Cyprus
The island of Cyprus is located in the eastern waters of the Mediterranean Sea. This place attracts tourists all year round with very different requests and expectations. Here everyone will find entertainment to his liking. Modern cozy hotels will flash with their excellent service. Traditional villages allow you to experience the unhurried beauty of life. A lot of monuments of ancient culture give an opportunity to touch the history of the island. And lovers of outdoor activities await mountain trails, snow-capped peaks and inhabitants of the underwater world.
Regions and resorts of Cyprus
Nicosia is the capital of the island. This is an administrative center at the same time for two states, such as the Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. For most tourists, the city is unpopular, but definitely deserves your attention. In Nicosia, there are many interesting museums, as well as restaurants of Greek and Turkish cuisine. It is a beautiful ancient city that will show you Cyprus without embellishment.
The city of Limassol is the most visited and large resort on the island. This is a wonderful place for a desired family vacation. For "small" travelers in hotels there is animation, amusement parks and fun aquaparks. But the youth will not be bored either. Night clubs, bars and beach discos will open their doors to all party lovers. In addition, Limassol is considered the most "Russian-speaking" resort.
The resort of Ayia Napa is perfect for a fun-filled youth holiday. In the city there are fun clubs, discos on the beach, and also excellent bars and restaurants of different directions. Ayia Napa is "local Ibiza", but much cheaper. Here the people of Cyprus have a rest with great pleasure.
The most inexpensive resort in Cyprus is Larnaca. The city is well suited for a quiet and measured rest. Sandy white beaches and gently sloping entrance to the blue sea like lovers to bask in the sun. And affordable prices for accommodation can compensate for the lack of a developed entertainment infrastructure. The city is also home to the main airport of Cyprus.
Pathos. For a long time you can talk about this city. In ancient times, Paphos was the capital of Cyprus. Now it is by right the most elite resort on the island, where wealthy tourists rest. In Paphos, a large number of luxury hotels for a refined stay, and restaurants will provide leisure for true gourmets. On the sea coast of this resort there are many secluded places and wonderful places for a romantic holiday.
Quiet resort Protaras will surprise with affordable apartments and wide beaches. Rocky bays of the coast will be an excellent background for photos from the holidays. A wonderful family vacation is provided for you. If desired, you can go to Ayia Napa - 15 minutes by taxi.
Troodos Nature Reserve welcomes tourists with cool forests of cedar. There are many quiet and colorful villages. Particularly interesting is the village of Kakopetria, which is famous for its ceramics. In the mountains, snow falls in winter and there is an opportunity to ski and snowboard. There are also a lot of historical monuments to visit. For example, the famous monastery of Kykkos, where is the icon of the Mother of God, known throughout the Orthodox world.
Climate
The temperate climate of Cyprus is rich in sunny days all year round. Winters are short and mild, the temperature during this period varies from +16 to +19 degrees. In the coldest month - February - in the highlands the temperature drops below zero and snow falls out enough for active skiing. The summer period on the island lasts from mid-May to mid-October. The temperature of the air warms up to +35 degrees (and this is in the shade), but low humidity helps calmly transfer this heat.
The sun gives Cyprus about 320 warm days. Near the coast of the island the average temperature of the sea in July is +23 ° C, and in winter +14 degrees. Thus, the swimming season is open almost all year round.
Money
The Republic of Cyprus since the beginning of 2008 is part of the euro area. Accordingly, the Euro (EUR) is the monetary unit of the country. The airport has 24-hour currency exchange offices. Although the rate there is not the most profitable for a tourist. Also, the currency can be easily exchanged in banks upon arrival in the resort city.
Also in large cities, around-the-clock ATMs are enough. Please note that the commission for withdrawing from 2 to 4%. Credit cards of such payment systems as Visa and Mastercard can be calculated almost everywhere. But American Express in most establishments can not accept.
Beaches
In Cyprus, all the beaches without exception are municipal, and therefore free. Only umbrellas and beds will be paid in this case. Only in the most expensive hotels all this is provided without additional payment. And most importantly - most beaches are marked with a blue flag, which indicates their exceptional cleanliness.
"Nissi Beach", which in Ayia Napa, is a wide strip of beach with white sand and wonderful transparent water. There are a lot of beach discos and bars that will provide leisure for active youth.
In Protaras, beaches are perfect for a holiday with children, since the sea is shallow. It's worth to visit Fig bay - the pearl of this resort.
On the beaches of Larnaca here and there you can see small pebbles, and the bottom of the sea is completely sandy. The most popular beaches of this resort are Finikudis, Mackenzie and the beach of the Cyprus Tourism Organization.
The beaches of Limassol are suitable for a quiet family holiday with children, and for party lovers all night long. A distinctive feature of this place is volcanic sand. It is greyish due to the silicon content in it, which has a beneficial effect on the skin.
"Lady's Mile" is the longest beach in Cyprus. It is located west of Limassol. The Cypriots love to relax here, but relatively few tourists. The beach "Gubernatorsky", which is located in the east of Limassol, the second most popular. There are a lot of parties here.
Porta di Romiu is the world-famous beach of the island, which is located between the resorts of Paphos and Limassol. According to legend, it was here that the sea goddess of love and beauty of Aphrodite was born from the foam. The beach is small in size and pebbly. With pebbles, and one interesting belief is connected - someone who finds a pebble in the shape of a heart, will certainly meet his love in the near future. There are a lot of tourists here, because this place is included in most excursion tours.
