For many years Cyprus has been a favourite holiday destination for tourists from all over the world.
Cyprus is very popular with holidaymakers from the UK, Western Europe, Russia and other CIS states.
There are a number of reasons for that:
- The warm and welcoming attitude of Cypriots towards British guests, helped by the political and cultural ties between the two countries.
- A rich historical heritage which makes for interesting sightseeing opportunities, visits to ancient villages and an opportunity to get to know the culture and everyday life of the island. For example, the village of Omodos has an enduring appeal to tourists as they can visit the house of Socrates, where one family has been living for more than 300 years, and also see an ancient wine press and learn about Cypriot wine making traditions – they began wine making here more than 5,000 years ago, before Italy or France (for more details see our review).
- A high level of safety and absence of crime.
A Beach Holiday in Cyprus
Nissi Beach in Ayia Napa, the Kourion and Ladies’ Mile near Limassol, Pissouri, Coral Bay in Paphos, the hidden beaches in the Akamas peninsula, the sandy dunes at Protaras and there are many more beautiful places where you can dive into the azure waves of the Mediterranean.
If you don’t plan on renting a car in Cyprus, the best beaches located close to the hotels are in Ayia Napa and Protaras. The soft sand, shallow waters and warm gentle waves are ideal for holidays with children.
Practically every beach offers water entertainment – tubes and banana boats, sea bobs and jet-skis, catamarans and small kayaks. The beach season in Cyprus begins around the middle of May until the end of October. But even in November and December the water temperatures are a very pleasant 20 – 24 degrees.
A Holiday in Cyprus with Children
Cyprus is an ideal place for a holiday with children. There are water parks and amusement parks in each of the main resorts (Limassol, Paphos, Ayia Napa and Protaras).
There is a zoo at Paphos where you can not only see the animals but feed the giraffes and enjoy a parrot show, which is very entertaining.
Tourists with children will also like the small but very interesting zoo in the centre of Limassol, and there is an oceanarium in Protaras, one of Europe’s most famous.
There are also many tours which will be of interest to children – the fountain show in Protaras, a trip to a farm where you can ride a donkey and get a ‘donkey driving licence’.
English lessons with native speakers will be interesting and useful to children of school age. Classes are organised both for children who are visiting the island, and those who live in Cyprus and would like additional classes during the summer holidays.
Summer camps are organised in such a way that children can mix their English and computer science lessons with games and sports competitions (from morning until 1pm). Arrangements can be made so that children can be picked up from the hotel and taken to and from the classes in both Limassol and Paphos.
A Winter Holiday in Cyprus
The beach season ends in November in Cyprus, but the island is far from deserted. It’s at this time that many tourists come to enjoy the comfortable weather – not too cold, not too (exhaustingly) hot. Daily temperatures are around 15-20 degrees until the end of December and rain is infrequent and mainly intermittent.
Few people know that Cyprus has snow, although this is only in the Troodos Mountains. People like to visit in winter so they get to combine a beach holiday with skiing. You can stay by the beach in one of the hotels or rent a small house in Troodos and spend cosy evenings by the fire.
Gastronomic Tours in Cyprus
Cyprus is a great place to visit if you are interested in the wine making traditions of the Mediterranean and enjoy wholesome food, freshly cooked with good quality local ingredients.
The seafood is fresh and good quality. Try the fresh sea bass, dorado, sardines, squid and octopus.
For the health conscious there is the local fruit, olives and olive oil, and the best tasting wine is available in the mountain villages.
Special «winepaths» will take you to out of the way wineries. Tours are organised near Limassol and Paphos. As a rule these are family enterprises where you will be offered unique wines made with local types of grape. A good addition to any meal.
Pilgrimages
Cyprus has been a crossroads for the inhabitants of the old world since time immemorial.
Rome, Constantinople, Jerusalem, Alexandria – these ancient centres of civilization were linked by transportation arteries, which crossed on tiny Cyprus. This is why tsars and princesses, saints and great soldiers have visited the island.
The island has lots of Orthodox shrines and many famous religious people are connected with Cyprus (for more details please read our selection of materials in the ‘Cyprus, The Island of Saints’ section).
Outdoor Activities in Cyprus
Cyprus offers many water activities – yachting, diving, kiting – sports which can only be done in the summer in the UK become more interesting and exciting in the winter here, when the winds are strong and the waves are high.
Mountains
The Troodos mountains in winter not only offer you the opportunity to ski, but also to go hiking, ride a mountain bike or enjoy a meal with picturesque mountain views.
There are specially equipped camping grounds in Troodos.
When holidaying in Cyprus, do not limit yourself to the hotel, the beach and the tour bus. Travel around the island, there is so much to see and enjoy.
Travel and admire and prepare to be surprised. Once you have visited and become acquainted with this small, hospitable, Mediterranean island, you will surely want to return.