domestic tourism cyprus

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“Domestic tourism” is an expression that usually has nothing to do with Cyprus because it’s 200 km to the west and 200 km to the east so much for the domestic tourism on the island. However new times imply new interests. During the Covid-19 pandemic the entry to the main part of countries of the world for Cyprus citizens is completely prohibited and to the rest — partly hindered. Nevertheless last summer the majority of the citizens preferred to not go anywhere too far and organized domestic vacations on the island instead. Today we will tell you how to amuse yourself while staying on the island even when you are quite limited in options.

At the beginning of pandemic it seemed to be the summer in Cyprus would look depressing deserted and lonely without crowds of foreign tourists. But it turned out to be exactly the opposite. Now wherever you go, especially to some usually peaceful remote places, you will definitely discover hoards of people there. Locals, who were not very interested in these places before, are grouping there like bees to honey.

I have travelled the length and breadth of Cyprus in my time, when as they say it was not a mainstream yet and now I would like to offer you my list of top 10 trips and destinations on the island. Each of them based on my personal experience.

Chasing the Cold!

Where are locals eagerly looking during the summer? At the beach? No way. Everyone dreams about getting some chill. And in the end of the summer there are only two places where you can find it: in Troodos and under the air conditioner at home. The pickings are slim.

Every week beginning with the Saturday morning you can see a caravan of cars heading to the Olympus Mountain. Sometimes it could be that the oncoming traffic doesn’t end or pause for around 15 minutes while you are driving down the mountains. Mountains are full of noisy Cypriots like a summer forest of cicadas. Once super popular places (like Psilo Dendro Restaurant, a path to the waterfall close to it or Troodos village) turned into mega super popular. And unpopular places became super popular accordingly. However despite an excess of people there are still few nooks untouched.

If you want to stay in Troodos overnight, you will have two options at your choice: in a hotel or in a tent. First one is quite expensive (around 150 Euros for a night) and not really romantic to my opinion. You can spend around 100 Euros to buy a tent, an air mattress, a pump, a sleeping bag, few folding chairs, a torch…okay, long story short you can get everything you need for this amount of money. And this “starter pack” will be enough to reach some level of comfort and coziness especially if you plan to stay only for one night. They have a lot of places for your tent there but when it comes to me I usually choose one of these two: on top of Olympus Mountain and in the Troodos village. One of the biggest advantages of the mountaintop is that you can experience very low night temperatures there (it could be only 11 C sometimes!). And Troodos is also cool because you can be surrounded by both nature and civilization at the same time. So you arrive in Troodos in the evening and look for a place for your tent. I usually put my tent around 20 meters away from houses, in a clearing between slopes. It’s a beautiful view there and despite crowds of tourists — very empty.

Cypriots are not inclined at stealing at all. Old-timers tell stories that before Cyprus joined EU it was so save on the island that people left keys inside car’s locks while going somewhere — who knows, maybe someone want to move your car a little bit if it closes the way to them. Unfortunately nowadays thefts became customary but it’s the tendency that mainly the immigrants advance. But there are no immigrants in the mountains. The point is it’s not a dumb idea to place a tent and go sightseeing.

Alright, we camped and went to the village, good that it takes only 3 minutes. So we took a seat in one of the few restaurants: we have nice chat, enjoy the coolness, adore unique view of the mountains and drink something tasty, coffee or something even stronger. But God forbid you guys to order food there. When it comes to meals all Troodos restaurants are equally awful and what is more — expensive. Don’t let the tourists constantly eating something around you deceive you. More likely they eat here first and last time in their life.

Despite the terrible food the interiors of local cafes are a delight. A little bit ridiculous but very cute parody of Austria or Germany.

Another option: buy some beer and snacks and sit on a bench in a park. The views here are so incredibly beautiful so it’s a perfect place for leisurely chatting over a bottle of foamy beer. By the way, talking about beer and snacks (especially nuts). There is one store in Troodos but the variety of beer ends with 1-2 brands at restaurant prices. Take bottles with you on a trip is not a great idea — the beer will get warm and tasteless. Freezer bag could save the day but it’s additional weight and extra expenses. Everything is kind of uncertain with snacks too. They sell nuts at the market stalls nearby. Nuts there are yummy and warm, however the price will be 5 times higher than at a market.

