CYPRUS FALL & WINTER GUIDE 2011 – 2012 The best places to eat, sleep and play in Cyprus this fall and winter With more than 50 million reviews and opinions, TripAdvisor makes travel planning a snap for the 50 million travelers visiting our site each month. Think before you print. And if you do print, print double-sided. INTRODUCTION TripAdvisor, the most trusted source for where to eat, sleep and play in thousands of destinations around the world, has collected the best insider tips from its 50 million monthly visitors to produce a unique series of travel guides. In addition to the best hotels, restaurants and attractions for every type of traveler, you’ll get great advice about what to pack, how to get around and where to find the best views. Be sure to check out the guides at www.tripadvisor.com. You’ll find reviews for more than 520,000 hotels, 125,000 vacation rentals, 155,000 attractions and 715,000 restaurants on Inside TripAdvisor.com. Learn from other travelers what to expect before you make your plans. CYPRUS While legend has it that Cyprus was the birthplace of the goddess Aphrodite, its history hasn’t exactly been filled with love. From its beginning, the Mediterranean island has been prone to PACKING TIPS invasions, beginning with the tussles between the Mycenaeans, Egyptians, Assyrians and Persians, to name a few. The nation belonged to the Byzantine Empire, the Ottoman Empire and the 1. “Conversational Modern Greek in 20 Lessons by Richard D. Abraham and Philip Knights Templar, until it finally became a British colony in 1925. D. Emmanuel is a helpful language guide When the country gained its independence in 1960, struggles for travelers interested in speaking the local tongue.”—TripAdvisor Member, San between the Turks and the Greeks split the nation. The U.N. Francisco, Calif. now patrols the dividing “green line.” Travel between the 2. Bring a light jacket. “You won’t ever really need a heavy coat here, even on northern Turkish Cyprus and the southern Greek is possible. the coldest January day. The highs average 62 degrees, while the lows only drop to While the history has been turbulent, it does provide a cultural the mid-40s.”—TripAdvisor Member, Sacramento, Calif. mélange for tourists. You’ll find Crusader castles, Roman 3. Pack a swimsuit. “Spring arrives early. mosaics, the tomb of Mohammed’s aunt and many monasteries Typically by late February, the weather is (including one that is said to hold a piece of the true cross). already warm enough for taking a dip in the pool or heading out to the beach to soak in the sun.”—TripAdvisor Member, The island’s geography—plentiful coastline with a mountainous New York, N.Y. center—insures plenty of year-round activity. Winters are wet, but mild, and the spring comes as early as February. tripadvisor.com 2 Top VIEWS CYPRUS BEST VIEWS The Kyrenia Mountains, a landscape dotted “A visit to the Tombs of the Kings is a must St. Hilarion Castle blends in so well with with churches, mosques and a panoramic if you are in Paphos. The tombs are situated the cliff it’s perched on that it’s hard to spot view of Nicosia, can be spotted from the on a cliff above the sea, with stunning views, until you’ve arrived. However, it’s worth Ledra Museum Observatory. and the site covers about a square mile.”— discovery, as the views from the top are Ledra Museum Observatory, Ledra Street, TripAdvisor Member, London, England spectacular. If the clouds are cooperating, Shakolas Building, Nicosia, 02 369369 Tombs of the Kings, Kato Paphos, Paphos, you’ll be able to see the Taurus Mountains 26 306295 in Turkey. St. Hilarion Kalesi, Girne (Kyrenia) Where to PLAY TOP 10 Attractions . 1 Kato Paphos Archaeological Park, Kato Paphos, Paphos, 06 240217 6. Ayia Napa Monastery, Ayia Napa 2. Ayios Neophytos Monastery, 6 miles North of Paphos 7. Finikoudes Beach, Larnaca Promenade, Larnaca 3. Kourion (Curium), near Episkopi, Limassol 8. Choirokoitia, Larnaca 4. Omodos Village, Limassol, 25 422453 9. Leventis Municipal Museum of Nicosia, 17 Ippocratous St., Nicosia, 22 661475 5. Nissi Beach, Ayia Napa 10. Kyrenia Harbour, Kyrenia FAMILIES “We went on George’s Fun Bus and really, Try to sneak in a mythology lesson as Storm the Kolossi Castle, a 13th-century really enjoyed it. George is great with all your kids thrill on the snake tubes of the fortress that belonged to the Knights of St. the kids—my son thought he was brilliant. Quest of Hercules, splash about Poseidon’s John. Enter on the drawbridge, explore the The sea caves, the baths of Adonis and the Wave Pool and slide on Sun Chariots empty chambers and try to imagine life as a karaoke were my favorite.”