Paphos
54%SAVING
- Cyprus
- 7 Nights,
11 Mar 2015
- Self Catering
- London Gatwick
From£238pp
Search Holidays
AVERAGE CUSTOMER SAVING£452
Cyprus Holidays
A small island placed perfectly in the Mediterranean, Cyprus is versatile enough to offer everything from rich cultural experiences to exciting party getaways. Hundreds of beaches, modern resorts and historical ruins are just some of the highlights on Cyprus holidays.
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Regions
- · Amathus Bay
- · Ayia Napa
- · Coral Bay
- · Larnaca
- · Latchi
- · Limassol
- · Nissi Beach
- · Paphos
- · Protaras
Charming and cultural
According to Greek mythology, Aphrodite the goddess of love rose from the sea in Cyprus. She must've put a charm over the island because ever since, holidaymakers have been seduced by its sweeping beaches, mountain peaks and olive groves that crisscross stone villages and ancient ruins.
The third largest Mediterranean island, Cyprus caters for all of its visitors whether you're after wild parties or a romantic honeymoon retreat. Families are well catered for in the majority of resorts where hotel complexes and family-run tavernas are suitable for visitors of all ages.
Quick Tips
Nicosia
Approx 792,604
Greek Orthodox
Greek
Euro
GMT + 2
From beautiful beaches to big beats
The Larnaca and Protaras region of Cyprus is home to excellent golden beaches that cover the south east coast. With smooth sands and shallow shores, your little ones can splash around safely and build sandcastles to their heart's content. Be sure to flip flop your way over to Fig Tree Bay, arguably the most stunning beach in Cyprus.
To stretch your legs, take a wander around Cape Greco's hiking trails and rocky coastline. Watch out for the legendary six headed Ayia Napa sea monster which is rumoured to hide in the ocean caves. The majority of the other resorts back on to the huge Troodos Mountains. A lush, green highland range dotted with churches, monasteries as well as forests and wildlife.
World famous parties
In the midst of all of the natural beauty and stunning shoreline is Cyprus's party capital. Up there with the likes of Ibiza and Malia, Ayia Napa knows how to party, hard. Wild, loud and a little bit naughty, Napa attracts over 250,000 clubbers to its laser-lit dance floors each summer. Ayia Napa also boasts some of the island's most beautiful beaches. Let the soothing rhythms that float from Nissi Beach's waterfront bars lull you to sleep after a long night of partying.
Of course there is more entertainment and nightlife in Cyprus; Larnaca can get a little crazy come nightfall while Paphos is the island's king of cool with plenty of laidback bars to settle in.
In the day time you'll find water parks in Ayia Napa, Larnaca and a smaller one in Paphos while many of the cities are home to family friendly zoos. The majority of the resorts feature opportunities to utilise the wonderful ocean via diving, boat trips and water sports too.
A mouth-watering mix of Greek and Turkish
When it comes to food, Cypriot cuisine bares much similarity to Greek. You'll find all of your Greek favourites, including moussaka and tzatziki dips, but for a true taste of Cyprus, try the Cypriot Meze. A Middle Eastern take on Tapas, it's a great chance for you to try all sorts of local dishes.
Since the Turkish invasion of 1974, the likes of McDonalds and Starbucks have been replaced by their Turkish equivalents. Don't worry though, you'll find plenty of places selling burgers, and even fish and chips, especially in the tourist resorts.
City shopping
Opportunities to shop will vary depending on which resort you choose to stay in. The cities are home to larger streets full of souvenir shops, malls and more markets than the smaller towns and villages. Even if you are staying in a quieter location, there is likely to be a convenient way to get into the city for a retail fix.
Popular items to purchase while enjoying holidays to Cyprus include Cypriot wines, a bottle of Zivania (a strong spirit drink) and leather goods or jewellery.
Getting there
Flight times from the UK to Cyprus will usually take between four and five hours but the transfers to your hotel are usually short once you land.
With attractions spread right across the island, the best way to explore Cyprus is definitely by hire car. Don't fret about driving abroad, traffic in Cyprus drives on the left hand side.
Public bus services conveniently run around the major cities with travel being very cheap. Taxis are often a lot more expensive but sometimes unavoidable.
