Things to Do in Cyprus in November 2026: Events, Hikes and Ideas

November is one of the most underrated months to live in Cyprus. The summer crowds have gone, the heat has broken, the sea is still swimmable on calm days and the mountains turn gold and red. It is a month for long walks, village lunches, sports weekends and the first hint of Christmas. Here is what is confirmed for November 2026, plus ideas for every part of the island.

1. Make the most of the weather and the sea

November brings the switch from summer to winter, but slowly. On the coast you can expect daytime highs of around 21–24°C and nights of 12–16°C. Nicosia is similar by day and cooler at night, at about 11°C, while the Troodos is much colder, with highs of about 13°C and nights close to 6°C.

The sea holds its heat well. Off Limassol it averages about 21–22°C, warmer at the start of the month than at the end, so many expats keep swimming well into November. The rainy season begins too, but showers tend to be short and heavy, with plenty of sunshine in between.

The clocks go back on Sunday 25 October, so in November the sun sets at around 16:50 at the start of the month and 16:40 by the end. Plan hikes and beach afternoons with that in mind. Our Cyprus weather month by month guide has the full figures.

2. Confirmed events for November 2026

These events are confirmed by the organisers or the Deputy Ministry of Tourism's official calendar. Dates can still change, so check the official link before you travel.

The religious fairs (panigyria) are listed in the official annual events calendar. Expect stalls of sweets, nuts, toys and household goods around the church, plus loukoumades and souvla. They are free and open to everyone.

For concerts, theatre and family shows across the month, browse our Cyprus events listings, and see Cyprus festivals month by month for the bigger picture.

3. Cheer on (or join) a sports weekend

November is the island's big endurance month, because the weather is perfect for racing.

• OCEANMAN Ayia Napa (6–8 November): open-water races of 10 km, 5 km and 2 km, plus team and children's races, from Ayia Napa Marina. Saturday is for the sprint, kids and teams; Sunday for the longer swims.
• OlympusMan (7 November): an extreme triathlon that starts with a 3.8 km swim from Geroskipou beach and climbs by bike and on foot all the way to Troodos Square. Even as a spectator, the finish in the mountains is quite a sight.
• Larnaka International Marathon (15 November): marathon, half marathon, 10 km and 5 km races along the Finikoudes seafront, plus corporate and children's races. Road closures apply in central Larnaca that morning.
• Cyprus International 4-Day Challenge (26–29 November): a staged running event based at Coral Bay, with a time trial, a trail hill run, a multi-terrain half marathon in the Akamas and a 10 km Paphos city run.

4. Hike the Troodos in autumn colours

Summer is too hot for most trails and winter can bring snow, so November is prime hiking season. The plane trees, golden oaks and vineyards turn colour, and the air is crisp but rarely cold at midday. The Troodos Regional Tourism Board lists 22 marked nature trails. Good November choices include:

• Persephone (3 km, easy): a short linear walk from Troodos Square to a viewpoint over the southern slopes.
• Artemis (7 km, easy): a circular route around Mount Olympus at about 1,850 m. See our Artemis trail guide.
• Kalidonia (3 km, harder): follows a stream through the forest to the Kalidonia waterfall, which starts flowing more strongly after the first rains. Read more in our Troodos waterfalls guide.
• Atalanti (14 km, moderate): a longer circular walk from Troodos Square for a full day out.

Start early, carry a warm layer and a torch, and aim to be off the trail by 16:00. Our hiking routes in Cyprus page has more ideas, including lower-level walks.

5. Taste the new wine and zivania season

The grape harvest is over by November, and the wineries are quieter and more relaxed than in summer. The Krasochoria of Lemesos wine route links 20 villages on the southern Troodos slopes, including Omodos, Vasa, Koilani, Arsos, Lofou and Pachna, with 16 wineries between them. Look out for the local Xynisteri (white) and Mavro (red) grapes, and for Commandaria, the sweet wine of the Limassol hills. Our Cyprus wine routes guide covers the other routes.

Autumn is also distilling season for zivania, the island's grape spirit. Some villages hold zivania festivals around this time: the official 2026 calendar lists Alona and Pedoulas on Sunday 25 October, while the date for Pelendri has not been confirmed yet. Learn more in our guide to zivania.

Wineries are private businesses with their own opening hours. Always call or book ahead, especially on weekdays.

6. Watch the olive season begin

Olive mills in Cyprus generally run from October to March. Olives for the table are picked early, while those for oil are often left on the tree until they darken, from November onwards. If you have a tree or two in your garden, November is when neighbours start talking about which mill to take their olives to. Many mills will press small loads for households, and fresh, unfiltered agourelaio (early-harvest oil) is one of the treats of the season.

7. Shop the markets for autumn produce

November markets are full of pomegranates, quinces, persimmons, chestnuts, the first citrus and fresh glykismata (fruit preserves).

• Nicosia: the Central Municipal Market in the old town is busiest on Saturday mornings, when farmers sell direct. The popular open-air Ochi market has temporarily moved from the Constanza bastion to the car park by the Podocataro bastion, on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
• Limassol: the restored Limassol Agora municipal market in the old town has fresh produce, deli counters and cafés.
• Everywhere: village fairs and the opening days of the Christmas Villages are good places to buy honey, halloumi and handmade crafts.

8. Catch the start of Christmas

The nine official Christmas Villages open on Saturday 21 November 2026 and run until 6 January 2027: Agros, Deryneia, Fikardou, Kakopetria, Kalopanagiotis, Kyperounta, Lefkara, Lofou and Statos-Agios Fotios. Expect lights, stalls of local products, workshops, guided walks and festive menus, with programmes published by each village.

The town tree-lighting ceremonies for 2026 had not been announced at the time of writing. As a guide, in 2025 Nicosia lit its main tree in Eleftheria Square on 23 November, while Paphos, Larnaca and Limassol held theirs over the last weekend of the month. Our Christmas in Cyprus guide will help you plan December.

9. Ideas by city

Nicosia: join the Kaimakli fair (7–8 November), see John Cleese on 10 November, wander the old town markets and finish with a meze inside the Venetian walls.

Limassol: spend a Sunday in the wine villages, swim on a calm morning, and head to Pissouri for the Cyprus Swim Series (13–15 November).

Larnaca: run or cheer at the marathon on 15 November, look for the flamingos returning to the Larnaca Salt Lake and drive up to Lefkara for the cycling week.

Paphos: walk the Avakas Gorge before the winter rains, follow the 4-Day Challenge in the Akamas and visit Polis for the Saint Andreas' Day fair on 30 November.

Ayia Napa and Protaras: enjoy quiet beaches and the OCEANMAN weekend (6–8 November) at the marina.

Before you go

• Check event pages a few days before: dates and locations can change.
• Carry a light rain jacket and an extra layer, especially in the mountains.
• Mountain roads can be slippery after the first rains; drive carefully on the Troodos bends.