Cyprus a Country for All Seasons

If you are looking for a place to revisit many times that always offers something special (regardless of your place in life) then you can do no better than to visit the beautiful Republic of Cyprus. Located in the far eastern portion of the Mediterranean Sea, Cyprus is an exotic island with all the convenience of Europe.

Cyprus has been a crossroads for the world since time immemorial. This means that it has been a frequent target of conquest.

Cyprus is a place you can enjoy regardless of your age and stage of life. When you are a child, the beaches of Larnaca are a wonderland of sandcastles, swimming, ice cream and playing in the sun. As an adolescent and young adult, you can enjoy Ayia Napa, the party capital of Europe. When you are looking for romance, you can do no better than visiting chic and trendy Limassol.

When you have a young family, Paphos is a good destination for family fun. When you and your partner want a more sophisticated break, you can enjoy adults-only properties in Protaras with its beautiful clear water. When you’ve become successful, you can visit high-end resorts like the Four Seasons in Limassol, the Anassa Hotel in Polis Chrysochous or the Colombia Beach Resort in Pissouri. Finally, when you are retired and want a quiet, restful place, the Troodos Mountains with their fruit orchards are the perfect getaway.

There is so much to do in Cyprus! Of course, being on an island, water sports and sunbathing are always fun, but that’s just the beginning. There is so much history in Cyprus that any culture-vulture will love it! There are fantastic Roman ruins at Kourion – with its spectacular amphitheatre which often hosts concerts, plays and opera. The Tombs of the Kings in Paphos is a fascinating site of the Bronze Age.

The Church of Saint Lazarus in Larnaca is a beautiful early Christian church. Nicosia, the capital, has a medieval walled old town which is perfect for exploring with its cool shops, restaurants and bars. Speaking of bars, the Ayia Napa area has a music venue to fit any taste from chillout to rave!

Troodos offers outdoor adventure with climbing, hiking and mountain biking. Troodos is even a stop on the European Road Rally Tour. If you’re on more of a chilled holiday, relaxing in Cyprus is also easy with its coffee-café culture.

 

The host place of the International Festival of Ancient Greek Drama

Here’s a pro-tip: You can ski or snowboard in Troodos in the morning during March and then swim in the sea just thirty minutes later on the coast. In fact, you can probably see your hotel on the coast from the ski slopes!

I Spy the Caves of Greko

 

Book your trip to Cyprus with JourneyHero!

 

Reaching Cyprus is fairly easy from any major city in Europe, with daily services from Dubai and Doha if you are further east. If you are flying in from the USA, perhaps consider Tel Aviv, Athens or Beirut as a transit point. The airports in Larnaca and Paphos are fairly new and very convenient. They are well laid out and lines are short – even for security. Taxis are everywhere but the distances to places like Ayia Napa, Limassol and Nicosia are significant so the price isn’t low. Uber isn’t in Cyprus but Bolt is if you want a ride-sharing service. Rental cars are inexpensive and the roads are well maintained and sign-posted.

Hotels vary in price from the budget to the ultra-plush. The budget properties are often family-owned and operated and are always clean and friendly. Large chains are present in Nicosia, Limassol and a few in Paphos.

Grilled or BBQ’d meats and veggies …. I say Yummy!

Cyprus has its own fantastic food specialities that satisfy any dietary requirements. The recipes are a tasty mix of middle eastern and Mediterranean flavours. Agriculture is a major industry in Cyprus, so expect the food to be fresh. Of course, the fish and seafood are excellent. My favourite is the local fast food variant: a pita stuffed to over-flowing with a mix of grilled pork souvlaki, meatballs called sheftalia, grated cabbage, cucumbers, tomatoes and chopped parsley. A ‘Kebab Mix’ is the first meal I have when I visit Cyprus. Kleftiko is a fabulous lamb and potato dish that literally means ‘stolen meat’, which I guess sheds some light on good-natured pilfering amongst farmers in previous times. The local ‘wonder cheese’ halloumi can be served cold, grilled or fried – it doesn’t melt! There are a great many vegetarian dishes. No one will go hungry for a want of options in Cyprus.

You can buy almost anything in Cyprus but the local specialities are the best prices. Lefkara lace is incredibly delicate and artful. You can buy it right from the picturesque village of Lefkara with its local cottage industry.

I hope you take the time to visit Cyprus throughout your life and enjoy this magical place!

Love,

Isabella