Using years of travelling to the island as tourists and the 10 years+ experience as residents we will share hints and tips we think will help make your time on the island simpler, smoother and more enjoyable.
The best Cyprus travel tip is to give yourself time to explore beyond the main tourist resorts. Hiring a car makes it easier to discover beaches, villages, archaeological sites and mountain areas. Consider a local hire car company, you will find many opposite the big hotels, they are often more flexible than the BIG companies. Travelling in spring or autumn can provide more comfortable conditions for exploring. Most importantly, don’t try to see the whole island in one trip — plan on returning. Cyprus gets into your heart.
Whether it’s your first visit or you’ve been coming to the island for years, a few local tips can make your holiday easier, more enjoyable and sometimes a little less expensive.
At Cyprus Life Rocks, we’ve been visiting Cyprus since 2006 and made the island our home in 2016. So these aren’t just tips we’ve collected from a travel brochure.
They’re things we’ve learned from actually travelling around Cyprus, eating in local restaurants, visiting beaches, staying in hotels and discovering the places that make the island special.
From deciding where to stay to finding the best beaches, hiring a car, exploring Cyprus beyond the resorts and understanding what to expect when you arrive, we’ll share the things we think are worth knowing.
Cyprus is a relatively easy island to explore, but there are a few things that are useful to know before you arrive.
The island has beautiful beaches, historic sites, mountain villages, lively resorts and plenty of quieter places to discover.
However, Cyprus isn’t just about sitting beside the pool.
One of the things we love about living here is how quickly you can move from a busy tourist resort to a quiet village, mountain road or secluded beach.
With a little planning, you can experience much more of Cyprus than you might expect.
Cyprus is a small island, it takes only a couple of hours to travel from Paphos to Ayia Napa, or an hour from Nicosia to Limassol. You can fly into Larnaca airport and be in any of the resorts within an hour and a half’s drive, While Paphos Airport is smaller and and convenient for the western end of the island.
Also Paphos is very different from Ayia Napa.
Limassol is different again. And staying in a mountain village gives you a completely different experience from staying beside the sea.
Before booking a hotel, think about what sort of holiday you want.
Paphos could be a good choice. Paphos District has a large variety of historical and archaeological sites, the wild Akamas peninsula, Paphos Forest and the Northern coast is great for less populous places.
Ayia Napa may suit you better. But do remember that the Eastern end of the island is not open all year – April to October is best. Later in the year many places are closed.
Consider Limassol, or how about a fly drive – 3 or 4 days in a few select spots.
Look beyond the main resorts. In summer consider a villa in one of the hill villages above the humidity level.
There are plenty of smaller villages and coastal areas where you can experience a slower side of Cyprus.
One of our favourite things about Cyprus is the food and the hospitality of the locals.
We definitely recommend looking beyond the hotel buffet – avoid all inclusive and try the local restaurants and atmosphere. It also supports the Cypriot community if you spread your tourist money around.
The food is amazing, with fresh fruit and vegetables from the local farms and a stunning variety of international cuisine offerings. You will find Gluten Free, Vegan, Kosher and other options are catered for too.
Do try the local wines – Cyprus has a long tradition of wine making and a large number of small family run vineyards.
Try a traditional taverna – some are literally in the garden of the owners home, particularly in the villages.
Order a meze – usually for a minimum of 2 people. Be prepared to spend a few hours at your table being brought a variety of dishes to try and chatting with your hosts.
Try the traditional BBQ meats – pork, chicken or lamb – which you will see rotating over the coals in front of restaurants. Souvla are large chunks while souvlaki are smaller kebab style offerings.
A village salad and pitta with tzatziki or houmus
Definitely try fresh fish when you’re near the coast – many restaurants will have the morning’s catch on display.
And don’t be afraid to ask locals where they eat.
Small family-run places may have a limited menu but the food is simple, fresh and delicious. Also be prepared to be given fresh fruit, free of charge, at the end of your meal.
Cyprus is a very family-friendly destination. Cypriots love to see small children running around at night and large family groups are common late into the night.
If you are on the island and notice any festivals try and visit them, they have traditional foods, sweets, dancing and music. A great way to see more of the’real’ Cyprus.
Many beaches have shallow water, lifeguards and there are plenty of attractions and activities suitable for children. Look for Luna Parks with trampoline’s, bouncy castles, crazy golf etc.
However, during the hottest part of summer, you’ll need to plan your days carefully.
An early morning beach visit followed by lunch and some time in the shade can be much more enjoyable than trying to spend the entire day in the sun.
Many resort hotels now have their own ‘splash park’ with slides and also traditional kids clubs.
You will find companies hiring out essential equipment and supermarkets sell everything you would buy at home. Gone are the days of needing to bring a week’s supply of formula and nappies!
Cyprus uses the euro (€) and Visa and Mastercards are widely accepted, tap and go is the norm. Paying with your phone is also accepted in most shops.
However, it’s still useful to carry some cash for smaller purchases or tips. While it is not normal to tip in Cyprus rounding the bill up or leaving a few Euros is a nice gesture. Do be aware that prices can also vary so check out the prices on the menu at the door.
Bring any regular medications with you, but remember there are numerous Pharmacies and private doctors if you do need assistance. However, you CANNOT buy medication in supermarkets even paracetamol needs a pharmacy.
The health service in Cyprus , GESY, is very good and all the main resorts have A&E departments for emergencies. Make sure you have your EHIC or GHIC card and holiday insurance – it is worth the peace of mind.
