Cyprus
Where Orient and Occident meet, lies the third largest and easternmost Mediterranean island in Europe, home to the divine Aphrodite, who is said to have emerged from a shell on the local shores. Romantic bays, bizarre rocky coasts, lonely mountainous areas, secluded monasteries, ancient culture and 300 days of sunshine a year make this island a popular vacation destination. Pleasant temperatures and a mild climate prevail in fall and spring, making Cyprus perfect for golfing, hiking and cycling.
And don't forget that you can follow in the footsteps of antiquity here. In its 9,000-year history, this island has seen many peoples and cultures come and go. Foreign rulers have settled on Cyprus time and again, from Alexander the Great to Cleopatra. Assyrians and Phoenicians came as conquerors, but the Greeks shaped the culture of Cyprus the most. Today, Cyprus is a modern state that effortlessly marries European culture with the magic of antiquity.
However, Cyprus is primarily advertised as a beach destination, and that's where the problem lies, because the combination of dream beaches and luxury hotels is somehow hard to find. The island now has a considerable number of luxury hotels and beautiful beaches, but unfortunately never both in one place.
Cyprus destinations: Aya Napa, Limassol and Paphos
Aya Napa in the east has really beautiful beaches with crystal clear turquoise water and also has some 5-star hotels, which on closer inspection are a far cry from a hotel like the Anassa. Aya Napa is also the entertainment center of Cyprus. You could almost say it's the place to be, and therefore reserved for a younger target audience. The Paphos area, on the other hand, is home to the luxury hotel industry. The beaches alone are not the best, as there are mainly rocky coasts here.
The hotels have of course made great efforts to create artificial beaches, but only with moderate success. Very small, dark sand and gravel beaches and often affected by seaweed depending on the season, they are not really inviting for a beach vacation. Only Anassa in Polis on the Akamas peninsula has a long, quite reasonable beach.
The Limassol area is somewhat reminiscent of the ugly, built-up Playa de Palma (El Arenal), with one hotel block after another, and the beaches are also not very appealing. This has been remedied by really elaborately designed pool landscapes. Those who prefer to lie by the pool rather than on the beach will not be bothered by this. Of course, there are no hideaways here, one large vacation hotel (such as the Meridien and the Four Seasons, which is not really one) follows the other, and only the Londa, which has been reopened as a design hotel, is a pleasant exception.
Paphos, on the other hand, has more charm - a small town on the west coast of the island with a lively, picturesque harbor and colorful fishing boats. The long coastal promenade invites you to take a stroll, and once you leave the promenade, things become more authentic and cozy. Here you will find small local stores, fruit stands, nice taverns and restaurants. Treasures of the past can be found in Roman villas, the royal tombs and catacombs. With the palatial Hotel Elysium, the classic Annabelle and the trendy design hotel Almyra, an appealing hotel landscape has also been established.
Hiring a car is recommended if you want to see a little more of the island than just your own hotel. But don't worry, you'll get used to it very quickly - except in the city area during rush hour. However, caution and special attention are required at traffic circles. There are also limousine services, but these can quickly become expensive if you are traveling long distances.
Best time to travel in Cyprus
Cyprus is the perfect destination for the months of October and November and March/April/May, when it is still or already too cold in the other Mediterranean countries and you don't necessarily want to travel to the Canary Islands or Egypt. Already overrun by mass tourism in summer, you can still find peace and relaxation at these times. In the summer months, on the other hand, you will mainly find family vacationers, as Cyprus is also very child-friendly. The mild climate is also attracting more and more golfers. Three 18-hole golf courses are open all year round and offer international standards. The golf course in the hills of Aphrodite - "Aphrodite Hills" - is considered by experts to be one of the most attractive courses in Europe. The highlight for passionate golfers is the breathtaking gorge, which separates the two plateaus with its steep walls and hides the 13th hole.
As I said, Cyprus has many advantages, but if you are primarily looking for a beach vacation or a jet-set hotspot, you are better off in Sardinia, on the Balearic Islands, on the Cote d'Azur or in Marbella.
