Exciting Half-Term Trips with Kids: Direct Flights from Paphos and Larnaca

Half-term is the perfect excuse for a short family trip, and from Paphos and Larnaca you can be in Athens, Crete, Rome, Vienna or Prague in a few hours. We went through all 23 destinations with direct flights from Cyprus and checked which routes actually run in late October and early November, how long the flight takes, and what to do with children when you land.

Last checked: 17 October 2026. Flight information comes from our destination data, which we checked against airline and airport listings on 16 October 2026. Prices and opening hours are quoted only where the venue or tourism board publishes them, with the date we checked. Routes and schedules change by season, so check with the airline before booking.

Quick facts before you book

• The shortest year-round hops for toddlers: Amman (about 1h 20m from Larnaca), Heraklion in Crete (about 1h 25m from Larnaca) and Athens (about 1h 50m from Larnaca or Paphos). Beirut and Tel Aviv are shorter still, but both routes are often disrupted (see the Middle East section).
• Two summer routes stop before half-term. Ryanair's last Paphos–Chania flight of 2026 is on Friday 23 October, and we found no Rhodes flights from either airport for November.
• No jet lag in Greece. Athens, Crete, Thessaloniki, Sofia and Bucharest are on the same time as Cyprus. Rome, Vienna, Prague, Budapest and the rest of Central Europe are one hour behind.
• The clocks go back on Sunday 25 October in Cyprus and across the EU, so the time difference stays the same. Jordan does not change its clocks, so Amman is one hour ahead of Cyprus in winter. Our guide to the clocks going back in Cyprus has the details.
• The longest flights are Barcelona (about 4h 30m) and Dubai (about 4h). Worth it for older children, hard work with a baby.
• Prague's Petřín funicular is running again. It reopened on 22 September 2026 after a two-year closure, and children under 15 ride free.
• 28 October is a holiday in Greece too (Ohi Day), so expect busy flights and museums around that date.

When is half-term in Cyprus in 2026?

Public schools in Cyprus do not have an autumn half-term week. The Ministry of Education's circular to public secondary schools for 2026–27 (18 August 2026) lists these holidays for the autumn term:

The same circular says Tuesday 8 December 2026 is a teacher day, when secondary pupils do not attend. Private and international schools set their own half-term dates, and they differ from school to school, so check your school's calendar before you book. Our guide to international schools in Cyprus lists the main schools.

Which destinations have direct flights in late October and early November?

All 23 destinations at a glance. "From" shows the Cypriot airport (LCA = Larnaca, PFO = Paphos) with direct flights in the half-term weeks.

Greece: the easiest half-term trips

Athens

Flights: Year-round from both airports. Aegean, Cyprus Airways, Sky Express and Wizz Air fly from Larnaca; Ryanair and Aegean (since July 2026) fly from Paphos. About 1h 50m. Running in the half-term weeks: yes.

• Acropolis Museum family backpacks: themed backpacks of games and activities, such as In Search of the Goddess Athena (ages 6–9) and The Parthenon Sculptures (ages 8–12). Pick one up at the Visitor Services Desk, first come, first served, leaving an identity card as a deposit.
• Goulandris Natural History Museum, Kifisia: life-size animal replicas, dinosaurs and fossils, and interactive displays at the Gaia Centre, according to the City of Athens' official guide.
• Benaki Toy Museum, Palio Faliro: old toys, dolls, puppets and carousels in a castle-like house, close to the Flisvos marina and park for a run-around afterwards.
• Hellenic Cosmos: the Tholos virtual-reality dome, plus family programmes on Saturdays (ages 3–5 with a parent) and Sundays (ages 5–8). The site doesn't say which language they are in, so check before you book.
• Attica Zoological Park, Spata: Greece's only zoo, open every day of the year, out near Athens airport, so it works well on your arrival or departure day.

Italy and Spain

Rome

Flights: Year-round. Wizz Air from Larnaca (Cyprus Airways rejoins on 11 December 2026; Aegean in summer); Ryanair from Paphos. About 3h 15m. Rome has two airports, so check which one you land at. Running in the half-term weeks: yes.

• Explora, the Children's Museum of Rome: hands-on museum for ages 0–11 on Via Flaminia, a short walk from Piazza del Popolo. Open Tuesday to Sunday, closed on Mondays. Book tickets online.
• Bioparco: Rome's zoo, inside Villa Borghese. From 25 October to 31 December it opens 09:30–17:00, with the last tickets an hour before closing (Turismo Roma, checked 17 October 2026).
• Colosseum: under-18s go in free, but free tickets must still be reserved online, and children under 12 must be with an adult. The park also lists the first Sunday of each month as a free day for everyone, and 1 November 2026 is a Sunday, so expect crowds.

Central Europe

The Balkans and the Caucasus

The Middle East

Flights to the Middle East are sometimes suspended at short notice because of the regional situation. Check your government's travel advice and the airline's latest updates before you book, and choose flexible fares.

Amman, Jordan

Flights: Royal Jordanian flies from Larnaca all year. Paphos had Royal Jordanian (summer) and Ryanair flights earlier in 2026, but we found none scheduled for winter 2026–27. About 1h 20m. Running in the half-term weeks: yes, from Larnaca.