In Cyprus we drive on the left and most road signs and traffic rules are the same as the UK.
When pulling up for petrol you stay in your car and tell the attendant how much you want put in the car – you can pay in cash or with your car.
Do be careful on roundabouts and at traffic lights as Cypriots are notorious for not signaling.
Finally, read your hire agreement carefully and do NOT drive off paved roads unless you want to be penalised when you return the car.
Cypriot Greek is similar, yet different, from mainland Greek but learning a few words will be appreciated by your hosts.
When you enter a shop, restaurant or kiosk early in the morning – Kalimera
When You enter later in the day – Gia Sas ( Yah-Sas)
Thank You – Efharisto (ef-haris-toe)
To get Attention – Parakalo (Para-cal-o)
Excuse Me – Signomi (seegh-no-mee)
In the resorts English and Russian are widely spoken.
Cyprus has some spectacular beaches. But they aren’t all the same.
There are Sandy beaches, beaches with pebbles, and rock ledges with steps into the sea. Before we moved to live here a sandy beach was what we liked, but now we enjoy finding hidden coves and wild beaches which are more likely to have stones – great for uncrowded swimming, snorkelling and peace and quiet! You just need a pair of beach/water shoes and you are good to go.
Some beaches are perfect for families, with shallow water and plenty of facilities – Cyprus regularly has numerous Blue Flag beaches and tops the EU water quality list.
Then there are beaches that are all about atmosphere, beach bars and water sports.
Importantly Cyprus beaches are ALL public you can turn up with your towel and your own umbrella and set up camp for the day. Or you can hire a sunbed and parasol – prices are set each year and in 2026 a sunbed is €3.50 and an Umbrella €3. You may pay a little more for a sunbed at a beach club, where drinks are delivered to you but make sure to ask about their rules as many take off the sunbed cost when you order.
Before choosing a beach, think about what you actually want from the day.
Do you want:
We’ve visited beaches all over the island, so we’ll share our experiences and help you decide which ones are worth putting on your itinerary.
One of the great things about Cyprus is that there isn’t really a bad time to visit.
The sun shines most days and even in winter the storms are spectacular but over very quickly on most occasions.
Spring is one of our favourite times, a great time to explore.
The countryside is green and full of blossom, flowers and even wild orchids. The temperatures are generally comfortable and the island is quieter than during the main summer season.
Do be prepared for cooler evenings and the odd rain storm.
Summer is hot, sunny and busy. And by the sea can be very humid.
It’s ideal if your priority is beaches, swimming and long evenings outdoors. Although sunset is around 8pm, so earlier than in the UK, and is also faster than you will be used to!
July and August can be very hot, particularly if you plan to spend a lot of time walking or sightseeing. Make sure you have a hat, water and sunscreen wherever you go. Also take a leaf out of all Mediterranean countries lifestyles – stay indoors between 11am and 3pm.
The evenings are full of tourists, locals and expats enjoying a meal or drink and taking in the friendly atmosphere.
September and October are excellent months for a Cyprus holiday.
The sea remains warm, daytime temperatures are more comfortable so sightseeing is more comfortable.
Cyprus has mild winters compared with many northern European countries.
You won’t get guaranteed beach weather, but winter can be a great time for walking, sightseeing and exploring villages without the summer crowds.
Days are shorter, so get up early and enjoy the warm daytime.
If you’re visiting for a week, don’t try to see everything. It’s tempting, but you’ll spend half your holiday in the car.
Instead, choose one resort or area as your base and explore a few places – use social media and websites like ours and PaphosLife to decide what are your biggest ‘must see’ attractions.
If you have 10–14 days, you can comfortably explore more of the island and experience different regions.
And if you’re staying longer, even better. There are plenty of places worth returning to. and we certainly found more places each time we visited. Now with 10 years+ as residents on the island we still find new places all the time!
If we had to reduce everything we’ve learned about travelling around Cyprus to a few simple tips, they would be these:
Cyprus rewards slower travel.
Some of our favourite discoveries have been away from the obvious attractions.
You’ll often get better recommendations than you will from a guidebook.
Give yourself time to explore.
Some of the best days are the ones you didn’t plan.
It’s one of the best ways to experience Cyprus.
Spring and autumn can be fantastic times to discover the island.
Cyprus is an island, but don’t treat it like a checklist.
You don’t have to visit every attraction.
You don’t have to find the “number one” beach.
And you certainly don’t need to spend your entire holiday following someone else’s itinerary.
Pick a few things you’re really interested in.
Then leave some time to wander.
That’s when Cyprus really starts to rock.
Taxis and buses are plentiful within the main tourist areas of the resorts.
Hiring a car is the easiest way to explore beyond these areas of Cyprus. It gives you the freedom to visit beaches, villages and attractions
It depends on the type of holiday you prefer and whether you can tolerate the extreme temperatures of the summer.
Yes. Cyprus has many family-friendly beaches, hotels, attractions and activities. The warm climate and shallow-water beaches are particularly popular with families.
Importantly Children are welcomed by Cypriots where ever you go.
The cost of a holiday in Cyprus varies considerably depending on where you stay, when you visit and the type of accommodation and restaurants you choose. There are options for various budgets.
Absolutely. Cyprus is relatively easy to explore and offers a mixture of beaches, history, food, nature and nightlife. The challenge is deciding how much you can fit into one trip. If you live in the UK much of Cyprus feels like home just with sunshine!