So let me share a life hack with you. Here , 13 km away from Troodos, is a good supermarket (despite its unpretentious appearance) with a wide variety of cheap but good quality snacks. Beer they sell there is also quite good. Prices are at their minimum.

Well, we spent some time at the nice place, let’s go back to our camp: observe the sunset and make an evening picnic. But I would strongly advice you against making a bonfire — otherwise your trip could continue against your will with a jail as a final destination. They have a lot of police in Troodos despite the tiny size of the village.

It’s pleasant and safe to sleep close to the village. You can be sure that no drunk people or bush-privacy lovers will disturb you during your sleep. There are also no dangerous animals. And chill smelling of pine trees air guarantees you nice and deep sleep. Mosquitos are also very rare here. The only thing that might bother you a little bit is — flies. There are tons of them and they usually become active at the sunset. But when sun is down flies go to sleep. If you go back to your tent from the village during night you might notice that every step on the grass you take is accompanied by angry buzzing. It’s troubled flies scolding you.

Of course this type of weekend vacations could not be compared with a trip to Switzerland but allows you to “reboot” the picture you see every day for a while. When it comes to me I usually go to the mountains and stay overnight at least several times a month just to clear my head.

Barbeque in a Picnic Area

One of Cyprus features we can and should be proud of — is the way the picnic areas are organized. There are plenty of them, all perfectly equipped (some of them even too excessively), completely free and as a rule are located in the wild nature.

I will not talk about picnic zones down the mountains in this review because it’stoo muggy there during summer and offer you three of my favourite picnic areas high in the mountains instead.

1. Trooditissa

This picnic area is located close to the self-titled monastery .

Advantages:

It’s one of very few picnic zones with a river you can swim in. The part of the river on the territory of the picnic area is quite shallow but if you go up several dozens meters you will find few natural pools, where, with due ingenuity, you can soak in to your head.
The nature around is amazing. The area is oriented so that it offers you views all the way to Limassol from its front edge.
Few meters away from tables and grills located a bunjy jumping station (jumping off a cliff with a rope). If desired you can not only eat some tasty grilled meat but also hit a nerve. However it’s better to do it before barbeque and not after it.
This place is mega popular among Cypriots. Shouting, noise and music echoes in the forest hundred meters away. And you can be stuck in a traffic jam right before the entrance to the territory.
Also the picnic area is not high enough in the mountains. Around 1300 meters above the sea level. According to my experience the desired coolness begins at the heights of 1500 meters.

2. Prodromos

The place is freaking beautiful.
Also the picnic area is one of the most equipped. By the way they also have quite big playground here.
There is a dam just few meters away. And plenty of fish in it. Someone prefers go fishing there but I like to feed fishes with the rest of our picnic bread. It’s lovely and calming.
Height of 1500 meters is not the best option but thanks to the land relief (north slopes of Troodos) it’s almost always chilling here.
Several kilometers away from the picnic zone you will find a grocery store in Prodromos village. It’s convenient if you realize that you forgot something to take with you on a trip.
This is one of the very few places on the island with a patch of plain forest landscape. Perfect place for walking. Even with a baby in a stroller if you wish.
In autumn is great to come here for rose hip and wild apricots. In summer — you will find plenty of cherry trees all around the area.
Another quite popular place among the citizens.Especially since the Covid-19 pandemic. Around 60% of people making barbeque here are Russians. The rest 40% — Cypriots. Hustle and bustle are ruling this place.

3. Kambos tou Livadiou

Picnic area is situated few kilometers from Troodos village.

The most high-altitude picnic area. So the temperatures here are the lowest comparing to other two.
Beautiful green meadows nearby.
As a rule it has the smallest number of people. It’s very often the case when you came here during the weekend and won’t see a soul.
The area is really big.
No natural water reservoir nearby.

Several important notes in the end:

1. All the picnic areas equipped with special zones for making food over an open fire. How they look like? It’s a long concrete blocks around one meter above the ground on top of which you can place your grill. Usually on one end of the block there is a big hole where you put used charcoal — they cook whole animals there afterwards.

