Family summer holiday in Cyprus: travel, experience this beautiful world
I am not a tree born to stand in one place and not know what is beyond the nearest mountain.
J. London "Beauty Lee-Wan"
Our family has a huge desire to travel. And we always travel full-time, and this is me, my husband and two children 8 and 3 years old.
In addition, we always organize the trip ourselves (purchase of air tickets, selection and booking of apartments, drawing up routes).
This summer, we spent 21 days on island. That will be my story.
A long-term visa is not required to travel to Cyprus. The so-called visa for this state is issued in 1 day via the Internet.
We had valid Schengen visas, so we didn’t need one.
If you are flying to Cyprus on your own, keep in mind that you need to buy round-trip tickets at once, as this year the staff of the Cyprus airport checked the return tickets on arrival. In the absence of them (well, those who arrived and decided to buy tickets home in fact “rested”) were deported back to Russia, and to any city of our huge country, on the first nearest plane!
Not afraid of left-hand traffic and right-handed cars, we decided to be tourists. We rented a car in advance through rentcar at Europcar agency (they have an office right at Larnaca airport).
You can choose a car according to your preferences, but I highly recommend taking air-conditioned and automatic transmission (I think it is difficult to switch gears with your left hand)! Upon arrival, find the office of the company and with the documents (rights, international law, debit card and printed car rental agreement) pick up your car. On your card for the duration of the lease will be blocked a certain amount, in case of what.
I prepare all the routes in advance, making a plan for each day (from which you can always retreat, but it is always better when you have one than to scratch your head on vacation), taking into account our interests. This time we used the Maps.me app, a navigator that works offline.
Our route was as follows: a/p Larnaca – Paphos (3 days) – Limassol (8 days) – Protoras (7 days) – Larnaca (3 days). In each city, we booked apartments in advance through booking.
I will briefly tell you about the places visited by us (all the beaches are municipal and the entrance to them is free with your own inventory). Renting a sunbed or umbrella 2.5 euros per day.
paphos
Paphos Castle (located in Paphos) is not impressed.
Paphos Zoo (17.5 km from Paphos) is one of the largest and first zoos in Cyprus. Here lives a huge number of birds and other animals. For 10 euros you can feed a giraffe (this is an indescribable emotion). Three times a day there are parrot shows (they ride small scooters, play basketball and perform various tricks), this is included in the entrance ticket price. Cost: adults 16.5 euros, children from 2 years 8.5 euros. I recommend a visit!
Coral Bay Beach (located 11 km from Paphos) is a sandy beach framed by two capes, considered one of the most beautiful in Cyprus. I recommend it!
Nature Reserve at Akamas P-Ove. 47 km from Paphos is a natural and historical reserve with attractions: Aphrodite's Bath, Fountain of Love, Blue Lagoon, etc. They say that the water in the pool gives eternal youth, but it will not be possible to check, since swimming here is forbidden, in addition, eels swim there. There are many hiking dirt trails in the reserve, all of them are absolutely free, as is the entrance to the park. It will take 3 hours to explore the entire reserve on foot. It is beautiful here, I recommend it!
Lara Beach is geographically located in the same Akamas Reserve, a 15-minute drive from the park. This is a unique sandy beach, where rare hawk and green turtles lay their eggs. So that people do not harm the masonry, the employees of the protected corner enclose the nests with metal frames, they are installed throughout the beach. Because of the protected status on this beach is forbidden to use sun loungers and umbrellas, there are no cafes, toilets, showers, changing rooms ... but there is peace and quiet! Just the sound of waves! There are 50 people on the beach. You can get here only by car, and you need to drive 10 km on a dirt road. Take water and snacks with you, as there is simply nowhere to buy it. I recommend it to all lovers of relaxation!
limassol
Petra to Romeo. Aphrodite's stone. On the way to Limassol, which is 75 km from Paphos, we drove to one of the most picturesque places in Cyprus - it is here, according to legend, at the foot of the Petra to Romio rock from the foam of the sea Aphrodite was born.
I don't know about you, and I don't believe in all these legends, it seems to me that all this is a tourist divorce. But the place is definitely very, very beautiful! The beach is wild, sandy and pebble, the entrance to the water with a sharp drop. A visit is a must!
Molos embankment in Limassol – beautiful walking paths, wooden piers that go to the sea, swimming pools, bicycle paths, avant-garde sculptures and compositions, sports grounds, restaurants and cafes, and many more sea, lawns, palm trees, eucalyptuses, flowers and vacationers. In the evening, when the heat subsides, life boils here! From the sea, the embankment is fenced with a mound. I highly recommend visiting this 3km promenade!
Old port of Limassol (located at the end of the Moloss embankment). Limassol is not only the second largest city in Cyprus, but also the center of marine life on the island. This is where the largest port area of Cyprus is located. There are 4 ports in the city. The old port is small and is part of the historic city center. There are fishing boats and tourist yachts! Very atmospheric!
Dasudi Beach is the longest (more than 1 km.) and the most popular beach of the city. Unlike Paphos in Limassol, volcanic sand is gray. There is a eucalyptus grove adjacent to the beach, so there is a lot of greenery. I recommend it!
The Dame Mile beach (located to the west of Limassol 11 km on the Akrotiri Peninsula) is the largest beach in Cyprus, its length is 5 km. There are beaches for every taste: wild, and equipped with all amenities, and pebbles closer to the port, and sandy (to the south, closer to the military base). You can only get here by car. Very gentle entrance to the water and the complete absence of waves! I highly recommend it!
