6 Days in Cyprus
I’ve had the pleasure of visiting Greek islands on two separate trips. At the end of my second trip, my friend and I spent 6 days in Cyprus driving and exploring the Greek side. Of course, Cyprus is not the typical Greek Island, but more on that later!
My first trip to Greece was a short visit to Athens (which is all you need) and Santorini! I absolutely loved this dreamy Greek island so be sure to check out my post on what to do in Santorini in 3 days! My second trip to Greece included three days in Mykonos, two days in Tinos, and six days in Cyprus!
Cyprus felt different from the other Greek Islands I visited. Part of the reason, I think, is where it is located on the map, and the other reason would be the island’s unique history. Overall, it’s a beautiful island, full of history and wonderful people. Here’s how my friend and I spent 6 days in Cyprus!
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Overview of Cyprus
History
Similar to this entire region of the world, there are remnants of very ancient history, and Cyprus is no exception! The island’s history includes evidence of human activity as early as the Neolithic period.
By the 10th century BC, Cyprus became a significant center for Greek culture. Ancient settlements, such as Salamis and Kourion, left behind impressive ruins that continue to attract archaeological interest.
However, the location of Cyprus made it a coveted land, so the Assyrians, Egyptians, and Persians are also amongst the influences that left their mark on the culture.
In 333 BC, Cyprus fell under the control of Alexander the Great’s empire. As years went by, Cyprus became part of the Hellenistic kingdoms, then the Romans, and later the Byzantine Empire.
Basically, pick a period in history and Cyprus will likely have played a part! Fast forwarding to 1960, Cyprus gained independence. However, tensions between the Greeks and Turkish communities led to a Turkish invasion in 1974.
Modern Day Cyprus
Today the island is divided, but only one side is truly internationally recognized. The island is known as the Republic of Cyprus and Turkey recognizes the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
Though the international community doesn’t recognize the Turkish state in Cyprus, the island is still divided. I do recall speaking to an elderly Greek woman who remembered the invasion and subsequent division. She had no issues with the Turkish people and spoke with sadness about the ripping apart of communities.
Of course, political complexity is rarely a good indication of the people. While I didn’t venture over the green line and into the Turkish side for long, the Greeks in the Republic of Cyprus did seem different to me than Greeks in the other islands. They still had warmth to them, but they had a bit more of a shell or hardness about them. Perhaps it’s the history or maybe it’s the proximity to countries in real turmoil today, or most likely both.
Regardless of your interest in their history, Cyprus is a fascinating place!
DAY ONE | 6 Days in Cyprus
Flight from Mykonos to Cyprus
When I travel, I might let the flight prices decide the location. After all, there are plenty of Mediterranean Islands I’d love to visit! Well, the plane ticket for Mykonos to Cyprus was $30! So that is ultimately why I booked a trip to Cyprus.
Our flight from Mykonos to Paphos, Cyprus was early in the morning, which gave us a good chunk of the day! Once we landed, we picked up the car we rented and headed to the Airbnb. Once we met our host and put our luggage in our accommodation, we headed out to explore Paphos.
Paphos Archaeological Park
Cyprus is full of archeological sites, but I have to say this one is large and packs a punch! We spent about two to three hours walking and exploring and you could spend longer if you’re a history buff!
About the Park
Paphos Archaeological Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The park’s most famous attractions include the well-preserved mosaics in the villas of Nea Paphos, particularly the House of Dionysos, which depict intricate scenes from Greek mythology.
The mosaics, along with the other public buildings, bathhouses, and the Roman Agora, offer a picture of ancient life.
What You Need to Know
Be prepared for heat! My friend and I were visiting in early October and while Mykonos and Tinos had beautiful temperatures, Cyprus was hot! I can’t imagine how hot it would feel in the Summer.
Also wear comfortable shoes, stay hydrated, and consider wearing a hat. Just outside the park are restaurants and shops. Quite the juxtaposition to the ancient landmarks.
St Paul’s Church and Archeological Site
After the archeological park, my friend and I walked to St. Paul’s Church in Kato Paphos. The walk involved main roads and plenty of traffic around. It wasn’t necessarily beautiful, but I enjoy walking and exploring.
St Paul’s Church is a Catholic Church based at the site where Paul was said to have been flogged at a pillar after the Jewish people of that day accused him of blasphemy. According to Act 13, Paul and Barnabas came to Paphos summoned by the governor Sergius Paulus who wanted to hear about Christianity.
