Individual guide in Cyprus. The best private guides in Cyprus. These are the prices from local rental companies

I have been conducting excursions in Cyprus since 2000 and during this time I have gained enormous experience and an excellent professional team to provide first-class service. We are a group of professional guides, and we are happy to become your faithful guides who will open you to a new world on the island of beautiful beaches, traditional taverns and workshops, ancient cities and monasteries, majestic mountains and castles.

Going on an independent trip to Cyprus is not such a difficult task if you know all the intricacies of organizing a trip to the island. This article will become a complete guide for travelers to Cyprus, both experienced and those going on an independent trip for the first time. Here you will learn about the important features of the Republic of Cyprus for every tourist: currency, language, time, transport, accommodation, popular resorts and attractions, the climate in the country at different times of the year and many other pressing topics based only on personal experience, obtained from multiple visits to the island.

The Republic of Cyprus is an island state, and the island of Cyprus itself is the third largest in the entire Mediterranean Sea. In principle, its territory is small, from west to east Cyprus occupies just over 200 km, and from north to south - less than 100 km. Active travelers who do not like to lie on the beach near the hotel from morning to evening can travel around the hotel in 2-3 weeks.

General information about Cyprus

Currency in the Republic of Cyprus

Since January 2008, the official currency in the Republic is the Euro (EUR, €). Both paper banknotes (in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 €) and coins (1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 cents and 1, 2 €) are accepted everywhere.

You can exchange money in Cyprus in banks (they operate everywhere), at the airport and even in hotels. For security reasons, of course, it is recommended to exchange foreign currency at a bank. Based on our own experience, we advise you to either come directly with euros or make the exchange at exchange banks. At the airport there is a large percentage of deductions for exchange ( commission about 10%), so doing it there is not profitable. The same situation with currency occurs in hotels. If you really need to exchange currency upon arrival, it is better to exchange only a small amount at the airport, which will be enough for the trip to your hotel, and then find a more profitable place to exchange money there.

Current exchange rates for different currencies can be viewed on the website of the main bank of the republic - the Central Bank of Cyprus (https://www.centralbank.cy/el//home). Banks are open on weekdays from Monday to Friday from 7:30-8:30 am to 15-16 pm. Please check locally for specific opening times. To exchange money you must have your passport with you.

You should know that many places accept more than just euros. In most hotels, restaurants, and large stores, you can pay using a credit card, as well as banknotes of the world's main currencies, Euro checks, and traveler's checks. The most commonly accepted credit cards are Visa and MasterCard. There are few places where you can still accept international cards: American Express, Diners Club, Maestro, Carte Blanche. By contacting the bank, you can withdraw cash from these cards. Remember that with this payment method you will be charged not only the cost of the product or service, but also an additional amount (commission, usually 3%). If you prefer to use credit cards, it still won’t hurt to always have a certain amount of cash with you, because after all, credit cards are not accepted everywhere, and no one is insured against loss.

There are no restrictions on the import and export of currency, however, when transporting large amounts (from 10 thousand euros), they must be declared.

In the northern part of Cyprus, the currency used is the Turkish lira.

Language in Cyprus

The official languages ​​here are Greek and Turkish. You will hear Greek speech in the southern part of Cyprus; Turkish dialect will surround you more when traveling to the northern territory of Cyprus. But in any case, tourists should not worry about the language barrier, since English, sometimes French and German, are used everywhere.

In many hotels and holiday destinations, and sometimes even in shops, you can find staff who understand and speak Russian. In a pinch, sign language can always help you out, although we personally didn’t have to resort to it much.

Difference in time

Greenwich time here goes two hours ahead in winter and three hours in summer. The time difference between Cyprus and Russia, Belarus and Ukraine is insignificant, and sometimes completely absent. Therefore, it will be easy for a tourist to adapt to local time intervals.

More details about the time difference are in the table:

Regarding the timing, all travelers should be aware of the operation of the establishments. Their work is strictly regulated. State and even private institutions (banks, museums, etc.) are open only on weekdays. Shops are still open on Saturday. During the summer season, shops are additionally closed during the day for a siesta, from 13 to 16 or from 14 to 17 hours.

