Your Cyprus travel guide to Mediterranean sun, golden coast and ancient stone
Plan around Paphos's mosaics and harbour, Limassol's long seafront, the calm bays of Larnaca and Protaras, and the cool pine air of the Troodos mountains, 365 days a year.
Guides for choosing a base in the south of Cyprus
Larnaca or Paphos airport, a resort on the Ayia Napa coast or a town such as Limassol, a hire car or the bus: these guides set out the trade-offs, with fares and rules dated and sourced.
Things to Do in Cyprus: A Complete Guide
Things to do in Cyprus span UNESCO-listed Roman mosaic villas uncovered in 1962, the top-ten Zenobia wreck dive, Troodos trails and east-coast beaches.
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GuideBest Beaches in Cyprus: An Honest Coast Guide
Best beaches in Cyprus by area: Ayia Napa and Protaras white sand, Paphos coves, wild Akamas, plus Limassol and Larnaca's walkable town shores.
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GuideCyprus on a Budget: Money-Saving Tactics for 2026
Practical ways to cut costs in Cyprus: shoulder-season timing, the public buses, self-catering, free beaches and sites, and where locals eat for a few euros.
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GuideCyprus With Kids: A Practical Family Travel Guide
Cyprus with kids: shallow Blue Flag beaches, three waterparks, zoos, boat trips and Troodos day plans, plus the car seat law and health tips families need.
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GuideCyprus for First-Timers: Airports, Driving, Money
Everything you need for a first visit to southern Cyprus: the two main airports, driving on the left, euro budgeting, bus links and picking the right base.
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GuideWhere to Stay in Cyprus: Best Base by Traveller Type
Choosing where to stay in Cyprus: compare Paphos, Limassol, Larnaca, Ayia Napa, Protaras, Nicosia, Polis and the Troodos by area, vibe and airport.
Open guide ->Cyprus 365 by the numbers
Top destinations
Ayia Napa
Ayia Napa is Cyprus's busiest summer resort: white-sand beaches led by Nissi Beach, the sea caves and trails of Cape Greco, and the island's best-known nightlife.
Larnaca
Larnaca is the arrival point for most visitors: Cyprus's main airport, the palm-lined Finikoudes promenade, the Church of Saint Lazarus and a winter salt lake of flamingos.
Limassol
Limassol is Cyprus's largest coastal city: a medieval castle, modern marina and long seafront, with the Roman ruins of Kourion and Troodos wine villages a short drive away.
Nicosia
Nicosia (Lefkosia) is the inland capital: a walled old town with Venetian ramparts, the pedestrian Ledra Street and the Cyprus Museum's leading archaeology collection.
Paphos
Paphos pairs a UNESCO archaeological park of Roman mosaics with a working harbour, Tombs of the Kings and Cyprus's quieter western coast. The natural base for history and west-coast beaches.
The coastlines worth planning around
Nissi Beach
Ayia Napa's best-known beach: soft white sand, shallow turquoise water and a small islet you can reach on foot across a sandbar. Lively in summer, Blue Flag.
Fig Tree Bay
Protaras's headline beach: a wide arc of pale sand, calm shallow water and a small offshore islet. A long-standing Blue Flag beach, good for families.
Konnos Bay
A small, sheltered cove ringed by limestone cliffs near Cape Greco. Clear, calm water and pale sand make it one of the most photogenic beaches in the south.
Coral Bay
A sheltered crescent of golden sand between two limestone headlands near Peyia, north of Paphos. Calm, shallow water and full facilities. Blue Flag beach.
Blue Lagoon (Akamas)
A sheltered turquoise inlet on the northwest Akamas, usually reached by boat from Latchi. Clear, calm water for swimming and snorkelling. No paved road access.
Makronissos Beach
Three linked coves of fine golden sand on the Makronissos peninsula, with calm shallow water. Quieter than central Ayia Napa and a Blue Flag beach.
Why Choose Cyprus?
Sunshine Most of the Year
With a Mediterranean climate and about 300 sunny days a year, Cyprus stays warm and dry through a long summer. The sea averages 21°C in May, 28°C in August and 22°C in November, on Deputy Ministry of Tourism figures for 2011 to 2020. Sandy bays like Nissi Beach and Fig Tree Bay are easy for swimming and families.
History & Heritage
Walk the Roman mosaics of Paphos Archaeological Park and the Tombs of the Kings, the ancient theatre at Kourion, the painted churches of the Troodos, and the old quarters of Nicosia and Larnaca's seafront.
Nature & Adventure
From the pine forests and trails of the Troodos mountains to the wild Akamas peninsula, the Blue Lagoon, the sea caves of Cape Greco and, for advanced divers, the Zenobia wreck off Larnaca.
