Hidden away in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, 47 miles from the shores of Turkey is the small island country of Cyprus. The island of roughly 1 million Greek and Turkish inhabitants covers 3,600 sq. miles and rises up from the crystal clear blue waters with dramatic cliffs and dreamy beaches.
By JP Chartier
The enchanting little island is probably most famous for being the birthplace of the Goddess of Love and Beauty – Aphrodite. A visit here is an absolute must!
Listed below are 8 reasons why you should holiday in Cyprus:
The Beauty – From the spectacular coastline of the Akamas Peninsula to the sleepy villages and painted churches of the Troodos Mountains, the beauty of Cyprus is in every corner waiting to be discovered.
The History – The island of Cyprus is rich in history, throughout the centuries many powerful civilizations have laid claim to the island, including: the Assyrians, Phoenicians, Persians, Greeks, Egyptians, Romans, the Crusaders, Lusignans, the Genoese, the Venetians, the Ottomans and the British. Each has left its impression on the island, culminating in a kaleidoscope of architecture and different ways of life.
The Villages– No visit to Cyprus is complete without exploring the charming villages in the mountains and on the plains. Their ancient architecture of stone and block construction and cobbled streets evoke a time long past, it seems as if time has stood still. See the small villages of the Akamas Peninsula and the picturesque villages of the Troodos Mountains such as Platres, Kakopetria, Pera Pedi and Phini (the highest village in all of Cyprus). Other must see villages include: Potamos Liopetriou, Prodromos, Omodos, Lania, Vouni Village, and Tochni.
The Ruins – The island of Cyprus is dotted with historic ruins from a plethora of conquerers. Here are a few worth the visit: The Tombs of Kings on Paphos, Agios Sozomenos, Paphos, Salamis, Kalavasos-Tenta, Amathus and one of the most revered sites on Cyprus Palaepaphos, the ancient home of Aphrodite.
Castles – Castles are an important part of the history of Cyprus and need to be included on your list of activities. Many of the different conquerors throughout the years have left behind various castles all over Cyprus. Some of the better castles are: Kolossi Castle, Paphos Castle, Limassol Castle, Kyrenia Castle, Larnaca Castle and the St. Hilarion Castle.
Fun Activities – Cyprus is loaded with things to do, everything from Hiking, chilling out on a beach, Diving, to the nightlife of Agia Napa. Here are a few more of the fun activities you can find on Cyprus: Sightseeing, Horse Riding, Shopping, Eating, Boating, Skiing in the winter and Mountain Biking.
Beaches – Cyprus is loaded with sandy beaches, there are popular beaches and there are secluded ones too. Whatever your taste is you’re sure to find one to your liking. A few of the beaches you can choose from are: Nissi Beach, Fig Tree Bay Beach, Aphrodite’s Rock Beach, Curium Beach, and the Pissouri Beach.
The People – Sit back in a comfortable chair with a cold frappe and watch the interesting people of Cyprus as they go about their business. The Cypriots as they are known, are mainly Greek and Turkish in ancestry and are very friendly. Here are some prime locations for people watching: Lefkosa’s renovated Buyuk Han, Lemesos’s remodeled town center, the cafés around the stunning Bellapais Abbey and the Gazimağusa’s central square.
Cyprus is famous for its sandy beaches, lively nightlife, beautiful landscapes and history but there is so much more than that. It’s the perfect getaway for a luxury vacation and tour operators like First Choice are well established in Cyprus and can offer everything from 5-star resorts to sleek, self-catered apartments.
Isn’t it time for a Cyprus holiday? I think it is.
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Hi my name is JP Chartier and I write for Gutter Pup Adventures.com where you can expect to read well-written and entertaining articles about the people and places that often get overlooked at many popular vacation destinations around the world. You will also find articles on camping, hiking, kayaking and several other popular vacation activities here too.
My goal is to seek out the hidden ‘gems’ for you and bring them alive through my writing and photographs, so your next trip or vacation will be a much more rewarding and fulfilling experience.
Looks like a wonderful place for a relaxing holiday, JP! I’ve always known that the beaches in Cyprus were good, but really didn’t expect those bright turquoise highlights along the shoreline. I don’t normally spend much time on the beach, but when I do, I prefer places that have awesome cultural attractions, cool architecture and great food nearby. Cyprus seems to fit the bill! Thanks for sharing, JP 🙂
Ryan recently posted…48 Hours in Riga For Architecture Lovers
As far as beaches go, I’m with you Ryan, I don’t hang out at the beaches that much, especially when there’s so much else to do like there is in Cyprus. But I do enjoy sipping a cocktail at sunset on the beach though..
Great article and I love the photos! What type of transportation do you suggest for getting around to the little villages and exploring? Suzette – TrySomethingFun.com
Suzette Barnett recently posted…Voted #1 Best City Garden – Vancouver Chinese Garden
Thank you Suzette! Cyprus has no railroads but they do have public buses and taxis. I would suggest renting a vehicle though, be it an automobile or a motorcycle, so you can go most anywhere!
Ok that’s it, I need to get over to Cyprus ASAP! After visiting the pebble/rock beaches of the Balkans, I could really go for a sandy beach! Those photos are amazing! How’s the food over there?
Lavi recently posted…Hitchhiking the Balkan Coast
Hi Lavi! Yeah I’d say it’s time for a sandy beach after all those pebbles in the Balkans:) The food is really good, alot, alot of seafood as you can imagine being an island. I particularly enjoyed the Cypriot Meze, which is small portions of many different dishes! A meal can take hours there, it’s a slow process made all the better with some of their wonderful wine.
Hi JP, I’ve heard that they have nice beaches in Cyprus but I didn’t realize that they were that gorgeous! That shorelne and the colors of the water are just stuning. I knew about the ruins but didn’t know about the castles and all those fun activities. It certainly has the diversity I’m looking for in a destinsation. I hope to get there sometime soon. Thank you for educating me more about Cyprus.
Marisol@TravelingSolemates recently posted…SkyVenture Montreal: We Can Fly!
Hi! The water is crystal clear in areas, you can see the bottom, when you swim in it it’s like you’re floating in mid air. The castles are really cool too, it’s a great little country.
WOW, Looks amazing and I wanna pack my bags stat! On a serious note, looks like I have a destination for next years vacation! Great article!
A great place for your next holiday for sure! Be sure to put aside a week to see everything 🙂
Great round up of a beautiful country. Here’s number nine for you: travel across the border into North Cyprus (don’t forget your passport) – this area was invaded by the Turks in 1974 and is illegally occupied to this day. There’s a big difference between the churches of the south and the mosques of the north.
Richard recently posted…Top 5 places I’d love to return to
You’re exactly right Richard. The north is occupied by the Turks, the unrest of the past is much better, they recently took down part of the wall that divided the capital city of Nicosia, so there is light at the end of the tunnel. There are fabulous sites and scenery in the north, but like you said – don’t forget your passport!
wow, we were just in Turkey and now we TOTALLY wish we made time to visit Cyprus! How long were you there for? How much time do you think you need to do it justice?
Mike & Anne recently posted…Little Known Hpa-an
Hi Mike & Anne! To do it justice I’d give Cyprus a week of your time. There is a lot more to do than what I’ve listed here. The ruins alone can take a few days. Next time you’re out that way give Cyprus a peek 🙂
Beautiful presentation! Another country I am yet to visit… to be honest its down the list at the moment! So much world!
Andrew recently posted…Short Journeys – Kyrgyzstan & Uzbekistan – free promo!
There is so much to see out there it will drive one bonkers trying to decide where to go!