Southern Cyprus and TRNC

You can see on the political map how Cyprus is divided into zones by color. It so happened historically that the Republic of Cyprus does not occupy all of its lands. Formally – 98%, but in reality – 51%. And another 2% of the territory is occupied by British military bases. Since 1974, the island of Cyprus has been practically divided into two states: Southern Cyprus and TRNC (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus). Therefore, having visited different parts of Cyprus (South and North), you can plunge into two completely different cultures - Greek and Turkish.

Is it worth going to Cyprus at all?

If you are still wondering whether you should go to Cyprus at all, we will tell you about some of the advantages of a Cypriot holiday.

Where else can you find such a concentration of diverse vacation destinations?!

Great beach holiday. Of course, a beach holiday can be adequately organized in another place. But many Cypriot beaches are owners of the Blue Flag, which speaks strongly in their favor. And the climate of Cyprus is unique in itself. The warm sun caresses the Cypriot territories almost the whole year, and the sea is gentle throughout the entire beach season. Cyprus is one of the best places to holiday with children, the water here is quite warm from June to November.

Camping. The nature of Cyprus is unique and rich in flora and fauna. Taking care of travelers, many natural parks with neat hiking trails have been created here, where you can walk or bike ride, stop for a picnic, and commune with nature. Gorgeous landscapes will delight the eyes of every traveler. And in winter, you can even see majestic pink flamingos on the salt lake near Larnaca! The best time for nature walks here is, of course, April! The area becomes incredibly picturesque, because April is the period of wild flowering in Cyprus.

The nature of Cyprus - a combination of greenery and rocky stones

Active recreation, sports. In Cyprus, you can have an active holiday in both summer and winter. In winter, for example, you can go skiing in the Troodos Mountains. At other times of the year you can get involved in cycling, golf, water sports (diving, sailing, surfing, etc.). Divers come here from all over the world, because the underwater world here is unique, and there are also many historical sites hidden under the water.

Spectacular holiday. Going to Cyprus in February-March, you can plunge into the carnival extravaganza. It is at this time, on the eve of Lent, that many colorful carnivals are held here. But at other times there is a lot of entertainment. For example, festivals: Flower Festival in Limassol in May, Wine Festival there in early September, Zivania Festival, Flood Festival in June, etc.

Aesthetic and educational recreation. Cyprus has a rich historical and cultural heritage. And here you can visit many beautiful and interesting objects (architectural, historical, mythological) either on your own or by booking an excursion.

Medical tourism. Many people come here for the purpose of prevention and health improvement. There are many medical and health institutions here that provide quality services in various areas to both Cypriots and visiting guests from all over the world.

And no matter what purpose you go to Cyprus, no matter what region you stay in, you will find good attitude and excellent service everywhere!

You can choose a standard beach holiday using tourist packages, but we strongly recommend going to Cyprus on your own, which will allow you to visit different parts of the Republic and see many cool places.

Where to relax - popular cities and resorts

Tourism in the Republic of Cyprus is the basis of the economy, so Cyprus has a wide variety of resort towns. And each resort here is special in its own way. We invite you to get acquainted with the main resort cities of Cyprus and find out why exactly they have gained enormous popularity among tourists from all over the world.

Ayia Napa

Ayia Napa is considered a youth resort. There is a vibrant nightlife here, many discos, bars, restaurants, cafes. We would recommend going to this resort not only for fans of youth parties, but also for families traveling with children. The only thing is that for a family vacation you will need to carefully choose housing - away from the noisy life of young people, or go on vacation not at the height of the season, but at the very beginning (April-May).

Ayia Napa has gorgeous beaches, which are considered the best in Cyprus. The following beaches are especially popular: Nissi Beach, Pantahou, Landa (Golden Beach), Makronissos. The beaches are wide, with a safe, gentle entrance to the sea. The sand is fine and pleasant. The sea here is always calm, there is no strong wind. This resort is good for families with children.

Overview of all the beaches of Ayia Napa →

Here you will find many places for a variety of entertainment.

If you are traveling with children, then it is simply unthinkable not to go with them:

• To the local Amusement Park. By the way, there are many cool attractions for adults here too. Just look at the Sling Shot catapult! The Ferris Wheel in the Park is very good - we recommend it.
• To the Water Amusement Center.
• Take a walk in the Cavo Greco National Park, where everything is organized for hiking, for a beautiful quiet holiday, for contact with nature, and for getting to know legends.

You can visit museums (Museum of the Sea, Museum of Marine Life). And visit the Ayia Napa monastery.

