The Halloumi, the cheese that the grills without the melting, the squeak on the tooth, the salty, the mint, the €3 for the block, the essential Cypriot food, and the best all-rounder cheese in the world, is the metaphor for the Cyprus. The Cyprus is the perfect all-rounder: the beach (the Nissi Beach, the Ayia Napa, the sand, the turquoise, the party, the Fig Tree Bay in the Protaras, the sand, the calm, the family, and the Blue Lagoon on the Akamas Peninsula, the inaccessible by the road, the boat, the most beautiful water in the Cyprus), the history (the Kourion, the Greco-Roman theatre, the 2nd century BC, the view of the sea, and the best archaeological site in the Cyprus. ~€4.50, the Tombs of the Kings in the Paphos, the UNESCO, the underground, the 3rd century BC, and the most important), the hiking (the Troodos Mountains, the 1,952 metres at the Mount Olympus, the winter skiing, the only ski resort in the Cyprus, the spring wildflowers, and the best hiking in the Mediterranean), and the food (the meze, the 20 small dishes, the €25 per the person, and the essential Cypriot dinner. The essential: the 20 dishes, the tasting, the sharing, and the best-value dinner in Europe). Here is your guide.

Cyprus, The Perfect All-Rounder

• The coast, the essential Cyprus: The Ayia Napa and the Protaras (the south-east, the party and the family): the Ayia Napa is the party capital of the Cyprus (the Nissi Beach, the white sand, the turquoise, the DJ, the foam-party, the square, the bars, and the best 18–30 party destination in Europe. ~€50–80/night for the hotel, and the essential Ayia Napa alternative: the Cape Greco, the 15-minute drive, the national forest park, the sea caves, the walk, the sunrise, the best swim in the Ayia Napa away from the party), the Protaras is the family alternative (the Fig Tree Bay, the sand, the gentle, the beach that is the designed for the children, and the best family beach in the Cyprus. ~€80–120/night for the hotel). The Paphos and the Akamas (the south-west, the history and the wild): the Coral Bay (the sand, the best beach in the Paphos, the €2.50 for the sun-lounger), the Akamas Peninsula (the national park, the Lara Bay, the turtle-nesting beach, the green turtles and the loggerheads the nest the on the Lara between the June and the September, the essential: the visit the with the licensed guide, the Lara Beach Nature Conservation Programme, and the best wildlife experience in the Cyprus), the boat trip to the Blue Lagoon (the €20 from the Latchi Harbour, the 3 hours, the swim, the best water in the Cyprus), the Aphrodite’s Rock (the Petra tou Romiou, the birthplace of the Aphrodite, the sea-stack, the swim around the rock the 3 times for the fertility, and the essential Cyprus experience. The free, the café, and the essential: the sunset. The essential Paphos hotel: the Annabelle (the 5-star, the €150/night in the shoulder season, and the best hotel in the Paphos). More Cyprus →
• The mountains and the food, the essential Cyprus beyond the beach: The Troodos Mountains: the Mount Olympus (the 1,952 metres, the highest point in the Cyprus. The drive from the Paphos: the 2 hours, the cedar forest, the spring flowers, the Cyprus orchid, the 30 endemic species, and the essential Troodos experience: the May, the wildflower bloom, the best month in the Troodos), the painted churches (the UNESCO, the Byzantine frescoes, the best-preserved in the world after the Cappadocia. The essential: the Church of the Archangel Michael in the Pedoulas, the 1474, and the best frescoes in the Troodos. The free, and the essential: the key is the held by the village priest, the ask at the next-door house), the Kykkos Monastery (the most famous monastery in the Cyprus, the icon of the Virgin Mary and the Child that is the said to have the painted by the St Luke, the silver covering, the most beautiful monastery in the Cyprus. The free), the lunch: the Psilo Dendro (the trout restaurant, the €12 for the trout, the terrace, the waterfall, and the best mountain lunch in the Cyprus), the winter skiing, the see #1336 (the essential alternative for the winter Cyprus). The essential Cyprus itinerary (the 7 days): the 2 nights in the Paphos (the beaches, the archaeology, the Akamas), the 2 nights in the Troodos (the mountains, the churches, the hiking), the 3 nights in the Protaras (the best beaches, the Cape Greco, and the swimming). The essential Cyprus time: the May–June and the September–October for the best weather and the fewer crowds.