Cyprus - where to go?
Discussion
There’s a thread in here which I’ve spent the last 20 minute looking for but inevitably cannot find, about the best places to go around Cyprus with a car.
I can’t find it so starting a new one and wouldn’t mind an updated version if anyone is willing to help.
We are staying in Protaras and have a car for a couple of days from Wednesday and looking for some recommendations please chaps/chappettes.
It’s me and the better half and would personally like a bit of general touristy sh*t, maybe a nice beach for a few hours, anything you can suggest really! TIA.
I can’t find it so starting a new one and wouldn’t mind an updated version if anyone is willing to help.
We are staying in Protaras and have a car for a couple of days from Wednesday and looking for some recommendations please chaps/chappettes.
It’s me and the better half and would personally like a bit of general touristy sh*t, maybe a nice beach for a few hours, anything you can suggest really! TIA.
We were there last week, in Paralimni, so not far.
The Famagusta viewing point is quite interesting, albeit small and relatively basic. There's a chap there that does tours of the abandoned town, if that floats your boat.
Fig Tree Bay has a lovely beach and the water is crystal clear - busy though I'd suspect, now that we're in to school holidays.
If you're into really using your car, take a drive up the Troodos mountains. Stunning views, although take something warm, even at this time of year.
Ayia Napa has a reputation for partying but, from the short visit we had, was actually a nice little town with a lovely harbour. One for during the day, I suspect. There are also sea caves there, which are very well reviewed.
The Famagusta viewing point is quite interesting, albeit small and relatively basic. There's a chap there that does tours of the abandoned town, if that floats your boat.
Fig Tree Bay has a lovely beach and the water is crystal clear - busy though I'd suspect, now that we're in to school holidays.
If you're into really using your car, take a drive up the Troodos mountains. Stunning views, although take something warm, even at this time of year.
Ayia Napa has a reputation for partying but, from the short visit we had, was actually a nice little town with a lovely harbour. One for during the day, I suspect. There are also sea caves there, which are very well reviewed.
Thank you, both.
Will definitely try the Famagusta. We did Fig Tree Bay this morning, went a run and a dip in the sea (7:30am so was just us there more or less - yes we are ‘that’ couple).
We’ve got a VW Up!, I think, so will see how that fairs on the winding roads.
Thanks again both for your help. More suggestions welcome as hoping to make most of the couple of days with the car.
Will definitely try the Famagusta. We did Fig Tree Bay this morning, went a run and a dip in the sea (7:30am so was just us there more or less - yes we are ‘that’ couple).
We’ve got a VW Up!, I think, so will see how that fairs on the winding roads.
Thanks again both for your help. More suggestions welcome as hoping to make most of the couple of days with the car.
In all seriousness, the Kykkos Monastery is worth a visit. It's very ornate and has in interesting museum. Entry to the monastery is free, there's a charge to get into the museum.
There's a tiny rose factory in Argos, if you're passing. Family run, the roses grow on the surrounding terraces. Quite fun. But, you'll be in and out in 30 mins.
We spent a day on Agios Theodorous beach. There's a couple of places dotted along that part of the coastline. Here's one...
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g3...
There's a tiny rose factory in Argos, if you're passing. Family run, the roses grow on the surrounding terraces. Quite fun. But, you'll be in and out in 30 mins.
We spent a day on Agios Theodorous beach. There's a couple of places dotted along that part of the coastline. Here's one...
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g3...
Edited by Blib on Monday 24th July 18:48
I live in Cyprus, but more familiar with the Paphos end.
Troodos is a good call. The roads up there are very good, recently resurfaced and not at all tricky, see below for some fun we had a few weeks back.
Famagusta is a good call
Limassol is a city but with lots to see and do apart from holiday stuff
Paphos out towards Akamas is nice but a VW Up won’t cope with the roads.
Further over Latchi and Polis are beautiful places to grab lunch and have a gentle drive over to Pomos way. That’s where the mountain roads get twisty.
Nissi beach in Ayia Napa is one of the most beautiful beaches in Europe. Sadly it’s a bit focussed on the boom boom boom b
ks of teenagers so don’t plan on staying long.
Also consider a trip to the Guost Town Varousha. Trips are organised now and it’s quite spooky stepping back into a 50 year time warp. Take your passports though if going and you won’t be able to take your hire car over the border.