Where to stay in Cyprus
Ayia NapaThe party capital of the island, Ayia Napa is also one of the most popular clubbing destinations in Europe. Visitors from all over the continent flock here to sample the hectic, exciting and lively nightclub scene which is found in the centre square.
Once you're all partied out, you have 14 beaches to relax on across an 8km long coastline. They vary in size and personality but whichever beach you choose, the gorgeous Mediterranean sun will be tanning you all the way.
There is plenty more to discover around this packed resort so there's no chance of boredom setting in while in Ayia Napa.
Coral BayA smaller resort just north of Paphos, Coral Bay is a fun resort town with its own selection of beaches, bars and beautiful scenery.
Coral Bay has a wonderful beach looked over by nearby limestone cliffs. The sandy area is brilliant for tourists thanks to the bars just off the beach and the scuba diving and water sports available off the coast.
For the best shopping and nightlife in the area, take a convenient bus down to Paphos just six miles away. Coral Bay does offer its own brand of holiday must-haves with smaller shops and entertaining evening venues.
LarnacaA city filled with history and tourist appeal on the south coast, Larnaca is a peaceful getaway that the whole family can enjoy.
Conveniently located next to the airport, Larnaca's roots date back 6000 years and ancient icons such as the churches and monasteries are still displayed around town. By the shore, the beaches are stacked with shops, bars and restaurants catering for your days out.
The beach promenade appeals to visitors after dark too as a good number of bars and small clubs are a great location to enjoy the warm summer nights with a cocktail.
PaphosFamous for being the birthplace of the Greek goddess of love, Aphrodite, this city is steeped in fascinating history as well as providing plenty of facilities for tourists.
Castles, caves, monasteries and mosaics, there are dozens of fantastic relics at the large UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site.
There are also several beaches along the large coastline with many providing idyllic surroundings to enjoy the Mediterranean sunsets every night. The town stays awake at one of the many friendly pubs and beach bars, making Paphos one of the most fun destinations in Cyprus.
Location
Monthly Temperature
January
17°C
February
17°C
March
20°C
April
23°C
May
27°C
June
31°C
July
33°C
August
33°C
September
31°C
October
28°C
November
23°C
December
19°C
Best time of year to visit
Cyprus boasts around 330 days of sunshine a year. The summer months reaches an average temperature of around 27C while the winter gets much milder and settles at an average of 12C in January.
With many great child-friendly resorts and accommodations, family holidays to Cyprus are ideal during the summer break from school. Visitor numbers will be up around this time so if you want to avoid the rush, May, June or September are ideal times to visit.
Places to Visit
Water World Waterpark
Found in Ayia Napa but accessible to many nearby resorts, a trip to this waterpark will be worth the journey. Kids and big kids of all ages will love the selection of slides on offer as well as the paddling and wave pools. The park is closed during the winter.
Zenobia Ship Wreck
Rated as one of the top ten wreck-diving sites in the world, experienced scuba divers need to discover this Swedish cruise-liner that sank in 1980. If you're a scuba beginner then there are plenty of other opportunities to swim under the Mediterranean shores just off Larnaca Bay.
Larnaca Salt Lake
There is a complex network of four salt lakes just outside of Larnaca and the whole area is a natural beauty. There is plenty to see in the area including thousands of flamingos that migrate here as well as a couple of religious structures that impress visitors.
Kourion ruins - Limassol
An ancient city found outside of the modern city of Limassol. Across the beach you can enjoy serene views of the setting sun over the cliffs while inland you can walk among the century old ruins of Kourion. One of the best sights is an amphitheatre that is a relic from ancient Greece.
Aphrodite’s Rock
Following Aphrodite's Trail stop by the iconic Aphrodite's Rock. It is told that the goddess of love rose from the white waves here. A place of inspiration among painters, writers and poets, take a long walk, or enjoy a bit of solitude away from the city in this peaceful setting.
UNESCO World Heritage site in Paphos
This city is teeming with great areas of ancient history and every site has a story to tell. The Tomb of the Kings is a wonderful green space leading to a caved tomb. Saint Paul's Pillars are a rustic treat by the harbour with a centuries old stone church. There are dozens more highlights too.
