48 HOURS IN CYPRUS
From ancient monuments to cutting-edge spas, here’s how we’d spend a short break there
“It’s like wandering around an open-air museum
THE island country of Cyprus is the third most populous island in the Mediterranean, and offers so much more than just fabulous beaches and buzzing nightlife.
EXPLORE ITS NATURAL BEAUTY
There’s no better way to spend a morning in Cyprus than exploring its diverse and stunning landscape. With 90 nature trails across the island, hikers and cyclists are spoiled for choice when it comes to immersing themselves in its natural beauty. And with almost 2,000 different kinds of plants, subspecies and varieties of flora, 140 of which can only be found on Cyprus, there’s always something new to spot.
TAKE A STEP BACK IN TIME
Cyprus has more than enough ancient monuments to keep even the most serious history buff happy. In fact, as an island that has been at the crossroads of many civilisations, it’s like wandering around an open-air museum, with some stone ruins dating back 11,000 years.
It was the discovery of copper in Cyprus that changed the course of its history, and it’s also one of the reasons so many empires sought to control it.
Greek merchants and sailors helped to establish the Cypriot cities as Alexander the Great swept through, while Christianity, brought to the island by the apostles Paul and Barnabas, left its mark in the many surviving examples of Byzantine art as well as the UNESCO World Heritage-listed churches, hidden away in the pine forests. So, book a tour of this fascinating island’s historical landmarks, or chart your own course through its rich and varied past on a journey you’ll never forget.
TAKE TIME OUT TO RELAX
After a day spent out and about getting to know the island, what better way to reward yourself than with some serious rest and relaxation at one of the many luxury spas found at Cyprus’s high-end resorts? Thanks to the world-class facilities available, pampering has been raised to an art form, ensuring you’ll be left feeling rejuvenated and ready for more Cypriot adventures.
Book in for a single treatment, or why not extend the experience with a few days at a health resort? With a holistic approach to wellness that caters to the mind and soul as well as the body, you’ll experience the healing properties of natural thermal springs and hydrotherapy as your worries and tension float away.
INDULGE IN DELICIOUS CUISINE
No visit to Cyprus is complete without a true taste of the local delicacies, so set off on a journey of culinary discovery making mouthwatering stops along the way.
Cypriot halloumi is, of course, a must, but in the village of Agros, make sure you try glyko (preserved fruits in syrup), loukaniko (sausage made of pork, salt and wine), or a piece of lountza (cured pork) washed down with a zivania shot (a sort of Cypriot brandy).
Then pick up some locally produced olive oil in Anogyra, before delighting in apples from the village of Pera Pedi, strawberries from Drynia and the almonds of Limnatis.
From the tang of fresh lemons to the scent of freshly baked bread, everywhere you turn there’s something new and delicious to try.