10 Great Reasons for a Holiday in Cyprus
10 Great Reasons for a Holiday in Cyprus
There’s more to Cyprus than sun, sea and sand. It’s ambitious not to fall madly in love with Cyprus, consecrated by Aphrodite, goddess of love. The locals are extremely favorable and genial, the atmosphere is loosened up, the food is incredible and you can bask everything from jeep safaris and wine tours to taking the air and even snow skiing in winter. Cyprus is a place where you can observe concealed UNESCO churches and mountain villages or fall in in the Greek bounding at a family-run taverna
Here are are 10 tips and reasons to visit Cyprus to help start your holiday planning and further research together with some “lifestage” destination recommendations to check out
Beaches: From gently-shelving white sand beaches in the east around Ayia Napa and Protaras to fun-filled bays with water-skiing and kite-surfing in the west, you will find everything from deserted coves to busy holiday resorts
Nightlife: Dance the night away in one of Ayia Napa’s trendy clubs or hang out on Bar Street in Paphos. Away from the neon, fall in in the Greek bounding at a localised taverna or chill in a café on Larnaca’s a la mode mile-long beachfront promenade
Food: Cypriots are happiest when eating so join them for a meze, a slow banquet of Cypriot delicacies such as grilled halloumi cheese, dolmades (vine leaves stuffed with rice and meat) and delicious kleftiko, lamb slowly baked till it drops off the bone. Freshly-caught fish and seafood are delicacies too
Wine: Drive into the Troodos foothills to taste crisp white wines and hearty reds at family-run wineries. Follow a wine route or check out the island’s long wine-making heritage at the Wine Museum just outside Limassol
Art: Watch localised artisans at work in their workshops in Larnaca, bringing forth beautifully-crafted ceramics, tiles and jewellery. Lefkara is the place to purchase hand-crafted lace see the ladies dressed in dark ply their craft outside their shops
Cities: Visit Europe’s last divided capital, Lefkosia (Nicosia) for shopping and museums. Wander Laiki Geitonia’s bare streets, sweat in a reconstructed Ottoman hamam and stroll along Venetian city walls for enthusiastic views. You’ll happen Richard the Lionheart’s Crusader castle in Limassol older town
Nature: The stunning Troodos mountains with Mount Olympus at its peak offers a cool retreat in summer with its charming hilltop villages, vine-blessed slopes and hiking trails. For unspoilt nature, the rugged Akamas national park is disorienting
History: Venetian walls, Crusader castles, past tombs and Roman mosaics are testament to Cyprus’s 10,000 year history. The Green Line in Nicosia separating the Greek south from Turkish north, now opened to tourists, is a reminder of its modern governmental past
Shopping: From big city stores in Nicosia to designer boutiques and jewellers in Limassol, you’ll find shops selling souvenirs to take home all over the island. The markets in Limassol and Paphos are worthy checking up on out too
Touring: Cypriots drive on the left and the roads are fast and well signposted so getting around by car is easy. A jeep safari is the best way to go off-road and diagnose distant Akamas or highland Troodos. Car rental in Cyprus is reasonably ascertained, and easygoing to set up
A holiday in Cyprus is up there with the best of travel destinations in terms of great climate, friendly people, history, adventure and good living