These kind of concrete “tables” have sun-protection hoods. That means you choose a table with benches, go to the grill zone, make barbeques and come back to your table with the ready dish. It is allowed to make bonfires in barbeque zones.

2. Considering grills. In Cyprus they sell grills for souvlaki (Cyprus kebab). Almost all the grills you will find in stores equipped with a special device so at the time you rotate one skewer it rotates the rest of them as well. Also a grill has a place for a tiny motor (there are two types of them: mains-and battery-operated). So you put souvla on the skewers, turn on the motor and wait. Perfect. But if you come from Eastern Europe or any country of Caucasus and Near East, this device will only annoy and disturb you. Because the process of making a kebab is very different from that one I described above. Greek souvla is small while pieces of West-European and Near-Eastern kebab are woman’s fist big (and the meat is always marinated before the cooking to make sure it will be well-done). That’s why the type of skewers is also different — they are wide and flat to prevent meat from rotating. Cypriot skewers are designed to match with that rotating device, so they are thin and have square cross-section. Small souvla is not falling from them through its size and weight. Bigger pieces of meat usually rotate on the Cypriot skewers. That’s why some pieces are turning round and some stay faced the same side to the fire while you rotate all the skewers together.

An alternative to skewers could be grill and barbeque grates. You can use it also for making stakes or grilled vegetables. The assortment in Cyprus is quite wide, so you can buy good quality devices at affordable prices. I would advice you to go to Leroy Merlin in Nicosia for them.

Also you can find ready-to-use disposable grills in every big (and small) supermarket. The package consists of thin aluminum container (similar to backing ones), coal, lighter fluid and small grate. Well, this kit is too small and inconvenient for making a kebab but if your goal is to grill some sausages or burger patties — it’s quite the thing. The average price for the kit is around 5 Euros.

3. Usually the locals prefer to go to picnic areas in the morning for some unknown reason. And it’s empty and silent during afternoon. Well I think that it’s better to come here before the sunset. The landscape is more beautiful; it’s a perfect time to drink some beer (drink it in the middle of the day is kind of tawdry) and what is the most important — it’s much colder in the evening. And no people around of course.

I would say that making barbeque — is one of the most important traditions of domestic tourism in Cyprus that is timeless. Because this isn’t just about having some food. It’s about the process: it’s nice to make meals outside in nature while drinking fresh cool beer and chatting with your friends and family!

What is Latchi village and what for you can go there — the answer to this question main part of you knows that already. But if you are one of those, who doesn't, I’ll tell you that first of all the village is far away from almost every city in Cyprus (some sort of road trip for half a day or even for a whole one), second, it’s the place with the best fish taverns on the island and third — the sea in Latchi is a little bit warmer than anywhere else. And last but not least — small boats and yachts go from Latchi fishing port to the amazingly beautiful Blue Lagoon. The boats arrive close to the bay and their passengers get a chance to take a swim in the sea right from aboard. Also Latchi village has a tiny touristic street. Long story short, you can find with what to amuse yourself for the whole day.

However I named this touristic route as Latchi+. Let’s talk more detailed about that plus sign.

The road to Latchi from Pafos (and the possibility you will drive through Pafos and not through the north coast is 99%) is quite interesting itself (though it may not seem so at the first glance) and there are several places located close to it, which are a must to visit.

1. Kritou Tera waterfall . It’s situated a little far from the main route connecting Pafos and Polis but this detour is quick and it won’t take a lot of time to get there and return back.

This waterfall is the most beautiful and the most unpopular on the island at the same time. The reason is simple: the majority of Cyprus waterfalls are in Troodos Mountains. And Troodos in turn is relatively close to every city in Cyprus (because its location right in the middle of the island) and has plenty of other attractive for tourists places in addition to waterfalls. That’s why everyone knows about Troodos waterfalls. Kritou Tera on the opposite is located in between farming areas, far away from other touristic objects and paths. It’s hard to believe that you will find something interesting here even when you are already close to it. There is nothing but boring fields bleached by the sun and proverbial carob trees. The boondocks in one word. But the appearance is deceiving in this case. Right between the fields there is a rift with a river flowing down in it. The rift is quite picturesque itself and the waterfall you will remember for the rest of your life.

