Cyprus - the island of love. Aphrodite's rock and other attractions worth seeing in Cyprus

Name: Cyprus
Rating: 5

Cyprus is a beautiful island of love and goddess Aphrodite
There is a warm and sunny weather all year round. In December we had 20 degrees Celsius
Cyprus consists of 3 countries. The Greek part that we visited was the Republic of Cyprus. In addition, Turkish Northern Cyprus is considered an occupied territory and overseas territories of Great Britain. Outside of Northern Cyprus, the island belongs to the European Union, where the euro currency is
All car parks in Cyprus that we used were free of charge
Tickets to the facilities are cheap, we paid a maximum of 5 euros, and many attractions were available free of charge

Cyprus is known as the island of Aphrodite, and because it is the goddess of love, this place is also referred to as the island of love. This place enchanted us with its magic. Here, Greek myths meet sunny beaches. Lost in the mountains, the painted churches delight, and the cliffs and ravines arouse admiration and respect for the power of nature. For Polish tourists, Cyprus is a tasty morsel, especially when autumn and winter gray is entering Poland.

Accommodation in Cyprus

When we were in Cyprus, we slept in Paphos, at the Nereus Hotel. It is very conveniently located, about 1 km from the nearest beach, not far from the promenade. It looks very nice, it is large and very decent for its reasonable price. It provides a very good and quite rich breakfast, also warm. The only drawback is that the same products are available every day. It offers a bar, billiards and even a swimming pool. The room is lovely and includes everything you need, a bed, wardrobe, desk, chair and armchair, as well as a kettle with a set of coffees and teas. Plus, of course, a private bathroom with a bathtub. There's also air conditioning, and it didn't work on the first day, but the next time we reported a problem, we were offered another room with a working air conditioner. We ordered the hotel in advance by booking, it cost about PLN 250 per night per room. We had to pay only a few days before leaving for Cyprus.

Paphos is a good place to stay on the island, because the city itself is very attractive, lies on the coast, and is also close to other interesting places around it. Limassol, located in the central part of the coast, may be even better, from where it is easiest to reach almost every corner of the island, but this city is louder, more entertaining, with skyscrapers, so not exactly in our style. Larnaca is slightly worse located, although this one, in turn, allows you to easily reach Cape Greco. In Larnaca, we landed and took off for Poland, to the airport in Pyrzowice (Katowice).

Here you will find a wide selection of accommodations. By booking your stay on Booking.com through our link, you support the development of our blog — and we thank you in advance! It helps us reach many interesting places that we later love to show you and share our experiences and information with you.

The most beautiful attractions of Cyprus. What is worth seeing on the island of love?

The attractions of Cyprus are very numerous and varied. From picturesque beaches, through hiking trails and wonderful landscapes, historic churches, to ancient ruins. The island will delight every lover of beauty, adventure and history. Here's a guide to the most beautiful attractions. These places are worth seeing in Cyprus when visiting this charming island.

Aphrodite's Rock (Petra tou Romiou) in Cyprus

In our opinion, Aphrodite's Rock is the most beautiful corner of Cyprus. Maybe that's why he charmed us so much that he appeared to us in the light of a wonderful sunset. It is the legendary birthplace of the goddess of love, surrounded by beautiful beaches and cliffs. This is where Aphrodite came out of the foam. At the entrance to the beach in a tree, you will see handkerchiefs. They are hanged by women who want offspring. They seek support from the goddess of fertility, who reportedly came out of these waters as a virgin again after each of her intoxicating nights.

The Greek name Petra tou Romiou literally means Roman Rock and comes from the hero Basil Digenis Akritas, who was supposed to defend Cyprus against the Arabs here. He threw huge stones towards them, and the rock lying in the water was pulled out of the mountain massif by the hero.

