🇨🇾Cyprus·Middle East
Cyprus
Ancient temples, turquoise bays, and Mediterranean sunshine year-round
dest.flightsFrom
£149
dest.hotelsFrom
£65/per night
dest.budgetPerDay
£90
dest.avgTemp
24°C
dest.bestTime
April to June, September to October
dest.safety
9/10
dest.about Cyprus
Cyprus is the Mediterranean's best-kept secret — a sun-drenched island where ancient Greek temples stand beside Venetian castles, crystal-clear bays rival the Maldives for colour, and the food is some of the finest in the region. Birthplace of Aphrodite and crossroads of civilisations for 10,000 years, Cyprus offers history, beaches, mountains, and nightlife all within an island you can drive across in two hours.
dest.topHighlights
Nissi Beach, Ayia Napa
One of Europe's most beautiful beaches — powdery white sand and electric-blue water in a sheltered bay
Petra tou Romiou
The legendary birthplace of Aphrodite — a dramatic sea stack rising from turquoise waters at golden hour
Paphos Archaeological Park
A UNESCO World Heritage Site with extraordinary Roman mosaics, ancient tombs, and a medieval castle on the harbour
Troodos Mountains
Pine-forested peaks with Byzantine painted churches, traditional villages, and Cyprus's own wine route
Kyrenia Harbour
The most picturesque harbour in the Mediterranean — pastel-coloured buildings reflected in still water, framed by a crusader castle
Lefkara Village
A perfectly preserved hilltop village famous for its intricate lacework and silver jewellery — a living museum of Cypriot craft
Cyprus dest.inPhotos
Nissi Beach, Ayia Napa — electric-blue waters and white sand
Petra tou Romiou — birthplace of Aphrodite at golden hour
Kyrenia Harbour — the most picturesque in the Mediterranean
Paphos Archaeological Park — extraordinary Roman mosaics
Troodos Mountains — pine forests and Byzantine churches
dest.thingsToDo Cyprus
- Swim at Nissi Beach and the Blue Lagoon near Akamas
- Watch sunset at Petra tou Romiou — birthplace of Aphrodite
- Explore the Roman mosaics at Paphos Archaeological Park
- Drive the Troodos wine route and taste Commandaria wine
- Wander the old town of Limassol and its medieval castle
- Take a boat trip to the sea caves of Cape Greco
- Visit the painted Byzantine churches of the Troodos Mountains
- Shop for lace and silver in the hilltop village of Lefkara
dest.weather Cyprus
dest.bestMonthsToVisit April to June, September to October
5-dest.day Cyprus dest.itinerary
Arrive Paphos
- ·Arrive Paphos Airport
- ·Check in to hotel
- ·Paphos Harbour evening walk
- ·Dinner at a harbour taverna
Paphos History
- ·Paphos Archaeological Park mosaics
- ·Tombs of the Kings
- ·Petra tou Romiou sunset
- ·Commandaria wine tasting
Troodos Mountains
- ·Drive to Troodos (1h)
- ·Kykkos Monastery
- ·Kakopetria village lunch
- ·Painted Byzantine churches
Limassol & Lefkara
- ·Limassol medieval castle
- ·Limassol Marina lunch
- ·Lefkara lace village
- ·Return to Paphos
Akamas & Departure
- ·Blue Lagoon boat trip from Latchi
- ·Sea caves at Cape Greco
- ·Final beach swim
- ·Airport transfer
dest.whereToEat Cyprus
Meze by Linea
Modern Cypriot Meze · Limassol Marina · $$$
Arsinoe Fish Tavern
Fresh Seafood · Paphos Harbour · $$
To Steki tou Elia
Traditional Cypriot · Nicosia Old Town · $
Vassos Fish Harbour Restaurant
Seafood & Mezze · Ayia Napa Harbour · $$
dest.practicalInformation
dest.visaRequirements
EU citizens need only a valid ID card. UK citizens can visit visa-free for up to 90 days with a valid passport. US, Australian, and Canadian citizens are also visa-free for 90 days. Cyprus is not in the Schengen Area — it has its own entry rules.
dest.gettingAround
Car rental is by far the best way to explore Cyprus — roads are excellent and driving is on the left (UK-style). Taxis and ride-hailing (Bolt) available in Limassol, Nicosia, and Paphos. Intercity buses connect the main towns. Larnaca and Paphos are the two international airports.
dest.currency
EUR (Euro)
dest.timezoneLanguage
GMT+2 / GMT+3 (DST) · Greek, English
dest.frequentlyAskedQuestions
Is Cyprus better than Greece for a holiday?
Cyprus offers more sunshine, lower prices, English is widely spoken, and it's less crowded than the Greek islands. It lacks the iconic Cycladic architecture of Santorini or Mykonos, but more than compensates with history, beaches, and food.
Which part of Cyprus should I stay in?
Paphos suits history lovers and couples — quieter, with the best archaeological sites. Limassol is the cosmopolitan choice with great restaurants and nightlife. Ayia Napa is for beach and party lovers. Protaras is ideal for families.
Is Cyprus expensive?
Cyprus is very good value compared to Western Europe. A meal out costs €10–20 per person, local wine is €3–5 a glass, and mid-range hotels start from €65/night. Car rental is cheap and petrol is affordable.