line: the inland daily high in Nicosia — the gap in July and August is the reason people move to the mountains for August.
Indicative sea temperature · °C
Darker blue is 22°C and above, which most people will swim in without thinking about it. That is Jun to Nov — 6 months of the year, which is the single fact that surprises people most about moving here.
Measured, not estimated. Mean daily low and high per calendar month from ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, computed over 2015–2024 for Limassol and Nicosia; sea temperature 2023–2024 off Limassol. These are the mean of an average day, not the top of a hot one. For official records and forecasts see the Cyprus Meteorological Service. Live conditions for each district are on its own area page.
| Month | Coast (Limassol/Larnaca) | Inland (Nicosia) | Sea | Troodos | What it is like |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 10–16°C | 7–15°C | 19°C | snow | Coolest, wettest month. Quiet. You will want heating indoors. |
| Feb | 10–17°C | 7–17°C | 18°C | snow | Almond blossom, and snow on Troodos. Storms possible. |
| Mar | 11–19°C | 9–20°C | 18°C | spring | Wildflowers and green hills. The best hiking of the year. |
| Apr | 14–22°C | 12–25°C | 19°C | mild | Easter, the biggest weekend in the calendar. Sea still cold. |
| May | 18–26°C | 17–30°C | 20°C | warm | Warm on land well before the sea catches up. |
| Jun | 21–30°C | 21–34°C | 24°C | warm | Heat begins in earnest, and the sea turns swimmable. |
| Jul | 24–33°C | 24–38°C | 27°C | warm | Hottest. Inland is a different climate at midday — air-con is not optional. |
| Aug | 24–32°C | 24–37°C | 28°C | warm | Hot and dry, warm evenings. Locals go up the mountain for the weekend. |
| Sep | 23–31°C | 21–34°C | 28°C | warm | The month people move for. Heat softens and the sea is at its warmest. |
| Oct | 19–27°C | 17–28°C | 26°C | mild | The best light of the year, and you can still swim without thinking. |
| Nov | 15–23°C | 13–22°C | 24°C | cool | First rains, the island turns green again, and the sea is still warm. |
| Dec | 12–18°C | 9–18°C | 21°C | snow | Winter inland; the coast stays mild enough to eat outside at lunch. |
Most homes have AC for cooling, less for heating. Check what's installed before signing any rental — January nights inland can be properly cold and a property without proper heating costs you €100–€200 a month in plug-in heaters.
Late May through mid-November is fully swimmable. Year-round swimmers exist (locals call them "polar bears") — sea drops to ~16°C in February.
Saharan dust events (kalima) coat the island in fine red dust a few times a year — usually March–May and October. Asthma sufferers should plan around it.
UV index regularly 10+ in summer. Northern-European skin needs SPF 30+ even in shaded outdoor settings. Watch for skin checks annually after arrival.