Weather in Cyprus in January

January climate overview

Daytime highs across Cyprus in January run from 13.9°C (Coral Bay) to 15.4°C (Ayia Napa). Days over 25°C are rare anywhere in Cyprus in January. Nights average 10.7°C; the coldest 10% of nights in Coral Bay fall to 7°C or below.

Rainfall in January

Expect around 9 rainy days (1 mm or more) in January, with Larnaca the driest (7 days) and Coral Bay the wettest (12 days). The wettest January at Ayia Napa between 1991 and 2020 was 2004 with 109 mm; the driest was 1997 with 10 mm.

Sea temperature

The sea averages 17.3°C around Cyprus in January - warmest at Limassol (17.5°C). That is cold for swimming without a wetsuit.

Sunshine and daylight

Around 5.6 hours of sunshine a day on average, out of 9.9 hours of daylight (sunshine estimated from cloud cover).

January against the rest of the year in Cyprus

January is the 12th warmest month of the twelve in Cyprus. It is 1.9°C cooler than December and 0.4°C warmer in February. The hottest month here is August (31°C) and the coolest January (15°C).

Which part of Cyprus in January?

• Most sunshine: Protaras, 5.9 h a day.
• Driest: Larnaca, about 7 rainy days.
• Warmest sea: Limassol, 18°C.
• Hottest: Ayia Napa, 15°C by day.
• Coolest (better for walking and cities): Coral Bay, 14°C.

What to pack for Cyprus in January

Based on the averages: proper layers and a jacket - daytime highs average only 15°C; a warm layer for evenings, when it drops to around 11°C; a rain jacket - roughly 9 wet days.

Similar weather elsewhere in January

Within 1.5°C of Cyprus's January daytime average: Albufeira (16°C, sea 16°C), Costa de la Luz (16°C, sea 16°C), Seville (15°C), Algarve (15°C, sea 16°C), Hammamet (15°C, sea 16°C). See the full ranking for January.

Where to stay for the best weather

There is little daytime warmth to gain by choosing carefully: Ayia Napa, Larnaca, Limassol, Protaras and Paphos all average 15°C. Rain is the more useful deciding factor. Ayia Napa and Larnaca each have 7 rainy days, making them better bets for outdoor plans than Paphos with 10 or Coral Bay with 12. Coral Bay is also slightly cooler at 14°C, though that temperature gap alone need not decide your stay. Protaras offers milder evenings, with nights averaging 13°C. Limassol has the warmest sea at 18°C, but that is still cool for leisurely swimming. Choose for fewer rain interruptions or gentler evenings, not a major difference in daytime heat.

Expect mild days, cool evenings and changeable plans

Cyprus averages 5.6 hours of sunshine a day in January, alongside 9 rainy days across the month. That leaves scope for pleasant spells outdoors, but a forecast-led approach makes more sense than fixing every day around the beach. Pack light layers, a jumper and a waterproof jacket, with comfortable shoes that can handle wet weather. Use brighter periods for longer walks and keep outdoor plans flexible when rain is forecast. Daytime temperatures are mild rather than hot, so midday can be a comfortable time to be outside. Once the sun goes down, keep a warmer layer handy rather than expecting to sit out comfortably in a T-shirt.