Things to Do in Cyprus in December 2026: Christmas Villages, Events and Ideas

December is when Cyprus slows down and lights up. The days are short and the rains return, but most days are still bright, the mountains may turn white and every town and village dresses up for Christmas. Here is what is confirmed for December 2026, what to expect from the markets and holidays, and ideas for every part of the island. We checked all dates on 19 October 2026; anything not yet announced is marked as such.

1. Know the weather, the light and the holidays

December brings the rainy season properly, often in short, heavy bursts between sunny spells. The Deputy Ministry of Tourism gives about six hours of bright sunshine a day in December and January, and says rain and snow on the Troodos usually begin before Christmas. On the coast, sunny afternoons can still feel warm; inland and in the mountains, nights are cold. The sun sets before 17:00 all month, so plan walks and village trips around the light. Our Cyprus weather month by month and winter in Cyprus: staying warm guides cover the rest.

Plan errands at government offices and banks for early December, and see our guide to working hours and national holidays.

2. Confirmed events for December 2026

These come from the Deputy Ministry of Tourism's official annual events calendar (August 2026 edition). Check the organiser's page shortly before you go.

For concerts, theatre and family shows as they are announced, browse our Cyprus events listings. The Cyprus Symphony Orchestra, the theatres and the municipalities had not published their December 2026 programmes when we checked.

3. Spend a day in the Christmas Villages

The Deputy Ministry of Tourism's Christmas Villages are the best-organised festive outing in Cyprus. In 2026-27 there are nine, open from 21 November 2026 to 6 January 2027 inclusive:

• Troodos and Pitsilia: Agros, Kakopetria, Kalopanagiotis and Kyperounta.
• Paphos hills: Statos-Agios Fotios.
• Limassol wine villages: Lofou.
• Larnaca district: Lefkara.
• Nicosia district: Fikardou.
• Famagusta district: Deryneia.

According to Cyprus Mail, the villages were picked from communities in the "Heartland of Legends" grant scheme, now in its fifth year, and plan festive decorations, wooden stalls selling local products and crafts, workshops on crafts, wine and food, guided village walks and cycling. Opening days and hours for each village are published on the official page. Weekends before Christmas are the busiest; go on a weekday or early in the season if you can. For an idea of the atmosphere, read our Kyperounta Christmas village guide.

4. Browse the town Christmas markets

The town markets and tree-lighting ceremonies for 2026 had not been announced on 19 October 2026. Municipalities usually publish them in mid to late November. To give you an idea, this is what ran in 2025:

• Nicosia: the tree in Eleftheria Square was lit on 23 November 2025 with a free concert, and the official Christmas market there ran until 4 January 2026. Old Strovolos held a Christmas Alley on 6–7 December 2025.
• Limassol: the Old City Xmas Fest around the Agora on two December weekends, plus the Cyberness Christmas Market at the Kolla Factory.
• Larnaca: a market in Zouhouri Square on three December weekends.
• Paphos: a Christmas festival in Kathikas village and a market at Technopolis 20.
• Elsewhere: the CyHerbia Christmas Festival in Avgorou and a Solea Valley market at The Mills in Linou.

Our Christmas markets in Cyprus guide and city guides for Limassol and Nicosia will help you choose, and we add the 2026 dates to our events listings once they are out.

5. Run or cheer at the Agia Napa Half Marathon

On Sunday 20 December 2026 the Agia Napa Half Marathon goes through the main streets of Ayia Napa and along the coast towards Cape Greco, with 10K and 5K options for those who want a shorter run before the Christmas meals. Expect road closures in the town centre that morning. Out of season Ayia Napa is calm, and a walk on the Cape Greco cliff paths afterwards makes a good day out.

6. Watch for snow in the Troodos

The first snow usually falls on Mount Olympus before Christmas, and a white Troodos is a big draw for families. Skiing is another matter: the Cyprus Ski Club season normally runs from early January to the end of March, and in the 2025-26 season the first slope only opened on 14 January 2026. In December, go for the views, a walk and a hot drink in Troodos Square, and check road conditions before you drive up. The Troodos Visitor Centre opens Monday to Friday, 09:00–14:30, in winter and closes on public holidays. More in our skiing in Troodos guide.

7. See the flamingos

BirdLife Cyprus says greater flamingos usually arrive on the salt lakes in November and stay until late February. December is a good month to see them at the Larnaca Salt Lake, from the trail by Hala Sultan Tekke, or at Akrotiri near Limassol, where the Akrotiri Environmental Education and Information Centre has a free viewing kiosk (Monday to Friday, 08:00–13:30, closed on Christmas Day). Numbers vary with the water level, so do not be surprised if one year is busier than another.

8. Eat like a Cypriot at Christmas

Christmas food is a big part of December. The Cyprus Food Museum notes that turkey with stuffing has become an essential part of the Cypriot Christmas table in modern times. Order a turkey or a joint from your butcher early in the month if you want one for the 25th, as the week before Christmas is very busy. Village fairs and the Christmas Villages are good places to buy honey, preserves, halloumi, wine and zivania as gifts; our guide to local products and souvenirs lists more ideas.

9. Walk on a dry day

When the sun is out, December is excellent walking weather, cool and clear. Stay low if snow is forecast. Good choices include the Aphrodite trail in the Akamas (7.5 km circular, about 3–4 hours), the cliff paths of Cape Greco and the salt lake trail in Larnaca. Waterfalls start to flow after the first heavy rains: see our Troodos waterfalls guide. Our hiking routes page has more.

Ideas by city

Nicosia: the Christmas lights in Eleftheria Square, a walk through the old town and a trip to the Fikardou Christmas Village.

Limassol: the jazz showcase at Rialto (5–6 December), the Old City Christmas markets once announced and a Sunday in Lofou.

Larnaca: flamingos on the salt lake, the Lefkara Christmas Village and a seafront walk on Finikoudes.

Paphos: the morning walking tour, a drive to Statos-Agios Fotios and a hike in the Akamas on a dry day.

Ayia Napa and Protaras: the Half Marathon on 20 December, Cape Greco and Deryneia's Christmas Village.

What to do next

• Flying home for the holidays? See cheap Christmas flights from Cyprus and winter trips with direct flights.
• Plan the rest of the season with our winter plans from December to February and January guides.
• Read our Christmas in Cyprus guide.