Greece & Cyprus Second-Time Destinations
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GREECE & CYPRUS SECOND-TIME DESTINATIONS Second-time This little island has plenty to attract visitors Cyprustime after time, writes Laura French @laurafrench121 yprus might be small, but CULTURE CLUB to prove it – Byzantine churches, November and March, and if Cwhat it lacks in size it makes They’ve been to: Paphos a Bronze Age archaeological you’re there in summer, a walk up for in just about everything Now try: Larnaca site and a medieval, 12th-century across the dried-up lake is a else – culture-filled cities, Sell it: With its sprinkling of castle, to name but a few. must, especially at sunset.” postcard-worthy beaches, quaint sandy beaches, harbourside It also lays claim to a vibrant Book it: Jet2holidays oers a cobblestone villages, centuries- restaurants and historical sites nightlife scene and several week at the four-star Radisson old sites – which means one visit – from ancient necropolis the decent beaches, including Blu Hotel Larnaca from £859 per is never quite enough. Tombs of the Kings to the Kato Finikoudes, set beside an elegant, person, based on two sharing There’s always something Paphos Archaeological Park – palm-lined promenade, and with return transfers and flights more to see here, and whether Paphos has plenty going for it. Mackenzie, where trendy beach from Stansted on May 30. it’s a Neolithic settlement or But for those who’ve already bars lure a well-heeled crowd. jet2holidays.com buzzing nightlife scene that gets been there and done that, Outside the city there’s plenty your clients hooked, you’ll find suggest Larnaca as an alternative. to see. “Larnaca’s Salt Lake is an VILLAGE LIFE something to tempt them back Set on the southeast coast, the impressive spectacle,” says Elena They’ve been to: Lefkara to the island they know and love. third-biggest city on the island Ahmadian, marketing executive Now try: Kalopanayiotis Here’s our guide to the best boasts a history dating back at Cyplon Holidays. “Elegant pink Sell it: Visiting Cyprus alternative spots. 6,000 years and a string of sites flamingos gather here between without exploring a few of Larnaca 28 March 2019travelweekly.co.uk61 TWE_280319_061-064.indd 61 26/03/2019 09:57 DESTINATIONS SECOND-TIME GREECE & CYPRUS ABOVE: Columbia Beach Resort, Pissouri LEFT: Kalopanayiotis PICTURES: ANASTASI; TAS LEE STUART PHOTOGRAPHY; SHUTTERSTOCK its oh-so-charming villages is crafts, to Alona, home to ancient Venetian fortifications and Büyük close to sacrilege, and among the Cypriot drink Zivania. Han – a 16th-century merchant best-known is Lefkara, set at the Book it: Sunvil o ers a seven- Pissouri has quaint quarter turned artisanal shopping foot of the Troodos Mountains night stay at Casale Panayiotis arcade – bringing city lovers and famous for its centuries-old hotel in Kalopanayiotis little cafes where flocking. lace and silverware heritage. from £870, including B&B locals sit alfresco Just as wealthy in attractions It’s far from being the only accommodation, return flights beside pretty-as-a- is Limassol, where Roman ruins, a place to glimpse the country at from Gatwick and car hire. Folk Art Museum and Ottoman- its most traditional. The Troodos sunvil.co.uk picture flowerbeds built castle give the capital a run Mountains are a hotspot for tiny for its money, according to Mark villages, including Kalopanayiotis, BEST BEACHES Hall, Tui director of product and full of cobbled streets where They’ve been to: Protaras in the evenings,” says Cyplon’s customer experience. ornate churches and historic Now try: Pissouri Bay Elena Ahmadian. “Visitors can get “The area has a similar feel to attractions such as the Sell it: If it’s beach resorts clients a taste of the homemade culinary the capital with plenty to explore Lampadistis Monastery overlook are into, Cyprus isn’t short on delights of the locals and bask in in the way of culture and history, mountain scenery. options. Protaras is a safe bet for music, dance and heritage.” but it’s slightly less well known,” There are various other draws first-timers looking for a tranquil Book it: Suggest Columbia Beach he says. nearby, including the Kykkos vibe, with a string of family- Resort for a five-star, luxury stay Nearby there’s a handful of Monastery and a string of cycling friendly resorts wrapping around right by the beach. “It’s one of attractions that add appeal for trails, but the crowning glory a gold-sand coastline – but for my favourite hotels in our entire families – including a huge water here is Casale Panayiotis, a rustic second-timers wanting a quieter 950-hotel