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Larnaca Named One Of Europe’s Best Autumn Sun Destinations

Larnaca has been named the third-best destination in southern Europe for an autumn getaway, according to Quotezone’s 2026 Shoulder Season Index.

The Cypriot city ranked behind Antalya in Turkey and Tenerife in the Canary Islands, while Crete and Malta completed the top five. The index assessed destinations based on factors including temperatures, sunshine, rainfall and accommodation costs.

Autumn Holidays Gain Popularity

The ranking comes as more travellers consider moving their holidays away from the peak summer season. Quotezone found that 48% would consider taking their main annual holiday in autumn, while 52% said they would avoid southern Europe during summer because of high temperatures.

Cost is another factor, with 26% of respondents citing cheaper prices as a reason to travel in autumn. Meanwhile, 42% said they would wait for a last-minute price reduction, and 11% said they always look for an autumn deal.

Fewer crowds also appeal to travellers, with 21% choosing autumn for lower congestion and 16% valuing the smaller number of children travelling during the season.

Larnaca Offers Warm Autumn Conditions

Larnaca’s position in the ranking reflects its favourable weather in September and October. Average air temperatures reach 25.5°C, while the sea remains around 27°C.

Rainfall is also limited, with just 12mm recorded across the two months in the index’s assessment. That makes the city particularly suitable for visitors looking for beach weather beyond the traditional summer season.

Antalya Takes First Place

Antalya topped the ranking with around 9.5 hours of sunshine per day and average temperatures of 27.6°C during September and October. Sea temperatures average 27.5°C, while rainfall stands at around 42mm.

Tenerife came second, helped by warm weather and relatively little rainfall, while Crete ranked fourth with around eight hours of sunshine daily. Malta completed the top five.

Budva in Montenegro ranked ninth and Dubrovnik in Croatia tenth.

A Longer Tourism Season For Cyprus

Quotezone travel insurance expert Helen Rolph said the shoulder season was becoming increasingly attractive as travellers looked for warm weather without the extreme heat and higher prices associated with summer.

For Cyprus, Larnaca’s ranking highlights the island’s potential to attract visitors beyond the traditional peak season. Warm temperatures, high sea temperatures and limited rainfall make the city a strong option for late-season holidays.

Cyprus’ Strong Youth Employment Rate Still Does Not Guarantee Early Independence

Young people in Cyprus have a relatively high employment rate, but they leave the parental home later than the EU average, according to Eurostat data.

Cypriots left home at an average age of 27 in 2025, compared with 26.3 years across the EU. At the same time, 72.3% of people aged 20 to 29 in Cyprus were employed, well above the EU average of 65.5%.

Strong Employment Does Not Mean Early Independence

Only nine countries recorded higher youth employment rates than Cyprus. Iceland led at 85.3%, followed by the Netherlands at 84%, Malta at 82.1%, Switzerland at 78.3% and Germany at 77%.

Norway recorded 76.5%, Ireland 76.1%, Denmark 74.8% and Austria 74.6%. Eurostat said countries where young people leave home earlier generally tend to have higher youth employment rates.

Southern Europe Sees Later Moves

Finland had the lowest average age for leaving the parental home at 21.4 years, followed by Denmark at 21.8 and Estonia and Lithuania at 22.7. Croatia recorded the highest average at 31.5 years, followed by Greece and Slovakia at 30.9. Spain and Italy both stood at 30.2 years.

Across the EU, the average has remained close to 26 since 2002, rising only slightly from 26.2 years in 2024 to 26.3 years in 2025.

Cyprus Labour Market Is Cooling

The figures come as Cyprus’ labor market shows some signs of easing, although demand for workers remains relatively strong by European standards.

Separate Eurostat data showed Cyprus had the EU’s largest annual decline in its job vacancy rate in the second quarter of 2026. The rate fell to 2.6% from 3.3% a year earlier, but remained above the EU average of 2.0% and the euro area average of 2.1%.

Cost Of Living Remains A Factor

Housing and other living costs can also affect how quickly young workers establish independent households. Eurostat reported that Cyprus’ household consumption price level was 89.2% of the EU average in 2025.

A relatively lower overall price level does not eliminate affordability pressures for people on modest incomes. For younger workers, the issue can be whether wages are sufficient to cover rent, utilities, food and other basic expenses.

Cyprus therefore combines relatively high youth employment with a later transition to independent living, suggesting that access to work and the ability to afford a separate household do not always move together.

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