Larnaca vs Paphos: which is sunnier?
🇨🇾 Cyprus vs 🇨🇾 Cyprus · 105 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Larnaca and Paphos are virtually tied for annual sunshine — about 3,200 vs 3,248 hours a year. Larnaca has the higher Sunshine Score in 5 of 12 months, Paphos in 2 (5 within 2 points).
Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.
At a glance
| Larnaca | Paphos | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 3,200 | 3,248 |
| Sunniest month | June (98/100) | July (98/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 70/100 | 67/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 85/100 | 97/100 |
| Rain / year | 285 mm | 423 mm |
| Warmest sea | 30°C / 86°F | 29°C / 84°F |
| Peak midday UV | 10 (very high) | 10 (very high) |
Larnaca vs Paphos month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | Sea °C | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Larnaca | Paphos | Larnaca | Paphos | Larnaca | Paphos | Larnaca | Paphos | |
| January | 57 | 54 | 16° | 16° | 72 | 94 | 19° | 20° |
| February | 60 | 58 | 16° | 16° | 42 | 65 | 19° | 19° |
| March | 86 | 69 | 19° | 17° | 23 | 38 | 18° | 18° |
| April | 96 | 87 | 22° | 19° | 13 | 21 | 21° | 20° |
| May | 96 | 96 | 27° | 22° | 9 | 15 | 22° | 21° |
| June | 98 | 97 | 31° | 25° | 2 | 5 | 27° | 26° |
| July | 78 | 98 | 34° | 28° | 1 | 3 | 29° | 27° |
| August | 78 | 97 | 34° | 28° | 1 | 5 | 30° | 29° |
| September | 97 | 97 | 31° | 27° | 6 | 9 | 28° | 28° |
| October | 95 | 93 | 27° | 25° | 15 | 27 | 26° | 26° |
| November | 93 | 90 | 22° | 22° | 30 | 46 | 23° | 23° |
| December | 71 | 67 | 18° | 18° | 71 | 95 | 20° | 21° |
The sunnier month by month: Jan Larnaca · Feb even · Mar Larnaca · Apr Larnaca · May even · Jun even · Jul Paphos · Aug Paphos · Sep even · Oct even · Nov Larnaca · Dec Larnaca.
When to pick which
- November–February: Larnaca (average score 70/100 vs 67). Daytime highs are similar (18°C vs 18°C). See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: Larnaca (average score 93/100 vs 84). Larnaca is the warmer, around 23°C daytime highs vs 19°C.
- June–August: Paphos (average score 97/100 vs 85). Larnaca is the warmer, around 33°C daytime highs vs 27°C.
- September–October: too close to call — Larnaca averages 96/100, Paphos 95/100. Larnaca is the warmer, around 29°C daytime highs vs 26°C.
Sea temperature
Larnaca's sea gets warmer: 30°C / 86°F at its peak vs 29°C. Swimmable water (21°C+): Larnaca about 8 months a year, Paphos about 8 months a year. Month-by-month sea temperatures are in the table above.
Full month-by-month guides: Larnaca weather by month · Paphos weather by month · Best time to visit Cyprus.
More comparisons: Larnaca vs Beirut · Larnaca vs Alanya (Gazipaşa) · Larnaca vs Ercan (North Nicosia) · Paphos vs Alexandria · Paphos vs Alanya (Gazipaşa) · Paphos vs Tenerife · all head-to-heads