Security
The Republic of Cyprus is one of the safest countries in the world according to statistics. The rights of travelers are protected by the legislation of the country at all levels. And so for the Cypriots in the order of things do not close the car or do not leave the keys in the ignition. Tourists can safely move through the island without fear for their safety.
Family holiday
Very much like to rest in Cyprus families with children. There are a number of good reasons for this. Here, the mild climate complements the longest summer season in the Mediterranean. On clean beaches there are safe gently sloping entrances to the sea. Local people are very friendly, and especially to children. And the presence of a developed infrastructure of children's entertainment makes traveling with children simple and fascinating.
Most of the hotels on the island took care of a comfortable stay with children. There are many children's pools, water slides, a number of playgrounds, as well as animation at a high level. In restaurants there is a special menu for children and not uncommon high chairs. In most resort areas there are zoos and lunaparks for a fun and cognitive holiday. A variety of sightseeing tours can appeal to older children. This gives an opportunity to explore the famous historical places of Cyprus and visit numerous museums.
Diving in Cyprus
Cyprus has a number of advantages for this type of recreation, such as diving. Scuba diving here will be interesting for both certified divers and beginners in this business. Almost all year round, this island has wonderful climatic conditions for diving, but the main season lasts from May to November. During this period of the year the water can warm up to 30 degrees.
Dive centers for beginners in Cyprus. Compulsory education includes full instruction, work in the pool with scuba and only then dive in open water (depth no more than 10 m.). Experienced divers are attracted by the possibility of technical diving - diving to sunken ships and technical objects.
Near the coast of Larnaca is one of the most fascinating dive sites on the planet. In 1980, the Swedish ferry "Zenobia" went down here with all the trucks that were on board. At one time, this vessel was nicknamed "Titanic of the Mediterranean" for its impressive size. In the same waters during World War II, the last cruiser HMS Cricket found its last resting place.
The resort of Paphos will also be of interest to diving enthusiasts. In these warm waters there is a unique natural monument called Amphitheater. It is located at a depth of 12 meters and very much like the ancient Greek amphitheater. Amphorae Reef is a picturesque place where, in ancient times, Greek triremes and galleys with a lot of amphorae and other pottery artifacts went to the bottom. Also worth a visit is the Greek ship Achilleas, which crashed in 1975 due to a mysterious explosion.
Cuisine and restaurants of Cyprus
The national cuisine of Cyprus perfectly combines the Greek and Turkish culinary traditions. The basis is based on recipes from meat, fish and vegetables. Cypriots consider only fresh food suitable for consumption. Therefore, be sure that only fresh food will be used for all dishes. It is better to begin acquaintance with the Cyprian cuisine with "meze". This is not just a dish, but a whole complex dinner of more than 20 dishes. Each institution has its own idea of "meze", and therefore it is meat, fish or mixed. Be sure to serve it all kinds of salads, sauces, grilled or fresh vegetables.
The locals are great lovers of meat. And the popular souvlaki dish is a direct confirmation of this. In fact, these are small shish kebabs, for which pork, lamb or chicken are most often used. It is traditionally served on a wooden skewer and wrapped in a fresh cake. Gastronomic tourists are sure to be pleased with the "Mussaka" - a puffed casserole of minced meat and fresh vegetables under a cheese crust. Also, the main Cypriot meat dishes are "kleftiko". The very name of the dish is associated with a word that is translated from Greek as a "thief". In the old days, poor peasants stole a goat or lamb from a rich landowner. The meat of the animal was baked in an earthen vessel with fragrant herbs. The oven was very tightly closed so that the smell was not given out by the thief. Now no one is stealing animals for this dish, but the cooking technology has remained.
In Cyprus, you must try the local cheese "halumi". This is a pickle cheese made from goat's and sheep's milk. But halumi just do not serve it! Cooks on the island know a lot of recipes using this product. The easiest way, but from this no less tasty, grilled cheese. Halumi does not spread at all, but just becomes softer and acquires a mouth-watering ruddy crust. A similar dish will be offered in every tavern as a snack and be sure together with olives and vegetable salad.
Particular attention should be paid to strong drinks in Cyprus. Commandaria is the national pride of this island. This is a red dessert wine with a very rich bouquet and an equally rich history. The first mention of this wine is dated 1191 year. Began to produce his Knights-Ioannites in the monastery of Kykkos on Troodos. "Zivania" is another very famous drink of Cyprus with a strength of 45-49 degrees. In fact, this is grape moonshine. Fans of a foamy drink will appreciate "KEO". This local beer is produced to a high standard of quality, and it can be found in any tavern or shop.
The island is very popular with traditional family taverns. They are small cozy restaurants, which are inherited from father to son. As a rule, the owner and his relatives work there. In each such tavern you will find all the famous local dishes. But each owner will bring his zest and understanding of how it should be prepared. The hospitality of the Cypriots is displayed on the sizes of portions - sometimes they are simply huge.
Holidays and Events
A separate occasion for visiting Cyprus will be various local festivals and holidays. In the seaside towns in late spring, celebrate the Feast of Water or the "Cataclysmos". These days there is the largest and most important festival of folklore of Cyprus. Anfestiria is a colorful and exciting May festival of flowers in the resort of Protaras. In summer, the famous festival of dramatic art is held in the city of Limassol. Theatrical companies come from all over the world and give their performances on the stage of the ancient Greek theater Curio and in other ancient buildings.