The best hotels in Ayia Napa: 5* Grecian Bay, 4* Olympic Laggon, 4* Limanaki Beach, 3* Nissiana.

Hotels Ayia Napa →

Pathos

The name of the resort very well reflects its essence - elite, expensive, “pretentious”. When traveling around Cyprus by car, you will not feel the hit on your pocket as much as if you come specifically to this place for your entire vacation. There are many hotels, shops, bars and clubs concentrated here. The hotels in this resort are quite expensive, but the service here is excellent.

Some beaches are no less luxurious than those in Ayia Napa. For example, the beach in Coral Bay. At Lara Bay you will also find a wonderful beach. In the resort of Paphos you will find not only sandy beaches, but also rocky ones, even with rocky shores.

The best and most popular beach in Paphos is Coral Bay

So what makes this resort especially attractive? This is not just a vacation spot, but also an ancient city, which is full of objects of cultural and historical significance, and therefore it is very interesting for excursions.

If you are here, do not miss the opportunity to look at such ancient historical monuments as the Royal Tombs, the ancient Oreon amphitheater, the fortress in the harbor of Kato Paphos, the Church of Chrysopolitissa, the column of St. Paul, and visit the Christian shrine - the catacombs of St. Solomonia. There are so many attractions in Paphos that it is worth staying longer to see everything.

By the way, it was here, next to the resort, according to legend, that the Greek goddess of love and beauty Aphrodite was born from the foam of the sea! You can visit that very place (Aphrodite's Bay) and touch Aphrodite's Rock.

Yes, this resort is not very suitable for family holidays, but if you happen to be here with children, you can walk “on the seabed” at the Paphos Aquarium and have a lot of fun at the Aphrodite water park.

Among the hotels in this resort, we recommend 5* Annabelle Hotel and 4* Amphora Hotel & Suites. We stayed at the inexpensive 2* Pyramos Hotel and were satisfied both in terms of cost and service.

Paphos hotels →

Protaras

The resort is located very close to Ayia Napa, at a distance of only 6 km. And here are also the best Cypriot beaches. The most favorite of the beaches here is at Fig Tree Bay (Fig Tree Bay). The water here is completely transparent, there is no wind or strong waves and the entrance to the sea is very gentle. If you are choosing a resort for a family holiday, then Protaras deserves to be first on the list.

Overview of all Protaras beaches →

Thanks to the close location of Ayia Napa, young people are also happy to choose this resort, because they can “hang out” in the neighborhood and at the same time relax in a quiet, peaceful place.

For entertainment, visit the local Oceanarium (Protaras Aquarium). I have never seen so many species of fish, corals and other marine life anywhere else! This is a very beautiful, I would even say, magical sight.

Since the Protaras resort is focused on family vacations, hotel complexes also try to make family vacations comfortable. Here you can easily find an apartment or even a villa for housing.

Here are some popular hotels near Fig Tree Bay: 5* Capo Bay Hotel, 4* Sunrise Gardens Aparthotel, 4* Vrissiana Beach Hotel.

Hotels Protaras →

Limassol

It is difficult to predict who may not like this resort. Completely different categories of tourists come here: couples in love, cheerful youth, families with children, outdoor enthusiasts, and retirees. You can call the resort universal. Limassol is also considered a business tourism center in Cyprus.

There are more than a hundred hotels open here, many in the tourist area speak Russian. The beaches are decent. Among the local beaches, I recommend the western Curium Beach and Lady’s Mile Beach (not in Limassol itself, but for those traveling by car this will not be a problem). If you are traveling to Limassol on a permanent vacation without a car, Lady’s Mile Beach can be reached by local traffic (by bus).

As throughout Cyprus, there are many historical and architectural attractions that are worth seeing. These are castles, fortresses, mosques, churches, and museums. Limassol also has a very good zoo (located in the City Park).

And what you definitely can’t miss here is a special event – ​​the Wine Festival in honor of the god of wine Dionysus and the beautiful goddess Aphrodite. Having visited the festival, I realized that Limassol is rightly called the “wine capital of Cyprus”. The wine festival is held every year, in 2018 it is planned to be held from August 30 to September 9. I’m glad that you only have to pay the entrance fee, and all the wine on site is available for free.

By the way, for those who are planning to travel all over Cyprus, Limassol would be the best choice for a base location, since it is practically the center between all the attractions of the island.