In reality there are two waterfalls there. One — closer and not that fancy (however it has a big bath); to get to the second one you have to go all that way following a narrow path. Second waterfall is a complex of small natural caves and steep slopes covered with green moss. The water comes from above right on the moss. Cute river crabs are running here and there in small natural pools. If you want to see really cool waterfall, it’s a must to go here.

2. Restaurants. There are several very interesting authentic Cyprus restaurants not far from the road to Latchi.

Pagkratiuos Tavern is a restaurant that has a history of a century. Everything here is made according to traditional Cyprus style. You can try such exotic dishes as snails and even doves here. You’ll agree that’s an interesting place.

Farmyard restaurant . Another authentic place specialized on Cyprus cuisine following old recipes. They say you can get the best traditional Trachanas soup in the country there. If you add all these places to your route, you will get amazing and eventful trip. As good as to go to Croatia.

Shopping in Nicosia and a Little Romance for Dessert

What a tourism without shopping, huh? To my opinion shopping in Cyprus is better to perform in the capital of the country .

Here are few main shopping centres in Nicosia:

1. Old town (Ledra — the main street of it and the nearby surroundings) with tons of Chinese stuff and souvenirs for the tourists.

2. Several streets near Ledra (mostly boutiques and clothes stores).

3. A cluster of chain stores in Strovolos. Here are side-by-sideIkea, Leroy Merlin, Super Home Centre and Mall of Cyprus . The last one is tiny and meaningless as I see it. It makes sense to go to this part for various household shopping instead of clothing.

4. Nicosia Mall. It’s a new freshly opened and the most trendy and biggest shopping mall in Cyprus. And that’s what I would recommend for relaxing and comfortable shopping.

Here you can find almost everything ordinary shopping malls around the world have: cool big supermarket, dozens of stores (by the way some of them you can visit only in this city in Cyprus), spacious food court (including cafes for healthy food devotees), cinema, modern area with arcades, hardware stores and plenty of free parking lots. The shopping mall is located literally in a field. Due to that you can enjoy amazing view of Kyrinea Mountains from the food court terrace. It’s kind of easy to spend from few hours up to the half of a day in the mall.

Well, enough about shopping, let’s talk about the promised romance.

The route E903 leads from Nicosia and goes close to the shopping mall. This is one of the most beautiful mountain roads in Cyprus to my mind. In Nicosia neighbourhood it winds along picturesque fields first but quite fast dives into the mountains. Rivers, gorges, cliffs as well as several cozy taverns are at your service. Dozens of places where you can drink yummy Cyprus coffee while sitting in shade close to the road are spread all over the route. Some of them will treat you with panorama views for tens of kilometers around. And plus, the road goes through the main transit point of all the tourists of Troodos — Agros village . This is one of the biggest and most wealthy villages on the island.

Where to head after Agros — the choice is up to you. If you live in Pafos , you can take beautiful roads leading to another touristic village — Omodos ; if you are a citizen of Limassol , the road to the left will lead you home very quickly; and if your home is in Larnaka or Nicosia, you can turn right and return to the zero point.

Well, you will see nothing super extra wow on E903 route. It’s just a lovely road perfect for road trips. I think that spend first half of the day shopping in the mall and another half — on a beautiful forest road tasting good Cyprus coffee — is a nice activity for a weekend.

Hiking “Venetian Bridges” Trail

There were times when Venetians were strolling along the streets of Cyprus and camel caravans loaded with copper went through Troodos Mountains. Actually even the Latin word “cuprum” that means copper comes from the name of the island — Cyprus.

The period of Venetian rule on the island was short — a little bit less than one hundred years at the turn of XV-XVI centuries. Well, according to the locals’ point of view, there were not the best days because Venetians professed a colonial type of regime. What means they denude the island of its resources giving nothing in exchange.Almost nothing to be more precise. One can definitely break a leg in Troodos region. Even now. And it was even less “maintained” back then. So, to make the transportation of “nation’s heritage” more comfortable, Venetians built plenty of their amazing bridges all over Cyprus. Nowadays these bridges are the only heritage of their rule. Of course not all of them because the main part of the bridges didn’t survive to this day. But some of them still remain. There is even a 17 km long touristic trail, which includes three Venetian bridges: Kelefos, Elia and Rudia. The trail created by Department of Forests of Cyprus and replicate the Kamilostrata path (ancient Venetian camel route).