The pillar and ruins can be viewed from a walkway suspended over them. It’s free to enter and view, though I am reading on google maps that it’s temporarily closed. Be sure to check before visiting, but I thought it was an interesting stop!
DAY TWO | 6 Days in Cyprus
Blue Lagoon
Blue Lagoon was on my list and I had read you can rent a boat to explore it! Though I had never actually driven a boat, I read that you didn’t need a boating license which really excited me. After breakfast, we drove to Latchi Watersports Centre. It’s in a cute downtown area where I also had another boat rental company bookmarked.
My friend and I walked into their storefront and inquired about boat rentals. They were very helpful and explained the price, time, and confirmed they would give a tutorial on how to drive the boat.
I was excited and my friend more nervously agreed. They gave us a map and instructed us not to go passed the end of the peninsula. Then we hopped into the boat and someone drove us out of the docks into the Mediterranean Sea before giving us the boat to use for the next four hours.
Favorite Day in Cyprus
This was both of our favorite day in Cyprus! I love the ocean! The water is absolutely beautiful and having the freedom to explore was wonderful! I ended up driving most of the time because my friend was nervous, but this was easily our favorite time in Cyprus.
I drove to the furthest point and we anchored for a bit, swimming in the beautiful blue waters. With Cyprus being significantly warmer than Mykonos or Tinos, the water here gets warmer too! While it was not as warm as I prefer, it was warm enough to enjoy!
After spending some time, we started the boat and headed to the next spot to continue exploring and swimming! There were other boats around, but it was not super crowded, which was nice!
I absolutely recommend doing this! However, there are tours if renting is out of your budget or if you’re just not into the idea.
Cape Greco Blue Lagoon and Ayia Napa Tour
Lunch in Polis
After our boating, we ate lunch down the road in Polis. It was a restaurant overlooking Latsi Beach. I don’t recall the food being special, but anything with the ocean in sight is a welcomed environment.
Polis
We continued exploring Polis over to Sand Beach. We ended the day by having dinner in downtown Polis at Finikas. The atmosphere was beautiful. While the food wasn’t memorable, I do recall enjoying the evening.
DAY THREE | 6 Days in Cyprus
Tsangarides Winery
Our Airbnb host must have told us about this Winery because I didn’t have it bookmarked. I’m not a big drinker, but my friend enjoys drinking so we checked out this winery.
After breakfast, we head to Tsangarides Winery. We didn’t have an appointment, but didn’t wait long either for the tasting. A few other people showed up and ended up being part of the tasting as well.
It was very charming! My friend and I enjoyed being in the hills of Paphos as well.
Searays Cafe Bar for Lunch
For lunch we ended up at Searays Cafe Bar and this was my most memorable food experience in Cyprus. I remember the food being fresh and I could see the ocean, which is always a win for me. We were seated outside and the place was quaint and seemingly in the middle of nowhere. And I remember people riding horses at one point as well.
Yes, if the ocean is near my mood just picks up naturally, but I enjoyed this spot!
Sea Caves
After lunch we made our way to view the sea caves and this part of the coast. This area was so cute and the cliffs ended up being stunning! My friend and I walked around taking in the views and of course capturing it as best we could in photographs.
We didn’t swim, but you definitely can! There is a small beach surrounded by dramatic cliffs where several people were swimming. A very beautiful scene!
It’s very dusty here! Most of Cyprus is dusty though. I was wearing Havaianas which I consider to be one of the most comfortable shoes. What can I say, my feet like to breathe, especially when near the ocean on a hot day. If you do wear tennis shoes or any type of canvas shoe they will be a dusty mess when you leave this area.
Corallia Beach Bar for Sunset
We drove down the coast, but in the direction of our Airbnb to find a spot for the sunset. If you’ve been around this blog at all, you know I love catching a sunset! While Cyprus sunsets didn’t deliver the way Tinos did, it’s always worth making time for this, especially on vacation!
We didn’t eat or drink, and since there were few people on the beach, we each got a lounge chair with no issue. I can’t remember if we paid for them, but I don’t think we did based on the time we arrived.
Dinner in Coral Bay Peyia
The place I had actually bookmarked was Coral Bay. I think this was another Airbnb host recommendation. We could have watched the sunset from the beach here, but we stopped sooner along the coast to ensure we didn’t miss it.
