Happy New Year
It’s January, 2026, the new year is here, it’s time to put the Christmas decorations away for another year. Just like every day I woke up this morning, looked out my kitchen window down to the sea and thought, ‘ahh well we’ve got one more day, I might as well be happy’ …
White Horses
So as usual, I’ll put my dog ‘Bandit’ into the car and drive him down the coast for our daily walk along the coastal pathway, often enjoying the unusual white horses breaking onto the rocks, taking in the fresh air and invigorating spray, that btw contains a Natural Iodine, thinking to myself; ‘I’m so lucky to live here’ … then I corrected myself, ‘when I decided to move to paradise in 1993 it wasn’t luck, it was calculated’, coz the quality of life here is just unbeatable!
Only in Cyprus
I believe Cyprus has the best climate in the world, boasting long hot summers and short mild winters. As we predicted last year, we enjoyed another Indian summer all the way to Christmas, and we could still swim in the Med, and it looks like it’s going to continue through January. In a way, I’m glad to see the back of 2025, as many of our followers know I’ve had a bit of a nightmare recently, but I said, ‘I was gonna smash it’, and I did! I’m still as positive as ever, in fact, more so, and I just know 2026 is going to be the best year ever!
Original
This guide is now more of an article-based online magazine, and we’ve got our finger firmly on the pulse of Cyprus. We’ve now been sharing and writing about the best places to eat, drink, and be leisurely for over 33 years. There’s over 2,000 articles split into 76 categories in 8 major cities; we probably have one of the biggest websites on Cyprus, it’s 82GB edited from our 3TB database.
Easy to Use
So first, choose a city, then one of 16 major categories, and maybe choose a sub category, or try a one word search, and if you can’t find it and you need a personal recommendation just send us a message … and btw, I’m gonna get a new drone and one of those steady cam thingies, so get ready for some really cool Live Videos this year as we take What’s On Cyprus into a new era.
Changes
As usual, Cyprus went from summer to winter in just a few days, much as it was absolutely fabulous through November and December with temperatures hitting 25°C, apart from a few days of rain, omg! didn’t it rain??? I’m sure it rained more than last year? Ha!, We say that every year … but with those clear skies, it’s really cold at night, I even had to put the duvet on the bed by the end of November, which is unheard of! I even found the hot water bottle the other night, it’s good to keep your toes warm!
How Extreme?
You may have noticed, I love Cyprus with a passion and as I’ve always said, “Cyprus is ‘versatility to the extreme!” … How Extreme??? … Well, where else you can snow ski in the Troodos Mountains in the morning, and in just over an hour you can be swimming in the Med, which btw never drops below 15°C … Naturally if you prefer, you can do it the other way around, then you can get into some ‘Après Ski’, chilling out next to a lovely open log fire, in a gorgeous log cabin, somewhere in the Troodos Mountains.
Skiing Season
It’s surprising how many people don’t realise that it’s skiing season in The Troodos Mountains, which have been covered in snow since mid-December, and it normally should continue ’til mid-March. I love Troodos in the winter, it’s a totally different Cyprus up there, some say ‘it’s the real Cyprus’, and in January it really comes into its element. There’s a unique skiing experience in Troodos, all geared up for their very short season, and you can even hire ski and snowboard equipment if you’re into a little spontaneity, and some of the accommodation is a dream, total tranquillity comes to mind! For more info, visit www.skicyprus.com
Huskey Sledding
As you know, I love finding new things to do, and Cyprus really is Versatility to the Extreme. A few years ago, I met the wonderful ‘Ali’ who launched her Husky Sledging in Troodos back in 2018, so if you wanna try something new, give her a call and get ready for something a little different! … Oh, and if there’s not enough snow, Alison invites you to spend an hour or two with her huskies in their mountains … Did I say ‘versatile’?
On the Harbour
Naturally, we all miss the vibe of the summer months, but I do love the peace and quiet of our winters. Maybe you can take a stroll around one of our many harbours or fishing shelters and of course sample the fresh fish taverns, with a backdrop of those gorgeous winter sunsets, an explosion of reds, oranges and purples! … Just click eating out and then choose ‘Beach Side’, or any one of 15 cuisine selections.
Eating Out
There’s many good restaurants open, providing traditional Cypriot cuisine and hospitality and tbh, just about every other cuisine you desire. If eating out isn’t your thing at the moment, many eateries also offer a takeaway or delivery service, often via Foody and Wolt Delivery services. There’s normally plenty of bars and even more stylish cafes serving single-source Arabica coffee, offering lovely open fires and those tall gas heaters, and we recommend a few providing regular live entertainment.
