Paphos in Winter

[Macattack]

Hi All,

I have a friend who is planning to come to Paphos in January 2018 so was wondering if many places are open then? Also would the Tombs Of the Kings and Mosaics be open?

Thanks in advance.

[Steve Matthews]

I personally think Paphos in winter is beautiful. A mixture of lovely clear sunny days, crisp nights and dramatic storms. A real contrast to the relentless heat of summer.
All of the archeological sites like the Tombs of the Kings, mosaics, etc, are open all year. They are, in my view, best seen in winter. The whole place is fresh and alive with colour, bright green grass and flowers.
Some of the hotels, bars and restaurants close during winter but many remain open.
There are far fewer tourists in winter so when you do visit somewhere, there are not the crowds.
Also worth a visit in winter is the Akamas Park. It's transformed in the winter months from the brown, parched, dusty place that it is in summer, into a vibrant, green park, perfect for walking and spotting orchids, etc.. And, of course, further afield, the Troodos Mountains are often transformed into a snowy, winter wonderland.
A visitor, willing to get out and explore, can easily and happily fill a couple of weeks in January. And virtually have the place to themselves. ☺

[ApusApus]

I personally think Paphos in winter is beautiful. A mixture of lovely clear sunny days, crisp nights and dramatic storms. A real contrast to the relentless heat of summer.
All of the archeological sites like the Tombs of the Kings, mosaics, etc, are open all year. They are, in my view, best seen in winter. The whole place is fresh and alive with colour, bright green grass and flowers.
Some of the hotels, bars and restaurants close during winter but many remain open.
There are far fewer tourists in winter so when you do visit somewhere, there are not the crowds.
Also worth a visit in winter is the Akamas Park. It's transformed in the winter months from the brown, parched, dusty place that it is in summer, into a vibrant, green park, perfect for walking and spotting orchids, etc.. And, of course, further afield, the Troodos Mountains are often transformed into a snowy, winter wonderland.
A visitor, willing to get out and explore, can easily and happily fill a couple of weeks in January. And virtually have the place to themselves. ☺

I'll second that!


Shane

[LouiseCastricum]

I personally think Paphos in winter is beautiful. A mixture of lovely clear sunny days, crisp nights and dramatic storms. A real contrast to the relentless heat of summer.
All of the archeological sites like the Tombs of the Kings, mosaics, etc, are open all year. They are, in my view, best seen in winter. The whole place is fresh and alive with colour, bright green grass and flowers.
Some of the hotels, bars and restaurants close during winter but many remain open.
There are far fewer tourists in winter so when you do visit somewhere, there are not the crowds.
Also worth a visit in winter is the Akamas Park. It's transformed in the winter months from the brown, parched, dusty place that it is in summer, into a vibrant, green park, perfect for walking and spotting orchids, etc.. And, of course, further afield, the Troodos Mountains are often transformed into a snowy, winter wonderland.
A visitor, willing to get out and explore, can easily and happily fill a couple of weeks in January. And virtually have the place to themselves. ☺

Absolutely agree.

[Dominic]

I would say March / April is best for the spring flowers. But winter is great too, and you can go sledging in the Troodos. If you look at some of the earlier blogs, they will have been made in January. You can get an idea of conditions from them.

[kansas]

Me too. We live here all year round and love it, but we much prefer to explore and visit places during the winter months. A lot of places close down for refurbishment and for owners and staff to have their own holidays, but quite a few stay open. It's great walking along Paphos seafront and stopping off for coffee and/or a snack. It's a time when Cyprus is green and the wild flowers are just coming out.

[Steve Matthews]

Me too. We live here all year round and love it, but we much prefer to explore and visit places during the winter months. A lot of places close down for refurbishment and for owners and staff to have their own holidays, but quite a few stay open. It's great walking along Paphos seafront and stopping off for coffee and/or a snack. It's a time when Cyprus is green and the wild flowers are just coming out.

I spend countless hours during winter, walking along the Paphos coastal path. It's wonderful. I also spend far too much time (according to my wife) exploring the Akamas Park on foot! Walking boots, sturdy stick, couple of sandwiches in the rucksack, binoculars and phone switched off. Just perfect!

[Dominic]

Plus there is the added bonus of no snakes!

But be careful on Sundays and Wednesdays, as the hunters will be out...

