Israelis Are Choosing Cyprus: 590,000 Tourists and Growing Demand for Property

According to Cyprus tourism statistics for 2025, 590,000 Israelis visited the island — a 39% increase over 2024. Israel ranked fourth among sources of inbound tourism to Cyprus, ahead of many major European countries.

Why Israelis Choose Cyprus

Logistics make Cyprus unique: a 40-minute flight from Tel Aviv, 8 airlines, and around 150 flights a week through Larnaca and Paphos airports. No jet lag, no long-haul flight — Cyprus feels like a 'second home' rather than a foreign country.

Another factor is currency dynamics. The strengthening of the Israeli shekel against the euro in 2025–2026 has made Cyprus measurably cheaper for Israeli buyers and tourists. The entry price of property in shekel terms has fallen even as euro prices have continued to rise.

Israelis as Property Buyers

An estimated 12,000 to 15,000 Israeli citizens already own homes or plots of land in Cyprus. Israel is among the top 4 countries by volume of non-resident property purchases — alongside the United Kingdom, Russia and Germany.

The main destinations: Larnaca (close to the airport, accessible prices), Paphos (coastal complexes, STR yields), Limassol (status, infrastructure, corporate environment).

The Signal for Investors

Tourist flow is a leading indicator for the property market. When 590,000 people a year 'test-drive' a country as tourists, some of them inevitably turn into buyers. A 39% rise in Israeli tourist numbers means an expanding pool of potential buyers over the next 2–3 years.

Properties in Larnaca and Paphos with good STR infrastructure are the direct beneficiaries of this trend: Israeli tourists generate demand for short-term rentals, and some of them come back as buyers.

*Source: Cyprus Mail*