Cyprus from A to Z: holidays in Cyprus, maps, visas, tours, resorts, hotels and reviews

Cyprus has very clean beaches, hotels with good service and an easy excursion. Entertainment - mini cruises, thalassotherapy and delicious Greek cuisine. The capital Nicosia, Paphos and Ayia Napa, Limassol and Protaras - all about Cyprus: weather, tours, reviews, maps and prices.

• Tours for May to Cyprus
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Perhaps the most adequate assessment of tourist Cyprus will sound like this: "strong Mediterranean goodness." That is, this is quite a typical direction of beach recreation, without any bright or unique "chips", but without major drawbacks (unless, of course, we do not include quite high prices as such). The island has a mild climate, the service in hotels is quite adequate to their level, and the beaches are very clean, with many Blue Flags - so tours to Cyprus are more than deservedly popular among travelers.

The prevailing nature of the rest is respectable and decent in all respects, without drunken parties for the whole night and disco frenzy.

Regions and resorts of Cyprus

The island of Cyprus has several excellent beach resorts and one ski resort.

Time difference to Moscow

- 1 hour not in summer

• with Kaliningrad

• with Samara

• with Yekaterinburg

• with Omsk

• with Krasnoyarsk

• with Irkutsk

• with Yakutsk

• with Vladivostok

• with Severo-Kurilsk

• with Kamchatka

Climate

A daily flight to Larnaca from Moscow is operated by Aeroflot, and since 2016, also by the low-cost airline Pobeda. S7 Airlines flies from Moscow to Larnaca and Paphos three times a week. On the way - about 4 hours.

From St. Petersburg direct flights to Larnaca on Thursdays and Sundays are made by Rossiya Airlines. In the summer season, charters additionally fly, and the rest of the time it is easier to fly with a transfer in Moscow.

Also in the summer there are charter flights from Yekaterinburg, Ufa, Rostov-on-Don, Moscow, Samara and other cities.

By sea

By sea, Cyprus can be reached by regular flights and by private ships from the ports of Greece, Egypt and Israel. From the Greek port of Piraeus, several transport companies operate regular ferry services to and from Limassol.

In particular, flights from Greece (including the islands), Egypt and other ports are operated by Cruise Cyprus (website in English). Cruise prices start at EUR 250 per person, one way. Prices on the page are for September 2018.

Search for flights to Cyprus

Transport

You can travel around the island by intercity buses. From each major city, buses usually leave twice a day (morning and evening), except Sundays.

Fare: about 3 EUR for 50 km. There are one-time, daily, weekly, monthly and annual passes. All, except for one-off, allow for an unlimited number of trips. A single trip ticket from Limassol to Larnaca costs 4 EUR, daily - 7 EUR, weekly - 33 EUR, and monthly - 70 EUR. You can buy them at bus stops or from the driver.

There are also unified tickets valid on all intercity routes: for one lazy day - 15 EUR, for a week - 75 EUR. More detailed information on fares, routes and stops can be found on the carrier's website.

Public transport in cities

Major cities have municipal buses and minibuses. Travel time - from 4:00 (in some cities - from 6:00) to midnight. There are round-the-clock buses in major tourist cities, but special nightly rates apply to them (but in any case, this is cheaper than a taxi). On Sundays and holidays, many drivers have a legal day off, but there are rare buses in tourist centers.

The ticket system is the same as for intercity buses. There are one-time, daily, weekly, monthly and annual passes. A single day ticket (from 4:00 to 21:00) costs 1.50 EUR, a night ticket (from 21:00 to 4:00) - 2.50 EUR. A weekly day pass (there are no night passes) will cost 20 EUR, and a day long-distance pass (a ticket for one day, which gives the right to travel by both intercity and public transport) - 15 EUR.

Taxis can be stopped on the street, called through the hotel administrator, or by phone from any store or restaurant. There are two tariffs: daytime (from 6:00 to 20:30) and night (from 20:30 to 6:00, 15% more expensive); the rate for the carriage of baggage does not depend on the time of day. It is better to negotiate the price with the driver in advance, and a few words in Greek can lower the price a little. The average cost of a taxi ride is 5-10 EUR for 10-15 minutes, depending on the city.

Car rental in Cyprus

Police, fire service, ambulance: 112, 199 (around the clock).

Information inquiry service: 191, 192 (round the clock).

Beaches

All beaches in Cyprus are municipal and free, you will have to pay only for sun loungers and umbrellas (3-7 EUR per day). Some hotels provide beach equipment for their guests free of charge, but this is more likely for the most expensive hotels. In city centers, a highway separates the hotels from the beach strip.

