This paper investigates the influence of natural ventilation on the indoor thermal environment in the residential vernacular architecture of Cyprus. The research was performed through a field study investigation during the hot summer period. The investigation included different ventilation strategies, i.e. daytime, full-day and night-time ventilation. Furthermore, in the case of night ventilation, different window opening patterns, i.e. single sided and cross ventilation, were examined. The results show that night ventilation is the most effective strategy for passive cooling in vernacular dwellings during the hot summer period, compared to the two other ventilation strategies. This strategy reduces peak indoor air temperatures and also improves indoor thermal conditions during the following day. Furthermore, cross ventilation, during night-time takes full advantage of the relatively low outdoor air temperatures and cools down the building envelope in the best possible way. The findings are presented in a comparative manner and evaluated in a quantitative way, offering valuable information in the relevant field. The paper presented herein confirms the positive contribution of natural ventilation for cooling in the vernacular architecture in Cyprus as well as in other areas of the eastern Mediterranean region, where similar climatic conditions, building typologies, construction materials and techniques can be found. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.