Legend has it that every daredevil who circumnavigates the rock three times will receive immortality, eternal youth and true love in return. But even if you do not dive, you will get a great aesthetic experience, because the beach surrounded by rocks looks magical. Although there is no fine sand here, only stones, this place is fantastic and tourists take a bath here. The site is protected through the Petra tou Romiou National Forest Park.
Info: Admission to the beach is free. There is also free parking and a souvenir shop where you can also eat.

Kuklia - Temple of Aphrodite in Cyprus

Aphrodite was so revered in Cyprus that a sanctuary was dedicated to her in the nearby village of Kuklia. Once, the temple of Aphrodite was so popular that Homer himself mentions it in his works. It was the center of the cult of the goddess of fertility in pre-Hellenistic times. In antiquity, it was located in the city of Palepaphos, which was part of Paphos. Today, the ruins of the temple have been entered on the UNESCO list and can be visited for a fee. Next to the excavations, you can admire a magnificent mosaic with the image of a woman. However, this is not Aphrodite, but Leda, the Spartan queen. The mosaic was created in the 2nd century AD.

As part of the same ticket, it is worth visiting the medieval castle or the Luzynianów manor house. A dynasty that had ruled Cyprus since the 12th century. The sights inside are unprecedented, such as the amazing limestone bathtub from the 11th century BC. It has a grooved seat and space for a sponge. Human comfort and ingenuity are indeed old qualities. There are many more ancient monuments here, so it is a must for lovers of ancient times.

And do you know what it was like with this Aphrodite? She is considered the most beautiful goddess. It was Paris who was to choose the most beautiful between her, Athens and Hera. And here a little cunning on the part of Aphrodite, who promised Paris that if he called her the most beautiful, it would help him get Helena. Paris did the same and helped him kidnap her, which later contributed to the outbreak of the Trojan War.
Info: €4.5 entrance ticket, free parking on site

Paphos - the former capital of Cyprus

Paphos is one of the most visited places in Cyprus. Located charmingly on the coast, it hides antique monuments inscribed on the UNESCO list. The discovery of one of them is associated with Polish scientists. The city has been the capital of Cyprus since the 2nd century BC. And what is worth visiting here?

Ancient ruins in Nea Paphos Archaeological Park (New Paphos)

Nea Paphos Archaeological Park is a UNESCO monument in the form of ruins of ancient villas with stunning mosaics depicting mythological scenes. For us, the hero here is primarily the Villa of Theseus, which was discovered by Poles in the 20th century. This large estate hid as many as 100 rooms, and the icing on the cake is a preserved mosaic that depicts Theseus with the Minotaur. It dates back to the second century, i.e. the Roman period, and is almost 2000 years old. It's really something amazing.
Info: The entrance ticket costs only 4.5 euros (less than 20 zlotys), and the parking is free

Promenade and castle

On the very shore of the sea, which you can walk along a pleasant promenade with a port, there is a modest, austere stone castle, to which admission is also cheap. From above you will see a nice view of the city, and the beautiful picture of the stronghold itself looks wonderful from a nearby vantage point on a metal platform. The interiors of this monument can be given to you.
Info: €2.5 ticket, free parking

Paphos Royal Tombs

The Royal Tombs is a place that I highly recommend to you. It is unique and delighted us. It dates back to the pre-Roman times, i.e. ancient Greece. All the graves are carved in rock, and there are about 100 of them here. Mainly wealthy citizens, officials and the aristocracy of the ancient city were buried here in the period from the 4th century BC to the 3rd century AD. Some tombs were so lavish that the term "royal" stuck. They reminded us of the catacombs of St. Paul of Rabat in Malta, especially since the first Christians also found shelter here. A UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Info: €2.5 ticket, free parking

Panayia Chrysopolitissa Church in Paphos

The church of Panayia Chrysopolitissa is a medieval temple available free of charge. Currently (2024) the footbridge around the building is closed due to renovation. However, we managed to look inside, because the service was about to begin. Interestingly, the Anglican service in the Chrysopolitissa church, which also hides the Catholic parish of St. Paul. And the most fascinating fact is that there used to be an early Byzantine temple here, which was much larger than the present one. In the area of its ruins, there is a pole next to which St. Paul, who had just set out for Cyprus on his first mission, was whipped

In Paphos, we walked around its center in the evening, but it did not make a great impression on us. However, we were surprised by the huge number of Christmas accents at the beginning of December in sunny Cyprus.

