Cheap Flights from Cyprus for Christmas and New Year 2026: When to Book, Best Dates and Airports

The cheapest way to fly from Cyprus over Christmas and New Year 2026 is to avoid the days schools break up and go back, fly on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve or New Year's Day if your plans allow it, and book in the next few weeks. Whether you are flying home, heading off on holiday or bringing family over, this guide covers the dates, the airports, the winter routes and the costs of getting to the plane.

Last checked: 18 October 2026. Fares change daily and airlines can add or cancel winter flights, so always check the airline's own site before you pay.

When are the peak dates for Christmas 2026?

Demand from Cyprus follows the school calendar. The Ministry of Education's 2026–27 circular sets the public school Christmas holidays from Thursday 24 December 2026 to Wednesday 6 January 2027 (Epiphany), with lessons resuming after that. Private and international schools set their own dates and often finish a few days earlier, which pulls the rush forward to around 18–19 December.

If you are bringing family over rather than flying out, the logic flips: inbound flights to Cyprus are busiest just before Christmas and outbound ones in the first days of January. Our guide to national holidays in Cyprus lists the other days off around the season.

Which days are cheapest to fly?

KAYAK's UK Christmas travel analysis, published on 13 October 2026 and based on searches for travel between 19 December 2026 and 9 January 2027, found:

• Christmas Eve is expected to be the cheapest day to fly out for people happy to leave it late.
• New Year's Eve is expected to be the cheapest day to fly out for a trip after Christmas, averaging £275 return.
• 23 December is its suggested compromise between price and timing.
• 19 December is expected to be the busiest and most expensive day to fly.

Those figures are for UK searches, but the pattern holds for flights from Larnaca and Paphos too, because the same airlines and the same families are on the planes. Flying on Christmas Day or New Year's Day is a classic way to save, with quieter airports as a bonus, but check that your airline actually operates that day: several carriers run a slimmer schedule on 25 December. Midweek flights (Tuesday and Wednesday) are generally cheaper than Fridays and Sundays.

When should you book?

Soon. KAYAK says the lowest festive fares have historically appeared about six weeks before Christmas and climbed sharply after that, by up to 15% in the final week last year. Google Flights' 2026 holiday analysis (US data, reported on 5 October 2026) put the low point about 56 days before departure, with prices near the minimum from roughly 33 to 67 days out. For a flight around 20 December, that window runs from mid-October to mid-November.

Low-cost airlines also have fewer seats in winter (see below), so on popular dates the cheapest fare buckets sell out rather than drop. If a fare looks reasonable now, it rarely pays to wait for a last-minute deal over Christmas.

How to set up fare alerts

1. Pick your route and two or three possible date pairs, including one that uses 24/25 December or 31 December/1 January.
2. Set a price alert on a comparison site such as Google Flights, Skyscanner or KAYAK, and search "Cyprus (all airports)" so both Larnaca and Paphos show up.
3. Check the airline's own site before booking: it often shows the same fare with clearer baggage rules.
4. Book directly with the airline where you can, which makes changes and refunds easier if the schedule shifts.

Larnaca or Paphos: which airport should you fly from?

Both airports are run by Hermes Airports. Larnaca keeps the broader network all winter, while Paphos is strong on low-cost routes but quieter in January.

Route lists are based on airline announcements and published schedules as of October 2026; always confirm on the airline's site. Our half-term trips guide goes through 23 short-haul destinations with flight times, if you are planning a break rather than a trip home.

What are the main expat routes in winter 2026–27?

UK. An analysis reported by Sigmalive on 14 October 2026 expects UK–Cyprus flights to fall from about 103 a week in November to 48 in January. Paphos falls hardest (about 62 a week to 19), Larnaca less so (about 41 to 29), helped by British Airways' daily Heathrow service. In January Gatwick keeps about 11 weekly flights to both airports, Manchester about six (all to Paphos), Stansted about four to Paphos and Luton about four to Larnaca. Glasgow, Liverpool, Belfast, Cardiff, Exeter and Bournemouth have no December or January flights, so Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish families may need to connect via London or Manchester. Booking the return leg for early January matters more than usual because seats are scarce.

Greece. Athens is the busiest link, with Aegean, Cyprus Airways, Wizz Air (back to two flights a day from Larnaca) and Ryanair from Paphos. Expect high demand around 23 December and 2–4 January.

Germany and Central Europe. Cyprus Airways' new Munich route starts on 17 December, just in time for the holidays. Ryanair covers Berlin, Cologne/Bonn, Memmingen and Weeze from Paphos, and the Lufthansa Group airlines serve Larnaca. Vienna, Budapest and Bratislava have direct flights too.

Eastern Europe. Poland, Romania and Bulgaria are well served by Wizz Air from Larnaca and Ryanair from Paphos, often with the cheapest fares on the island if you travel light.

Israel. Israeli airlines and TUS Airways fly to Tel Aviv, but flights across the region have been suspended at short notice more than once in 2026. Check your government's travel advice and choose a flexible fare.

What about baggage at Christmas?

Low-cost fares usually include only a small bag that fits under the seat. A larger cabin bag and checked luggage cost extra, and they are cheaper when added at booking than at the airport. With presents in tow:

• Add hold luggage when you book, and compare the total price with a full-service airline such as British Airways, Aegean or Cyprus Airways, which may include a bag.
• Weigh your case at home; excess-weight charges at the desk are steep.
• Don't wrap gifts in your hand luggage, as security may need to open them.
• Liquids in hand luggage are still subject to security limits, so pack bottles of zivania or Commandaria in your checked bag. Flying to the UK, leave the halloumi and other dairy or meat at home: personal imports from the EU are restricted.

How do you get to the airport over the holidays?

The Hermes public transport page lists the operators serving the airports:

• Kapnos Airport Shuttle runs between Nicosia and both airports, between the two airports, and from Larnaca airport to Ayia Napa and Protaras.
• Limassol Airport Express links Limassol with Larnaca and Paphos airports.
• Cyprus Public Transport runs local buses to Larnaca airport, and Pafos Buses serves Paphos airport.
• Intercity Buses connect the main towns if you need to get to Larnaca or Paphos first.

Book shuttle seats ahead for early-morning flights and check holiday timetables for 25 December and 1 January. Our public transport guide has more on each operator.

What does airport parking cost?

From the Hermes parking price list (Larnaka prices from 1 March 2026, Pafos from 1 December 2025):

These are drive-up prices. Hermes says booking online can save up to 45%, and the booking must be made at least two hours before you arrive; you can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start. Avoid the short-term car parks for long trips (Larnaka P2 charges €20 a day). For drop-offs, Larnaca allows a free one-minute stop at Departures, and Paphos a free five minutes, after which a €10 fee applies.

Do you need a passport if Cyprus is not in Schengen?

Yes. Cyprus is still outside the Schengen area (as of October 2026 it says it is technically ready, but no joining date has been agreed), so every departure goes through passport control, even to Athens. EU citizens can travel within the EU on a valid national ID card; UK and other non-EU nationals need a passport, and UK residents should carry their Cyprus residence document too, as explained in our guide for UK citizens in Cyprus. Relatives from outside the EU visiting you for Christmas may need a Cyprus visa, so check the requirements for their nationality well before you book their flights.

What to do next

1. Check your children's school dates, then search both airports for two or three date options.
2. Set fare alerts today and aim to book by mid-November.
3. Add baggage at booking and pre-book airport parking or a shuttle seat.
4. Check passports, ID cards and any visas for the whole family.

Staying on the island for the holidays? Our guide to Christmas markets in Cyprus has the festive dates around the island.