Christmas Villages in Cyprus 2026: All Nine Villages, Opening Days and How to Get There

Every winter the Deputy Ministry of Tourism picks a handful of villages to dress up for the festive season, and for many families a drive to the hills is the best part of Christmas in Cyprus. For 2026-27 there are nine, from the high Troodos to the strawberry fields near Famagusta. This guide covers each one: where it is, how long it takes to get there, what it is known for and what has been announced for 2026.

What is confirmed for 2026: all nine villages run from 21 November 2026 to 6 January 2027 inclusive. The programme includes cultural events, stands with local products and handicrafts, gastronomy and crafting workshops, organised nature activities, guided village tours, and holiday menus at local restaurants and hotels. When we checked on 5 November 2026, Kalopanagiotis and Kyperounta had published full programmes with hours; the other villages had not yet, so for them we give what is known and, where useful, what they did in 2025, clearly marked. For towns, malls and tree lightings, see our Christmas events and markets guide.

Opening days at a glance

• Dates: 21 November 2026 to 6 January 2027 inclusive.
• Usual opening days: Saturdays and Sundays from 21–22 November to 19–20 December, plus Fridays 11 and 18 December, then every day from 21 December 2026 to 6 January 2027.
• Hours: each village sets its own. Not every village is open on every day of the programme, so check before you drive.
• Price: free to walk round; food, products and some workshops are paid.
• Tourist information: Deputy Ministry of Tourism, +357 22691100.

Drive times are approximate, in good weather and outside rush hour. Mountain roads are slower than they look on a map, especially after dark.

Agros

Where: Pitsilia, in the Troodos mountains of Limassol district, at about 1,100 metres. About an hour from Limassol.

Known for: Damask roses and rose water, cured meats such as sausages, lountza and hiromeri, and homemade marmalades and spoon sweets, which you can see being made in small village workshops.

2026: Agros's own programme had not been published on 5 November 2026. The village holds its traditional Presentation of the Virgin Mary fair on 20 and 21 November 2026, with stalls of local produce and sweets, so the opening weekend is a good time to go. Village contact: +357 25521333.

In 2025, the village's Christmas theme was "Saint Basil of the Roses", a nod to its rose-growing tradition.

Deryneia

Where: in the red-soil Kokkinochoria area of Famagusta district, close to the Green Line, about 45 minutes from Larnaca and within about 20 minutes of Ayia Napa and Protaras.

Known for: strawberries; Deryneia is the island's main strawberry grower. It also has a Folk Art Museum, an Open Air Museum of Traditional Professions, the Cultural Centre of Occupied Ammochostos and the churches of Agia Marina, Panagia and Agios Georgios.

2026: the programme is still to come. The village's feast of Agios Modestos is traditionally held on 16 December, with stalls, entertainment and local food; check that it is in the 2026 programme. Village contact: +357 23811000.

In 2025, the Christmas village was themed "Christmas Strawberry Land", centred on Panagia Square, and ran mainly in the evenings.

Fikardou

Where: on the south-eastern slopes of the Troodos at about 900 metres, near Machairas, in Nicosia district. About 45 minutes from Nicosia.

Known for: being a listed ancient monument (since 1978) and a Europa Nostra award winner (1987). Its 18th-century houses keep their woodwork and folk architecture, two of them are museums of rural life (the House of Katsinioros and the House of Achilleas Dimitris), and the church of the apostles Peter and Paul dates from the 16th century. Cars are not allowed into the village.

2026: Fikardou's Christmas village has a medieval theme, with lit stone houses, craft workshops, food, music and dance; it draws more than 150,000 visitors a year. Its 2026 hours had not been published on 5 November. Village contact: +357 22023330.

Kakopetria

Where: in the Solea valley on the northern foothills of the Troodos, at about 670 metres, where the Karkotis and Garillis rivers meet. About an hour from Nicosia.

Known for: its protected old quarter of stone lanes and timber balconies, apples and other orchard fruit, and two UNESCO-listed painted churches close by: Agios Nikolaos tis Stegis and Panagia Podythou, on the edge of neighbouring Galata.

2026: the programme is still to come. Kakopetria is one of the easiest Troodos villages to reach from Nicosia, so it makes a good first stop on a mountain day out. For information, call the Deputy Ministry of Tourism on +357 22691100.

Kalopanagiotis

Where: in the green Marathasa valley on the western side of the Troodos, Nicosia district. About 1 hour 15 minutes from Nicosia.

Known for: its sulphur springs, the UNESCO-listed Monastery of Agios Ioannis Lampadistis with its Byzantine wall paintings, a Venetian-era stone bridge and the restored Kykkos watermill. Houses climb steeply up both sides of the valley, so expect steps.