Cape Greco, Cyprus

Cape Greco is a picturesque cape in the southeast of Cyprus, known for its unusual rock formations and crystal clear water. This natural beauty meant that a national park was created here, decorated with ragged coastlines and numerous sea caves. It is a perfect place for trekking, but also for diving and snorkeling. As you can see, it is also a beautiful place for an unforgettable sunset.

Cyprus is very European. You can feel Greece strongly here. But in reality, it is Asia. Cape Greco is the eastern tip of the European Union. Although it is not the easternmost point of the island, which consists of 3 countries. The Greek part - the Republic of Cyprus, which we visited, Turkish Northern Cyprus, which is generally considered an occupied area, and the overseas territories of Great Britain.
Info: free entrance, free parking

Cyclops Cave on Cape Greco

At the cape, it is worth visiting this place, where the Cyclops Cave is located with a nice view of the sea. It's really just a cave, but surrounded by a beach where there are turtles. We were looking for them, but we were not so lucky.
Info: free entrance, you can get here quickly from the free parking lot

Love Bridge on Cape Greco

In the town of Ayia Napa, a magnificent rock formation grows on the shore, whose name is the Bridge of Love. If you are in love, you have to climb on his back. This is where Cape Greco begins. This is an extremely beautiful part of the island. Sea waves have carved many spacious caves and caves in the rocks, which are accessible only from a boat.
Info: free entrance, free parking

Ayia Napa Sculpture Park

The attraction is very close to the Bridge of Love. It is a small hill on which about 200 sculptures mainly related to mythology stood. They are made by various artists and there would be nothing very special about it if it were not for the fact that among the statues you can find the sculpture of the Polish artist, Ryszard Litwiniuk.

Edro III wreck in Cyprus

An interesting attraction for tourists in Cyprus is the wreck of the Edro 3 ship. It sank on December 7, 2011, and was transporting drywall. They wanted to tow the wreckage, but it was a problem and it just stayed that way. Now it is a tourist attraction. It looks beautiful against the backdrop of the setting sun.
Info: free entrance, free parking

Aphrodite Baths on Akamas Peninsula

Aphrodite's Baths is a legendary place where the goddess of beauty used to take a bath. It is surrounded by gardens and very intimate. The baths themselves are not spectacular, rather modest. There are paths around them, and then trails worth taking.
Info: free entrance, free parking

Aphrodite Trail and Adonis Trail on Akamas Peninsula

The Aphrodite Trail is an ideal place for trekking, interesting and beautiful. We walked a loop of about 8 kilometers to admire the northern shores of the island, i.e. the Akamas Peninsula, from the surrounding hills. From the bathhouse, we went up the Aphrodite trail. The trail is very nice, sometimes rocky. There was a lot of soggy clay during our climb. This is because 2 days earlier, Cyprus was hit by the bora wind and brought powerful rainfall.

The highest point on the route is at an altitude of 333 m above sea level. There are benches and a magnificent view of the northern end of the island. Although it is not very high, walking from sea level, you can get tired. However, it is worth taking a moment off the trail to the highest hill of the area, 370 m above sea level, to admire even more spectacular landscapes. Be careful, because the cliff is almost a vertical wall here. From here, along a winding and steep trail, we descended to the seashore to return to the parking lot on a wide path.

