Pharmacies Open on Sunday & Public Holidays in Cyprus
On Sundays and public holidays in Cyprus, on-duty pharmacies follow a different — and longer — schedule than weekdays. Here's how it works.
What are the duty hours on Sunday and public holidays?
On Sundays and public holidays, on-duty pharmacies stay open continuously from 08:00 to 23:00 — without the mid-afternoon break that applies on weekdays. The hours are fixed by law (Κ.Δ.Π. 210/2022, 335/2024, 51/2026), the same across all of Cyprus.
Which public holidays does this schedule apply to?
The Sunday schedule applies on every Cyprus public holiday, both fixed-date and movable Orthodox-calendar holidays:
- Fixed-date holidays: New Year's Day, Epiphany, 25 March, 1 April, Labour Day, Assumption of the Virgin Mary (15 August), Independence Day (1 October), Ochi Day (28 October), and Christmas Eve/Day/Boxing Day
- Movable Orthodox Easter holidays: Green Monday, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Whit Monday (Kataklysmos) — the date shifts every year
- Exact dates for each year are confirmed from official sources; this site's duty-hours calculation already accounts for them automatically
Does the number of on-duty pharmacies change on holidays?
No. The number of pharmacies on duty per district stays the same as any other day — only their operating hours change, from the split weekday schedule (or Wednesday/Saturday's continuous one) to the single morning-to-night Sunday schedule.
What if I need medicine after 23:00 on a Sunday or holiday?
The same system applies as any other night: the pharmacy closes at 23:00, but the on-duty pharmacist remains reachable by phone until 08:00 the next morning to dispense prescriptions. See our detailed guide for exactly what to do.
Are the hours the same on Sunday and on a public holiday?
Yes, exactly the same 08:00-23:00 hours apply to both.
Are there more on-duty pharmacies on holidays than on a normal day?
No, the number of pharmacies on duty per district doesn't change specifically for holidays — only their operating hours are extended.