[Steve Matthews]

Plus there is the added bonus of no snakes!

But be careful on Sundays and Wednesdays, as the hunters will be out...

Yes, absolutely! I do tend to avoid the Akamas on those days. Although, in fairness, the majority of hunters have run out of Zivania by mid morning and go home.

[Dominic]

We certainly don't need an alarm clock in Polemi on those days in the winter.

[aphrodite]

I personally think Paphos in winter is beautiful. A mixture of lovely clear sunny days, crisp nights and dramatic storms. A real contrast to the relentless heat of summer.
All of the archeological sites like the Tombs of the Kings, mosaics, etc, are open all year. They are, in my view, best seen in winter. The whole place is fresh and alive with colour, bright green grass and flowers.
Some of the hotels, bars and restaurants close during winter but many remain open.
There are far fewer tourists in winter so when you do visit somewhere, there are not the crowds.
Also worth a visit in winter is the Akamas Park. It's transformed in the winter months from the brown, parched, dusty place that it is in summer, into a vibrant, green park, perfect for walking and spotting orchids, etc.. And, of course, further afield, the Troodos Mountains are often transformed into a snowy, winter wonderland.
A visitor, willing to get out and explore, can easily and happily fill a couple of weeks in January. And virtually have the place to themselves. ☺

I'll second that!


Shane

I agree too!

[PhotoLady]

Depending when your friends are coming - 6 January is a public holiday (Epiphany / King's Day) and a pretty big one, so it's likely the archaeological sites may be closed that day.

I loved the winter months for photography particularly, when that sky is clear - it's sooooo damn blue! Gorgeous

[PolemIan]

We certainly don't need an alarm clock in Polemi on those days in the winter.

Very true Dominic! One of these days they'll get scared off by me ranting from our pool patio in my PJs as the shrapnel bounces off our roof. Had a word with the police at the neighbourhood watch meeting in the village on Thursday evening so have a cunning plan for next year!

To respond to the original post, plenty still open in the winter, some lovely days, some bloody miserable so pack for all eventualities or pop into a charity shop for some warm clothes if needed. The warmth vanishes from the Sun around 4pm so the evenings can feel quite long.

Ian

[PW in Polemi]

PolemIan - we found the police next to useless when we had problems with hunters and dog trainers in our (conservation area) valley. The Game Wardens from Flora & Fauna are much more helpful.

I agree, Paphos in winter is lovely with bright green fields, stunning skies, amazing thunderstorms and not too many tourists!

[Yioula]

I love winter time .......the very blue of the skies ........less tourists great to be able to walk around the harbour have a kafes
In the morning.........I love the old town especially going for lunch in Koutourou ......another treat is walking from the harbour to the Elysium for afternoon tea
It's just like a nice sunny day in the U.K. In the summer, but come 3 pm the temperatures drop ....... winter clothes for the evening.......

[PaphosAL]

Fully agree with above posts! Winter is a smashing time to be in Paphos!

Just come prepared with a bit of extra warm clothing for going out in the evening, please. And you'll find roughly 90% of bars and restaurants still open! It's just that some of the big hotels shut down for a refurb this time of year, after their Christmas and New year money-making period!

Cheers- AL

[Macattack]

Thank you all for the information. He has been in Pahos a few times in the Summer, but for the last 10 years he has spent a few weeks in January in Benalmadena, Spain. He prefers Winter time and loves Tombs of the Kings and anything Byzantine. He doesn't drive but is quite happy to jump on buses everywhere. Thanks again.

[Steve Matthews]

There's a brilliant network of very cheap buses that run all year round!

[ApusApus]

Buses run most days of the year though on a reduced schedule out of season, but still the 615 runs between the Harbour & Coral Bay every 30/40 minutes or so during that time! What hacks me off is the taxi drivers trying to pinch the business in summer with cheap rates ........... nowhere to be seen in winter or when you they do appear they want stupid money!


Shane

[PaphosAL]

But surely, Shane, even in Summer for a typical family of four say, it's far cheaper to buy an All Day (travel anywhere) Family Bus Pass than to use rip-off mafia taxis, is it not?

Better still, hire a car for 3 days and travel around to the wonderful places that the Pafos area has to offer, like Coral Bay, Latchi, Pissouri, Troodos and so on...

Cheers- AL