On the route, there is a fork in the paths of Aphrodite and Adonis, under a vast tree. It's a 500-year-old oak. There are also ruins with the name translated as "Queen's Tower". And why do the trails of Aphrodite and Adonis connect? Because they had a special feeling in common. Aphrodite was Hephaestus' wife, but Hephaestus was rude, so she had numerous lovers. The most important was Adonis. In addition, she had the affection of Ares, who was very jealous. So he released an odynec, which torn Adonis' crotch with a fang. Yes, the young man died, but from his blood that dripped to the ground grew flowers called Adonis.
Info: free entrance, free parking

Lara Bay in Cyprus or Lara beach with turtles

The December season for Poles is not associated with sunbathing. And yet the weather was favorable for visiting Lara Beach. It is true that we were looking not so much for golden sand as for reptiles shrouded in shells. Lara Beach is famous for the turtles that lay their eggs here. It is the most isolated beach, with almost no infrastructure. That's probably why the reptiles use this place to bring their offspring into the world.

The species that lay eggs here are the Green Turtle and the Carrot. Their carapace, or colloquially the shell, can measure up to 140 cm. They are giants, it would be wonderful to meet them. Well, unfortunately, this time it didn't work out. Eggs are laid from mid-May to mid-August, and young turtles usually hatch by the end of October. So during our visit, the nests were already empty. If they were occupied by eggs, it would be indicated by special cages, warning signs and described stones.

We did not meet any turtles, but there were also no tourists, we had the whole beach to ourselves. Something wonderful, especially since the weather was conducive to sunbathing. And we are not surprised that it was empty, because getting here is very burdensome. The surface changes every now and then, sometimes there is asphalt, but in other places there is a terrain road with a lot of holes and puddles after the forest attack. However, it was worth it, it is pleasant, quiet and intimate.
Info: free entrance, free parking, there is a bar on site

Avakas Gorge in Cyprus

The Avakas Gorge is located very close to Lara Bay and access here is also very cumbersome. Avakas means as much as an egg. It's just that among these beautiful, bright rocks, birds set up their nests, so the two attractions have something in common. Once upon a time, men living on the island had to steal these eggs from birds in order to feed their families but also to prove their bravery. It was a kind of passage, a ritual. Once they got their eggs and became men, they had to do it regularly for their loved ones. They don't do that anymore today.

We definitely recommend you come here, because it is one of the most beautiful places on the island and the most beautiful gorge we have ever seen. A small stream called Avgas flows along the bottom. Shortly after the rainfall, the stream becomes gusty and can fill the ravine with water to such a level that it will be impossible to cross. We, 2 days after the rains, walked dry, although at times we had to combine to choose the right stones. Anyway, it's very slippery, so watch out! This trekking was the most difficult on the island, but it's an interesting adventure.

It is a limestone canyon, with beautiful, bright rocks. Selenite crystals shine in the sun. The whole of Cyprus was once built from the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea. In places overhead, you can see the partially collapsed ceiling of the former cave. Here you can see infiltrations, like fossilized roots, but I did not want to touch them so as not to destroy them. This place should survive for posterity in the wonderful form in which we found it!
Info: free entrance, free parking, trekking to the end of the ravine and back is about 7 km

Troodos Mountains Cyprus

The Troodos Mountains, or Trodos, are a fairly high and very attractive mountain range in the central-western part of Cyprus. The highest peak and at the same time the highest point of the island is Mount Olimbos with a height of 1952 m above sea level. Mount Trodos was created as a result of the uplift of the rocks on the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea. They are largely built by rocks of volcanic origin. An interesting fact is that it is the largest concentration of ophiolite in the world. Unfortunately, due to the rainy weather, the Troodos Mountains did not show us the beautiful views that they certainly offer on a daily basis. At times, only small flashes of the sun gave a foreshadowing of the beauty of this majesty. Unfortunately, the bora wind combined with the microclimate of this place were inexorable. It is in December that these mountains are characterized by the greatest rainfall, many times greater than, for example, in the summer months. This did not prevent us from discovering the amazing charms and attractions of this range.