17 km — is a quite solid distance. If you are an amateur and think your average speed is around 5km/h what means you will be able to reach the final point in 3 hours, I’m sorry to disappoint you. Because of the road humps and height differences your speed will be around 3 km/h in the best-case scenario. So you’d better to plan 6 hours route minimum. And don’t forget you need to go back. Plus you will have a snack, take some rest and spend some time observing bridges — so it’s already 15 hours. It’s kind of difficult to hike such a long distance in one day, that’s why I’m ready to offer you some alternative options:

You can take a bike with you. You will definitely have time for everything in this case.
Or ask someone to drive and pick you up at the final point of the route so you haven’t go back.
Third option is to take a shortcut and visit two bridges instead of three. Elia and Kelefos are not far from each other (3,5 km). But Rudia is further.
So you can go to Elia first and then to Kelefos by car and walk the distance to Rudia Bridge by foot.
However the route itself starts not by the bridge but by the village Kaminaria. It’s around 5 km from it to the first object — Elia Bridge. You can skip this part of the trail too if you want.

Let’s talk about the trail more detailed. It consists of four sections:

1 Section: Kaminaria village — Elia Bridge. The path will offer you great panoramic views.

2 Section: Elia Bridge — Kelefos Bridge — Pera Vasa village. It goes through beautiful pine grove. There is a picnic area near Pera Vasa village.

3 Section: Pera Vasa village — Rudia Bridge. The path will show you amazing views of Arminou dam and water reservoir.

4 Section: Rudia Bridge — Vretsia village. The total length of this part is 3 km. The path will lead you to the abandoned Vretsia village. There are quite a lot of such villages in this region — Turkish-Cypriots left them during the tragic events of 1974.

Brief information about the bridges

The most famous and popular Kelefos bridge is on Rudia river. Touristic agencies regularly drive tourists here and the bridge is included in many excursion programs of Troodos. Good modern highway will lead you to the bridge (however if you choose jeep safari tour , they will drive on a terrible parallel road. It’s you who decided for Jeep and safari, so — enjoy!). I’ve been there many times and the place havenever been empty. People are circling in groups and newlyweds going there to make a photo session.

Kelefos is the longest among the bridges. It’s length is 30 m, height — 6 m and width — 3,2 m.

Elia is 5,5 m high, 15,5 m long and 2,4 m wide. This bridge is the smallest one, located on Foiniriver.

Rudia is 2,8 m wide with 10 m high arch and 28 m length. It’s built over Xerosriver to the west from Pera Vasa village. The bridge is both the biggest and the most difficult to access because there are no good roads leading to it and the area itself is also quite much a wilderness. I’m pretty sure not many our readers were there.

These Venetian bridges are not the only ones in Cyprus. However if you google for “Venetian bridges Cyprus” most likely you won’t find any information about the others. But they exist. For instance, beautiful big Venetian bridge Akapnou could be found here , in a very different part of the island. It’s not a trendy place because it’s located in the middle of nowhere and it’s not in a good state either. And there are several more. I will not describe each of them in details because the main topic is “domestic tourism” and not “Venetian bridges”. The main three bridges are the most interesting by themselves and quite convenient as a part of a common trail. I’ll think about writing an extra article about the bridges later.

Whole day hiking activity (by the way nothing stopping you from hiking this trail several days sleeping in a tent at night) that includes forests and various ancient sights is another great plan for a weekend to my opinion. Especially if you are a fan of active leisure .

Romantic Date on the Mountain Top

There is one freaking awesome place in Cyprus, perhaps one of the most beautiful on the island. Madari Mountain top (situated here ). Based on my visual analysis you can see 30% of the whole territory of Cyprus at once in the good weather. Among things that are visible from the top are: beaches of the north coast, Larnaka, Nicosia and Olympus Mountain. There is a fire-prevention station on Madari top. Observers do their duty everyday checking if there are any fires around. As a rule these people are quite friendly and let tourists climb up to the station’s veranda, so they can admire panoramic views. It’s cool standing there at the station but not very romantic. We will search for romantic in the opposite from the station direction while going on tiny path to the mountain range. In 10 minutes you will discover a bench on the mountain top. Usually there is no one there and the atmosphere is peaceful, majestic and romantic.