Mountain roads twisty? Nah. I’m not the camera bike, but I’m there.
https://youtu.be/x_wv5jUH6lA
Just to add it is stupid hot and will get hotter into August. The locals go on holiday off island and most industry shuts down (not tourism obviously) so that should tell you something. Lots of hydration with electrolytes and lots of sun cream will be required.
Troodos is a good call. The roads up there are very good, recently resurfaced and not at all tricky, see below for some fun we had a few weeks back.
Famagusta is a good call
Limassol is a city but with lots to see and do apart from holiday stuff
Paphos out towards Akamas is nice but a VW Up won’t cope with the roads.
Further over Latchi and Polis are beautiful places to grab lunch and have a gentle drive over to Pomos way. That’s where the mountain roads get twisty.
Nissi beach in Ayia Napa is one of the most beautiful beaches in Europe. Sadly it’s a bit focussed on the boom boom boom b
ks of teenagers so don’t plan on staying long. Also consider a trip to the Guost Town Varousha. Trips are organised now and it’s quite spooky stepping back into a 50 year time warp. Take your passports though if going and you won’t be able to take your hire car over the border.
Mountain roads twisty? Nah. I’m not the camera bike, but I’m there.
https://youtu.be/x_wv5jUH6lA
Just to add it is stupid hot and will get hotter into August. The locals go on holiday off island and most industry shuts down (not tourism obviously) so that should tell you something. Lots of hydration with electrolytes and lots of sun cream will be required.
Edited by LF5335 on Monday 24th July 19:12
Thanks again all for the suggestions.
To update a thread, today we drove to Nissi Beach at around 9am and saw it was HEAVING and so jumped back in the car and drove along the coast to Lefkara. A TUI rep in the hotel mentioned it this morning.
Was a great call. Extremely quiet and authentic.
We then got back in and drove up north to Nicosia. Whether we were in the wrong place or not (we wanted the old town), but extremely underwhelmed.
Finally came back around 5pm to Nissi beach in the hope it had quietened. It had not. And so we braved it. Lovely warm water but never seen as many people on a single beach in my life!
Famagusta, Salamis, Vergusha(sic?) and Cape Greko beckon tomorrow!
To update a thread, today we drove to Nissi Beach at around 9am and saw it was HEAVING and so jumped back in the car and drove along the coast to Lefkara. A TUI rep in the hotel mentioned it this morning.
Was a great call. Extremely quiet and authentic.
We then got back in and drove up north to Nicosia. Whether we were in the wrong place or not (we wanted the old town), but extremely underwhelmed.
Finally came back around 5pm to Nissi beach in the hope it had quietened. It had not. And so we braved it. Lovely warm water but never seen as many people on a single beach in my life!
Famagusta, Salamis, Vergusha(sic?) and Cape Greko beckon tomorrow!
Blib said:
There's a tiny rose factory in Argos, if you're passing. Family run, the roses grow on the surrounding terraces. Quite fun. But, you'll be in and out in 30 mins.
Err, I think you meant AGROS, which is a lot more interesting than the catalogue shop that we don't have here.Anyway, I've just got back from taking some friends to Paphos airport.
I live halfway up a mountain and I've seen temperatures of 42 this week.
The humidity on the coast really is something to behold tonight, once I got about 250M above sea level the humidity disappeared and a, relatively, cool 32 felt really nice.
My advice would be, head to the hills, explore, get lost, enjoy!
Kalavasos is worth a trip for lunch!
Only went once but really enjoyed it. We had a car & went up Troodos, would recommend as others said. One thing we did, not seen mentioned was Woolworths in Nicosia. No idea if it's even still there but the building will be. You can go up to the top floor where there's a clear view over to the Kyrenia mountains in the north & a decent bit of trolling cut in to the mountain by the Turks.
It’s on the link below. It’s quite a serious part of the whole occupation and invasion problem, that’s never going to get resolved. 50 year anniversary is next year and the view is that Turkey is simply waiting u til anyone who was alive when it happened has died and then to push for full recognition of the country, rather than now where it is an illegal occupation. It’s also the biggest reason why Turkey will never be able to join the EU even if they wanted to. It’s not actually the Turkish flag, it’s the colours are reversed and the lines are different too, it’s just another part of the unofficial attempt to make it a standalone country.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/36VKhkKHTqVubEkG6?g_st=ic
https://maps.app.goo.gl/36VKhkKHTqVubEkG6?g_st=ic
Joker square has by far the best live band there, even bought some of their merch.