Millomeris Waterfall in the Troodos Mountains

Millomeris waterfall is considered the highest cascade in Cyprus. According to some, it is 15 meters high, and according to others as much as 20 meters high. No matter how much it measures, it looks gorgeous. To get to it, we had to walk about 1.5 kilometers, although on the other hand, you can drive much closer. The attraction was definitely worth the trip. Both the surroundings of the waterfall and the waterfall itself appealed to us very much, it is a beautiful place.
Info: free entrance, free parking, access from Omodos about 1.5 km

Caledonia Falls in the Troodos Mountains

Caledonia Falls is a proverbial stone's throw from Millomeris. The weather didn't last here, but despite the rain, we decided to walk to it. And rightly so, because it is considered the most beautiful. Maybe we would argue with that, we liked Millomeris better. On the other hand, trekking here is definitely more picturesque. The trail reminded us of the Homole Gorge in Pieniny or the Lower Silesian rock towns. All the time, the path leads along a stream on which there are actually a lot of beautiful cascades.
Info: free entrance, free parking, about 1 km walk

Village of Omodos in the Troodos Mountains

Omodos is the most atmospheric village we have visited in Cyprus. Stone buildings, narrow streets and beautiful houses decorated with colorful doors and flower pots. It can charm. It's like he's staying here again.

The biggest attraction of Omodos is the fantastic monastery and the curiosity associated with it. At the turn of the third and fourth centuries, the Roman empress Helena (mother of Constantine the Great) converted to Christianity. She brought here the relics of the Holy Cross. In Poland, similar relics are found on the Holy Cross. Henceforth, this place is famous for its miracles.
An even greater curiosity is the fact that this Helena brought here another relic, namely the rope with which Jesus himself was supposedly bound. It is the only such souvenir in the world. Both can be admired in the monastery church, next to which you can also enter the tiny chapel of St. Helena. Remember that in Orthodox churches, both in Greece and Cyprus, great attention is paid to clothing, also cover your legs and arms.

We were enchanted by the streets of Omodos, with Christmas decorations and trees full of ripe oranges. We also entered the building with an age-old grape press. We could admire it completely for free.
Info: free entrance to the monastery church and chapel, free parking spaces in the village

UNESCO Byzantine Orthodox Churches in the Troodos Mountains

In the Trodos mountains there is a trail of painted churches. They are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A little like in our Małopolska region, there is a wooden architecture trail with UNESCO churches. There are as many as 10 of these objects from the Heritage List here. We visited 3 of them, we managed to enter all of them for free. They are known for their modest stone architecture and beautiful frescoes.

The church of Archangel Michael (Archangelos Michael) in Pedoulas - is small and very inconspicuous. Externally raw and very modest. And it makes a big impression on the inside. It's really worth stopping here and seeing. It dates back to the 15th century. The vestibule on the south and west sides, inside the stone building, due to the small size of the church, served as a women's zone. Only men entered the main church. The wooden iconostasis from the same period as the temple has been preserved intact. Opposite is a small museum with interesting sacral exhibits. We were delighted with the noble icons and the incredibly atmospheric, old doors. We paid €1 per person for the museum
Church of the Virgin Mary in Moutoulla (Panagia tou Moutoulla) - the temple dates back to the 13th century. As it is older, the preserved paintings are more rudimentary. Although still incredibly beautiful. They recall the times when Cyprus was ruled by the Byzantine Empire. The temple was built and decorated with frescoes in 1280, thanks to a donation from Ioannis and his wife Irene of Moutoullas
The Monastery of St. John (Agios Ioannis Lampadistis) in Kalopanagiotis is the largest of these UNESCO sites. By far the prettiest. It makes a colossal impression. Both on the outside it is very impressive and on the inside it is amazing. It actually consists of three churches from the 11th, 12th and 15th centuries. Interestingly, they are all covered with one roof. You can't really make movies inside, but I took one picture.

Monastery of Panagia (Virgin Mary) in Kykkos

Kykkos Monastery is fantastic. It grew on top of a mountain at an altitude of 1318 m above sea level in the 11th century and today it is a considerable complex. It is the most lavish of the Cypriot monasteries. Its buildings are beautiful, very richly decorated with frescoes. We walked through many public corridors and we have to admit that we were very impressed by this place. Here you can feel a centuries-old breeze of Orthodox spirituality.