• Children's Museum Jordan: Jordan's first interactive children's museum, with exhibits, a library, an art studio and a garden. Winter hours: Sunday, Monday and Wednesday 09:00–17:00, Thursday to Saturday 10:00–18:00, closed on Tuesdays.
• Petra and Wadi Rum: a bigger adventure for older children. Our Jordan guide explains the Jordan Pass and the road trip south.

The UK government's advice (update of 22 July 2026) doesn't advise against travel to Amman but warns of possible flight cancellations and airspace closures across the region.

Dubai

Flights: Year-round from Larnaca with Emirates and Cyprus Airways. About 4h, and Dubai is one to two hours ahead of Cyprus. Running in the half-term weeks: yes.

• Expo City Dubai: the Surreal water feature and Al Wasl Plaza light shows are free, and so is Expo City Farm. The Garden in the Sky rotating tower is open daily 14:00–22:00 at AED 30 per person, with free entry for young children (checked 17 October 2026).
• Aquaventure Waterpark: open daily from 10:00 to 18:30. Under-2s go free, and children under 1.2 m must wear a life jacket (provided free) and stay within arm's reach of an adult.
• Global Village: the open-air cultural park opened its 31st season on 14 October 2026, open from 16:00 to midnight Monday to Thursday and until 01:00 at weekends; under-3s go free.
• Dubai Miracle Garden: reopened on 8 October 2026. General admission is Dh100 for adults and Dh80 for children (plus VAT), and under-3s go free (Khaleej Times, September 2026).

Tel Aviv

Flights: Year-round but often disrupted. Several Israeli airlines plus Aegean and Cyprus Airways fly from Larnaca, and Israeli airlines from Paphos. About 1h.

The UK government's latest update (22 July 2026) warns of the risk of rocket and drone attacks throughout Israel and possible disruption at Ben Gurion Airport. If your own government's advice allows the trip, the Tel Aviv-Yafo municipality's family guide lists boats on Lake HaYarkon, playgrounds along the port and free entry for under-18s at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art; check hours locally, as the guide is undated.

Beirut

Flights: Middle East Airlines and Cyprus Airways from Larnaca, about 50m, year-round but often disrupted.

The UK government advises against all but essential travel to most of Beirut and against all travel to some areas of the city and its southern suburbs (advice last updated 21 May 2026). We are not suggesting Beirut for a family half-term for now. For a short flight and a big city break, Athens is the nearest alternative.

Passports and ID cards for children

• Every child needs their own document. For travel within the EU, each child needs their own valid passport or ID card. Your Europe has the rules by country.
• Cyprus is not in SchengenSo there are passport checks on every flight, including to Greece. Carry the documents for the whole family in your hand luggage.
• Travelling with one parent. There is no EU-wide rule, but a child travelling with only one parent, with another adult or alone may be asked for an official document signed by the other parent or guardian. Many airlines have their own forms, so check with the airline and the countries you fly to and through.
• Applying in Cyprus. For a Cypriot child's ID card or passport, both parents or guardians must sign the application in front of the officer; if one parent is abroad, their consent must be certified by a Cypriot consulate. Minors' passports are valid for five years. See the Civil Registry and Migration Department.
• Outside the EU (Georgia, Armenia, Jordan, the UAE, Israel, Lebanon), take passports and check the entry rules for each child's nationality well before you fly. Non-EU nationals living in Cyprus should also check visa rules for Schengen countries.

Travel insurance and the EHIC

The European Health Insurance Card covers medical care that is necessary and cannot wait until you get home, in another EU country's state system, under the same conditions as locals. It does not cover repatriation, so the EU advises taking travel insurance as well. In Cyprus, the Ministry of Health is the contact for EHICs, according to the European Commission. Order a card for each child well before you travel; our GESY guide explains how the Cyprus system works.

For Georgia, Armenia, Jordan, the UAE, Israel and Lebanon, the EHIC does not apply, so travel insurance that covers the whole family is essential. Check that it includes flight cancellations, which matter on routes that are often disrupted.

Child seats and flying with babies

• On the plane: the European Union Aviation Safety Agency strongly recommends approved child seats on board. Check that your seat is approved for aircraft use and fits, check the airline's own rules before you book, and bring the manufacturer's instructions so the crew can check the fitting.
• On the ground: if you hire a car, book child seats with the car, as rules on child restraints vary by country. Ask your hotel or transfer company whether taxis can provide a seat, or bring a light travel seat.
• Timing: the early-morning departures that low-cost airlines favour are tough with toddlers. A midday flight to Athens or Heraklion can fit around a nap.

What to do next

1. Check your school's half-term dates, then compare the routes from your nearest airport.
2. Book flights first: half-term and the 28 October holiday push fares up on Greek routes.
3. Check each child's passport or ID card expiry date and order EHICs.
4. Book timed tickets for the busiest plans (ZOOM, Copernicus, the Colosseum) before you fly.

Staying on the island instead? See our ideas for things to do with kids in Cyprus and rainy-day activities, or browse every destination on our Beyond Cyprus page.