—TripAdvisor down Apollo’s Plunge at the WaterWorld Crusader. Member Waterpark. Kolossi Castle, nine miles west of Limassol George’s Fun Bus, Kato Pafos, Paphos, WaterWorld Waterpark, 18 Ayia Thekla 99 465196 Road, Ayia Napa, 23 724444 “…mountains, sunshine and free and excellent wine.” ROMANCE The 10 painted churches of Troodos, Find “romance in Cyprus’ mountains” at Explore the hidden rooms, tunnels and which include small rural churches and Lambouri Winery. “What a gorgeous secret gardens of St. Hilarion Castle. The large sophisticated monasteries, make the place! We had a winery tour and a free fairy-tale appearance and local legends only UNESCO World Heritage list for the rich wine tasting. People were very friendly. The enhance your experience. mural decorations from both the Byzantine winery even had a picture exhibition. The St. Hilarion Kalesi, Girne (Kyrenia) and post-Byzantine periods. atmosphere was so romantic—mountains, Painted churches, Troodos region, districts sunshine and, yes, free and excellent of Nicosia and Limassol wine.”—TripAdvisor Member Lambouri Winery, 4825 Platres, Limassol, 70 009463 Call an Expedia Travel Specialist now 877 633 3716 tripadvisor.com 3 Where to PLAY BUDGET In addition to the monastery of Ayios “The Archaeological Park has a number Walk in the footsteps of the gods on the Neophytos Monastery, “there are also of houses containing mosaics, which really Adonis Nature Trail, which offers five the extraordinary caves with frescoes, are quite stunning. There was also the miles of switchbacks leading to the Shelter where the saint is said to have lived 45 years small ruins of a castle, an Odeon, the city of the Queen, where Aphrodite rested after in one cave and the last five years of his walls (good lookout with views) and a small playing with her nymphs. life in another, higher up the rock face.”— tourist information center. You can enter for Adonis Nature Trail, Polis TripAdvisor Member, Northamptonshire, free, with donations optional.”—TripAdvisor England Member, Wales Ayios Neophytos Monastery, 5.5 miles north Kato Paphos Archaeological Park, Paphos TripAdvisor members have posted more of Paphos than 8,000,000 traveler photos on the site. The good, the bad and the very candid. It’s almost like being there! ADVENTURE “The great thing about snowboarding or “We would have to say the Troodos Advanced divers can explore the wreck of skiing in Cyprus is, of course, the climate! Mountains were our highlight. You will the Zenobia, and landlubbers can view it Where else in the world can you be swimming know what we mean if you take the journey. from the porthole of a submarine. in the Mediterranean in the morning and Breathtaking!”—TripAdvisor Member, Black Rock Dive Centre, Pissouri, Paphos, taking on a Black Slope in the afternoon!”— Sutton, Coldfield, England 25 222680 TripAdvisor Member, Larnaca, Cyprus Troodos Mountains, Troodos Snowboarding and skiing, Nicosia, 99 555229 “It would be a crime not to see the mosaics” EDUCATIONAL/HISTORICAL “Kourion (Curium) is a huge archaeological “The Roman mosaics of Paphos are To better understand the archaeological site, situated high above the beautiful blue actually part of a larger archaeological site sites you’ll see on Cyprus, stop at the sea. You will see some stunning mosaics that includes a theater and a ruined castle. Cyprus Museum. The galleries display a and remains of houses. The highlight, You need a good few hours to make the wealth of statues from the Greco-Roman undoubtedly, is the restored, imposing most of the site. The mosaics themselves period, including Alexander the Great, amphitheater, which is still in use today.”— are stunning. It would be a crime to be Aphrodite and Caligula. TripAdvisor Member, London, England in Paphos and not see the mosaics.”— Cyprus Museum, 1 Mouseiou St., Nicosia, Kourion (Curium), Episkopi, 11.5 miles west TripAdvisor Member, London, England 22 865864 of Limassol Roman Mosaics, Paphos, 26 306217 “I still have yet to see anything of equal grandeur.” RELAXATION “If you are planing a trip to the Troodos, “I visited Kykkos and really found it ornate No kings are actually entombed at the Omodos is a must-see. It has authentic and colorful. But, this does not take away Tombs of the Kings “but the grandeur and Cypriot culture, from the elderly ladies from the sanctity of the place. The whole scale of the tombs earned them their title. sitting outside lace-making to the many ambiance is one of peace and quiet. I It was actually a large burial site for nobles wine shops/tasting & presses centered still have yet to see anything of equal and dignitaries. You will see an elaborate around.”—TripAdvisor Member, London, grandeur.”—TripAdvisor Member, New necropolis cut out of the living rock. It is U.K. Delhi, India a truly fascinating place.”—TripAdvisor Omodos Village, 42 km from Limassol, Kykkos Monastery (Panagia tou Kykkou), Member, London, England 25 422453 7.5 miles west of Pedoulas Village, Troodos Tombs of the Kings, Kato Paphos, Paphos, 26 306295 Call an Expedia Travel Specialist now 877 633 3716 tripadvisor.com 4 What’s the TOUR How to Get Around “You can take advantage of the taxi system, which is also known as a In northern Cyprus, “public transport is not quite as accessible as in service taxi in Limassol.