Cyprus, the largest island in the Mediterranean after Sicily and Sardinia, has a lot to offer: 340 days of sunshine a year, excavations from Greek and Roman times, authentic villages and everything here reminds us of the goddess Aphrodite: her birthplace, temple and bath . There are only a few highways on the island, but there is also an extensive network of provincial roads. Except in the big cities, the roads are very quiet. As a remnant of English rule, driving is on the left. It took some getting used to, but it’s actually not too bad. Petrol is considerably cheaper than in the Netherlands: about 1.30 per liter. Please note that there are hardly any petrol pumps inland, so you should go with a well-filled tank.
In spring, Cyprus is a sea of flowers: bougainvilla, oleanders in different colors, hibiscus, roses, mimosa, acacias and geraniums. There are also many citrus plantations. And also olive trees and vineyards.
Beaches
Cyprus has many beaches with a blue flag award. We visited Coral Beach and the municipal beach at Paphos, among others. Both reasonable, not very big. You will find more beautiful and larger beaches at Larnaca Bay, Governors Beach and Aya Napia. However, the most beautiful beaches are at Famagusta in Northern Cyprus. Until 1974 this was the largest tourist area. Now it’s a ghost town. Excursions are organized here from South Cyprus.
Paphos
Paphos is the smallest city in Cyprus, but receives the most tourists every year. In ancient times this was the capital of Cyprus for 600 years. Paphos has a pleasant boulevard with a wide range of restaurants, cafes and shops.
Behind the harbor of Paphos you will find the archaeological park. Here you will see remains of a Byzantine fortress, ruins of an old basilica and an amphitheater. It is a pity that there are few signs with explanations. That is why the visitor center is recommended. Here you can watch a film that explains in detail what the archaeological field has to offer.
The House of Dionysos is a Roman villa, where all kinds of beautiful mosaics can be seen. Here it is clearly explained what the different performances are about. The mosaic floors have generally been beautifully restored and depict figures from Greek mythology.
Tombs of the Kings
On the northwest side of Paphos you will find the beautiful royal tombs: one of the most important excavations in Cyprus. They owe their name to their dimensions and all the splendor and not because members of a royal family were buried there. The tombs are hewn into the rock and date from the Greek and early Roman periods. Some tombs resemble complete houses, with (burial) chambers opening onto an atrium with a colonnade. You can also descend into almost all graves, often via a very narrow staircase.
Cyprus has a lot of archeology to offer. It is noticeable everywhere that entrance fees are low, little information is provided and there are no restaurants or cafes anywhere near the excavations. In the best case there is a vending machine with cans of soft drinks.
Temple of Aphrodite
Another archaeological destination is Kouklia. Here you will find the (remains of) the temple of Aphrodite. These are located on a larger archaeological field. The following also applies to this archaeological field: low entrance fee and unfortunately little information.
Spring is the season dedicated to Aphrodite, Greek goddess of beauty, love and fertility. That is why many pilgrims always come to her temple in the spring, adorned with flower wreaths.
Rock of Aphrodite
Near Kouklia is the Rock of Aphrodite, where, according to tradition, she was born from the foam of the sea. This place, about 20 kilometers east of Paphos, is a real tourist attraction. In terms of design, this rock is not very special, but it is still fun to take a look for those who are interested in Greek mythology. There are a number of legends about this rock about eternal beauty for those who swim around the rock.
Bath of Aphrodite
The Bath of Aphrodite is located in a botanical garden near Lakki. A romantic place near a freshwater spring where, according to legend, Aphrodite came to bathe with her lover Adonis. The bath is idyllically located under the trees, but was a bit disappointing. It’s very small.
Nicosia
Since 1974, the capital Nicosia has been divided into a Cypriot part and a Turkish part, separated by the so-called greenline. Nicosia is the only shared city in Europe. You can buy a day visa on site to visit the Turkish part of the city.
Macarios III
One of the tourist attractions of South Nicosia is the Palace of Macarios III. Macarios, who rose from archbishop to president, was the first president of the Republic of Cyprus. The palace is only open to the public a few times a year. But there is also plenty to see around the palace. Next to a statue of Marcarios, his cars are in a display case: a Fleetwood and a Mercedes limousine. And next to the palace is the Byzantine Museum and you can visit a cathedral with beautiful murals and many gold decorations.
Laiki Geitonia
Also nice to visit is Laïki Geitonia, a cozy old neighborhood with a network of narrow atmospheric streets. Here you will find all kinds of small shops and restaurants and you will find a piece of old Nicosia. At Ledra Street, a busy shopping street, is the border crossing to the Turkish part of Nicosia. You initially pass through a piece of bleak no man’s land, but then there is the Turkish part of Nicosia
Turkish part
Here we first go to the former St. Sofia Cathedral, which is now used as a mosque under the name Selimiye. The statues of saints have all been removed, two minarets have been built next to them and the floor has carpets. As long as there are no services, anyone can enter here and the mosque is considered a tourist attraction. The shoes have to be taken off, but bare shoulders and knees are no problem here. Striking since all the other churches we visited have signs stating that you must have your shoulders and knees covered.
Another tourist attraction is the Buyuk Han, a former trading center and accommodation for travelers. Even now there are all kinds of shops and catering establishments here. In addition, Buyuk Han is used for social activities and performances.
Troodos
Cyprus has two mountain ranges: the Pendedektilos or Keyrenia Mountains in North Cyprus and the Troodos Mountains in the center of the interior of South Cyprus. Here you will find authentic villages, small churches and monasteries. The Kykkos Monastery is the best known. The first president of Cyprus Macarios started out as a novice in this monastery, which is almost 1,000 years old.
In addition, the Troodos Mountains have beautiful nature to offer. There are plenty of opportunities for walking. Various hiking trails have been set out from the village of Troodos. The Caledonian waterfalls at Pano Platres are also very beautiful. At 1952 m, Olympus is the highest mountain in the Troodos Mountains. At 1725 m you will find the highest inhabited place and at 1600 m the highest village. In winter, some parts are suitable for winter sports.
Limassol
Limassol is the second major tourist center of Cyprus. In the Middle Ages this was the most important port city of the island. Now Limassol is best known for the several major festivals held here: the Carnival, the Flower Festival, the Wine Festival (largest) and the Children’s Festival. One of the two salt lakes of Cyprus is located near Limassol. Until 1987, salt was extracted from these lakes. Now it is a resting place for migratory birds. If you are lucky you can see flamingos here. The other salt lake is located at Larnaca on the east side of the island.