Diving in Cyprus is not as spectacular as in the Red Sea or the Caribbean, but it also offers good opportunities for beginners and experienced divers. The flora and fauna of the Mediterranean Sea is not very diverse, but there are many wrecks, caves and other interesting objects in it. The best dive sites are located around Paphos, Limassol, Larnaca and Ayia Napa.

Larnaca is home to one of the most interesting diving sites in the world - the sunken Swedish ferry Zenobia, which crashed in 1980. None of the crew members were injured, only the ferry itself and trucks, which lie on the seabed at a depth of about 40 m. a depth of 33 m in the same area rests the cruiser HMS Cricket of the Second World War, which sank to the bottom in 1947. Slightly deeper - 50 m - there is a rock in the form of a mushroom Mushrooms Rock, and 10 m deep - Octopus Reef, where octopuses.

The Swedish ferry Zenobia, sunk in the waters near Larnaca, is one of the ten most interesting diving sites in the world.

In Paphos, divers will be interested to see the Greek ship Achilleas, which was wrecked in 1975 under unexplained circumstances (12 m deep), and a unique natural monument that looks like an amphitheater (12 m). And only 5-10 m away in these waters you can observe the Amphorae Reef - amphorae and other ancient pottery sunk together with the Greek galleys.

There are also many ships in the waters near Limassol at different depths, from 7 to 23 m. There are caves similar to ancient tombs where you can watch cute fish living there (for example, Tombs caves at a depth of 12 m).

Ayia Napa has a very picturesque canyon (depth 25 m) with corals, caves and the remains of ancient Phoenician wooden ships.

Dive centers are located throughout the island. Beginners will first be offered dives in the pool, and then they will be released into the open water. Almost every large dive center has Russian-speaking instructors, so there will be no problems with communication.

Novice divers undergo compulsory training, which includes instruction, a swimming pool and diving in open water at a depth of no more than 10 m. The cost of one dive is from 50 EUR. The Open Water Diving program assumes a course of training lasting 4-5 days, from 5 dives in open water, and as a result an international diving certificate is issued. Cost - from 250 EUR.

What to bring

Popular souvenirs: a figurine of Aphrodite, models of ships and dolls in national costumes. Lovers of culinary delights can bring from Cyprus goat cheese "halloumi" (convenient for transportation), Cypriot sweets: Turkish delight, halva, "suzukos" - almonds in grape molasses, etc.

From October to April, shops are open from 8:00 to 18:00 (break from 13:00 to 15:00), and on Wednesdays and Saturdays after lunch they close altogether. Shops are usually closed on Sundays.

Cyprus cuisine and restaurants

The island has mainly Greek cuisine, which differs from its mainland version in that it has more seafood. The Cypriot cuisine is based on meat, fish and vegetable dishes, and the main “culinary attraction” of the island is the “meze”: a set lunch that includes 20-30 dishes. Serving meze starts with appetizers, salads and vegetables and ends with meat and fish dishes, with each tavern having its own menu. Another popular Cypriot dish is "souvlaki" - a shish kebab wrapped in a flat cake. It is traditionally served without sauce so as not to overpower the taste of the meat. Also noteworthy are "moussaka" - minced meat baked with vegetables and a sauce of sour cream and beaten eggs, and "kupelka" - stuffed cabbage rolls in grape leaves.

You should definitely try the Cypriot feta and halloumi cheeses, as well as green walnuts in syrup. We should not forget about Cypriot wines, spirits and liqueurs, which are abundant on the island. The most famous wine is Commandaria. This is a variety of Cahors and is best bought at the Kykkos Monastery in Troodos. For beer lovers, there are two local brands of foamy drink, Keo and Carlsberg.

Those who like it stronger will appreciate the Zivania grape moonshine, the alcohol content of which can reach 80 °. True, you can only bring back the memories of its tasting to your homeland: the export of drinks with a strength higher than 50 ° from Cyprus is prohibited.

You can have an inexpensive snack in the eateries or “kebabs”, of which there are plenty on the island. Lunch will cost an average of 5-8 EUR excluding alcohol. The most popular places are traditional Cypriot taverns. These are small family restaurants that are inherited from father to son, and usually the owner and his relatives work there. The menu is rarely extensive, but all the traditional local cuisine is usually there. The portions are large, you can safely order one for two, also in taverns they are often treated to dessert or liqueur. Lunch in such a restaurant will cost 12-20 EUR with wine, dinner can be more expensive.

