In Cyprus, tourists can expect year-round sunshine and clear blue skies for their adventures. The combination of temperate weather and sunshine make beach-going in Cyprus an absolute must for any tourist. Fortunately, Cyprus is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
In 2006, the International Blue Flag Jury awarded the Blue Flag to 49 beaches in 13 coastal communities and municipalities in Cyprus. Among them were Agia Triada Beach, Skoutari Beach, and Mouzuora Beach.
Agia Triada Beach
This beach is used primarily as a boat-launching area because the water is so shallow. At Agia Triada, the sand is a little coarse, but the beach provides more privacy since tourists tend to avoid the area due to a lack of restaurants.
Skoutari Beach
At Skoutari, the sand is hard-packed and contains a bay where tourists snorkel. This beach is a little more populated because there are good restaurants nearby.
Mouzuora Beach
This beach is popular with Cypriots and serious swimmers. Lounging on Mouzuora is not an option since the sand banks slope so dramatically. However, the water is clear and beautiful for swimming! Parking is ample and there are hotels and restaurants nearby.
For none beach-dwellers, there are thousands of other attractions to see in Cyprus! Visit the Cyprus Museum, a storehouse of the island’s archaeological treasures, the Folk Art Museum, the new Archbishop’s Palace, St. John’s Cathedral, Byzantine churches, the Byzantine Museum/Makarios Cultural Center, and the Ömeriye Mosque.
If you are visiting Cyprus at the end of May, check out the annual International State Fair. If your travels bring you to Cyprus in the beginning of June, go see the Nicosia Arts Festival.
For other excursions, visit the Nicosia area to see the Royal Tombs and Agios Irakleidios Monastery at Tamassos. Enjoy the beautiful five-dome church and the mosque in Peristerona, or the Panagia Chrysospiliotissa Church in a cliff-side cave near Deftera.
If you desire more seclusion, visit Paphos, the capital of Cyprus’s western region. With a population of only 27,000 inhabitants, Paphos provides a serene environment for its visitors. Among its attractions are the beautiful old harbor, Paphos’s ancient mosaic floors, its modern hotels and restaurants near the seaside promenade. Other attractions include an archaeological museum, the Byzantine castle of Paphos, the Tombs of the Kings, St. Paul’s Pillar and the Temple of Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty.
Another popular Cyprus destination is Limassol, which is situated in the south of the island. Limassol is Cyprus’s main industrial and maritime area, and also the second biggest town in the country. Tourists flock to the Berengaria Castle, which is where Richard the Lionheart married Berengaria.
Whether you desire historical sights or beautiful beaches, Cyprus has it all!