When you sit down on the bench your legs will be very close to the edge. It’s just half a step away.

It’s great here always, rain or shine. When the sky is clear — you are able to see villages and towns far away down the mountain. When the weather is cloudy — it’s often the case that clouds fly down the top creating an illusion you are sitting in heaven.

But it’s not enough just sit and stare I think. It would be also nice to drink something and have a snack. For those purpose I usually go to Sigma bakery (located here ) in advance to buy coffee and warm croissants with chocolate. And bring them up to the Madari top. I’ve already checked — during warm weather (and cool too) both coffee and croissants keep warm all the way from Sigma bakery to the romantic bench on the mountain top.

I admit I took several girls on a date to Madari top (I mean, not all together. One at a time.During my single days). And afterwards each of them said that it has been the most romantic date in their lives. So if you already bored of visiting Limassol Marina restaurants alternating them with walks on the beach, a trip to Madari will be cool, unique and extraordinary alternative to please your beloved.

Abandoned Cyprus

If you arrive to Cyprus as a tourist the chances to see something abandoned here are quite low. The country shows only its “fancy” sides to the tourists. Maximum you can get — a walk through pseudo-abandoned Fikardou village or a short trip to “sinister” Berengaria hotel . But it’s very unlikely that all these places will give you an authentic feeling of abandonment and true stalkers have nothing to do there.

Secret lost world of Cyprus is hiding from tourist’s cameras behind the trees, hills and mountains. For instance, many people go to Troodos to take a walk and don’t even know there is a whole desolated parallel world in the dense pine groves just few meters away from well-trodden paths. You have to live here for a while to see the other Cyprus. Only then it will slowly open its creaking secret doors to you.

Getting into the abandoned houses is of course a specific type of tourism not all would like. You should be a little bit interested in the history, and a little bit of introvert and adventurer at the same time. If you are one of those, the island definitely has something to show you on the weekend:

1. Abandoned villages

There are surprisingly many of them. The most part of these villages became deserted after military activities on the territory of Cyprus in 70es. But some got abandoned because of other reasons: earthquakes, economical factors etc.

The level of damage is also different. Some settlements remind destroyed to the ground Afghanistan villages, in others you can find by some miracle not broken utensils. There are even several villages that stayed desolated for years but now people started to live there again. In other words there’s plenty to choose from.

If you look for colouring and entourage, I recommend you to visit Souskiou village (it’s here ). Very few houses left there, so it’s mostly ruins but very atmospheric looking ruins — a great place for a photoshoot a la “Afghanistan”. Even the landscape to match — everything is yellow bleached with the mountains on the background.

If you want to look at old British manors, you can go to Pano Amiantos ( here ). The lower village is old Cypriot houses (built in Troodos style) and the upper part is purely British. Almost all the Cypriot houses are abandoned however you can still meet few people there (mostly in the lowest part). Some stuff is still could be found inside the deserted houses. British houses are in worse state but some authenticity is still remaining.

By the way this place could also be destination of your choice if you are looking for some creepy stuff. When you go from Limassol to Troodos this village will be to the right and to the left is a large abandoned hospital building. Looks magnificent and sinister. Especially in the evenings in winter.

But if you would like to take a look at how people used to live back in times, the best option for you will be Vretsia village. I’ve already mentioned it while we were talking about Venetian bridges. Here is its location.

Despite that a popular touristic path goes through the village, the houses here are in the best condition comparing to other deserted settlements. Kitchenware, furniture, clothing, toys — everything is just laying on their places untouched for decades. From time to time you can meet police patrols and patrols of some other services I didn’t recognize. One day my wife and I were sitting in the yard of one of the abandoned houses and having short picnic (brought some cheese and meat with us and ate it in the fresh air) while several patrol cars passed by. So they have seen us but weren’t really interested.

Another village that remained in a quite good condition is Trozena (could be found here ). But I would highly advise you against going into the empty houses there. They are in a critical condition so the roof easily could fall on your head or you on the opposite could fall down through the floor.

