Forget the cold, wet days and nights. Try something different next Christmas! Northern Cyprus is as beautiful in the winter as at any other time...

It might seem early to consider it, but at Christmas time wouldn't it be nice for a change, to be able to start your day by looking up at a clear blue sky and sunshine? The temperature in Cyprus is still warm enough for you to be able to walk around in short sleeves, instead of being wrapped up in jumpers and having the heating turned up full just to keep warm. Although you will not get the four months of Christmas hype here, the hotels and restaurants put on feasts and entertainment to cater for anyone wishing to celebrate Christmas.

You will find that most places offer a traditional Christmas dinner, with a vegetarian option. After your meal, you can either enjoy the live entertainment, or go for a leisurely stroll to burn off some of the calories. It is a pleasant change to tell your friends and family that you have been enjoying a sea or mountain view on Christmas Day, rather than the usual sight of bad weather or the traffic when driving to someone else's house. A number of our hotels are already offering package deals for the Christmas period and you can extend your stay to include the New Year celebrations as well.

There are some beautiful places to visit in Northern Cyprus and this time of year is one of the best to see them. The sky is clear, the weather dry and warm, but not so hot as to make walking overly tiring. There are numerous castles and other historical sites to visit and Bellapais Abbey is a must. The view over Kyrenia is spectacular, with the Abbey looking lovely, both at day and at night. There are also many excellent restaurants in Bellapais Village and Kyrenia if you want to enjoy a meal or just relax over a drink.

With driving on the same side of the road as the UK and car hire prices being low in winter, you could hire a car and explore the north of the island at leisure. The beaches in the Karpaz area (or ‘panhandle' as it is widely known) are long and sandy, and a lot of the time you are likely to find that you are the only people there. Famagusta is another popular attraction. The city and surrounding areas have plenty of history for you to see and learn about. Or maybe you would like to explore Nicosia. The city is split between the Turkish and Greek sides of the island and you can discover the difference just by walking a few feet across the border in the historic city centre.

Alternatively, you might like to explore the sea life. Diving can be a wonderful experience, not only for the variety of fish, but for the chance of seeing octopus, eels or stingrays, or spending some time swimming with some rare species of turtles. We can arrange for you to go diving even on Christmas Day. Every year a group goes out in the morning in order to be back in time to get ready for Christmas Day dinner and entertainment. For the more experienced diver, you might also take the opportunity to explore some of the local wrecks.

To enjoy a different Christmas or New Year experience, please contact us either through our online enquiry form or by telephone, and one of our experienced advisors will be happy to help put a package together for you. With our winter sun holidays discounted, now is the ideal time to book.