Summer: When It Sizzles

 For just about Summer stretches from mid-May to mid-October and means high temperatures, cloudless skies and cooling breezes from the sea. It's the ideal season for swimming, sunbathing and a whole range of water sports from sailing to scuba diving. At this time of year, explore the archaeological sites early in the morning or in late afternoon, avoiding the hottest part of the day. It's always a good idea to bring along sun protection, such as sunscreen and a broad-brimmed hat. Even in the height of summer when it's 32C(90F) degrees at the beach (and warmer inland), temperatures are refreshingly cooler in the Troodos, making the mountains ideal for hiking or simply relaxing.

The days of September and October are still sunny and the water warm enough for comfortable swimming. Basically, it's still summer. In Lemesos, the first ten days of September bring the annual Wine Festival, a buoyant period not to be missed.

Autumn Forecast: Warm and Sunny

Toward the end of October evenings do tend to get cooler, however. In October and through November the leaves change colour in the Troodos and vineyards take on gold and crimson hues against a backdrop of crystal clear sunlight. In Cyprus even mid-November can feel like summer, but by month's end medium-weight apparel for the late afternoons and evenings will enhance the traveler's experience. It is still possible to enjoy swimming, while inland excursions to villages and vineyards for wine tastings can be very enjoyable. Fall also brings with it the annual Kypria festival, with prestigious local and international musical and dramatic performances at venues throughout Cyprus.

Winter: An Active Season

December and January are the months of Mediterranean winter, bringing the possibility of rain, but still an average of six hours of bright sunshine a day. This is the time of year when smaller Mediterranean destinations shut down for the season, but not so Cyprus. The island is a major business centre and has many important heritage sites and museums, all at their least crowded in winter. The cultural calendar is also alive and well throughout the winter, with new events coming all the time. The summer resort of Agia Napa, for example, offers a "Cultural Winter" with classical music concerts and modern and folkloric dance performances. Into early February there is occasional rain, and often snow in the Troodos - ideal for skiing!

Spring Delights

The first orchids bloom in January in Cyprus, and by mid-February the countryside is already alive with fresh green meadows and almond trees in bloom. March days can still be cool (daytime temperatures around 19C or 65F, 9C or 40F at night) but steadily moderate. Early spring is a wonderful time to visit to Cyprus, with pleasant daytime temperatures and many of the ancient ruins framed by a carpet of red anemones and other wildflowers.

In April and into the middle of May spring is in full force. This is an ideal time for nature hikes and off-road adventures in the pristine Akamas Peninsula. Cyprus has 1,950 species of flowering plants, 140 of which grow nowhere else but on the island, and in the Akamas alone, there are 700 plant species, of which 40 are endemic. From February to April, pink cyclamen sprouts up from rocky foothills and thickets and forms a riveting adornment to the Baths of Aphrodite. From March to April, the pink wavy-leaved monkey orchid (Orchis italica) grows in dense patches around Pafos. If in summer Cyprus is the place to bask in the sun, then spring is the time to savor the natural beauty of the island in bloom.

Varied Island

Your experience of Cyprus can be as varied and rewarding as the geography of the island itself. Starting with the sea: There are beaches in Cyprus to suit just about everybody, from families with small children to seekers of solitude. The mountainous interior, the Troodos, offers an alluring contrast to the coast that shouldn't be overlooked. Bracing pine-scented air, hiking trails and Byzantine churches are just some of the treasures to be found here. It is also possible to experience firsthand the village life of the hill towns. By the beach or further afield, in the towns or storied countryside, the distinctive culture of Cyprus is always close at hand.

Were an ancient Mycenaean Greek in Cyprus to suddenly spring to life, or even Aphrodite herself, she would find the same warm sun overhead. The sun is a resilient force in Cyprus, shining high and bright enough to keep the sea warm for comfortable swimming from early May all the way through October. It helps give the island its quintessential Mediterranean atmosphere.

Even in the middle of winter, when temperatures get on the cool side, the sun usually shines for the better part of the day. The best place to soak up the Cyprus sunshine is at the beach, and with more than four hundred miles of coastline, there are plenty from which to choose.

The "Blue Flag" is an exclusive eco-label awarded to more than 2.900 beaches and marinas in 24 countries in Europe and South Africa in 2003. The "Blue Flag Campaign" is a program launched in 1987 during the European Year for the Environment, which promotes clean beaches and environmentally sound management of coastal areas. The "Blue Flag" is awarded to beaches meeting strict criteria relating to environmental education and information, beach area management and quality of bathing water. The Campaign is owned and run by the independent nonprofit organisation Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE).

With the initiative of the Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO) and the cooperation of the Cyprus Marine Environment Protection Association (CYMEPA), the local authorities and the relevant government bodies, Cyprus has introduced the "Blue Flag Campaign" and became a full member of the FEE in 1995.

In 2003, the International Jury awarded the Blue Flag to 39 organised beaches located in 12 coastal communities and municipalities in Cyprus.