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Larnaca, a city in the eastern area of Cyprus, is the leading tourist destination, partly thanks to its large number of hotels, restaurants and bars. At its heart are many quiet streets and quaint craft stalls. There's also the main street with chain stores, but for the most part, it is a relaxed city where the new is slowly filtering in with the old.
For those after nightlife, it's hard to beat Ayia Napa. Once known for its hardcore clubbing, it's matured somewhat and is now home to many upmarket beach bars and late-night restaurants. Although you can still find some great places to party the night away, it's now mostly targeted at an older audience, with quality venues and products.
What is a holiday to Cyprus without a visit to one of the many tavernas found throughout the island? The smaller, less touristy ones often offer better service, and can give you a real taste of the local food and drink, such as wild boar or the mouth-watering lamb dishes.
Of course, Cyprus holidays are also renowned for its beaches. Thanks to the year-round sunshine, the beaches can be enjoyed throughout the seasons. Alagadi Turtle Beach, Fig Tree Bay Beach and Escape Beach are all stunning, but there are many others across the island that are perfect for a day of relaxation.
In recent years, a lot of tourists have been opting for a visit to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. This area is less tailored for tourists as it is under developed, but still boasts stunning beaches and plenty of historic ruins.
Kavo Greko Forest Park, in the eastern area of Cyprus, is truly beautiful. With its crystal clear waters, conditions for swimming and snorkelling here are ideal. There's also horse riding and rock climbing available, with nine hiking trails. There are a lot of wild animals and birds, with many of the trails ending at the top of the cliffs, giving an amazing view of the tranquil seas.
Ancient Kourion, also found in the south of the island, near the town of Episkopi, is the site of an extensive Greco-Roman ruin. Amazingly well-preserved mosaics, public baths and a gladiator stadium mean this place is popular with tourists. For visitors, it gives a glimpse into a slightly different history of Cyprus as the bridge between the two great ancient cultures of Greece and Rome.
CYPRUS HOLIDAY DEALS
The main languages in Cyprus are Greek, spoken by the Greek-Cypriot community, and Turkish, spoken by the Turkish-Cypriot community. However, thanks largely to tourism, English is widely spoken. Within the tourist industry, German and French are commonly spoken, so European visitors should find most hospitality establishments have at least one member of staff they can communicate with easily.
In 2008, the Cyprus pound was replaced by the euro. Euro banknotes come in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200, and 1 and 2 euro coins, with 100 cents making up 1 euro. Every bank in Cyprus offers foreign currency exchange, as do most hotels. The majority of hotels, large shops and restaurants also accept major credit cards and travellers cheques, so access to money is not an issue, although spending on plastic abroad may incur a foreign currency transaction fee.
A valid passport grants UK and US citizens a 90-day tourist visa, although some European citizens can travel using just their national identity card, providing it has a photo. The passport used to gain entry must not be due to expire within the 90-day period otherwise entry will not be granted. Bear in mind that in the event your return journey is delayed, so you might want to allow even longer before your passport's expiration date.
Situated in the Mediterranean, Cyprus has very hot, dry summers and fairly mild winters, so it's an ideal place for a winter break. Summer starts in May and lasts through to September, with average day temperatures of 29°C in July and August. Winter is classed as the period from November through March, with daytime temperatures of around 10°C in mid-winter. During the summer, Cyprus benefits from around 15 hours of sunshine a day and there are almost year-round clear skies. At any time of year, temperatures should be up to ten degrees warmer than back home in the UK, so you should always feel the benefit of the climate when you take your first steps off the plane.