Hotels Limassol →

Larnaca

About an hour and a half drive from Protaras is the historical resort of Larnaca. I would call it a place for an economical and relaxing holiday. You can also go here with children. The beaches are not as golden as in Protaras and Ayia Napa, but also pleasant: the sea is shallow, quiet, the sand is gray-yellow, sometimes with pebbles or shell rock.

The resort is interesting for excursions. Moreover, here you will see not only the sights of antiquity, but also Christian churches (Byzantine Church of Panayia Angeloktisti, Church of St. Lazarus of the 9th century) and monasteries (Stavrovouni Monastery), as well as Islamic luxurious mosques (Al Kebir Mosque, Hala Sultan Tekke Mosque) .

You can plunge into the atmosphere of local life in the settlement of Khirokitiya. When you visit the villages of Lefkara and Kornos, you will not only get acquainted with the identity of the people, but also see the secrets of lace-making and pottery. And in the village of Perivola you can see very beautiful architecturally houses.

By the way, many people come to Larnaca for diving. This is a very interesting place for such active recreation. They even organize entire diving excursions to several sunken ships.

Larnaca hotels →

Weather in Cyprus and when is the season

The weather in Cyprus is very favorable for tourists, especially in summer and September (October is also quite good, but many establishments are already closing the season by this time). In October the temperature begins to decline, and from May it rises again. The hottest months are July and August.

And the truth lies in the words someone said that Cyprus is bathed in the sun 300 days a year.

There are a lot of people during the high season. It is calmer in May, late August - October.

Visa issues

To travel to Cyprus you will need a tourist visa. You can visit the Republic of Cyprus not only with a national Cyprus visa. A Schengen visa is also suitable for this.

You can apply for a Cyprus visa yourself at the embassy in Moscow (Russia) or Kyiv (Ukraine). You can also contact specialized visa agencies to open one. If you buy a tour from a travel agency, it usually handles the visa issuance itself.

The consular fee for a single-entry visa to Cyprus is 20 euros. On average, it takes 3-4 days to open a visa from the moment of application (it may take longer).

Given the peculiarity of the division of Cyprus into two republics, a trip to the beaches of the TRNC (Famagusta, Kyrenia) is possible without a visa. When entering the territory of Northern Cyprus, instead of a visa, an entry stamp with a 30-day period will be placed in your passport (then it can be extended to 90 days). But know that upon arrival you will immediately need to present your return ticket indicating the date of return on it, so that the pass does not raise doubts about the tourist purposes of the trip.

You should understand that you will not be able to travel throughout the general territory of the entire country with a TRNC visa stamp - you will be limited to Turkish territories.

All about the Cyprus visa →

Flights to Cyprus

People fly to Cyprus by plane, and naturally the question arises about air tickets and their cost. First of all, we want to once again emphasize what travelers need to have with them not only a plane ticket there, but also back.

Buying flight tickets in a hurry is expensive. It is best to take care of tickets at the stage of planning your trip. Booking your plane tickets early will save you a lot of money. Tickets that are booked for flights with transfers rather than direct ones are also cheaper. In principle, there are a lot of offers to Cyprus, both budget ones with and without transfers, as well as direct flights to the island.

The travel time depends on the tickets and the length of wait for the second plane. The transfer can take up to 8 hours or even more. As a rule, tickets with a long wait for a connecting flight will be cheaper than fast flights.

How to fly to Cyprus cheaply →

There are many services with which you can select and book air tickets for yourself. You may have already chosen your best service. We have been using the aggregator services skyskanner.ru and aviasales.ru for quite a long time. We recommend these sites for you to use. Offers from many airlines are displayed here, you can sort, compare flight options and really choose the best option and the most economical option.

There are several airports in Cyprus: Larnaca, Paphos, Ercan. If you fly to Larnaca or Paphos, you will be able to travel throughout the territory of Cyprus, but arriving via Ercan will limit you to the territory of the TRNC, and travel to the territory of Southern Cyprus will be considered illegal.

For us, Larnaca Airport is the best arrival point (including the cost of tickets), so we look for tickets here. The average round-trip airfare per person is about $300.

Here are approximate prices for air tickets to Cyprus from different cities. Choose yours and see the suitable dates.

There is another option for visiting the Republic of Cyprus. If you are going on holiday to Greece, you can go from there to Cyprus on a regular sea flight or by ferry.