Kids & Grown Ups
Why not take the kids to Paphos Zoo or The Camel Park in Mazados, near Larnaca. Both must be finding it very hard to feed all their animals at the moment, so please give
them some support … another great idea is Sayious Adventure Park, in Asgata, Limassol or just wait ’til you see what they’re doing at the awesome CyHerbia Botanical Gardens in Avgorou which by the way have a real hedge Maze lots more
Shopaholics
It’s also shopping season, with the February sales starting earlier every year, I think they
started on Black Friday this year … Ladies, check out the stylish Brouska and guys,
BrouskaBlu in Paphos, Larnaca and Nicosia or The unisex in style of Y2K in Napa and
Protaras or London Clothing Company, who have shops all over Cyprus … and if you need some help with the Local Lingo, click here
Get Some Ink
I’m led to believe, if you live in Norway, you can pop over to Cyprus for a week, with
accommodation and get a cool tattoo by a really cool artist for less money than staying at home, check out our excellent Tattooists here
Catch Up
January also gives us a chance to catch up with our seasonal workaholic friends, maybe light a BBQ on those lovely hot sunny days, or gather round an open fire on chilly nights, crack the ice to finish off the Bailey’s leftover from Christmas, and catch up with the year’s news.
Number One
It’s now 33 years since we launched our guide to Cyprus. I didn’t just want any old guide to Cyprus; I wanted the best guide to Cyprus. Those magazine days have since become a legacy. We watched as Napa became the clubbing capital of Europe, yet remained totally versatile, boasting things like the stunning Nissi Beach. We were there as Paphos, grew into the place to be if you’re looking for history, 12 months a year … Protaras, evolved into more of a couples and gorgeous beaches thing, not to mention being recently voted the best swimming waters in Europe. Larnaca and Limassol provide the more cosmopolitan swing, aimed mostly at the locals, and Nicosia, as always, a thriving capital, both now boasting massive events … Hmm, a little nostalgia is good for the soul.
Let it Rain
We’re in our rainy season, and I just love those winter storms! You know, we need all the rain we can get, and as we only average 35-45 rainy days a year, we can cope. Cyprus is, of course, an all-year-round destination, or at least we’re heading that way, expecting visitors to increase steadily over the next few years, targeting 5 million visitors a year. Naturally, this can only happen by increasing the number of tourist beds available, which is totally evident, and of course by providing more ‘Things to Do’ for our visitors, inevitably making Cyprus an all-year-round destination!
Looking Ahead
It would be nice to see a few more golf courses, especially on the east coast, to match
the 5 up west, and with more and more sports clubs choosing Cyprus for their winter
training sports facilities and training grounds. Cyprus has been described as the new Monaco in the Med again, with at least 3 more new modern marinas on the way and gyms, leisure complexes, and boutique hotels with luxury spas, and most of our theatres are open all year … well, I’m sure you’re getting my drift. In turn, this, of course, will help to increase winter tourism. I know it’s on its way, all you have to do is believe, oh and as the ex-marketing manager of the Cyprus Tourist Organisation once said to me, “rely on private enterprise,” and btw, I’ve got lots of really good ideas if you’re interested in starting a business here?
Cultural Cyprus
I also love the way Cyprus has become more cultural, especially after Paphos’ hosting of
The European Capital of Culture back in 2017, and it seems Cyprus has finally got the
cultural bug, and we’ll continue to see an increasing swing toward the modern world and
it’s natural, holistic, and cultural lifestyle … click here for a more extensive cultural guide by the Cyprus Tourist Information offices.
Wine Tasting Tours
January is also an excellent time to indulge in Cyprus’s world-renowned wines and spirits. The island boasts many vineyards, mostly in the Limassol and Paphos regions. So, why not consider joining a wine-tasting tour to savour the unique flavours of Cypriot wines? … We have a cool article on here called ‘Driving You to Drink’ by my very good friend Stanna that makes a good read, and a nice day out … hic!
Topical
Here’s a few things I’d like to get to in January … The first is Sergio Cortes’ legendary Michael Jackson tribute show, on the 10th in Nicosia and the 11th in Limassol as part of a major world tour, it’s his first time in Cyprus. The awesome Prospectus are live on the 2nd and Cashiers on the 10th at Savino Live in Larnaca … oh and, don’t miss the Flamingos at Larnaca Salt Lakes …
The Network
The Website is looking cool, it has over 2,000 pages of information about Cyprus with
more than 30,000 photos and videos, all one-word searchable! Our Facebook page now has almost 21,000 followers, our daily blogs and shares, some with links to our Website and YouTube Channel. Oh, and you can help us too, if you’ll please tell your friends about us … I hope you find what you want, if not, phone me! … or go www.whatsoncy.com and try a one-word search!
Finally
I just want to finish off by saying a big Happy New Year to everyone who has helped me
make this network guide, the official, most original, and, I believe, the best guide to Cyprus! … and if you enjoyed this read, do follow us on your favourite social media app for More …
And Really Finally
If I can leave you with just one tip for January … make sure you do at least one thing
you’ve never done before! … I’ve gotta feeling 2026 is gonna be my favourite year!
Na Da Bou’men!
Tony Dynamou
Editor
More …
Cover Photo by tonywuphotography, Pixabay