Salt Lake Limassol (1.5 km from the beach of the Ladies Mile) is the largest inland body of water in Cyprus, thousands of flamingos come here for wintering! The entire distance from the sea to the lake is a huge salt desert, which is a dried lake. It is impossible to drive to the lake in a regular car (we still tried, but could not), you need a jeep and a guide, because you risk getting stuck in the mud on the lake shore.
The Governor’s Beach (26 km from Limassol) is an amazing combination of snow-white limestone cliffs and dark volcanic sand! The beach consists of several cozy coves carved into the coastal cliffs. Just unreal landscapes! Be sure to visit!
Fasouri Watermania is the largest water park in Cyprus. Beautiful water park, cool slides! Cost: 30 euros for adults, 14 euros for children from 3 years old. I highly recommend it! And by the way, one of the slides overlooks the salt lake and from there we saw flamingos!
Protorace
The Church of the Prophet Elijah. It is located in the village of Paralimni, on a hill 115 m above sea level Up there are steps that must be counted during the ascent and descent, and according to legend, the number of discrepancies of the steps is the number of your sins (behind me one leads).
From above there is a magnificent view of the surrounding area and the sea! The church itself is small, but very cozy. I definitely recommend it in the evening to meet the sunset.
Luma Beach (located 5 km from Protoras) is a sandy beach (yellow sand), with many date palms, located in the bay, the sea is very calm, the entrance to the water is gentle. Blue flag.
Here on the shore is the Church of St. Nicholas, built in 2007.
There is a pier from where we made a 3-hour boat trip with a glass bottom, with a Russian guide on the route: Famagusta (ghost town – Cape Cavo Greco – Blue Lagoon (bathing).
The cost of the tour is 10 euros adult, 5 euros children. I recommend it!
Three churches square. In the center of Paralimni there are three churches: St. Mary (13th century), the old Church of St. George (19th century), Metropolitan Church of St. George (20th century). The temple is dedicated to George the Victorious, the patron of the city.
Landa Beach (Aya – Napa) is a great beach with white fine sand, which is compared to Maldivian! Excellent beach, and the concentration of vacationers here is slightly less than on other advertised beaches of Ayia Napa and Protoras.
Makronissos Beach (Ayia Napa) - white sand, pure water. It looks a lot like Landa Beach, only bigger. I recommend it.
Nissi Beach is the most advertised beach of Ayia Napa. Clean water, sand, but crowds of people. I don't recommend it.
The Monastery of the Most Holy Mother of God was built in the 16th century, entirely of stone... very unusual and fascinating.
Fig Tree Bay Beach – this beach is considered the best in the resort of Protoras! Here rest not only tourists, but also local residents. Even swimming tight. We had a hard time finding one (!) free bed. The beach, of course, is chic – clean bottom, clear water, sand, a blue flag on merit!
The Talassa Sea Museum in Ayia Napa tells about the riches of the animal and plant world of the sea, as well as its importance in the history of the island of Cyprus. The ticket price is 4 euros adult, 2.5 euros students, 1.5 euros school, the rest of the children are free. It takes 1.5 hours to inspect. We really enjoyed it!
The beach of Konnos Beach is located near Cape Kavo Greco, deservedly has a blue flag - the purest clear water (swimming with a mask is a pleasure). The beach is small, so people are not much, it is more convenient to get by car, there is a bus, but it is far from the stop. Be sure to visit!
Cape Cavo Greco. National Forest Park. This is a gorgeous place, it is hard to believe that without hands and tools, only wind, sea and time have created such a miracle!
There are many hiking trails in the park, the easiest ones will take 45 minutes. Therefore, with our team, we traveled by car along the dirt road all the top places: the church, caves, the bridge of lovers and the observation deck, where we met the sunset. Divinely! Just be sure to visit!
Cave and St. John's Church. Föklı are a few kilometers from Ayia Napa. The church is modern and small. But if you go down to the sea, you will find a cave in which the Holy Great Martyr Theukle is worshipped. It's worth going down, interesting enough. As for the beach on which the church is located, it is not worthy of attention - the water is muddy and dirty.
Larnaca
St. Paul's. Lazarus is a very beautiful church! Here are the relics of St. Lazarus, who is considered the patron saint of the city, and it was he who brought Christianity to Cyprus. Be sure to check in and visit!
Larnaca Castle is nothing interesting.
Finikoudes embankment is the embankment of the city of Laranaka. In comparison with the Molos embankment in Limassol. Everything is littered with Chinese toys, soap bubbles, balloons... which take up too much space!
Mackenzie Beach is located in an unreal proximity to Larnaca – behind the fence you can see the runways! The sensations are amazing – the noise of engines, huge flying planes. As for the beach itself, the sand here is gray, and it is even grayer than in Limassol, the water is clean, but not azure or even blue. And, yes, for the first time during the trip paid parking – 2.5 euros per day.
Hala Sultan Tekke Mosque on the shores of Larnaca Salt Lake is one of the most important Muslim shrines in Cyprus. I personally was in the mosque for the first time, this is a large room with carpets on the floor, inside they walk barefoot (in this regard, before the entrance you need to wash your feet), there are no icons and candles. Near the mosque is a beautiful garden called “Pasha Garden”. From the mosque down lead steps to the salt lake. Sometimes flamingos come here, we haven't met them.
In conclusion, renting a car on vacation is great! This is the freedom to choose routes and travel times! Travel, explore this beautiful world and enjoy life!
Text and photo: Olga Makushkina