Kohili beach bar was the nicest grown up beach that we found. Has a bar, ice-cream, food and was far enough away from the usual idiots.
Nameless did a wicked dinner, massive pork chop thing and brilliant service.
Kohili beach bar was the nicest grown up beach that we found. Has a bar, ice-cream, food and was far enough away from the usual idiots.
Nameless did a wicked dinner, massive pork chop thing and brilliant service.
Muzzer79 said:
We were there last week, in Paralimni, so not far.
The Famagusta viewing point is quite interesting, albeit small and relatively basic. There's a chap there that does tours of the abandoned town, if that floats your boat.
Fig Tree Bay has a lovely beach and the water is crystal clear - busy though I'd suspect, now that we're in to school holidays.
If you're into really using your car, take a drive up the Troodos mountains. Stunning views, although take something warm, even at this time of year.
Ayia Napa has a reputation for partying but, from the short visit we had, was actually a nice little town with a lovely harbour. One for during the day, I suspect. There are also sea caves there, which are very well reviewed.
Thanks for reminding me of Fig Tree Bay, I haven't been there since summer 1971- my aunt and uncle lived in Famagusta for a number of years, as he was stationed there with RAF, really fond memories of Fig Tree BayThe Famagusta viewing point is quite interesting, albeit small and relatively basic. There's a chap there that does tours of the abandoned town, if that floats your boat.
Fig Tree Bay has a lovely beach and the water is crystal clear - busy though I'd suspect, now that we're in to school holidays.
If you're into really using your car, take a drive up the Troodos mountains. Stunning views, although take something warm, even at this time of year.
Ayia Napa has a reputation for partying but, from the short visit we had, was actually a nice little town with a lovely harbour. One for during the day, I suspect. There are also sea caves there, which are very well reviewed.
I haven't been back since but my aunt & uncle used to visit regularly, doing guided tours into Famagusta, to see their old villa and hang-outs
Another relative visited Fig Tree Bay and saw dit was more or less as she remembered it
I remember Salamis well but also a place called Apostolos Andreas, right up at top of the "pan-handle" - it was quite a trip in my uncle's ford escort with 5 of us crammed in - unfortunately it's in the Turkish sector now
We hired a beat up quad bike from ham yam rentals at 60 euros for 24 hours, which we figured was cheaper than a puncture in the hire car and drove around Blue Lagoon, cavo greko and sea caves where everyone does their insta profile pics https://maps.app.goo.gl/VRndjxfqgGCSK7Li6
Nick's bottle shop and exchange for duty free stuff, likes cash if you've got a surplus of it.
Nick's bottle shop and exchange for duty free stuff, likes cash if you've got a surplus of it.
Edited by s p a c e m a n on Thursday 27th July 15:07
Edited by s p a c e m a n on Thursday 27th July 15:08
Day done, back at hotel now.
Thank you again all for the recommendations. A couple have said it’s a helpful thread so I’ll just put my take away here fwiw.
We went Famagusta first, couldn’t take hire car over border (I think this is normal practise). So we parked up and walked over - got about a mile and half and decided we’ve seen all we can as it’s difficult with no car, obviously it’s 35/40*c. We saw Verosha, which was an eye opener and then we went to the viewing point which was quite good and worth going only if you’re out that way.
Then the beaches - Cape Greco, Blue Lagoon, Konnos Beach and The Sea Caves.
Sea Caves you couldn’t really get in without climbing and that was quite late in the day where it was really quite windy and very choppy sea.
Konnos Beach a quiet little gem. Difficult to park up.
Cape Greco was the best of the lot though, us and 1 other couple where we were snorkelling for the best part of 2 hours!
Thank you again all for the recommendations. A couple have said it’s a helpful thread so I’ll just put my take away here fwiw.
We went Famagusta first, couldn’t take hire car over border (I think this is normal practise). So we parked up and walked over - got about a mile and half and decided we’ve seen all we can as it’s difficult with no car, obviously it’s 35/40*c. We saw Verosha, which was an eye opener and then we went to the viewing point which was quite good and worth going only if you’re out that way.
Then the beaches - Cape Greco, Blue Lagoon, Konnos Beach and The Sea Caves.
Sea Caves you couldn’t really get in without climbing and that was quite late in the day where it was really quite windy and very choppy sea.
Konnos Beach a quiet little gem. Difficult to park up.
Cape Greco was the best of the lot though, us and 1 other couple where we were snorkelling for the best part of 2 hours!
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