This street in Peyia is lined with restaurants! Take your pick! My friend and I chose Italian, but there is seafood, Tex Mex, and Thai to name a few options!
We parked closer to the beach and walked which I think is easier, but not sure it’s necessary.
DAY FOUR | 6 Days in Cyprus
Road Trip to Larnaca
During my 6 days in Cyprus, I split the time in two accommodations. Today we will be checking out of our Paphos Airbnb to check-in to the Larnaca Airbnb. However, we made a road trip of it to get in some landmarks along the way!
Petra tou Romiou (Aphrodite’s Rock)
Our first stop was Aphrodite’s Rock. The car park is easy to find and access. For a beach, kind of in the middle of nowhere, there were a lot of people here!
We didn’t spend long, but definitely took photos and enjoyed the views. Felt a little commercial, but compared to what “commercial” feels like in the States, it was entry level commercial.
Regardless, a stop at one of Cyprus’s most iconic landmarks is a must! According to legend, it is the birthplace of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty. This is the spot Aphrodite is said to have been born from the ocean.
Ancient Kourion
Our next stop was ancient Kourion and we spent about an hour and half here. Considering it was early October, it was very hot! Depending on the time of year you are in Cyprus, consider doing this only in the morning.
This city-kingdom overlooks the Sea and was once thriving in antiquity. The Greco-Roman theatre has been restored, but dates back to the 2nd century BC! Also worth checking out are the well preserved bathhouses, and elaborate mosaics.
Limassol
From the ancient ruins, we headed to the modern day city nearby of Limassol. It’s a beautiful city and felt clean and airy. It had a beautiful walkway on the water as well! While we didn’t stay here long, this seems like a good and quieter base for this part of the island.
Larnaca Airbnb
Our Airbnb here was a room, which is not typically what I rent. However, this home was very well decorated and clean!
Larnaca
After we checked in, we went into town for dinner. As we walked along the boardwalk by the Sea, we ran into America? It was so strange, but it was loaded with chain restaurants and some were American like Pizza Hut and Burger King. Overall, it didn’t feel like I was in Europe.
If I was to do it again, I’d stay in Limossol or a quieter area and just visit Larnaca.
DAY FIVE | 6 Days in Cyprus
Nicosia
Today was the day we into Turkey, though I don’t actually count Turkey as a country I’ve visited. When we told our Airbnb host what our plan was, she did hesitate and I suppose that should have been our clue. Nonetheless we pressed on.
We drove to Nicosia, and made our way to the Ledra Street border crossing. There was a parking garage just off of Ledra Street. I feel claustrophobic in parking garages, but Europe is next level small! So I felt very accomplished just parking, with the help of my friend, because the space was tight!
After my celebration, we walked to the border crossing. The line was terribly long and they simply checked our passport and we continued on. Soon we were walking the streets of Nicosia in Turkey.
It felt like China Town in New York meets the Middle East. While I can’t vouch for the rest of this part of Cyprus, we didn’t like it. I was willing to take a taxi somewhere else to see this part of the island better, but my friend didn’t feel safe enough to do so.
We spent a couple hours walking around and had coffee, but we could have easily spent ten minutes and left. While you can venture into Turkey on your own, I’d recommend a tour for exploring this last divided capital or even the Turkish side in general. A tour will feel safer (especially if you’re two female friends traveling around like us) and you’ll get insight into the history.
Nicosia Shopping Street to Old Town
Once back on the main Cyprus side, we headed down the shopping street. While it was very commercial, we felt safer overall.
We shopped a bit on the way to Old Town where we stopped for lunch. There are plenty of options, but we chose traditional Lebanese food and ate at Fanous Lebanese Restaurant. While you’re down this way, consider wondering the traditional market at Laiki Gitonia.
Lefkara
When we told our Airbnb host our plan, she suggested stopping at Lefkara on the way back. While I thought we would have been on the Turkish side longer, I’m so glad we made note of her recommendation!
The drive to Lefkara was pleasant and what we found was a sleepy village. This reminded us of the cute Greek villages we saw during our 2 days in Tinos and loved it! We bought some jewelry and walked around enjoying the quaint village setting.
DAY SIX | 6 Days in Cyprus
Cape Greco
This day was to be more relaxing as it’s our last day in Cyprus. We started by driving to Cape Greco and enjoyed this natural beauty!
