Top Things to do in Cyprus

 

Beautiful Cyprus. Sun and sea, steeped in history, culture and great cuisine. So many beaches to visit, sights to see, destinations to explore. It was incredibly relaxing yet we left so much for us to see and do on another visit or indeed another part of Cyprus. It always feels good to be planning your next trip. Although our next trip is a little further afield.

 

A few people asked what attracted us to Cyprus, Protaras specifically. Just like when we visited Crete in 2021 it was the blend of sight seeing, so many beautiful beaches and similar cuisine to Greece. We fell in love with Crete so we thought we would experience similar but a different country this year. It is also really really hot! This year we fell in love with the water, we couldn’t quite believe how blue and crystal clear the waters were and how calm. In comparison to Greece where the waves and swell often meant we couldn’t go into the sea.

 

I was interested to see Ayia Napa and Nissi Beach, I had an impression of what it might be like. I had read that it was very different now to then, and I have to say – it was beautiful, I can see why families visit. They are certainly attracting a certain crowd with the vibe and young families. But in all honesty, in some parts it was just as it was 20 years ago – so Mr H told me!

 

As the saying goes, it’s good to live, travel and explore and I am so glad that we visited Protaras, Cyprus.

 

And here are my top things to do in Cyprus

 

 

1. Sea Caves, Cape Greco

Quite simply, a stunning, natural landmark along the coastline of Ayia Napa not to be missed. Large crowds gather all year round – I would recommend visiting before 9am. The rock formations are so impressive. The crystal clear waters and contrasting colours against the rocks are breath-taking. You will see people cliff jumping, swimming and snorkelling. The caves are ten meters high with deep waters. As a family we explored them on foot, you can reach them safely. There is one main cave that is a popular spot for photos as it offers magnificent views of the caves – if you are lucky you will be able to sit and take in the views as it’s a very relaxing space.

 

 

2. The Blue Lagoon, Ayia Napa

Hidden in the Akamas Peninsula on the most north-westerly tip of the island, it’s another of Cyprus’s hidden gems that are a little tricky to get to. I can imagine it’s a busy spot although on the days we visited it wasn’t. I read that the road to the lagoon isn’t suitable for normal cars so the only way to get there is by 4×4, quad bike, or by boat – not true, we drove in our little fiat! There are food & drinks trucks on the route, we stopped off for homemade lemonade which was a real treat in the morning heat. It’s the perfect place to go snorkelling as there’s so much to see in the crystal-clear waters. Plus, you’ll also be treated to some wonderful views. Climbing down the rocks isn’t for the faint hearted so do bare this in mind. I will admit to watching from the rocks above.

 

 

3. Serena Beach, Protaras

What a memorable 2 days we spent at Serena. A beach, restaurant and sunbathing area that was so pretty, exclusive and some of the best food and cocktails of the holiday. We felt like our day at the beach had been upgraded, we paid for the privilege, it was absolutely worth it. On the weekends the evenings turn into beach parties with the most incredible atmosphere. Family friendly in a gorgeous setting which a stunning small beach cove below. It was quite literally a hidden gem, located in Paralimni, a beach cove with incredible views, crystal clear water and the best cocktails – the Rose Mule is a must try! It’s that beautiful people get married here.

 

 

4. Traditional Cypriot Churches

There are so many to visit, often located in stunning locations with breath-taking views. We managed to visit two this holiday. Ayioi Anargyroi, which forms part of the Cape Greco area in Cyprus. You’ll find this Church situated in a remote corner, it offers fantastic views of the sea. This chapel is known not only for its beautiful and tranquil environment, but also because if you follow the steps down the rocks, you’ll reach a cave from where you can enter the cool waters. We saw the cave from our boat trip and I have to say I am so sad that it was busy the day we visited as I think it would have been a great adventure.

We saw weddings at them both. We also visited the St. Nicholas Church which was located in a nearby harbour in Paralimni. With the sea as a backdrop the view was incredible, you must look inside as unlike in Greece, they were all open to view. We actually ate at one of the harbour restaurants above the Church, which added to the spectacular view. More about that in another post.

 

 

5. Catamaran Boat Trip

What a day. One of our favourite days spent as a family with our friends. Relaxing, eating, drinking (all you can eat & drink), snorkelling and taking in the views. The boat sails around the east coast of Cyprus with it’s main stop at The Blue Lagoon, which was lovely to see from the water. We booked our trip via Viator – we found the organisation to be super and the staff on board to be warm, friendly and so much fun. The day was just what we needed after exploring the Island for a week. We were lucky enough to take the trip on a day where only a few guests boarded which felt like a treat in itself. Maybe Mondays are quieter or quite possibly because it was the last week of the Summer holidays.

A day trip not to be missed. (Ps there was plenty of seating area, however if you want one of the beds on the netting, arrive early as there were only a few)

 

 

Top Things to do in Cyprus

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And that’s my top things to do in Cyprus

 

If you’re wondering about our trip to Crete in 2021 you can find my posts in the Travel section. I’ll be sharing lots more tips, recommendations and information from our trip to Protaras, Cyprus in the coming weeks and months. Do let me know if there is anything you would like help with, and I will try my best to pull it together. I will say this, we had an awesome time, we explored and enjoyed our stay but it isn’t a country or part of Cyprus I would rush back to.