First trip to Cyprus – Part 2

Doing the tourist things

Church of St George Although we wouldn’t choose the Crown Resorts hotel again, or even come back to Cyprus unless I was taking part in an archaeological dig, by being outside the main town of Paphos, you are more likely to explore further afield. As the bus terminus for 615 is just down the road at Coral Bay, we also found a mini-bus going from there to Agios Georgios (St George) through a local village and another that goes every 2 hours through hills and tiny villages north to Polis. We would not have found these if we had been based in Paphos.      

Bus station staff are really helpful and times of buses are clearly shown. Bus 610 goes from the harbour bus station to the market, typical stalls you would expect to find in any market, but also some interesting local arts and crafts stands – I loved the sleek, black pottery but alas had no room to carry any home with me. All around this area the paths are fenced off with lots of road works (preparing for next year’s extra visitors) so it is a bit more difficult to get around. But we found a lovely little restaurant next to the market – Ktima’s – with a sunny patio and helpful waitress, very nice coffee and free WiFi.

The Turkish Baths at Hamam Museum If you cross the road back towards steps to the car park look for the signs for Hamam Museum. It is free entry and definitely worth popping in to read about its history. It is a typical example of Roman/Turkish baths showing several textile pieces behind glass plus couches you can actually sit on to rest. It was really interesting but I am sure it is missed by many who just go to visit the market.

You can get a brochure about their own trips (Ruslan Travel) from the bus station – similar to those on offer through the Reps at the hotels but definitely cheaper. You can do the three main trips for €64 each instead of €88 through the hotel. Best of all, they pick you up outside your hotel anyway. We booked two of the trips rather than all three as they would have been on consecutive days – a bit too much like hard work then!

Sophia's House Authentic Cyprus includes a visit to Sophia’s House, a typical village house with hand-made lace, furnishings and brightly-coloured woven costumes. We were treated to lovely home-made bread and local cheese for breakfast. Everyone enjoyed the visit to Yeroskipou and the opportunity to sample real Turkish Delight (loukoumia) – so many flavours to choose from!

This village also boasts the 9th century 5-domed church of St Paraskevi as well as the Folk Art Museum (not part of this tour but easy to reach by bus) with much older examples of traditional cottage industries. I was surprised that weaving and dyeing of beautiful soft scarves had been a speciality of this region, a fascinating mix of Greek and Turkish influences. It is amazing to see the superb craftsmanship in making pottery, fabrics and processing olive oils given what we would consider basic equipment. It shows that artists and artisans will always create beautiful things however limited their facilities.  

Silver Travel bag at Aphrodite's Pool One of the best parts of this trip is north to Latchi, near Polis, the town less commercialised with excellent restaurants and bars along the harbour front. Monastery mosaics in gold leaf Further along the coast is Aphrodite’s Cave and Baths, including her favourite pool where apparently she met up with various lovers, so the legend goes. It certainly is a beautiful location (see the Silver Traveller bag on location!) and if you are visiting on your own, you should make time to climb the steeper paths to the top for spectacular views along the coastline.    

The trip to the Troodos Mountains is a bit of a test – a very long day on twisting, winding roads through the forested mountains. It is such a vast area, you could nod off for half an hour and the scenery looked exactly the same when you woke up. However, the monastery of Kykkos is what makes the trip worthwhile. This is the richest monastery in Cyprus with stunning gold-leaf mosaics everywhere and huge chandeliers made from melted-down solid gold or platinum. It has an incredible history and is well worth a visit. This trip ends with a brief wine tasting so that cheered everyone up.      

For holidays to Cyprus Silver Travel Advisor recommends Sunvil

131 people found this helpful
18373

Share Article:

Jacqueline

Silver traveller and award-winning travel writer

Leave a comment

*

Sign up to our newsletter to receive the latest travel tips on top destinations.

Join the club

Become a member to receive exclusive benefits

Our community is the heart of Silver Travel Advisor, we love nothing more than sharing ideas, inspiration, hints and tips between us.

Most Recent Articles

There’s something refreshingly nostalgic about the quintessential British coach holiday….

Come feel the love on a Princess cruise. You’ll enjoy the MedallionClass experience others simply can’t, and it’s exclusively for everyone. Visit incredible destinations and be involved in the best experiences around each one of them.

Experience more with Princess and connect effortlessly with the world around you, spend time away with loved ones, take a moment for yourself, and fall in love with your holiday of a lifetime, every time.

With over 20 years of experience, Wendy Wu Tours has mastered the art of creating exceptional, fully inclusive tours which showcase the very best of each destination.

Each tour is led by a world-class guide, who will highlight the very best of their homeland, and includes authentic cultural experiences so you are not just seeing the sights, but truly immersing yourself in local life.

Say hello to ease at sea. Ambassador’s purpose is simple: they want to inspire every guest to experience authentic cruising, effortlessly and sustainably. Passionate about protecting our oceans and destinations, their ships comply with the highest industry emission standards and there is no single-use plastic on board.

On your voyage, you will receive the warmest of welcomes from the Ambassador community as you sail upon the friendliest ships afloat.

This is a global co-operative co-owned by local partners using real local experts and guides, which supports local communities, environments and wildlife. It offers travellers quirky places to stay, activity holidays and learning experiences. Not In The Guidebooks gets travellers off the beaten track into local culture with day experiences and longer, immersive adventures.

From wild wellness breaks in Wales to painting in Portugal, sustainable adventures in Mauritius to food safaris in Brazil, this is immersive, exciting travel.

Seabourn’s five intimate ships carry guests to the heart of great cities, exclusive yacht harbours and secluded coves around the world, while two new purpose-built expedition ships will combine exhilarating adventures in remote destinations with the sophisticated amenities of the world’s finest resorts at sea.

From the luxury of all suite accommodations to complimentary fine wines and spirits, and a no tipping policy, Seabourn exemplifies the definition of travelling well.