Here we are in mid-October, the month to put thoughts of summer behind us and (try to!) enjoy different foods and lifestyles.
Autumn in the eastern Mediterranean has many of the good things you can enjoy in the UK or other northern climates, including autumnal hues and cosier evenings. But all without the darkness and damp. So, if you owned a property in Cyprus right now, here is what you could be doing.
Cooler, calmer, even lovelier!
In a Cyprus autumn temperatures cool off slightly in the evenings while daytime temperatures remain in the lower 30s Celsius. The blue Mediterranean continues to sparkle in the bright sunlight, and there usually isn’t a cloud in the sky. You can still swim in the cooler ocean, maintain your exercise regime and take advantage of the quiet beaches.
The hustle and bustle of the tourist season has finished and there is a sense of serenity at this time of year. It’s brought out by the environmental calmness, and nowhere displays this more than the mountain landscapes of Troodos.
From October to November, trees turn golden and the vineyards become laden with the autumn wine grapes, all set against the backdrop of the sparkling sun. Combine that with the still calm blue sea in the coastal cities of Limassol, Paphos and Larnaca, and you have a vision made in heaven that truly energises!
What happens in autumn in Cyprus
Events and festivals in Cyprus are roughly divided into city events and country festivals. There are events in the four main cities – Limassol, Paphos, Larnaca, and the capital, Nicosia – with festivals in the mountains and villages.
Here are some examples of each.
Coffee meetup group
Meeting new people is top of the To Do list for most of us when we first come to live in Cyprus. There’s a weekly/monthly ‘coffee meetup’ group in Limassol that meets near the main beach area. You can find similar meetup groups in the other cities, too. I found these invaluable to make new friends.
Ballet performances
Cypriots are excellent dancers! We also love to watch dance performances, whether in hip hop, modern, jazz, or ballet, and a range of ballet troupes come to Cyprus to perform either alone or alongside their Cypriot counterparts. This season the Italian State Theatre of Milan ballet group will be performing Romeo and Juliet in Limassol.
And because of the great weather conditions, sunny but less sweltering, you will find many of these events being performed outside, often against a beautiful backdrop like Paphos Castle.
Music events
There are many musical events staged in autumn, be it classical music, musicals or modern music. More international artists are coming to Cyprus in the autumn months to perform live outdoors including, this autumn Ed Sheeran, Bonnie Tyler, Celine Dion and Bryan Adams.
Cooking and craft groups
Cypriots are creative cooks, and the island boasts Michelin-starred chefs. They have recently started to set up cooking groups where you can learn the tricks of the trade. International cooking is also featured now; there’s a Mexican cooking masterclass group taking place this month in Limassol. Craft groups include pottery/sculpting, photography and floristry/gardening, and they are available in all the cities.
Autumn festivals in Cyprus
Mushroom festival
Erimi is a large village located near the British Episkopi base. At its mushroom festival in November it promises tastings of eight varieties of mushrooms, all cooked and presented in a different way, which you can munch on at will accompanied by music, DJ and dancing.
Oktober beerfest
This happens in Limassol, where a pub dedicated to offering German beers is available, making it accessible to all beer enthusiasts. You can sample a variety of German snacks alongside beers to suit all tastes. Cyprus’s own award-winning Keo beer is also in full flow, which I also recommend for comparison!
Street food festival
Those warm evenings can make you want to eat al fresco. Fortunately, Cyprus has some excellent ‘street food’ on offer including gyros, souvlaki, kebabs and, of course, halloumi. It will all be cooked at a food festival in October in Paphos. Set inside the grounds of Paphos Castle that overlooks the sea, and the castle is beautifully lit up.
There are village festivals, too, as the countryside celebrates its harvest. Villages like Platres, Kyperounda and others in the mountains open their doors to the public through their orange and lemon festivals, typically held in November. It’s great to see the colourful displays, and you can sample locally produced fruit juice and Cypriot sweets.
Wine-making villages like Omodos also host their own wine festivals, featuring extensive wine tasting and celebratory events. These are often combined with local craft exhibitions, particularly the Cypriot lacemaking craft in Lefkara village. You can watch the locals work their lace and their craft is also displayed for purchase.
