Cyprus, Cyprus

Islands · Cyprus

Cyprus

Cyprus blends clear Mediterranean coves with mountain villages, archaeological landscapes and a table shaped by Greek, Turkish and Levantine influences.

Travel by Ildy tip

Hidden places

In the Troodos foothills near Nikitari, seek out Panagia tis Asinou, a small barn-roofed church whose frescoes, dated by inscription to 1105/6, are among the finest Byzantine paintings on the island.

Best time to visit

Best time to travel

April to June and September to October offer warm sea days without the most intense midsummer heat.

Travel tips

Travel by Ildy tips

  • Remember that Cyprus drives on the left, a legacy of British rule. If you rent a car, give yourself the first drive on quiet roads before tackling Limassol or Larnaca traffic, and take extra care at roundabouts and when turning right.
  • Taste Commandaria in its home villages above Limassol, such as Kalo Chorio or Zoopigi: a sweet wine made from sun-dried Xynisteri and Mavro grapes and aged in oak.
  • Visit Larnaca around Orthodox Pentecost for Kataklysmos, the 'Festival of the Flood', when the Finikoudes seafront fills with stalls, music and playful water-throwing.
  • From above, old Nicosia is a near-perfect circle: the Venetian walls begun in 1567 have eleven bastions, each named after a noble family that helped pay for them.

Travel by Ildy recommends

Follow the rhythm of the place first, then shape the journey around the experiences that feel most like your own.

Location

Cyprus on the map

Cyprus

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Where to stay

Stay ideas — Cyprus

Cyprus, Cyprus

Cyprus

Cyprus