Newsroom
The long-standing confusion over pharmacy hours in Ayia Napa, especially during the busy tourist months, is finally being cleared up. The Health Ministry has stepped in with new rules that aim to make sure locals and visitors can always get the medicine they need—day or night, all year round.
The decision comes after a meeting of the Pharmaceutical Council earlier this month and responds to years of complaints about limited access to pharmacies during evenings, weekends, and holidays—right when tourists flood into the coastal resort town.
So, what’s changing?
From May 1 to October 31, pharmacies in Ayia Napa will be free to set their own opening hours, meaning they can stay open late or even all night if they choose. That includes the pharmacies on duty, which will also be running on a more flexible schedule.
From November 1 to April 30, when tourism slows down, there will still be enough pharmacies on duty to cover the area every single day.
- One pharmacy will stay open on most weekdays (except Wednesdays).
- Two pharmacies will be on duty every Wednesday and Saturday afternoon, and
- Three pharmacies will be open on Sundays.
This change isn’t just about convenience—it’s also about keeping up with the population boom Ayia Napa sees each summer. Tourists need access to medication just like locals do, and the new system is designed to make sure nobody is left scrambling when they fall ill on holiday.
The Health Ministry says these changes were made after serious consultations and are tailored to Ayia Napa’s unique situation as a tourist hub.