You can also visit the museum, which houses a priceless collection of icons, manuscripts and Cypriot antiques. We, tired, hungry and frozen after a whole day in the mountains with rainfall, unfortunately did not enter it. Photographs can be taken in the monastery, but no shots can be taken in the church.

And it has one of the 3 icons attributed to the Apostle Luke (Agios Loukas). The icon covered with gilded silver appears in a chapel made of turtle shell and mother-of-pearl. It stands in front of the iconostasis.
Info: entrance to the monastery and museum 5 euros, free parking.

Larnaca - a salt lake with flamingos and the church of St. Lazarus

We landed in Larnaca and almost immediately there is an interesting attraction at the airport. This is Larnaca Salt Lake, which is a salt lake where flamingos like to sit. They stay here from November to March. We were lucky, because when we were in December we met these big, pink birds. Their color comes from the fact that they feed on local algae and shrimps, and this diet is rich in carotenoids. You can also find them at the salt lake in Limassol.

They are wild animals, so they get scared quickly. Fortunately, they are large, up to 1.5 meters high, which facilitates free observation. And we, to get as close as possible, waded in the mud like those flamingos. There was no way to approach the surface of the water, and the lens did not allow us to make such a close-up, but I am still happy that we could admire them at least from a distance.

In the center of Larnaca, it is worth seeing Agios Lazaros, the church of St. Lazarus. It dates back to the 9th century and is one of the oldest Christian temples in all of Cyprus. The patron, as you know, was resurrected by Jesus. Then he sailed to Cyprus, where he became a bishop. Here he died again and his grave is located.
Info: free entrance, free parking

Limassol - a popular resort

Limassol is the second largest city in Cyprus. Here, old and new monuments with skyscrapers are intertwined, which do not exist much outside this city on the island. The resort attracts tourists with its attractions. Attention is drawn here to the castle, a medieval fortress with a museum that presents the history of the region. The Old Town can be enchanted by the streets with traditional taverns and stalls offering local products. However, the most popular place is the attractive seaside promenade. Ideal for walking along the sea, full of cafes, shops and viewpoints. It is also a place of entertainment, bustling after dark.

Nicosia

Nicosia is the capital of Cyprus and the only capital in the world, divided between two countries: the Republic of Cyprus and Northern Cyprus. The possibility of crossing the border between two parts of the city will definitely surprise you. We did not visit Nicosia because we were running out of time, and large cities are not particularly to our taste. Tourists, however, believe that Nicosia is atmospheric and its charming streets can be liked. It is also worth visiting the Cypriot Museum, which contains a rich collection of artifacts from Cypriot history.

Cyprus Attractions Map

Below is a map with the attractions of Cyprus. It will certainly be helpful when planning.

What and where to eat in Cyprus?

While Cyprus is generally not expensive, the prices of lunches surprised us a bit. It was difficult to find a lunch for 10 euros. Local specialties fluctuated in the prices of 15 euros per meal, and the famous meze, i.e. a tasting set of local dishes, cost 22 euros, but we encountered the fact that it was not possible to order 1 meze, but at least 2. On the other hand, coffee, as in other places on the Mediterranean coast, was relatively cheap. I recommend tasting Cypriot coffee, it cost 1.5 euros and tasted completely different than normal coffee, we called it herbal coffee. This is because it is brewed not from roasted beans, but from fresh ones. You can really feel the difference. It's never served with milk, but with a glass of water.

What do you eat in Cyprus?