How to book accommodation

It is not enough to choose a vacation spot and fly there. We still need to live somewhere. And here we are faced with the question of choosing housing. As we said earlier, Cyprus is firmly tied to tourism, so there will be no problems with the availability of housing. But looking for housing upon arrival is a thankless task. In the name of savings and personal comfort, it is better to approach your search for housing wisely.

Hotels in Cyprus →

Like air tickets, we search for and book accommodation in advance using special aggregator services, which we advise you to do too.

You can not only book a hotel room, but also find an apartment or rent a house on the seashore at a favorable price.

• Booking (booking.com) - hotels, apartments and villas in Cyprus, no prepayment!
• Roomguru is a search engine for booking systems, including the most popular ones (Booking, Agoda and others). It compares hotel offers and shows which one has the best price. Since booking does not always show the best price, we always additionally check hotel prices through Rumguru before booking.

Let's say a little about the housing itself in Cyprus. All hotels are very clearly marked with stars, they take this seriously, i.e. all hotels must correspond to their status.

Apartments or apartments for rent are offered at different prices; for a two-room apartment the average cost is from 40 to 160 euros per day, the rental price depends not only on the living conditions, but also on the distance from the seashore.

Medical travel insurance

Travelers to Cyprus need to take out medical travel insurance. And not even because it is mandatory! But this is an additional guarantee that your vacation is protected just in case. Believe me, medical care for foreigners abroad does not cost a penny. It’s better to be “safe.”

All about insurance in Cyprus →

There is nothing complicated about getting insurance. When you contact a travel agency, everything will be done for you. When you take out insurance yourself, you will first need to choose an insurance company. And it is advisable not to miscalculate the price of the insurance itself, as well as the integrity of the company.

View insurance prices →

I recommend using our favorite online service cherehapa.ru to select insurance, which will give you all the insurance options for your request, and you can compare and choose the best option for yourself.

For those who want to get better and more expensive insurance, we can recommend Tripinsurance insurance with the most reliable assistance. Using the promotional code BLOGTRAVEL you get a 10% discount.

Get a 10% discount on insurance

Traveling around the island

Even if you are going to go to Cyprus to a sedentary resort, you cannot do without moving around the island. First of all, you will need to somehow get to your accommodation from the airport. Well, in the future, we are simply sure that you will still want to visit somewhere, go somewhere and see something. So we pay attention to this moment.

How to get from the airport to the city

So, we arrived at the airport. Where to go next? To your hotel (house, apartment).

There are several ways to get to your future home. This includes public transport (bus), the ubiquitous taxi, and personal transfer (required in advance), as well as a rented car. Of course, public transport is inferior to motor transport, because who would want to carry their luggage manually.

Transfer cost in Cyprus →

The transfer price directly depends on the distance from the airport to your destination. Below in the table we have provided you with data on the distance between the airports of Larnaca and Paphos and the main cities of Cyprus to help you.

Public transport

The main public transport in Cyprus is buses and minibuses. Travel by bus is half the price of a minibus, but, of course, minibuses are more convenient. City buses and minibuses run from 6 am to 6-7 pm with an interval of 20-30 minutes. During the summer season, some transport runs longer.

As for moving between cities. This type of bus service is rare, sometimes only once a day. Minibuses travel a little more often and in many directions. In terms of cost between two nearby cities, the picture is approximately as follows:

• travel by bus – about 2 euros;
• travel by minibus – about 4 euros.

About the taxi. This transport can be ordered by phone or stopped on the street. The cost of a taxi ride looks something like this:

• Landing – about 3 euros;
• Travel – for 1 km about 60 euro cents;
• Waiting by a taxi driver - almost 14 euros per hour;
• If you have luggage weighing more than 12 kg - almost 1 euro for 1 piece;
• Night rate from 20:30 to 6 am – 15% is added to the regular rate.
• Taxi fares increase not only at night, but also on weekends and holidays.

By the way, it’s better to pay taxi drivers the exact amount + tips, otherwise they have a policy, you see, not to give change.

Car rent

In the case where the country is small, and there are many attractions scattered across its territory, we vote with all our hands for renting a car. After all, this is truly the best way to move around the country, visit completely different places and not have any embarrassment.

