- Cyprus had its worst drought in over 100 years, with reservoirs hitting a record low in February 2026.
- Heavy rain in May 2026 helped levels bounce back to around 41% by mid-July, much healthier, though still not full.
- Hotels and resort towns (Limassol, Paphos, Larnaca, Ayia Napa) get their water from desalination plants, so your trip won’t be affected.
- The water-saving rules are aimed at farms, not tourists or hotels.
- Only staying at a rural, self-catering villa? Ask your host if it uses a private well as that’s the one case where water could be an issue.
Is it safe to travel to Cyprus during the 2026 drought?
Yes. The drought is real and serious, but it hasn’t disrupted water supply to hotels, restaurants, or the coastal towns most visitors stay in.
Cyprus drew a record 4,534,073 tourists in 2025, and the tourism sector is exactly why authorities have prioritized keeping hotel water supply stable even as reservoirs ran critically low.
The government’s response has focused on protecting the industry that over four million annual visitors rely on, not on rationing the water that hotels use.
How bad is Cyprus’s water shortage in 2026?
Cyprus’s dams fell to just 13.7% of their total storage capacity in February 2026, according to Reuters reporting picked up by Smart Water Magazine.
That’s nearly half of the 26% recorded in February 2025, and the lowest dam inflow since Cyprus started keeping hydrological records in 1901. The island was in its fourth consecutive year of drought.
The situation has improved substantially since then. Cyprus recorded its highest May rainfall inflow into dams in four decades, and levels have been climbing ever since.
The single largest reservoir, Kouris, is reported to have fallen as low as 12.2% at the worst point, briefly exposing a church normally submerged when the dam is full. Even with the recovery, dam levels are still well below a comfortable long-term average, which is why the government’s desalination push continues.
How Cyprus is protecting hotels and tourists
Desalination, not reservoir water, already covers around 70% of the island’s drinking water, according to Cyprus Mail.
That buffer is a big part of why household and hotel supply has stayed secure through the crisis.
On top of that existing capacity, the government fast-tracked two extra measures aimed squarely at tourism:
- Faster permits for hotels: the Water Development Department has let hotels secure permits for small-scale desalination units in about a week, so they can be installed before peak season.
- A €3 million grant scheme: running since March 2025, it funds hotels and local authorities to build their own small desalination units. Individual hotels can get up to €300,000, and shared installations serving several properties up to €550,000. As of November 2025, 13 hotels across Cyprus had applied, with six already approved.
Separately, the UAE shipped 14 mobile desalination units to Cyprus in 2025 as part of a bilateral water-security agreement, adding a combined capacity of around 15,000 cubic metres a day. Most of these units are installed around Limassol, where daily water demand peaks at roughly 96,000 cubic metres.
The upshot for a traveler: your hotel pool, shower, and the beach itself are backed by an expanding, government-subsidized desalination network, not by however much rain fell over the reservoirs this year.
Where the drought might affect your trip
The drought’s real impact has landed on farm irrigation and a handful of rural communities, not on the coast where most visitors stay. Here’s the practical split.
Around 60 smaller communities that rely on local boreholes or springs rather than the main Water Development Department network have been the focus of separate rural water-supply projects.
If your trip includes an inland village stay, that’s the one context where a shortage might be visible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cyprus safe to visit because of the water shortage?
Yes. The drought hasn’t affected water supply to hotels or resort towns. Reservoir levels are a genuine national issue, but they’re managed separately from the desalination-backed supply that tourism runs on.
Will my hotel have water restrictions in 2026?
Almost certainly not. Hotels in the main resort areas draw on the municipal network plus desalination, and many have added their own on-site desalination units with government support.
How low did Cyprus’s water reserves actually get?
Dams fell to 13.7% of capacity in February 2026, the lowest inflow since hydrological records began in 1901. By mid-July 2026, levels had recovered to around 41% after a very wet May.
I’ve booked a villa in Cyprus. Should I be worried?
Only if it’s a rural, inland property on a private borehole or cistern. Ask your host or property manager about the water source and any local watering restrictions before you travel.
Are Limassol, Paphos, and Ayia Napa affected?
No noticeable impact for visitors. These resort towns sit on the main network, backed by desalination plants and the fast-tracked hotel desalination scheme, and are the government’s top priority for stable water supply.
What’s actually being cut back because of the drought?
Mainly agricultural irrigation. Cyprus Mail reported officials warning of substantial cuts to irrigation water for farmers in 2026, alongside general appeals for households to conserve water — not restrictions targeted at hotels or tourists.
Planning your trip to Cyprus
Cyprus’s 2026 drought is a genuine, headline-worthy event, but it hasn’t changed what a beach holiday in Limassol, Paphos, or Larnaca looks like. Book with confidence, and save any water questions for a self-catering villa in the countryside rather than your resort hotel.
Compare flights and hotels in Cyprus on Wego, including deals in Paphos and along the Larnaca coast.
Sources
- Smart Water Magazine / Reuters — Cyprus confronts a record drought as reservoirs run dry
- Cyprus Mail — Cyprus dam levels remain low despite rainfall (10 March 2026)
- Cyprus Mail — Dam levels almost double those of last year (2 June 2026)
- Cyprus Mail — The battle over the desalination water fix (1 February 2026)
- Fragmata — Cyprus Dam & Reservoir Water Levels (tracking Water Development Department data)
- Euronews — Cyprus is funding desalination plants for hotels to tackle tourism’s water shortage woes
- Hotel Management Network — Cyprus hotel groups seek private desalination amid water shortages
- UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs — UAE ship carrying 14 water desalination plants arrives in Cyprus
- StockWatch — More than 4.5 million tourists visited Cyprus in 2025
- Cyprus Mail — Thirteen hotels apply for small desalination units (3 November 2025)
Disclaimer: We’ve worked hard to make sure the information in this article is as accurate and up to date as possible at the time of publishing. Travel details such as prices, schedules, visa rules, and entry requirements can change at short notice, so it remains your responsibility to verify the current details with official sources before you book or travel. Wego accepts no liability for any loss or inconvenience arising from the use of this content.