In hotels and restaurants, a 10% service charge is usually included in the bill. Therefore, tipping is optional in Cyprus, but a small change is always accepted with gratitude.

There are also classic restaurants on the island, and the most interesting of them are located at the wineries. They offer Cypriot cuisine and local wine. The average bill will be higher than in taverns: from 25 EUR per person.

Halloumi is a divinely delicious Cypriot goat cheese that everyone should try.

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Guides in Cyprus

Entertainment and attractions

Cyprus is a relatively small island, but it surprisingly accommodates a huge number of monuments of nature, culture, history and art of different eras. Here are the remains of Stone Age settlements, temples from the times of Ancient Greece, Roman theaters, ancient Byzantine monasteries, Venetian fortresses and Gothic cathedrals. And due to the compactness of the island, many of these sights can be easily visited within one trip.

It is worth visiting the capital of Cyprus Nicosia, all the main attractions of which are collected in the old quarter of the city. These are the Byzantine Church of Chrysalinotissa and the Church of Tripiotis with the famous iconostasis, the Archbishop's Palace, the Cathedral of St. John, the Famagusta Gate and the Venetian Wall.

On the Akamas peninsula, the ruins of the ancient cities of Morion and Avagos, the monastery of Agios Georgios, and the green and big-headed turtles have chosen the territory located to the south of Lara Beach Bay. It is also worth visiting the Baths of Aphrodite, which is not far from Latchi Bay. Amathus is one of the oldest cities in Cyprus, the ruins of which are located on the seashore 5 km east of Limassol. Modern archaeologists have found here a basilica of the early Christian era, the sanctuary of Aphrodite, the ruins of baths and a system of water conduits - of course, their time, as they say, did not spare them, but even in this form they make an impression.

No less ancient, Kourion was one of the largest city-states on the island. Roman baths and rich houses, the sanctuary of Apollo of Hilates, the ancient theater and numerous mosaics have been preserved there to this day. Troodos Mountains - nature reserve and ski resort. There are also numerous churches and monasteries, some of which are included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List and are under state protection.

Cruises from Cyprus

Mini-cruises from Cyprus are an opportunity to travel to Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Greece, or Lebanon while on the island. For example, a two-day cruise to Egypt includes a full-day trip to Cairo (with a visit to the Cairo National Museum) and a tour of the Pyramids and Papyrus Factory on the second day.

During a cruise to Jerusalem and Bethlehem, tourists will see the Church of the Nativity and the Grotto, built over the birthplace of Jesus Christ. After lunch at a local restaurant, the tour will continue in the Holy City of Jerusalem with a visit to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Calvary and the Western Wall.

The cost of a two-day cruise starts from 300 EUR per person, this amount usually includes transfers from the hotel to the port of Limassol and back, necessary visas (not always), excursions with a Russian-speaking guide, full board, the entire entertainment program on board the ships and accommodation in the cabin of the chosen categories.

10 things to do in Cyprus

1. Swim in the bay of Petra tou Romiou, from where, according to legend, the sea goddess Aphrodite emerged from the foam, and gain eternal youth and beauty.
2. Go to a small winery to taste Commandaria and other wines.
3. Travel back to the Middle Ages in Kyrenia and visit the local Shipwreck Museum.
4. Dine in an authentic Cypriot tavern and have a glass of liqueur with the host.
5. Buy hand-embroidered tablecloth in Lefkara village.
6. Dance all night until dawn at discos in Ayia Napa.
7. Climb into the tower of the jealous Moor in Famagusta, where the supposed prototype of Othello, the governor of Cyprus Christopher Moro, lived in the 12th century.
8. Watch flamingos at the Aliki Salt Lake near Larnaca.
9. Ride a donkey named Hitler or Schumacher at the Dipotamos donkey farm in Ayia Napa.
10. Look from afar at the ghost town of Varosh in Famagusta (you can go inside, but it is very expensive - a fine of 500 EUR).

Holidays and events

A separate reason for traveling to Cyprus is endless holidays and festivals. In April, the country celebrates the National Day of Cyprus. In May-June, the seaside towns celebrate the "cataclysm" - the holiday of water and the flood, and in Limassol the Folk Dance Festival is held. In July-August, the Festival of Ancient Greek Drama takes place: performances are given in the ancient amphitheater of Kourion, in the Odeon of Paphos, the fort of Larnaca and on the Monastery Square in Ayia Napa. The beginning of September is overshadowed by its invigorating breath at the popular Limassol Wine Festival, dedicated to the god of winemaking Dionysus.