Beautiful beaches, crystal clear sea, castles, mountains and mythological sites: Cyprus, the third largest island in the Mediterranean has it all. Plus, 320 sunny days a year and historical landmarks make it a perfect holiday destination for both nature and cultural heritage admirers.
When someone mentions Cyprus, several things come to mind: palms, beaches and parties, but it is so much more than you can imagine. Since public transport isn’t well-developed in Cyprus, the best way to make the most of your trip is to get an Airbnb for one night in different cities, rent a car and travel around the island. There are plenty of car rental companies in Cyprus; however, the fares are usually lower at the local ones as they don’t require a deposit. Rental companies can be found either at the arrival section at Larnaca International airport or anywhere else in the cities you visit.
Mingle Cafe
Fancy a nice breakfast? The Coffee Corner and Mingle Cafe are the best choices for a delightful start of the day. Wandering around the city all day long has made you hungry, and a delicious filling dinner to the sound of good music might help? We definitely have good news for you, because the DSTRKT bar is always ready to provide the best service. Have a meal there, and you will be sharing recommendations with your friends travelling to Cyprus in no time.
Stavrovouni Monastery
Interested in legends and mystery? Stavrovouni Monastery will be the perfect match for your wanderlust mind. This monastery holding a fragment of the Holy Cross was built on top of a 750 m high mountain peak, and when it’s not covered in clouds, a pleasant view of the lands opens to the eye of the visitor. The legend says it was founded by St. Helena in the 4th century. Ironically, St. Helena herself wouldn’t have the right to visit her creation, as only men are allowed to enter the monastery.
Sea Caves near Ayia Napa
If you are a cave lover, a unique beauty of nature and spectacular cliffs can be discovered in Ayia Napa. It’s a wonderful formation of rocks once created by the tides hitting the coast. Today, thanks to the sea, those small and large caves please the eye with their rocky palace appearance. One can’t help but stare in awe as the powerful waves wash the shore.
St. Hilarion Castle
To enter the northern part of Cyprus that belongs to Turkey, you must bring your passport and special car insurance with you for border crossing. Eventually, going on the twisting rocky roads of the north you will find yourself roaming the mountains of Kyrenia and will come across thick crumbly walls, arches and passageways leading to the St. Hilarion Castle. Still not feeling like being brought back to the ages of kingdoms? Wait till you reach the top of the castle, a 732 meter high peak with a small platform covered in ribbons, left there by people who successfully reached the summit. No doubt, the scenery of dramatic ridges, cities and the shore will make you feel like the king of the world.
Mount Olympus
Now it’s time to put your sweater on because we are going to Mount Olympus – the highest peak of Cyprus, reaching up to 1952 m above sea level. It’s covered in snow all year round and is a popular place for winter sports enthusiasts. Moreover, the snaky road leading to the summit holds many picturesque views of lowlands and vineyards.
Petra Tou Romiou Beach
Mythology is an inseparable part of Cyprus, and according to the ancient myths the miraculous Petra Tou Romiou beach is the place where Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love, was born. She blessed the waters, and to this day people believe that all it takes to become more beautiful is to take a plunge in the sea. Just try it out and you’ll be blessed with eternal beauty!
Avakas Gorge
A little bit of adventure is always good, and Avakas Gorge, an amazing masterpiece of nature can definitely fill you up with excitement and adrenaline. As you walk further on this beautiful nature trail, you will find yourself following a small river leading deeper into the canyon. Not scared of getting your shoes wet? That’s great, jump from one rock to another to cross the water and get to the farthest part of the gorge. The best experience is guaranteed!
Live Love Beach
Have you ever been on a beach that looks as if it was made of solid stone? Well, the Live Love Beach is one of those places that will make you wander back to the early days of the creation of the island and think to yourself how it all came to exist. The beach has huge caves, small pools of water carved in stone and enormous pieces of rock that seem to have split off the land during the tectonic movement.
Prepared specially for airBalticBlog by Eivinas Norušaitis and Aistė Naruševičiūtė.