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We decided to visit Cyprus in winter so that we could make the most of the sightseeing opportunities as a family. The last time we had visited it was far too hot to wander too far, so we liked the idea of slightly cooler weather to walk whilst catching a few winter rays!

For this trip we stayed at the Avanti Hotel in Paphos and booked 2 interconnecting rooms which suited our family of 5 perfectly. The manager had arranged a basket of fruit and some Cypriot wine to be waiting for us in our room when we arrived which was a lovely surprise. The hotel is in a lovely location, around a 10-15 minute walk to the main area of Paphos but situated around a small cluster of hotels, bars and restaurants near a small beach. The Avanti is a very friendly property with a wide range of facilities including an indoor pool which was useful for winter.

Buses leave from near the hotels regularly which travel right over to Coral Bay so it is very easy to get around by public transport. We had arranged a hire car from the airport which we usually do when we travel as a family to give us flexibility , knowing that we were planning a few excursions.
The weather was lovely considering it was February. Most days it was around 17-18 degrees and sunny, much warmer than back home and perfect for walking and strolling around. Evenings were slightly nippy but we were fine with cardigans or light coats.

One of the marvels of Cyprus in the winter is that it is actually possible to sunbather and ski on the same day! We drove up into the Troodos mountains in search of snow for our snow-deprived kids. We had planned on visiting the ski resort but hit heavily falling snow and as we didn’t have a 4x4 decided not to continue. A day or two later and the runs were all open and roads passable again. All the same the children enjoyed the scenery and had a brief play in the snow, then we stopped in the pretty mountain village of Pano Platres for hot chocolate and Baklava!

We took the opportunity of the lovely spring weather to take some lovely walks along the Akamas peninsular and enjoyed the more undeveloped side of Cyprus with wild goats and turtle beaches. The green grassy hills were full of wild anemones and spring flowers much prettier than in the harsh summer heat.
We also got to explore Paphos itself more fully taking in the Roman Mosaics and Odeon at the historic Harbour area.

I would definitely recommend Paphos and Cyprus in the winter. It has an atmosphere and tranquillity that is missing in the summer months, plus it is perfect for enjoying the nature and history of this unique island.