Cyprus, Aphrodite's island of love, seduces with its contrasting landscapes, precious cultural treasures and mysterious history: too beautiful to just go for a swim.
! Photo: © strowa / pixelio.de!
Highlights
Connoisseur special tip:
The exclusive wine tasting at the Panayia Chrysorroyiatissa monastery, which impresses with its spectacular location alone, is a very special experience. Your private butler will chauffeur you from the Hotel Thalassa to the picturesque village of Panayia in around 45 minutes.
The monks of the UNESCO-protected monastery produce their own delicious wine from local vines. With a bit of luck, you may even come across a Cypriot mouflon before heading to a traditional taverna in a small village for lunch.
www.thalassa.com.cy
DIPLOMATISCHE VERTRETUNGEN
in Germany
Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus
Kurfürstendamm 182, 10707 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 3086830
Fax: +49 30 27591454
E-mail: info@botschaft-zypern.de
www.mfa.gov.cy
in Austria
Embassy Cyprus in Vienna
Neulinggasse 37/4, 1030 Vienna
Tel.: +43 1 5130630
Fax: +43 1 5130632
E-Mail: office@cyprusembassy.at
in Switzerland
Consulate General of Cyprus
Schanzengraben 27, 8002 Zurich
Tel.: +41 44 5152510
Fax: +41 44 5152514
E-mail: info@cyconsul.ch
Lage
Republik Zypern
Fläche
9.251 km²
Bevölkerung
1,141 Millionen
Sprache
Griechisch und Türkisch
Hauptstadt
Nicosia
Religion
Predominantly Greek Orthodox, rest Muslims (Sunnis)
Weather
typisch mediterranes Klima mit trockenheißen Sommern und feuchtmilden – in den höheren Lagen – auch kühlen Wintern
Beste Reisezeit
Frühling und Herbst, im Sommer sehr heiß und überlaufen
Klima
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Max. Temperaturen | 16 | 17 | 18 | 22 | 26 | 30 | 32 | 33 | 31 | 27 | 22 | 18 |
| Min. Temperaturen | 8 | 8 | 9 | 12 | 16 | 18 | 21 | 22 | 20 | 16 | 13 | 9 |
| Sonnenstunden | 5 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 6 | 6 |
| Regentage | 17 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 24 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 24 | 21 | 19 |
Zeitverschiebung
osteuropäische Zeit, die der Mitteleuropäischen Zeit (MEZ) immer eine Stunde voraus ist
Währung
zypriotisches Pfund, 1 Zypern-Pfund = 100 Cents. 1 CYP = 1,72 EUR
Vorbehaltlich Wechselkursschwankungen
Visa
Für Staatsangehörige der EU-Länder und der Schweiz ist kein Visum erforderlich. Notwendig ist der mindestens noch für die Dauer des Aufenthalts gültige Reisepass, für einen Aufenthalt bis zu 3 Monaten genügt auch der mindestens noch für die Aufenthaltsdauer gültige Personalausweis.
Food in Cyprus - Interesting and tasty
Cyprus produces some very interesting and tasty food, most of which can be found in restaurants and supermarkets. If you are lucky enough to be invited to someone's home for a meal, you can try some real Cypriot delicacies for yourself.
Cyprus nightlife - The best bars and clubs
Cyprus has many nightlife options and activities for both young and older generations.
and activities for both young and older generations. Particularly popular are the
typical tavernas in Cyprus, which invite you to relax and drink wine. In Agia Napa, night owls and party fans will find numerous clubs, pubs, bars and discos in the "Bar Street", which provide plenty of variety.
Wellness Cyprus - The most beautiful spas on the island
The island of Cyprus has developed into a leading wellness destination in recent years. Numerous hotels offer their guests pampering and relaxing programs. The offer ranges from full body and facial massages to aromatic oil treatments and body wraps. The famous thalassotherapy is also offered by most hotels and entices guests with marine products and seawater, which use natural substances to stimulate the body to relax and feel good.
Hotels
