Your March weather guide
MildWeather in Paphos in March
Paphos in March is a good choice for mild days outdoors, not a reliably warm beach holiday. Average highs are around 17°C, nights fall to about 12°C and the sea is only around 17°C. For a UK traveller, the appeal is comfortable weather for walking and sitting outside when the sun is out. The catch is that rain remains possible, evenings need an extra layer and swimming will feel cold.
Long-term climate averages for Paphos, not a forecast · 1991-2020
Paphos, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Paphos.
- Average daytime high
- 16.8°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 20°C
- Average night-time low
- 12.2°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 10°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +6.3°C
- London averages 10.5°C in March
- Sea temperature
- 16.8°C
- year to year: 16°C to 18°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 7.2h
- 62% of 11.7 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 7
- 40 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 70%
- Days over 25°C
- 0%
- none over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 26.6°C
- 2001-03-31
- Record low 1991-2020
- 5.9°C
- 2020-03-20
- Flight from London
- ≈ 4 h 42 min
- 3177 km, mid-haul (estimate for a direct flight)
Records are observed extremes within 1991-2020, not typical holiday conditions. Warm-day percentages are shares of days, not day counts.
How March compares
March is the 9th warmest month of the year in Paphos and ranks 78th of 134 destinations we compare for March - see where else is hot in March. Within Cyprus it is 5th of 7 (Cyprus in March). Against London's average high of 10.5°C in March, Paphos is 6.3°C warmer by day and 8.9°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in March
The typical March day in Paphos peaks at 16.8°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 20.0°C or more. Roughly 1 in 250 days top 25°C. Nights average 12.2°C; one night in ten drops to 9.6°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings - it is genuinely cool after dark. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest March day here reached 26.6°C (2001-03-31) and the coldest night 5.9°C (2020-03-20).
Rain in March
Some rain (4-8 rainy days): about 7 days with 1 mm or more, 40 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest March was 2017 with 135 mm, the driest 2010 with 1 mm. Humidity averages 70%.
Sea temperature in March
The sea averages 16.8°C - too cold for most (under 18°c). Depending on the year it ranges from 16.2°C to 17.5°C. For the warmest sea here, come in August (28.0°C).
Sunshine and daylight
Around 7.2 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 11.7 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 06:01 and sets about 17:58 local time in mid-March. Average cloud cover is 38%.
Is March a good time to visit Paphos?
March is not the strongest month here: mild days. The best months for Paphos on our scoring are July, August, June; months averaging 25°C or more: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep.
Mild enough for walking, but not summer heat
March suits travellers who prefer being outdoors without strong heat. With about 7.2 hours of sunshine a day, there is scope for time in the sun, but you should not expect clear skies throughout your stay. The warmest 10% of days reach 20°C or more, so a warmer afternoon is possible rather than something to build the holiday around. Plan walks and outdoor meals for the warmer part of the day, keeping a light layer handy when sitting still. After sunset, average lows of 12.2°C make a jumper or jacket a sensible part of your evening outfit, rather than an optional extra.
Keep plans flexible for rain and a cold sea
Rain is a real consideration, though it need not dictate the whole trip. About 7 rainy days in March make a lightweight waterproof useful and favour plans you can rearrange if the weather turns. Leave room to move outdoor time to a clearer spell rather than relying on every day being dry. The sea is the bigger limitation for a beach-focused break: at an average of 16.8°C, it is cold, not comfortably swimmable for most people. If swimming is central to your holiday, March is a poor fit. Pack for mild days and cool evenings, with swimwear an extra rather than the basis of your plans.
A little perspective
Paphos through the year
March is highlighted. See how it compares with the rest of the year.
| Month | Day | Night | Sea | Sun/day | Rain mm | Rainy days | Days 25°C+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 14.9°C | 10.9°C | 17.4°C | 5.5 | 81 | 11 | 0% |
| February | 15.1°C | 10.8°C | 16.7°C | 6.1 | 58 | 8 | 0% |
| MarchSelected | 16.8°C | 12.2°C | 16.8°C | 7.2 | 40 | 7 | 0% |
| April | 19.4°C | 14.3°C | 17.7°C | 8.5 | 21 | 5 | 4% |
| May | 23.0°C | 17.6°C | 20.4°C | 10.5 | 11 | 3 | 21% |
| Junebest | 26.7°C | 21.1°C | 24.1°C | 13.0 | 2 | 1 | 77% |
| Julybest | 29.3°C | 23.6°C | 27.1°C | 13.2 | 1 | 0 | 100% |
| Augustbest | 29.6°C | 24.3°C | 28.0°C | 12.2 | 1 | 0 | 100% |
| September | 27.6°C | 22.6°C | 26.7°C | 11.1 | 4 | 1 | 94% |
| October | 24.9°C | 20.0°C | 24.7°C | 8.6 | 16 | 4 | 50% |
| November | 20.8°C | 16.0°C | 22.1°C | 6.5 | 44 | 6 | 5% |
| December | 16.8°C | 12.6°C | 19.4°C | 5.3 | 84 | 10 | 0% |
Day = average daytime high, night = average night-time low, 1991-2020.Sun is hours per day; rainy days count 1 mm or more.
Day, night and sea
Monthly average temperatures, 1991-2020
- Day
- Night
- Sea
Best months here
On warmth, low rainfall and sunshine, start with these.
Keep exploring
Similar in March
Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.
A little more detail
Paphos in March FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Paphos hot in March?
Paphos is mild in March: the average daytime high is 16.8°C and nights average 12.2°C. Roughly 1 in 250 March days reach 25°C.
Can you swim in the sea in Paphos in March?
The sea around Paphos averages 16.8°C in March, which is cold for swimming without a wetsuit. Between 1991 and 2020 it ranged from 16°C to 18°C depending on the year.
How much does it rain in Paphos in March?
Paphos sees about 7 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 40 mm of rain in a typical March. The wettest March between 1991 and 2020 was 2017 (135 mm) and the driest was 2010 (1 mm).
How sunny is Paphos in March?
Paphos gets around 7.2 hours of sunshine a day in March out of 11.7 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Paphos compare with the UK in March?
Paphos is on average 6.3°C warmer than London by day in March (16.8°C against 10.5°C).
What is the hottest March on record in Paphos?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest March day in Paphos reached 26.6°C on 2001-03-31, and the coldest night dropped to 5.9°C on 2020-03-20.
How much warmer is Paphos than London in March?
Paphos has an average daytime high of 16.8°C, compared with 10.5°C in London, a difference of 6.3°C. That is a useful lift for spending time outdoors, but it still means mild spring weather rather than dependable beach heat.
Is March warm enough for sunbathing?
You may enjoy sitting in the sun on warmer afternoons, but March is not a reliable sunbathing month. Average highs are 16.8°C, and only the warmest 10% of days reach 20°C or more. Keep a layer within reach.
Is it worth the flight for a weather-focused break?
The flight from London takes about 4 h 42 min. March makes sense if you want milder days for walking and do not mind some rain. It is less convincing if your main reason for flying is hot weather and comfortable sea swimming.
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid) and NOAA Coral Reef Watch 5 km sea temperatures, 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at Paphos. Sea temperature from the nearest 5 km sea cell, 4.5 km from that point. Sunshine hours are estimated from average cloud cover.Records are the highest and lowest daily values in that 30-year period, not all-time records. These are climate averages, not a forecast for your trip. How we measure holiday weather
- Hot · 25°C+
- Warm · 20°C to below 25°C
- Mild · 15°C to below 20°C
- Cool · below 15°C