Experiences worth the trip
Paphos Sunset Cruise
An evening catamaran cruise from Paphos harbour along the coast, with a swim stop and the sunset over the sea on the way back to port.
Scuba Diving the Zenobia Wreck
Dive the MS Zenobia, a roll-on ferry that sank off Larnaca in 1980 and now rests on its port side. One of the most renowned wreck dives anywhere.
Troodos Mountain Hiking
Hike the marked nature trails around the Troodos peaks, from the difficult Caledonia waterfall trail to the higher Artemis and Atalante loops circling Mount Olympus.
Blue Lagoon Boat Cruise from Latchi
A boat trip from Latchi harbour along the Akamas coast to the Blue Lagoon, with a swim stop in clear, sheltered water. This is the Cyprus Blue Lagoon, in the south.
Limassol Wine Villages Tour
A day among the Krasochoria, the wine villages on the southern Troodos slopes above Limassol, with cellar visits, tastings and a chance to taste Commandaria.
Omodos Village Wine Tour
A day trip from the coast to Omodos, a cobbled wine village in the Troodos foothills, with small wineries, the Holy Cross monastery and a large stone square.
Don't Miss These Events
Limassol Carnival
A two-week carnival in Limassol before Orthodox Lent, ending with a large costumed parade through the city. The largest carnival celebration on the island.
Limassol Wine Festival
An annual wine festival held in the Limassol Municipal Gardens, running for about ten days around late September with tastings, food and folk performances.
Ayia Napa International Festival
A free cultural festival in Ayia Napa around the historic monastery in late September, with concerts, folk dance, theatre and craft demonstrations.
Anthestiria Flower Festival
A spring flower festival held in May across Cypriot cities, with a parade of flower-decorated floats and exhibitions of local blooms.
National parks
Akamas Peninsula
Troodos National Forest Park
Cape Greco National Forest Park
Athalassa National Forest Park
Taste of Cyprus
Sheftalia
Cypriot sausages of minced pork or pork and lamb with onion and parsley, wrapped in caul fat and grilled. Juicy, crisp-edged and served in pitta.
Lountza
Cured Cypriot pork loin, marinated in red wine, rolled in coriander seed and smoked. Sliced thin for meze or grilled with halloumi in a sandwich.
Commandaria
An amber sweet dessert wine from villages near Limassol, made from sun-dried Xynisteri and Mavro grapes. Described as the world's oldest named wine still in production.
Stifado
A rich stew of beef or rabbit cooked low with whole small onions, red wine, vinegar and warm spices like cinnamon and bay. A wintry Cypriot classic.
Koupepia
Vine leaves rolled around rice, minced pork and herbs, simmered in a tomato sauce. The Cypriot dolmades, served warm or at room temperature on meze.
Afelia
Pork marinated and braised in red wine with crushed coriander seed, a pairing at the heart of Cypriot cooking. Served with bulgur and yoghurt.
Loukoumades
Light, deep-fried dough balls soaked in honey or syrup and sprinkled with cinnamon, sometimes walnuts or sesame. A festival sweet and street treat.
Tava
Lamb or pork baked slowly with potatoes, tomatoes, onion and whole cumin in a covered clay pot. A Paphos-district speciality, often with rice in the local style.
Hungry now? Browse the island's best restaurants →
Plan Your Cyprus Trip
Entry rules, insurance, transport, local customs and emergency numbers for the Republic of Cyprus.
Visa & Entry Requirements
Cyprus is in the EU but outside Schengen: check your visa-free days, passport validity and onward ticket.
Read more ->Travel Insurance & Safety
What a GHIC or EHIC covers in state hospitals, what it does not, and the current US and UK travel advice.
Read more ->Transportation
Get around with hire cars, buses, and taxis, and remember Cyprus drives on the left.
Read more ->Local Tips
Etiquette, tipping, a few Greek words, SIM cards and what to pack for Cyprus.
Read more ->Emergency Contacts
Dial 112 or 199 for police, ambulance and fire, plus state hospital and embassy numbers.
Read more ->Get inspired
Photographs of Nicosia old town, the Ayia Napa and Protaras beaches, the Troodos mountains and ancient sites such as Kourion.
Awe-inspiring ocean background in Paphos, Cyprus.
Impressive blue waters of Paphos, Cyprus.
Remarkable ocean view in Paphos, Cyprus.
Landscape from Troodos
The beautiful blue waters of Nissi beach in Ayia Napa, Cyprus.
The captivating coast of Nissi beach in Ayia Napa, Cyprus.
aerial photography of seashore
a building with a tree in front
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Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to common Cyprus planning questions, each with its sources and checked in October 2026.
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