Pharmacy Opening Hours in Cyprus (Normal, Non-Duty Hours)
Separately from the on-duty rotation, every pharmacy in Cyprus keeps its own normal (non-duty) opening hours. These follow a traditional split-day pattern, with real regional variation.
Typical weekday hours (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday)
Most pharmacies open around 08:00, close for a midday break around 13:00–13:30, reopen mid-afternoon around 15:00–15:30, and close for the evening around 19:00–19:30. Exact times vary by pharmacy and season — always check the specific pharmacy's posted hours or call ahead.
Wednesday and Saturday: no afternoon reopening
On Wednesdays and Saturdays, regular (non-duty) pharmacies typically close for the day around 13:00–13:30 and do not reopen in the afternoon. If you need a pharmacy on a Wednesday or Saturday afternoon, the on-duty pharmacy for your district is very likely your only option.
Sundays and public holidays
Regular pharmacies are closed on Sundays and public holidays. Only the on-duty pharmacy for your district is open, from 08:00 to 23:00 on those days.
Is this changing any time soon?
As of an extraordinary general assembly in July 2025, the Cyprus Pharmaceutical Association's members voted decisively (406 of 518) against a Ministry of Health proposal to move pharmacies to continuous weekday hours without the midday break. The current split-hours system remains in place — worth knowing if you're used to continuous-hours pharmacies elsewhere.
Why do Cyprus pharmacies close in the middle of the day?
It follows a traditional Mediterranean midday-break pattern shared with many shops in Cyprus. A 2025 proposal to eliminate this for pharmacies specifically was voted down by pharmacists themselves.
Are any pharmacies open continuously all day, every day?
Not as a matter of routine, but the on-duty pharmacy for your district that day effectively fills this role during its legally required hours — see our guide on how the on-duty system works.