Travelling to Cyprus in December has consequences. At 16 o'clock it gets dark with the hook. However, you can enjoy your food later and not regret that the day is running out. And what do you eat in Cyprus? You will find tastes of Greek cuisine here. The specialties of the house are primarily moussaka. Musaka (μουσακάς) is a casserole prepared on the basis of eggplant, tomatoes, sometimes potatoes and minced meat. The top layer of the dish is béchamel sauce with yellow cheese. In the form of moussaka, it resembles lasagna, but generally for us it is a bit like a Polish bigos, because in every Cypriot house you make moussaka and everyone has their own recipe and makes it a little bit in their own way. We like moussaka very much and we have tasted it several times in Cyprus.

Another famous Cypriot delicacy is cheese Halloumi. With a salty taste, it reminded us a bit of our oscypek, but the halloumi is more delicate. Most often served from the grill. Besides, there is a lot of grilled dishes on the island. There is a lot of lamb, skewers, stuffed eggplants and zucchini. In addition, tzatziki sauce and necessarily pita breads, soaked in olive oil. We really liked this cuisine, we remember it well fromCrete.

Restaurants in Cyprus

We can recommend you a few restaurants, or actually pubs that we visited during our trip. We were most captivated by the location of the restaurant by the sea, near the Edro 3 wreck. This is the Sea Caves Lounge Bar near Peyia (Peja). It's wonderful here, especially after dark. Lighting, views of palm trees and the sea, selfie hearts. Very nice. We usually order different dishes to exchange, but here we both ordered Moussaka. The set also included a salad, fries and pita bread. The dish cost 13 euros (x2 is 26 euros + liter water 2 euros) and was very filling and delicious, but what here may not taste in such a romantic atmosphere, on a wonderful island of love.

If you go to the temple of Aphrodite in Kuklia, we recommend Gabriels Tavern Kouklia. Here, too, we tasted local specialties. We wanted to take meza, but you have to order two portions, and that's too much for us. So we took grilled meat with lamb at the forefront, halloumi cheese, plus salad and fries. The food was delicious, and we got dessert for free, i.e. orange cake with tangerines. We saw ripe oranges on the trees here many times. We bought Cypriot coffee, which perfectly matched this dessert. We paid 26 euros for the whole thing, including 16 euros for a set of grilled meats, 5 euros for a salad, 2 euros for liter water and 3 euros for two coffees.

The third place where we tasted Cypriot cuisine was Kykkos Restaurant/Cafe. It was in the mountains, where there is not much infrastructure, all the more operating in December. Because it must be admitted that some premises are closed at this time of the year or operate on selected days. This restaurant is located near the famous monastery we described above. Here, food is served as a buffet. You can take as much as you can fit on a large plate. Of course there was moussaka, stuffed eggplants and lamb. And a variety of additives, including hummus and tzatziki. At the end, you get baklava for dessert. The whole price is 15 euros per person and you get a glass of wine, white or red, at your discretion.

Car in Cyprus

Remember that the ruch on the island is left-handed. If you do not mind, we recommend renting a car, because it is the best option to explore the interesting corners of Cyprus. We already had experience in Malta and we knew that it was left-hand traffic, but you can get used to it quite quickly, especially since there are a lot of roundabouts in both Malta and Cyprus, where traffic is quite easy.

The roads are asphalt, usually well maintained, although in the Troodos mountains it was not so good in places and there were often boulders on the roads, which was very dangerous. Cypriots should learn from the Mallorcans how to draw safe roads in the mountains with their scenic Ma-10 road to Formentorin Mallorca.

What deserves great praise, car parks in Cyprus are free of charge. While in Mallorca we paid everywhere except for Alcudia and sometimes not little, in Cyprus even with the most beautiful attractions in the cities you could park for free.

Car rental in Cyprus

We used the Hertz network rental company, which has branches in many places in the world. Its outlet is located at the airport in Larnaca and there we also collected and returned the car that we had previously ordered by booking while still in Poland.

More precisely, we signed the papers at the airport, and we collected the car in the parking lot at the airport and handed it over there before departure. In the car park marked with the number 6 there is a special booth from Hertz, where the attendant gave us the keys after arriving in Cyprus, and checked the car and the fuel level (full to full) before departure.