2026: the Fairytale Christmas Village has published its full programme.

• Opening: a lighting ceremony at 18:00 on Saturday 21 November.
• Hours: Saturdays and Sundays 12:00–20:00; Fridays 11 and 18 December 16:00–20:00; every day from 21 December to 6 January 12:00–20:00; Christmas Day and New Year's Day 15:00–22:00.
• Highlight: a drone light show on Saturday 19 December at 19:00.
• Contact: +357 22952297.

Kyperounta

Where: in Pitsilia, Limassol district, at about 1,300 metres, which makes it the third-highest village on the island. About an hour from both Limassol and Nicosia.

Known for: apples, wine and traditional cold meats, tiled-roof houses, the frescoed Timios Stavros church, three museums, the Kyperounda Winery and the Adventure Mountain Park.

2026: the Kyperounta Christmas Village has published its full programme.

• Opening: an elf parade and mascot show at 17:30 on Saturday 21 November, followed by the lighting ceremony at 18:00.
• Hours: activities mostly 10:30–19:00; 09:30–18:00 on Fridays 11 and 18 December; 15:00–19:00 on Christmas Day; 10:30–18:00 on New Year's Eve; from 12:00 on New Year's Day.
• What's on: a Christmas cinema, an escape room, Santa's post office, craft workshops and village tours.
• Highlight: a drone light show on Sunday 20 December at 18:30.
• Contact: +357 25813204.

For more on the village itself, see our Kyperounta Christmas Village guide.

Lefkara

Where: Pano Lefkara, in the hills of Larnaca district, just off the Nicosia–Limassol motorway. About 40 minutes from Larnaca and 45 minutes from Nicosia or Limassol.

Known for: Lefkaritiko lace and silver filigree, made in the village for centuries, and lanes of honey-coloured stone houses away from the main street.

2026: the programme, opening days and hours had not been announced on 5 November 2026. Expect lace and silverwork alongside the festive stalls. For information, call the Deputy Ministry of Tourism on +357 22691100.

In 2025, the village's Christmas event was called "SanTa Lefkara" and included a Santa parade.

Lofou

Where: in the wine villages of the Limassol hills. About 30 minutes from Limassol, which makes it the nearest Christmas village to the city.

Known for: steep cobbled lanes, houses restored in traditional stone, a 19th-century public fountain and vineyards all around. It is small and easy to explore on foot.

2026: Lofou is new to the programme in 2026. Its programme had not been published on 5 November 2026. For information, call the Deputy Ministry of Tourism on +357 22691100.

Statos-Agios Fotios

Where: in the Paphos hills at about 950 metres, near the Monastery of Chrysorrogiatissa. About 45 minutes from Paphos.

Known for: apples, grapes, pears, cherries, raisins, walnuts, almonds and wine, and the nearby monastery, one of the best known in the Paphos district.

2026: the Statos-Agios Fotios Christmas Village follows the usual opening days: weekends from 21 November, Fridays 11 and 18 December, then daily from 21 December to 6 January. Hours had not been published on 5 November 2026. Village contact: +357 26722758.

A Troodos Christmas villages day out

Four of the villages, Kakopetria, Kalopanagiotis, Kyperounta and Agros, are in the Troodos and can be linked in one long day. Start early, visit the furthest village first and keep the last one for the lights after dark. If you only have an afternoon, pick two.

For more mountain and lowland villages to add to a trip, see our 10 best villages to visit in Cyprus.

Practical tips

• Go on a weekday if you can. Weekends, especially in December, are crowded, and from 21 December every day is busy. Arrive in the early afternoon to see the stalls in daylight and the lights at dusk.
• Parking: village streets are narrow and fill up quickly. Use the car parks or roadside spaces on the edge of the village and walk in. Cars are not allowed into Fikardou at all.
• Dress warmly: Kyperounta and Agros are over 1,000 metres up, and evenings in the mountains are close to freezing in December. Bring a warm coat, hat, gloves and shoes with grip for wet cobbles.
• Snow on the Troodos roads: after snowfall, roads around Troodos can be closed or open only to four-wheel-drive cars or cars with snow chains. Check police announcements and the weather before you set off, and allow extra time.
• Bring cash: many stalls are run by local producers and families.
• Eating: the programme includes holiday menus at local restaurants and hotels. Book ahead for weekend lunches, especially from 21 December. For Christmas Eve and Christmas Day meals, see our Christmas restaurants and parties guide.

Related guides

• Christmas events and markets in Cyprus 2026
• Kyperounta Christmas Village
• 10 best villages to visit in Cyprus
• Christmas restaurants and parties in Cyprus 2026
• Christmas with kids in Cyprus