March 2025

Charming Cyprus 

Cyprus is a super fun, charming spot just under a 4-hour flight from Dubai. This Turkish-Greek island offers the perfect blend of relaxation and sightseeing. We visited in spring when the temperatures were a pleasant 20-25°C. Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean, covering around 9,300 km², with only Sardinia and Sicily being bigger.

Where we stayed

3 nights Paphos; Casa Mespilea; a traditional Bourgeois Townhouse in the center of Paphos. 

2 nights mountain village of Lefkara; Ample Places; eat, sleep and live in an authentic rural house of a local. 

We pre-booked a car at the airport, so we were ready to hit the road, as soon as we arrived. In Cyprus, motorists drive on the left-hand side of the road. 

Road tripping in Cyprus

Cyprus offers plenty to explore, from the westernmost to the southernmost point, which makes it ideal to have your own car. In Cyprus they drive on the left, so this might be tricky in the beginning if you are used to driving the other way around.

Nature lovers will ❤️ Cyprus

Cyprus is a fantastic destination for nature lovers! The island offers a stunning variety of landscapes, from rugged mountains and rolling hills to pristine beaches and lush forests. Cyprus has over 50 marked nature trails, making it an ideal destination for hiking enthusiasts.

Useful to know

Cyprus is part of the European Union (EU), but it's not part of the Schengen Area, so visa requirements vary based on your nationality. EU/EEA nationals do not need a visa to enter, non-EU nationals may require a visa. The currency in Cyprus is euro.

Akamas Peninsula

 

 

 

 

Our Highlights

  • Paphos

  • Akamas Peninsula | hiked the Aphrodite Trail

  • Hiked into the Avakas Gorge

  • Aphrodite's Rock | Troodos Mountains | Omodos | Olympus, or Chionistra, at 1,952 metres (6,404 ft), the highest point of Cyprus

  • (Pano) Lefkara (famous for its handmade lace and silverware)

  • Nicosia (worlds' last divided capital)

  • Lover’s Bridge & Cape Cavo Greco (the most south-eastern point of Cyprus)

Travel journey 

The first days of our trip to Cyprus we spent in Paphos, the largest city on the island’s west coast. It’s full of history, from Roman mosaics to the medieval ‘Paphos Castle,’ which dates back to the 13th century. Originally built for defense against invasions and piracy, today the castle offers stunning views of the Mediterranean and is a must-see.

Hiking the Aphrodite's Trail

From Paphos, we drove to the Akamas Peninsula, a nature reserve with untouched bays and rugged landscapes. We hiked the Aphrodite Trail, which winds through forests and cliffs, offering amazing views of the sea. 

The hike is a loop of approximately 7.5km, took us to a viewpoint at the summit before looping back down the other side.

We started at the Baths of Aphrodite, ascended 340 meters over the course of about an hour, reaching the Moutti tis Soutiras plateau, where we've got rewarded with stunning views of the peninsula below.

Avakas Gorge

Another highlight was Avakas Gorge, one of the island’s most stunning natural wonders. The gorge was formed by a wild stream over thousands of years, creating towering limestone walls and beautiful rock formations. 

The first part of the gorge is the most impressive, before it leads into a peaceful valley.

White River Beach

On the way back we found a beautiful lunch spot on White River Beach. On the beach there are all kinds of towers where turtles can nest.

Coast near Aphrodite's Rock

Aphrodite's Rock; the Birthplace of a Goddess

After three nights in Paphos, we headed to the south side of the island. To get there, we took a scenic road trip. First we stopped in Petra to Romiou, to see the coast area around Aphrodite's Rock.

One of these rocks (the left one in the picture above) has been given the name Aphrodite Rock - partly because of the foam that forms at its base, which recalls the story of the deity's birth. A local story is that anyone who swims around the rock will be blessed with eternal beauty.

The coast here is so dramatic and rugged, with beautiful jagged rock formations jutting out of the sea. Stunning landmark!

At this location a small monument was also created with all loose stones, which were written by people with their names and wishes. We also wrote a stone with our names (with a regular pen ;-)

Troodes Mountains

Then we followed our way to the Troodos Mountains and stopped in the village of Omodos. It’s a beautiful place to explore traditional architecture and local crafts, plus there are plenty of great lunch spots. We had a local dish, Chicken Kebab with Greek salad, which was very tasteful. 

We visited the Monastery of the Holy Cross, centrally located in the village of Omodos which is also known as the Holy Cross and the Honest Cross Monastery. In Greek this is Timios Stavros (Μοναστήρι του Τιμίου Σταυρού), which means Honest. The Holy Cross Monastery is the oldest monastery in Cyprus but well maintained. 

We wandered through the narrow alleys with beautiful views.

Then, We drove on to Olympus, or Chionistra, at 1,952 metres, the highest point of Cyprus. 

We didn't stay too long here, as it was only 10 degrees at the top! This roadtrip to the highest point is fantastic, we were rewarded with majestic views over the valley with beautiful, authentic villages, such as Pachna. The mountain range is in the tree line, where we surprisingly spotted many primeval trees, such as the black pine tree. These are very tall trees, with a trunk between 5 and 8 meters around.

Lefkara

Our end destination was the mountain village of Lefkara, where we stayed for 2 nights in a beautiful rural house. This hilly village is famous for its many shops with handmade lace and silverware. It’s a hidden gem!

Bridge of Love

Nicosia, world's last divided capital city

We also explored Nicosia, the island's largest city, which is unique because it’s the last divided capital in Europe. The border cuts right through the center, separating the Greek Cypriot south from the Turkish Cypriot north. 

We walked through the southern part of Nicosia, ending up in the streets of the old town and visiting the Panagia Faneromeni Church.

Border crossing to North Cyprus

We also visited Northern Cyprus. This part of Cyprus was created after the invasion of Turkey in 1974 and resulted in the establishment of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in 1983. 

The capital of Cyprus is a kind of Berlin before the fall of the wall. A buffer zone guarded by the UN has been established between the northern and southern parts, and you have passport control on both sides. We crossed the border at Ledra Street.

We must admit that we liked this part of Nicosia better, it was much more alive. We had lunch at the Büyük Han courtyard, a place with many Turkish restaurants and shops.

Ayia Napa - Lover's Bridge

For our last day, we drove to the south east of the island, to Ayai Napa, where we had lunch.   

After lunch, we drove to Ayia Napa's famous landmark, the Lover’s Bridge. With a bit of climbing and scrambling we were able to reach the bridge which made for some great photos.

Cape Cavo Greco

Since we had an evening flight, we still had some time left and decided to drive to the most south-eastern point of Cyprus, to Cape Cavo Greco. This peninsula is known for its crystal-clear turquoise waters and the rough white water against the jagged rocks. A beautiful spot to wrap up our trip. 

Until we meet again..! 

Our time in Cyprus was over and we flew back from Larnaca International Airport to Dubai.

More Greek vibes

Greece is just a wonderful travel destination. You can read our blog about Crete here.

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