You can rent a car in Cyprus on the spot (for example, many hotels offer this option). However, it will be expensive and much more profitable to search for and order a rental car in advance. And to help with this, we recommend an international online car rental service. A very clear service even for beginners, just indicate the location, rental dates - and choose the best offer (you can add additional filters for selection). The average price for renting a small car for a day will be about 20-45 euros. Moreover, the more days of rental, the cheaper the final cost of the car.

These are the prices from local rental companies:

The driver's age for renting a car is limited to 25 to 70 years. Some companies add a car rental cost if the driver is under 30 or over 65 years old.

You should know that the traffic on the roads of Cyprus is not the same as ours, but in the English manner - on the left. The rules of the road are normal, but your way of thinking on the road will have to change, for example, in which direction to turn on the turn signal. The speed on the highway is 100 km/h, but within the city it is 50 km/h. It is mandatory to wear a seat belt, in the rear seats too.

All about car rental in Cyprus →

What to try and see in Cyprus

Without these recommendations, a guide to Cyprus would not be complete. We have already talked about some of the attractions when considering the main resort destinations, but this is not enough. Let’s add to the list of “interesting things” and delicacies of Cyprus right now!

Food in Cyprus

We fell in love with Cypriot food. It is very similar to Greek cuisine, but with traces of Turkish and Arabic cuisine. Unlike native Greek cuisine, more meat and seafood are used here.

There is one culinary “attraction” in Cyprus that is worth telling about right away. This is a set lunch called Meze (or Mezedes). This lunch is a whole feast, but it will give you a complete understanding of the entire Cypriot cuisine at once. Meza includes 20 to 30 cold and hot dishes with various sauces and drinks. In one sitting you will try spicy octopus, Cypriot ham, salad with Feta cheese, pickled cauliflower, Ophelia pork in wine, lamb Kleftiko, Moussaka beef and many other local traditional dishes.

Among the sweets, we mention baklava, Turkish delight, halva made from nuts and semolina, and also sweet rice porridge with the addition of cinnamon (Rizogalo). We are sure that the local Tiropita cheese pie will also delight you with its taste.

You can’t ignore the cheeses themselves – Feta and Halloumi.

About drinks. Wine paradise - this is what is said about Cyprus. You can try a lot of delicious wines here. Let's repeat again about the wine festival in Limassol - this is a great way not only to have fun, but also to experience many tastes without breaking the bank. We liked the sweet wine Commandaria.

Beer: Keo, Carlsberg. You will also enjoy other local drinks. The Cypriot grape 80% moonshine “Zivania” was very memorable. By the way, in November you can also attend the Zivania festival, which is held every year in the mountain villages of Cyprus.

Food prices in Cyprus →

What to see in Cyprus

Historical, architectural, natural attractions - there is a lot to see in Cyprus. We have compiled for you a small list of places that are very popular among tourists and are really worth visiting.

• The Byzantine Church of St. Lazarus in Larnaca and next to it the Byzantine Museum.
• Kykkos Monastery in the Marathasa Valley. This is the richest and most luxurious monastery in all of Cyprus.
• The city of Kourion, which has existed since ancient times and has retained its ancient appeal.
• Troodos. The mountain range itself is impressively beautiful, but in the vicinity of Troodos you can also see a dozen wonderful painted Christian churches.
• Villa of Dionysus in Paphos. Here you will see such luxurious mosaics of antiquity that you probably won’t immediately believe that such a highly artistic miracle was created many centuries ago.
• The sculpture park in Ayia Napa is a very beautiful place for a walk, pleasing to the eye.

There are many interesting places and attractions in Cyprus. You can get acquainted with almost all of them on our map below; it also shows hotels with a rating of at least 8 points out of 10.

Excursions around Cyprus: individual and group

Those who cannot travel to the sights of Cyprus on their own should not be upset, because you can take advantage of the offer of organizing thematic trips, such as individual and group excursions around Cyprus. This option for getting to know the country is also suitable for those who prefer to visit cultural and historical places accompanied by a guide.

You can be offered a tour of Cyprus on site, for example, at your hotel, but this is usually very expensive. We recommend that you address this issue in advance and book a tour online. This turns out to be much more profitable than ordering on the spot.

Individual excursions

Individual excursions are trips and walks with a personal guide, organized individually for you (your company), without the presence of strangers. Usually the excursion takes place in a guide's car in Russian.