In general, everything went smoothly and without problems, but there was 1 shortcoming that you should take into account. When ordering by booking, there was no information about the refundable deposit, the day before the trip we received information that we would have to pay such a fee (250 euros) on the spot. It is good that we received it, because it is quite a large amount and we would not be prepared for it on the spot and it would certainly cost us a little unnecessary stress. We paid the deposit, which was quickly returned to us. When returning the car, the staff already decided that a refund was due and after a few days the money was back in our account.

We have also taken out full insurance, among other things, due to the fact that left-hand traffic can more easily contribute to a random event on the road. Fortunately, nothing bad happened to us. The car was almost new, it was a renault clio, with a normal gearbox, but with navigation and many amenities, such as parking sensors, automatic wiper acceleration or spontaneous switching on and off of long lights, which after dark and in the rain was very useful on a difficult road in the mountains.

Cats in Cyprus

If you have been to Cyprus, you know that it is not only an island of love, but also an island of cats. These hugs are everywhere here and are a showcase of Cyprus. And do you know where it came from? It was St. Helena, mentioned in the text on the occasion of Omodos, who brought cats to Cyprus, because there was a terrible problem with snakes here. The kittens coped with it and it has remained so to this day. They accompanied us in every corner of the island and were very nice and sociable everywhere. In several places during trekking, they did not give way to us.

Polish accents in Cyprus

In the Middle Ages, Cyprus was a kingdom and this is associated with an unusual curiosity with a Polish accent. Well, messengers from the Cypriot king came to Wiślica, to King Władysław Jagiełło and wanted to borrow money from him to fight Muslims. They were to seal it with the marriage of King Janus' son to our king's daughter, Hedwig. Unfortunately, this cooperation did not take place, because the Poles were then busy with their fight against the Tatars, and the daughter had been dead for a year
In the Archaeological Park of Nea Paphos you can visit the ruins of the ancient villa of Theseus, which was discovered here in the 20th century by Polish scientists from the University of Warsaw, the research was later continued by Poles from the Jagiellonian University
In Ayia Napa there is a Sculpture Park, which presents about 200 sculptures, including the work of the Polish artist, Ryszard Litwiniuk

When to go on holiday in Cyprus?

Apart from the summer months, any term in Cyprus will be good. What is most beautiful, when it is the worst in Poland, the island of love is wonderful. We were resting in Cyprus at the beginning of December and it was warm and sunny. 20 degrees Celsius even allowed us to bathe in the sea, because the water was not cold. Flowers bloomed around, the grass grew green. We only had 1 day with rainfall, but it was brought by the bora wind, which rarely blows. Only in the Troodos mountains in December it rains a lot and that's where we had a day with the bordeaux, which is why we got wet in the mountains. Apart from that day, we were accompanied by the sun, warmth and impressive clouds.

Cyprus is an island full of contrasts and tourist attractions that delight with their beauty and rich history. From picturesque beaches to ancient ruins. Whether you're looking to relax in the sun or explore fascinating historical sites, Cyprus is sure to provide unforgettable memories and impressions. And it is a fantastic getaway from Polish charuges in the autumn and winter months.

Rent a car

Exploring becomes much easier when you have your own means of transport. You don’t have to worry about buses or taxis, and you can plan each day your way. The search box below will help you find the right car – right where your journey begins.

What's worth seeing in the area?

If you are looking for more ideas for interesting places to visit, we have it for you some options in the area. There are several attractions within a radius of 100 kilometers, that are worth adding to your travel plan.

Paphos Cyprus, distance: 0 km
Wreck of the Edro III ship in Cyprus, distance: 14.6 km
Cypriot cuisine, distance: 16.2 km
Avakas Gorge in Cyprus, distance: 19.6 km
Aphrodite's Rock in Cyprus, distance: 22.5 km
Aphrodite Baths and Aphrodite Trail in Cyprus, distance: 34.1 km
Troodos Mountains Cyprus, distance: 46.5 km