The park is a decent size and we drove around and stopped often to take in the sights. The Mediterranean Sea colors are absolutely mesmerizing! The Sea here was striking and reminded me of Blue Lagoon on the other end of the island!
Fig Tree Bay
We continued driving up the coast until we finally settled at Fig Tree Bay. After lunch, we made our way to the beach. It was packed, but we were able to snag a couple of lounge chairs!
We spent the remainder of the day resting on the beach before heading back to the Airbnb to clean up for dinner.
Our flight would be leaving from Larnaca Airport to London very early in the morning.
Weather in Cyprus
Cyprus has hot summers and mild winters, which isn’t too different from central Florida weather. Though Florida has warmer days in the winter.
Cyprus winter temperatures are in the 50s and 60s. In April it starts climbing into the 70s and the summer can see temperatures in the 90s and even over 100!
While I was there in early October, the temperatures were in the upper 70s, but with the sun shining it felt much warmer.
- Spring (March to May): Spring in Cyprus is mild and pleasant. Daytime temperatures range from 60°F to 75°F.
- Summer (June to August): Summers are hot and dry, with temperatures often reaching 85°F to 95°F along the coast and higher inland, where temperatures can exceed 104°F.
- Autumn (September to November): Early autumn remains warm, with temperatures between 75°F and 90°F in September, gradually cooling down to 60°F to 75°F by November.
- Winter (December to February): Winters are mild and relatively cool, with daytime temperatures ranging from 50°F to 60°F along the coast. Inland areas, particularly in the mountains, can experience colder conditions, and snowfall is possible at higher elevations. Nights can drop to 40°F or lower, especially in the interior.
Best Time to Visit Cyprus
Overall, I’d suggest the fall (or autumn) months! You will have less crowds, but the weather is still warm yet not excruciatingly hot.
If you are mainly interested in the archeological sites, then I’d consider any time except the summer! It felt hot on the sites when I was there in early October, so I can’t imagine going in the summer!
If you’re mainly interested in water activities then summer and fall are the times to go. Just know you will see way more crowds in the summer!
How to Get Around
The best way to get around during your 6 days in Cyprus is to drive! It’s very easy to navigate in the countryside especially and the cities weren’t too bad either! My car rental experience was smooth so I think this is great option!
If that is not your preference, there are buses in Cyprus to get around the major cities. Taxis are also an option in the cities, but there is no uber.
Tours would be a great way to get around if driving is not an option. You can base yourself in a city and book tours from there.
Tour Options
Overall, the tours in Cyprus are very reasonably priced, so I wouldn’t consider this a bad option even budget-wise.
I’ve collected some Cyprus Tours that are worth checking out! They are well rated and worth considering for various destinations in Cyprus!
Other Cyprus Destinations to Consider
Salt Lake
I didn’t visit the lake when I was in Larnaca, but the best time to visit is during the winter when the flamingos are there! So if you’re in Cyprus between November and March, be sure to add this to your 6 day itinerary!
Troodos Mountains
While I did enjoy the countryside of Cyprus to and from the winery and also from Nicosia to Lefkara, I never made it into the mountains during my week in Cyprus. This would definitely be on my list if I was to return to this island.
The main reason being a lot of Cyprus feels very commercial. Perhaps the mountains are as well, but I’m betting they have more quaint vibes.
It’s also wild to me that there is snow in these mountains in the winter! Or if you’re in Cyprus in the summer, the mountains would offer a reprieve from the hot temperatures!
Where to Stay in Cyprus
Overall, I preferred Paphos to Larnaca. However, while I was only in Limassol a short time, I think that could be a nice area to stay as well!
I booked Airbnbs for my 6 days in Cyprus, but I’m tending to choose hotels more often these days. However, it’s worth checking Airbnb, especially if you want to cook or are on a budget!
Paphos
Luxury | Annabelle Hotel
Mid | Avlida Hotel
Budget | Tasmaria Hotel Apts
Limassol
Beach Resorts
Between Paphos and Limassol | Columbia Beach Resort Pissouri
Near Blue Lagoon | Anassa Hotel
6 Days in Cyprus Itinerary
I hope this one week itinerary is helpful as you plan your Cyprus trip! This island is an interesting place and while it’s worth visiting, it doesn’t top my list of favorite places I’ve been. If you go, let me know what you think!
Of course, I do hope you have the best time and are able to create a perfect itinerary for your Cyprus trip!