Here are some popular private tours.

Group excursions.

As for group excursions in Cyprus, they usually tie you to a group of other tourists and are carried out strictly according to the schedule, but such an excursion is cheaper than an individual one.

Here are also some interesting options.

Cultural, historical, religious excursions around Cyprus related to myths, traditions and the way of life of the Cypriot population will definitely not leave you indifferent.

How much does a holiday in Cyprus cost?

When organizing a holiday in Cyprus, it is imperative to plan the budget for the upcoming trip. Of course, we cannot advise you on any specific amount for the trip, because everyone has a vacation according to their own pocket. Some people like to relax on a grand scale, others are ascetic. Some people will buy one souvenir, while others need to buy everything that catches their eye as a souvenir. In general, everything is individual.

For example, we propose to compare the costs of a tour package and an independent holiday in Cyprus.

Tours to Cyprus

As a rule, the cost of a tour with an agency is higher than the cost of an independent trip, but if you eliminate the intermediary in the form of a travel agency and select a tour in advance on large travel Internet sites, you can significantly save on purchasing a tour.

For example, here are several options for tours to Cyprus to popular resort hotels.

Here are a few more online resources where you can look for tours to Cyprus:

• Onlinetours - a popular online service for selling tours from leading tour operators to more than 80 countries.
• Travelata - This is a search for the most profitable tours.Travelata.ru partners are only the largest and most reliable tour operators, so you can be confident in the quality of the tours offered.
• Level.travel — This is an automated system for searching for tours from all reliable tour operators and purchasing them online, without the participation of a travel agent.

Independent holiday in Cyprus

The budget for an independent trip usually consists of the cost of air tickets, accommodation and food, as well as additional expenses in the form of excursions, car rentals, souvenirs and entertainment. Below we give approximate prices for popular tourist expenses on the island.

• The cost of an air ticket is 200-400 euros per person.
• The cost of housing is 300-500 euros for 2 weeks.
• Medical travel insurance for 2 weeks - 10-15 euros per person.
• Car rental - 200-300 euros for 2 weeks.
• Meals in the cafe: breakfast - 4-6 euros, lunch - 10-14 euros, dinner (with wine) - 15-20 euros. This is all per person.
• You can easily take 400-500 euros for entertainment, souvenirs and shopping.
• And of course, we advise you to have some emergency reserve with you, some amount that you are not going to spend, but it can be useful in emergency, unplanned cases.

On average, two weeks of active holidays on the island of Cyprus with a car rental will cost you 1400-1600 euros for two people.

When you look at a supermarket for groceries, you will see the following prices:

• 1 liter of milk – 1.50 euros
• Bread – from 1.50 to 2 euros
• Water – from 0.50 to 1.50 euros (you must buy water for drinking!)
• Halloumi cheese – about 15 euros per 1 kg
• Meat (chicken, pork) – from 4 to 6-7 euros per 1 kg
• Tomatoes – 1 euro per 1 kg
• Apples – 2-4 euros per 1 kg

Prices in Cyprus 2018 →

Well, in conclusion, we really hope that this guide will be useful in planning and organizing an independent trip to Cyprus. If you have any questions or have anything to add, we will be glad to hear about it in the comments. Have a great holiday in Cyprus!

Monastery of the Holy Cross

The Greek Orthodox monastery, designed as a fortress, is located in the Rehaviah Valley (Cross Valley). According to legend, this is the site of the tree that was used to crucify Jesus. was built during the Byzantine period, in the 5th century AD. It was then restored by Caesar Justinian in the mid-6th century.

The monastery was destroyed during the Persian invasion, and in 796 the Arabs killed all the monks living there. It was rebuilt in the 11th century by the Georgian Monka, and served during the best times of the Crusaders. In the 13th and 14th centuries it sheltered hundreds of Georgian monks, scientists and poets. In 1267, the Crusaders abandoned the city and the monastery was under the control of the Mamluks, who added a mosque inside the complex.

Trooditissa Monastery

On the southern slope of Troodos Mountain, the Trooditissa Monastery has stood since the 13th century in a picturesque location among pine trees. The present church was built in 1731 and contains a priceless silver-plated icon of the Virgin Mary brought from Asia. They say that this famous icon gives hope to childless couples if they pray in front of it. From then to the present day, many pilgrims visit this holy monastery.

