Troodos in winter by car: snow, road closures and which car you need
Updated 3 November 2026
The Troodos mountains are an hour’s drive from Limassol: Troodos Square is about 52 km away. Snow can fall from late November and is deepest in January and February. When the roads are cleared, an ordinary car gets you there. During snowfall the police let only four-wheel-drive cars or cars with snow chains up to the summit, so check the news before you set off.
In short
- Troodos Square is about 52 km from Limassol, a little over an hour’s drive.
- The first snow can come in late November; most snow falls in January and February. The ski slopes open only when there is enough snow, usually in January.
- During snowfall the Platres – Troodos, Karvounas – Troodos and Prodromos – Troodos roads are open only to four-wheel-drive cars or cars with chains.
- Before you go, check the Cyprus Police announcements and the summit webcam.
- Fill up in Limassol: there are few petrol stations in the mountains.
When there is snow on Troodos
Troodos Square sits at about 1,700 m and Mount Olympus at 1,952 m. In January the average daily temperature in Prodromos village (1,390 m) is about 4 °C, with frequent frost at night.
The first snow can come as early as late November, as it did in 2024. Most snow falls in January and February; in a dry winter there may be almost none.
The Sun Valley and North Face ski slopes open only when there is enough snow. In 2026 the first slope, Sun Valley I, opened on 14 January. The season usually lasts until March.
How to get there from Limassol
| Route | Distance | Driving time |
|---|---|---|
| Via Platres, on the main Limassol – Troodos road | about 52 km | about 1 h 10 min |
| Via Agros and Karvounas | about 62 km | about 1 h 20 min |
Times are from our office in Germasogeia on a dry road. Snow and fog slow you down, and on snowy weekends there are traffic jams near the summit.
Loading the map…
Map: OpenFreeMap, data © OpenStreetMap contributors, routes OSRM
When roads are restricted and where to check
During snowfall and ice, the police open the summit roads only to cars with four-wheel drive or snow chains. This most often applies to:
- Platres – Troodos;
- Karvounas – Troodos;
- Prodromos – Troodos;
- Troodos Square to Mount Olympus.
The Kyperounda – Chandria road is sometimes restricted too. In heavy snow the roads close completely. On snowy weekends the police may close the summit road for a while because of the traffic: that happened on 14 January 2024, and the road reopened in the afternoon.
Where to check before you go:
- road announcements on the Cyprus Police website and the police social media pages;
- the Troodos forecast from the UK Met Office;
- the ski centre webcam: it is below on this page and on the Cyprus Ski Federation website. It shows whether there is snow at the top.
Troodos ski centre webcam, 1,820 m
The image loads from meteology.gr and refreshes once a minute
Which car you need
- Roads cleared and open to everyone. An ordinary car is fine; you don’t need four-wheel drive.
- A “four-wheel drive or chains” restriction is in force. A front-wheel-drive car without chains can’t get to the summit. Most ordinary city cars and hybrids are front-wheel drive. On such a day, pick another date or stop lower down, for example in Platres.
- A rental car. Before the trip, ask the rental company about its rules for mountain roads in snow.
How to drive on snow and ice
- Drive slower and leave more distance than usual: the police ask for this on every snowy day.
- On descents use engine braking (the B position on the selector, if your car has one) instead of holding the brake.
- Brake and steer smoothly.
- In the mornings and on shaded bends there can be ice even when the road looks dry.
- In fog use dipped headlights, not full beam.
- Don’t stop on the carriageway to play in the snow or take photos: park only in lay-bys and car parks.
- Bring warm clothes, water and a charged phone.
Come back before dark
On Troodos it gets dark at about 16:40 in December, between 16:45 and 17:15 in January and between 17:15 and 17:45 in February. Behind the mountains the sun goes even earlier. After sunset a wet road freezes quickly, and you can’t see the ice in the dark. Set off in the morning and start down by 15:30–16:00.
If you get stuck or have an accident
- If anyone needs help or is in danger, call 112.
- Turn on the hazard lights and stay off the carriageway unless you have to.
If you have an accident in a SunCars car:
- Don’t leave the scene.
- Take a photo of the other party and their vehicle.
- Ask for the name of their insurance company.
- Call the insurance company on the number in the reminder in your rental contract, so they send a representative to the scene, and describe the incident in detail.
- Be sure to tell SunCars about the accident.
Petrol stations
There are petrol stations in Platres, Prodromos and Kakopetria, but not many, and at some you can’t pay by card when no cashier is there. It is safer to leave Limassol with a full tank.
What to do on Troodos in winter
Authors and licences
- Frost-covered trees and the radar dome on the summit of Mount Olympus — Chneophytou, CC BY-SA 3.0, original
- Frost-covered forest on the slopes of Mount Olympus, with the Troodos mountains beyond — Chneophytou, CC BY-SA 3.0, original
- Prodromos village below the snowy Troodos peaks — Aliosha Bielenberg, CC BY-SA 4.0, original
- Old black pines on snow under a blue sky — Krzysztof Ziarnek (Kenraiz), CC BY-SA 4.0, original
- A snowy slope with black pines — Krzysztof Ziarnek (Kenraiz), CC BY-SA 4.0, original
- A cleared road through snowy forest on Troodos — Dmitry Panov, CC BY 3.0, original
- Troodos Square in snow: shops and cafés — Mboesch, CC BY-SA 4.0, original
- Snowy trees and a view over the Troodos ridges — Dmitry Panov, CC BY 3.0, original
- Frost-covered trees and snow in a Troodos forest — Dmitry Panov, CC BY 3.0, original
- Skiing and snowboarding on the Sun Valley and North Face slopes when there is enough snow.
- Walks in the snow around Troodos Square.
- The villages of Platres and Kakopetria: tavernas, fireplaces and mountain views.
Frequently asked questions
Is there snow on Troodos right now?
Look at the ski centre webcam on this page and the police road announcements. Snow can fall from late November and is deepest in January and February.
Do I need a four-wheel drive to go to Troodos?
No, not when the roads are cleared and open to everyone. During snowfall the police let only four-wheel-drive cars or cars with chains up to the summit.
Do I need snow chains?
Only when the police restrict the summit roads. On such a day you can’t get there without four-wheel drive or chains.
Is the road to Troodos open today?
The Cyprus Police announce restrictions and closures on cypruspolicenews.com and on social media. The roads restricted most often are Platres – Troodos, Karvounas – Troodos and Prodromos – Troodos.
What should I do if the car gets stuck in the snow?
If anyone is in danger or needs help, call 112. If the car is damaged, be sure to tell SunCars.
How long is the drive from Limassol to Troodos?
About 52 km, roughly 1 hour 10 minutes via Platres on a dry road. Snow and weekends make it longer.
When do the Troodos ski slopes open?
When there is enough snow, usually in January. In 2026 the first slope, Sun Valley I, opened on 14 January.
What we checked: road restrictions and closures — Cyprus Police statements reported by Cyprus Mail on 14 January 2024 and 10 and 28 January 2026; ski slopes — the Cyprus Ski Federation and reports of the first slope opening on 14 January 2026; temperature — Cyprus Department of Meteorology normals for Prodromos; distance and time — routes from the SunCars office in Germasogeia, November 2026; petrol stations — the Troodos village route guide; routes and map — OpenStreetMap data; sunset times — calculated for Troodos Square.
