Cyprus - where to stay, what to do? Where to avoid?

[Porthia]

If you don’t want a typical week all inclusive resort…?

we are going at Easter (had to use flight vouchers). Kids aged 4-10. Never been to Cyprus before and keen to explore some of the historic sites, culture as well as have time for the kids to play on a beach. Ayia Napa sounds like my idea of hell so was hoping for some recommendations of nice places to visit / stay in!

Which airport are you flying into?

Good news... they drive on the left which makes hire cars a bit easier.

We can fly into either Larnaca or Paphos. I haven’t used the flight vouchers yet but will be booking this week.

and that’s great! I don’t mind driving on the right but it does feel more like home on the left!

We got to Paphos every October. It's truly wonderful. I am an ancient historian so historic sites are a must for us!

If you stay in Paphos you will be very close to the Archaeological Park (which is HUGE and has some of the best Classical Greek mosaics in the world), also the medieval Castle on the harbour. There's also the Tombs of the Kings a short walk from the centre. You will also find St Paul's pillar next to the beautiful Agia Kyriaki Chrysopolitissa church (which is built over a much older religious site with loads of classical architecture and mosaic to see).

I have 3 kids and they enjoy too. Beaches are wonderful, loads of kid friendly stuff too.

Again napa is beautiful and has some of the best beaches. The centre and party area is tiny - the harbour and marina are lovely. You can stay outside of the main buzz or stay in protaras. I lived in Cyprus for 10 years and Connor recommend ayia napa and the surrounding areas enough. Prefer it massively over protaras. You can easily travel over to the north from there too which is a whole other world of beautiful scenery and history

My children would say the best bits are

• Waterworld (Ayia Napa)
• the Pirate ship out of Ayia Napa
• the beach

All of which are pretty generic things!

(We lived near Larnaca. They were both Under 6 when we left...)

The pastries and Meze were lovely (Cypriot meze is different to Greek meters... its basically a massive multi course feast which leaves you feeling if you don't need to eat for a month)
I loved the Troodos mountains.

To add ayia napa has a big amusement park for dc , a sculpture park, loads of good boat trips (including a mermaid one in neighbouring protaras) if dc like that sort of thing. Dd who is nearly 10 still talks about mermaids as if they were real now after swimming with them on the trip. There are sea caves to explore at cape Greco.

Get an Air BnB. Stay near Paphos so you can drive/taxi in for evenings if you want to. Hire a car for trips out (Troodos etc) and supermarket. Have a fabulous time, we love Cyprus and it'll be where we take DD on her first abroad holiday.

Protaras. It's lovely there ... one of our fav places

I’d stay on the paphos side of the island. We stayed in pissouri last time we went and it was a bit soulless. I’d recommend a visit to kourion amphitheatre - there might even be something on for you to watch during your visit as they stage plays and music events.

the tomb of the kings is good for exploring, and heading into the paphos forest to kelefos bridge and milimeris waterfalls is a good day out. You can also do jeep tours of the Akamas peninsular which is a national park and uninhabited.

Apparently if you go early to agios Giorgios harbour you’ll see turtles following the fishing boats in. Also a nice little beach for swimming (if you’re brave enough at Easter!) you might also spot turtles at night just swimming around in paphos harbour

Not pissouri - protaras was a bit soulless

Oh there’s a pirate ship that does day trips out of paphos too but I haven’t been on it - I believe it’s imaginatively called the Jolly Roger but may not be running so early in the year.

Ooh thanks for the info!!! That’s interesting about Ayia Napa. Definitely up for things like water parks (if warm enough at Easter!?) but don’t want to be in a “Brits abroad” party town.

my degree is in archaeology so am very interested in all the history side of things. We are also foodies and keen to try local food and drink (although the kids often prefer less adventurous options… 🙄).

basically would like to do some fun things for the kids, plus a nice beach which isn’t too overdeveloped, some nice archaeological sights and a nice centre to wander around, find a little bar or cafe to grab a coffee or glass of wine before dinner.

happy to move around as we have 10 days so could do 3 nights in one location and move etc to see the most!

is it easy to go between the south and the north?

Protaras is lovely, lots to do nearby and lovely beaches. You can go over to the northern side easier from there if you fancy it - I think tours take place and going through the UN buffer zone is really sobering. Famagusta is lovely once you cross

It may have changed but you didn't use to be able to take a hire car over the border. (Straightforward in your own vehicle or organised tour.) You can walk over in Nicosia.

The ghost villages are spooky... you can't actually go in them but loads are visible from the public roads.