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Cyprus

Cyprus has so many charms it is easy to see why it is better known as the island of Aphrodite – the ancient Greek goddess of love. Many wars have been fought through the ages here – the Turks, Greeks and Romans all came to claim this beautiful island as their own. All have left their mark in fascinating ancient ruins, historic villages and museums. A relatively small island that exudes a big personality, Cyprus boasts warm year round weather, golden beaches, picturesque mountain vistas and clean modern resorts. Cypriots love children and family friendly facilities are widely available.

Beaches:

Dotted along the island’s rugged coastline are long golden swathes of sand and secluded coves. 52 of the island’s beaches have been awarded the prestigious Blue Flag. Ayia Napa, Paphos, Larnaca and Limassol are noted to be amongst the best and benefit from good facilities, clean beaches and plenty of water sports.

Shopping:

In the capital Nicosia you’ll find shopping malls and chic boutiques. The holiday resorts themselves offer a range of handicrafts and souvenir shops. Markets are held regularly in many of the coastal resorts. Best buys include Cypriot lacework, pottery and all manner of jewellery and handicrafts. Cypriot food specialties including honey, olives and feta cheese are also good buys.

Eating out:

In the coastal resorts you’ll find a wide range of international cuisines – Chinese, Indian, Italian and English menus are all widely available. Cyprus holidays would not be complete without sampling the authentic local cuisine. Closely related to Greek cuisine you can enjoy Mezedes or “little delicacies” which consist of as many as 30 small plates of savory dips, vegetables to a wide range of fish and meat dishes.

Choose a seafood meze or meat meze which will include sausage (afelia), stiphado (smoked pork), halloumi (soft cheese made from thyme-fed sheep). Moussaka is the traditional Greek dish of minced meat and eggplant topped with creamy béchamel sauce; as is Souvlakia - kebabs of pork, lamb and chicken. Complete your meal with a glass of Cypriot wine – often produced locally it is delicious.

Nightlife:

Ayia Napa is the island’s party capital and a favourite with the 18 -30s crowd. Here you will find top class DJs, foam parties and bustling neon lit cocktail bars. Generally Cyprus holiday resorts have a good range of nightlife with everything from karaoke bars to traditional Cypriot evenings with music and dancing. Familiar English and Irish pubs are also plentiful. Families are welcomed in all of the resorts with a range of fun centres and facilities to keep the little ones entertained.

Activities & Excursions:

With spectacular beaches along the Cyprus coast, water sports are widely available. Choose from everything from fun banana rides to shipwreck diving expeditions. For something more adventurous try hiking, biking, off road jeep excursions and parachuting. Ideal for Family holidays there’s a range of attractions including water parks, animal parks and a number of adventure parks.

Cyprus is steeped in history and offers some of the most fascinating sightseeing opportunities in the Mediterranean. Popular excursions include Choirokoitia – an ancient Neolithic site dating back to 7000 B.C. Paphos houses many archeological gems including ancient Roman mosaics, catacombs and an Acropolis. The Sanctuary of Apollo Ylatis, behind Kourion, is one of the largest, religious sites in Cyprus. The Cyprus Museum in Nicosia houses the island’s largest collection of Cypriot antiquities.

Customs

Greetings between people are made usually with a handshake, but tourists are advised not to greet women this way, as most Turkish Cypriots (who are mainly Muslims) might be offended by this gesture. Cyprus has a rich folklore and many ancient and folk traditions are followed even to the present day. Festivals are held regularly throughout the island most weeks during the peak summer season including the flower festival, the festival of flood, St Paul’s feast and Ramadan to name but a few.