Tips for Travel in Cyprus

Cyprus is an enchanting island on the eastern Mediterranean. It’s a mix of Eastern and Western cultures and boasts a breathtaking landscape dotted with charming little villages. The weather is a huge factor – it’s warm all year round but gets a little cooler from September onwards with just a little rain in December – it’s still one of the driest countries in the Meditteranean though!

Cyprus is not just stunning beaches and sunshine, there are endless possibilities for exploring and a fascinating history and impressive architecture also form part of this amazing country.

Cyprus Car Hire Tip – Driving in Cyprus is easy and there are relatively few traffic problems. Cypriots drive on the left hand side and the road signs are also in English making it easy to navigate the island. All motorways are toll free. Traveling between main towns is a possibility using public transport but if you want to discover the real Cyprus the best way to get around is by car. Public transport is not reliable and won’t let you experience the true lifestyle of the Cypriots.

Cyprus Car Hire Tip – The speed limit on motorways is 100km/hr, on regional roads its 80km/hr and in built up areas it’s 50km/hr.

Taking a tour of this breathtaking island by car will leave you with amazing memories. The 40km or so stretch between Larnaca and Agia Napa on the south coast of the island has the best beaches. For much of the journey you’re overlooking Larnaca Bay. Larnaca is steeped in history and you’ll find the Turkish Fort, Lazarus Church and Pierides Museum here.

Travel route A5 south from Larnaca to Limassol and follow the coastline to Paphos. Larnaca is a town with plenty of activity. There are lots of restaurants and lively pubs and great nightlife as well as loads for the kids with a fun park, camel rides and karting. Limassol is not as touristy as other parts of the island. It’s more of a cosmopolitan town with lovely shops, busy markets and shopping centres. Limassol has great beaches and like Larnaca has a bustling nightlife.

The town of Paphos is situated on the coast of Cyprus. Here you can visit the Baths of Aphrodite, the Odeon Theatre, The tombs of the Kings and many museums. For the kids there is the Aphrodite Waterpark. This waterpark is situated in the tourist area of Paphos and hosts the biggest family rafting ride in Europe. It’s the ideal spot to stop if you have kids in tow and it’s a great way to spend a day. There’s just so much to do here – the kids young and old are guranteed to have a ball!

Cyprus Car Hire Tip – Children under 5 years must be strapped into a proper child car seat in the back of the car. Children aged between 5 and 10 can sit in the front passenger seat, provided a safety belt is worn.

Limassol is also a great base for visiting the Troodos Mountains. Travel deep into the countryside and explore the quaint little villages in the Troodos mountain area, which covers a large area of central Cyprus. Troodos is the largest mountain range in Cyprus. It’s peak, Mount Olympus, stands at 1,952 metres tall. Some of the villages in this region well worth checking out include Louvaras, Palaichori, Kourdhali and Pelendri.

While driving around this area you’ll stumble across numerous churches and monasteries and the beauty about having a car is that you can stop at whichever ones you like. One of the more famous monasteries is in Kykkos, about 20km west of Pedoulas – the holy Monastery of the Virgin of Kykkos.

Further north (from Paphos) and close to the town of Polis which overlooks the pretty Chrysochou Bay you’ll find The Baths of Aphrodite. Legend has it that this is where Aphrodite bathed. In historic times people thought that bathing here would aid their fertility. You can travel north of Limassol to Nicosia (Lefkosia), the capital of Cyprus. Nicosia has an abundance of restaurants, pubs, a great nightlife and pedestrianised streets with lovely shops. There are lots of historic sites and it’s surrounded by delightful villages.

If you’re a golf fanatic there are two great courses on the island. Secret Valley is about 18km east of Paphos and 50km from Limassol, while the Donald Steel designed Tsada Golf Course is on the outskirts of Paphos.