12 Nov CYPRUS | THE BEST TIPS!
Good news for Dutch residents, because easyjet is now flying from Amsterdam to Cyprus! Being one of Europe’s most Southern destinations, you can find temperatures between 20°C and 30°C during October and December. Time to explore and escape the winter!
The Lovebridge
Cyprus in a nutshell
This island has a long history, with many influences that came from Egyptians, Assyrians, Persians, Greeks. It was once ruled by the Romans, and the Brits took control for over 40 years. You can still see this colonial period – in Cyprus you drive on the left side of the road!
After tensions with Turkey, the island has been divided in 2 parts since 1974. The Southern part being home to the Greek Cypriots, and the North being controlled by TNRC (only recognized by Turkey). Despite this sensitive conflict, Cyprus has thrived, and it’s residents now vary with 80 percent Cyprians, to expats from various nationalities.
Before you go: Rent a car, in order to see more than just one part of the island. Cyprus is quite a large island, and although roads are good, a car is a must here if you want to explore.
Larnaca
Easyjet now flies directly from Amsterdam to the airport of Larnaca in about 4,5 hours from Amsterdam. Larnaca is a seaside town with both history and a touristic center. Even though we only spent one night there, we want to tip you a few spots.
Sleep here: Lokàl, boutique hotel or at St Raphael Resort, right at the beach!
Nusa – cool beach café in Larnaca where travelers and locals mix.
Sunmoon – workshop space in town. Every Thursday evening they have an open bar with a rotating cocktail menu. They also serve specialty coffee for take-away during the day. Tip: try the un-official cocktail of Cyprus here; Sour Brandy!
Raphael’s
Nusa
Agia Napa
Now, you either love this area in Cyprus, or you hate it. So what’s there to love? The beaches are indeed beautiful, the water is crystal clear, and the sand is soft. But, it’s a little overcrowded at times. By all means, we arrived during a public holiday, so locals and tourists all headed to the beaches. Big hotels, and several beach clubs make up the coastline of Agia Napa. That being said, we did like Makronisos beach – a more quiet beachfront in Agia Napa. Nice to know: Prices for sunbeds are just €2.50 per person, for the whole day! This applies in the whole of Cyprus, winning!
Sleep here: Zoi Agia Napa
Boat trip around Agia Napa
With a sea as beautiful as the Mediterranean Sea, a boat trip should be on the agenda. We booked ours in the harbour of Agia Napa. There are many boats to choose from, but can advise a smaller boat, and not one of the large party boats they also offer, – unless it’s a party that you are looking for ;-). Most boat trips will pass the Love Bridge, Blue Lagoon and the famous Caves. Curious about a luxury yacht tour? Discover it here.
Visit the villages of Cyprus
For a more authentic and local experience, you must grab your rental car, and visit some mountain villages on Cyprus. Each village has a different vibe, local goods and crafts such as winemaking. Some of our favorite villages were Lefkara and Pissouri, and Vouni. Read more here about all our favorite villages in Cyprus.
Pissouri
Did you know you can also book a jeep-tour with winetasting in the Trodos mountains?
Kavo Aspro
Take a hike across the limestone cliffs, which takes about 2 hours if you walk the whole trail. Bring enough water because there isn’t much shade, and wear comfortable walking shoes, as some parts can be tricky or slippery. After or before your hike, you can take a dip at Pissouri beach. One of our favorite beaches we’ve visited during our stay in Cyprus.
Pissouri Beach
Stay here: stunning (and luxury) hotel here: Columbia Beach Resort
Columbia Resort
Visit the wine regions in Cyprus
Did you know that Cyprus has around 50 wineries? Wine is very important on the island, and is considered as one of the most important local crafts here. In total, you have about seven wine routes to choose from. We visited Zambartas and Vlassides Wines, some of the more famous ones. Book a special jeep-wine tour here.
Food & Drinks on Cyprus
We love the Cyprian cuisine, and although there are many Greek similarities, there are plenty of local dishes. Cyprians eat a lot of halloumi cheese, made of sheeps/goats milk. We even participated in a cooking workshop, where we made traditional Boureki, a pastry filled with goats cheese, which is then fried and sprinkled with sugar. Another thing you will be served on Cyprus, are cracked olives, which are surprisingly good! Every town has a nice taverna, so go check it out!
Hiking in Cyprus
Not everyone knows this, or would expect this from Cyprus, but it’s a wonderful island for hiking. It has around 30 nature trails to choose from, and at different levels from 3 km to 176 km. The most popular region for hiking would be in the Troodos Mountains, and the Caledonia (Kalidonia) Waterfall Trail being a favorite. Check this website for more info about hiking in Cyprus.
All in all, Cyprus is one of the best destinations to visit to avoid the rain and cold in Europe. Scroll down for more tips!
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