Cyprus Travel Guide

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Top Things to See

Baths of Aphrodite
At the edge of the Akamas Peninsula, witness where, so legend has it, the Greek goddess of love bathed. The Baths of Aphrodite is a grotto containing a freshwater pool, and the surrounding area is virtually untouched.

Castles
Explore one of Cyprus’ ancient castles. Saint Hilarion castle towers out of the limestone rocks of the Besparmark mountains, and is one of the finest sights in northern Cyprus. Kolossi Castle, near Limassol, is entered via a reconstructed drawbridge, and has an extremely impressive opening hall.

Hala Sultan Tekke
Near Larnaca Airport, enjoy the Hala Sultan Tekke: a historic mosque standing in beautiful gardens on the edge of Larnaca Salt Lake - dry in summer, and a winter home of migratory flamingos.

Kouklia
At Kouklia visit the ruins of ancient Palaia Pafos and the Temple of Aphrodite. At the coast is Petra tou Romiou (Rock of Aphrodite).

Kourion
In the ancient city of Kourion, on a steep hillside near Episkopi, discover a Graeco-Roman theater, where concerts and Shakespearean plays are performed in summer. See also the House of Eustolios, which has beautiful mosaics; the Acropolis; the ruins of the Roman-era forum; and the Christian Basilica.

Nicosia
Take a walking tour of the capital Nicosia and visit the Cyprus Museum - a storehouse of the island's archaeological treasures - the Folk Art Museum, the new Archbishop's Palace, St John's Cathedral, Byzantine churches, the Byzantine Museum/Makarios Cultural Center and the Ömeriye Mosque.

Pafos medieval fort
Be serenaded while gazing at Pafos' beautiful medieval fort. It’s worth seeing anytime of the year, but particularly during the three days each summer when operatic sounds reverberate around the ancient walls.

Troodos Mountains
Take in the the spectacular scenery and 10 Byzantine churches of the forested (or, more accurately, reforested) Troodos Mountains. Platres, 1,200m (3,937ft) above sea level on the southern slopes, is the ideal base for excursion, and lies on the approaches to Mount Olympus (at 1,952m (6,404ft), the highest peak in Cyprus).

Top Things to Do

Agia Napa
Party hard in Agia Napa, which has an increasingly boisterous reputation as a major clubbing resort. It also attracts families to its beaches, Waterworld leisure center and Go-Karts track.

Bask on the beach
Find perfect sand-castle building south of Limassol: the Akrotiri Peninsula's Lady's Mile Beach is a vast stretch of golden powder. On the coast north of Pafos, Coral Bay is a fast-growing resort around a good beach.

Daytrips from Nicosia
From the capital, take an excursion to the Royal Tombs and Agios Irakleidios Monastery at Tamassos, the five-dome church and the mosque in Peristerona, and the Panagia Chrysospiliotissa Church found in a cliff-side cave near Deftera.

Eat chocolate
Indulge your taste buds on the slopes of the Troodos Mountains at the Platres chocolate workshop. The owners import all chocolate from Venezuela, and have entered the Guinness Book of World Records for making the world’s most expensive Easter egg.

Family outings
On the coast south of Famagusta lie busy resorts, speckled with golden sand beaches, that are ideal for children; try Fig Tree Bay and Flamingo Bay. Family-oriented Protaras and Pernera resorts also boast good beaches, with cafés and beach bars.

Feast of Kataklysmos
Celebrate the feast of Kataklysmos (the Greek Orthodox Whitsun); although celebrated throughout Cyprus, there is special enthusiasm in Larnaca, where crowds throng the shore for watersports, singing, dancing, eating and drinking.

Hiking
Hike through the many unspoiled areas in Cyprus. Recommended nature trails include Atalante, Kaledonia and Persephone in the Troodos area; Aphrodite and Adonis in the Akamas area; and several trails through the forests of Machairas and Limassol.

Skiing
Both Platres and Kakopetria are conveniently placed for the skiing season on Mount Olympus, which usually lasts from January to mid March, but Troodos is actually the nearest resort to the skiing area.

Take a bet
Get your wager on at the Nicosia Race Club. It’s the only licensed racetrack on the island, and has a pleasant colonial atmosphere as well as the chance to back a favorite.

Yoga
Look after your soul with a dose of yoga at Sumeru Resort. Located near Kritou Tera, one of the oldest villages in Cyprus, Ohm your way to enlightenment from a beautiful vantage point surrounded by rugged terrain.