Meniko village

On the way to the famous Church of St. Cyprian and Ustin, where the Church of St. Cyprian and Ustin are located, you will learn the story of the conversion of a black magician to the Christian faith. After arriving at the place, the father will sing the prayer “Blessing of Cyprian”, and then apply you to the sacred relics, which cleansed many people from the evil eye and evil spirits.

This is a real medieval village, an open-air museum, a world-famous object under the protection of the Europa Nostra organization. Only a few people live there today, you will see narrow streets, ancient adobe houses, a tiny church...
The program can include a visit to: Lefkara village, Omodos village (with the Temple of the Holy Cross).

In the footsteps of Aphrodite - Aphrodite's birthplace

Individual excursion with visits to the birthplace of the goddess of love and beauty, Aphrodite's stone or Aphrodite's Bay. In ancient times, Cyprus was known as the birthplace of Aphrodite, it was here, according to legend, that Aphrodite was born, where the goddess emerged from the foam of the sea, and the center of her cult, although the cult of Aphrodite was widespread throughout the Mediterranean region. Even today Cyprus is called the goddess of love, beauty and fertility.

Legend associates the name "Aphrodite" with her birth from the sea foam, as the Greek word (aphros) means "foam". Legend states that this is the southeastern area near Paphos, Petra tou Romiou, near the Romios rock. This area boasts some of the most beautiful scenery in all of Cyprus.

Grand Tour in Cyprus 2018

➤ There will be a short stop for a cup of coffee in the village;

• Church of St. Lazarus;
• Brief photo stop at the observation deck;
• Monastery of Saint Thekla or John the Lampadist;
• Village of Meniko. Church of Saints Cyprian and Justinia, the priest in this church gives a lecture against the evil eye and damage;
• Fikardu village (under UNESCO protection);
• Lunch in the village (optional, not included in the excursion price);
• Monastery of Macheras;
• Lefkara village;

Northern Cyprus. Famagusta

To the "dead city" of Famagusta.

➤ Crossing the border;

• Medieval castle of St. Hilarion
• Bellapais Abbey;
• Dead city ;
• Free time in the old part of Famagusta and time for lunch;
• Church of St. Nicholas (Lal Mustafa Pasha Mosque);
• Golden beach of Famagusta and free time for swimming;
• Driving along the fenced area of ​​the “Ghost Town” (near the restricted area of ​​Famagusta);
• Border crossing.

Note: A PASSPORT IS REQUIRED!!!

Forty years ago, Turkish troops invaded Famagusta, leaving the once thriving resort a symbol of a divided and devastated land. , located on the eastern coast of Cyprus, was one of the most luxurious resorts in the Mediterranean.

The many miles of white sand and clear sea attracted thousands of visitors every year in the seventies. The population of 40,000 people enjoyed life, rich culture and developed art, the theater there was the best on the island. With the deepest port on the island of Cyprus, Famagusta handled 80% of the island's cargo, most of which contained a huge tonnage of citrus fruit from Cyprus.

The modern city, where luxury hotels were located, was inhabited mainly by Greeks, and the ancient fortress with historical treasures of Famagusta was inhabited by Turks. After the Greek military coup in July 1974, paradise life came to an end, Turkish troops invaded the city, ostensibly to restore constitutional order and protect the Turkish Cypriots.

On August 14, the Greek population fled in fear, in cars, buses, on foot, taking nothing but clothes. They expected help from the authorities, but no one came, and their return dragged on for weeks, then months, then decades. Today, part of Famagusta still remains completely cordoned off by rusty barbed wire, fiercely guarded by Turkish troops. There are skeletons of blown up and abandoned hotels and apartments, streets and looted shops, restaurants, mansions.
The Gothic Cathedral of St. Nicholas was converted into the Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque.
The ghost town is heavily guarded by soldiers, and the aggressive military makes it clear that this is a no-go zone. But through the huge holes in the fence there is an opportunity to see an eerie and ominous sight on the site of a once prosperous city.
Popular excursions of 2018
Recently, the format of individual excursions in Cyprus with a Russian-speaking guide, as opposed to an organized one, has been gaining popularity. How much does a private guide cost in Cyprus for a family? you can find out on the website website.

It is worth noting that the cost of individual excursions is not much more (from 47 euros per person) than those organized by large groups, but the comfort and excitement of the program with an individual approach and routine is incomparably higher.