An independent guide
Discover Cyprus
The places, beaches, experiences and routes worth your time, with honest verdicts on what to skip.
Photo: Evelin Magnus · Pexels
Explore Cyprus
Best things to do
Best Things to Do in Cyprus
Cyprus rewards variety: pair one big archaeological site (Paphos Archaeological Park or Kourion), one proper walk (the Akamas or the Troodos), a village lunch and a day on the water.
Best beaches
Best Beaches in Cyprus
For sandy, family-friendly beaches, head east to Nissi, Fig Tree Bay and Makronissos. For wild coastline and turtles, go west to Lara Bay and the Akamas.
Plan your trip
Cyprus Travel Guide
Cyprus works best with a hire car, one or two bases rather than five, and at least a day in the Troodos mountains.
Cyprus itineraries
Explore by interest
- BeachesGuides that help you pick a beach by what you want from the day, not by who has the longest list.
- HistoryTen thousand years of settlement, compressed onto one island.
- NatureGorges, forest and coast, mostly within an hour or two of a beach.
- FoodMeze, village cooking and the dishes worth seeking out.
- WineAn old wine island with a modern industry, concentrated in the foothills of the Troodos.
- FamilyWhere the sea is gentle, the sites are short and dinner is easy.
Latest guides
Best Time to Visit Cyprus
For swimming, summer and early autumn are best: Visit Cyprus says the open sea is above 22°C from June to November.
Cyprus in Autumn
Autumn is a strong season for Cyprus: Visit Cyprus says September and October still suit swimming, sunbathing and watersports, with warm days and cool October evenings, and that November has pleasantly warm days with cool evenings.
Cyprus in Summer
Summer in Cyprus is long, dry and hot, and it is the best season for swimming: Visit Cyprus gives open-sea temperatures above 22°C from June to November, reaching 27°C in August.
Driving in Cyprus
Traffic in Cyprus drives on the left. Visit Cyprus gives the general speed limit as 80 km/h outside towns, 50 km/h in built-up areas and 100 km/h on motorways, and says seat belts are compulsory and a mobile phone must not be used while driving.
Ancient and Archaeological Sites in Cyprus
If you have time for only two sites, choose the Paphos Archaeological Park for Roman mosaics and Kourion for a clifftop theatre and sea views.
Destinations
Compare them allPaphos/Ayia Napa/Protaras/Limassol/Larnaca/Nicosia/Polis/Troodos