programme,” says park, Limassol Zoo and dungeon- retreat hidden away in the hills alternative, look to Pissouri Bay. Andrew Farr of Classic Collection filled Kolossi Castle – and the and featuring 35 rooms and suites Located halfway between Holidays. A week’s B&B with historic Kourion Archaeological that started life as village homes. Limassol and Paphos, it boasts the operator starts from £1,474, Site is a short drive away too. They were converted to a peaceful stretch of part-sand, in a junior suite with flights and Here, intricate mosaics, statues help revive the then-neglected part-pebble beach and o ers private transfers. and other archaeological finds settlement, and it did the job – water sports and other activities. classic-collection.co.uk hark back to its beginnings now the hideaway uses water Pissouri village is also close by, as one of the island’s most from the sulphur springs for its o ering Cypriot traditions and CITY SIGHTS important city-kingdoms. healing spa, while o ering local quaint little cafes where locals They’ve been to: Nicosia Book it: Tui o ers a week all- experiences such as halloumi- sit alfresco beside pretty-as-a- Now try: Limassol inclusive at the four-star Atlantica making. It’s also an ideal base picture flowerbeds. Sell it: The capital, Nicosia, is a Oasis Hotel from £396, with for exploring the other mountain “In summer, the village square hotspot for nightlife as much as it flights from Gatwick on March 29 villages that dot the area, from comes alive, with traditional is historical sights, with key spots and transfers. Omodos, known for its arts and tavernas hosting entertainment such as the Cyprus Museum, tui.co.uk 62travelweekly.co.uk28 March 2019 TWE_280319_061-064.indd 62 26/03/2019 09:57 DESTINATIONS SECOND-TIME GREECE & CYPRUS TUNING OUT They’ve been to: A beachside spa hotel Now try: Ayii Anargyri Natural Healing Spa Resort Sell it: If clients have dipped their toes into the spa world with a beachside resort and now want to up the game a little further with a more full-on retreat, suggest Ayii Anargyri. Set in the tiny village of Miliou – home to fewer than 100 inhabitants – this luxury spot is Olympic Holidays’ top recommendation thanks to its health-giving, natural-spring waters and intriguing history – it once housed a church and monastery built in 1649 and was used by two travelling doctors to heal ailments. It now o ers gourmet dining experiences alongside intensive spa treatments in a rural, serene setting that’s as conducive to switching o as you can get. Trail, a flattish, three-to-four-hour route ABOVE: Several operators o er tours around Book it: Olympic Holidays o ers a circling Mount Olympus. Ayii Anargyri, the region. For a gentle, leisurely week’s half-board at the four-star Ayii But visitors who’ve already Miliou itinerary, suggest Adagio’s Cyprus Anargyri, Miliou, from £579, including conquered these mountain landscapes BELOW: Delight trip, which combines the trails flights from Gatwick on April 26. might be after something di erent, Akamas with the Troodos Mountains, adding in olympicholidays.com and for that there’s the Akamas Peninsula Commandaria wine-tasting, halloumi- Peninsula. Set on the west coast, it sampling, a boat trip and plenty more HIKING HOTSPOTS has a whole host of wildlife alongside for those wanting to dig deep in this They’ve been to: Troodos Mountains three scenic trails: Aphrodite, Adonis heritage-rich country. Now try: Akamas Peninsula and Smigies. All three meander along Book it: Adagio’s seven-night tour Sell it: Hiking trails criss-cross the rocky coastline and verdant forest costs from £1,575, including flights Troodos Mountains, with highlights with fragrant flowers and historical and accommodation at the Annabelle including the Madari Circular Walk, an monastery ruins along the way, o ering with all breakfasts, dinners and eight-mile trail filled with pine, cedar, near-perfect views over the expanse of some lunches. oak and fruit trees; and the Artemis pure, solid blue stretching out below. adagio.co.uk Best of the rest LESSER-KNOWN SIGHTS Choirokoitia If clients have already seen Paphos Archaeological Park, suggest this Unesco-listed Neolithic settlement as an alternative. It’s considered one of the earliest permanent human settlements in the country, with origins dating back to 6,000BC. Kakopetria Nestled in the foothills of the mountains, this traditional village boasts Cyprus’s only surviving monastery church of its kind, Agios Nikolaos tis Stegis – making an excellent alternative to Larnaca’s Church of Saint Lazarus. 64travelweekly.co.uk28 March 2019 TWE_280319_061-064.indd 64 26/03/2019 09:57.