However it’s quite nice to walk its streets. Before the village was completely abandoned but recently a family bought a house there. They are friendly people and gladly go out to chat with those, who came there for an “excursion”.

The villages I named above are the most interesting. The rest are in much worse condition for the most part.

By the way, many of these villages still have gardens where grow and get ripe fruits that already no one needs.

In conclusion I want to remind you about Platres. Well, this beautiful mountain village that was the main touristic base of colonial authorities in Troodos is not abandoned. But it’s old and full of secrets and mysteries. You can find a lot of old manors people left many years ago while walking partly hidden paths and climbing old fences. A very atmospheric place.

2. Abandoned objects

Cyprus has something exciting for stalkers and hobos.

In Limassol for instance there is a huge abandoned winery in the very heart of the city, where, if you wish, you can find wine in bottles, packaging of all sorts as well as furniture and other office supplies. The location of the winery is here . Probably it’s one of the most interesting and huge abandoned objects on the island. However, if you want to take a look, you’d better not draw this out into a lifetime special because they began to demolish it part by part.

Another interesting but dangerous place is an old airport building in Nicosia. Located here . Once popular but deserted after the war place. On the landing strip there are several aircrafts left, attacked and that’s why unable to fly any more. The building of the airport is also remained.

But as I said there are few nuances here. The territory of the airport is a part of UN buffer zone now, what means you can get in serious trouble until arresting if you get caught by a patrol. But there are plenty of videos on Internet witnessing that some daredevils managed to sneak inside and back.

Also somewhere in Troodos mountains there is a many kilometers long large tunnel with maze-like passages and deep wells. And as a rule, legends tell stories about gold hidden in its subsoil. Why gold? Because it led to the shafts where different metals were mined back then. Including gold. Here is the geolocation of this place. It’s an old abandoned miners camp. The entrances look quite creepy.

Another object that could be worth your attention is a junkyard of old buses and trucks. It’s situated here . A great place for a post-apocalyptic photoshoot. But there is also an important aspect — this place is close to the British military camp and could be reached only if you drive from the north. And even then it won’t be very close — around 500 m away from a gate. The junkyard itself is behind the gate surrounded with a fence. You can crawl inside through a hole in it. People who were there say that they met a British patrol. However patrols are quite indifferent to the “stalkers”.

Plenty of unoperated forgotten mines are spread all over Cyprus. There are so many of them that I think there is no point in sharing the coordinates of every single mine because it’s easy to find them on the Internet. The entrances to several of them are sealed but the rest is open for prying eyes. However this type of attraction is an acquired taste of course. I’m not a fan so I can’t share any details about inside passages and shafts.

One more place that is quite strange and specific — abandoned mines of Mitsero village (located somewhere around this place ). There remained huge mechanisms and diesel-punk constructions. The object is protected by UNESCO. Close to the mines there is a “red lake”. Workers dig a quarry here, which was filled with the water from the rains. The unusual red colour of the lake comes from the high content of copper and iron in the water.

The place itself looks sinister and creepy. Well, it’s not without a reason. A Cypriot maniac was active around there dropping his victim’s bodies down the mines and into the lake.

3. Ancient objects and cities

It’s quite unusual to call ancient ruins “abandoned” but technically this is what they are. History of Cyprus is very long and you can see many different ancient architectural objects in every corner of the island. But actually the most interesting from remaining places are in Pafos.

Here are top 3 of the most interesting to my opinion:

Tombs of the kings — a huge well-preserved necropolis.
Neo Pafos — ruins of an ancient city in the present-day Pafos.
Catacombs of Saint Solomoni . It’s a huge underground maze with a well-preserved church.

But this is far from the only amusing things you will find in Pafos. You can spend several days in this city discovering its archeological sites.

Religious Route

Here we will continue with the format of our article by telling you both about few popular places together with a couple of not widely known ones.

Perhaps Cyprus isn’t that good for any type of tourists like it is for orthodox pilgrims. They will find everything they want and even more here. The majority of the villages have the word “Agois” or “Agia” and there are churches, chapels and monasteries wherever you go. People in Cyprus pay way more attention to religion comparing them with also orthodox Russia for example where for the majority of citizens the affiliation to this particular religious faith is nothing more than an odd tradition you should follow.

Several Apostles taught their messages in Cyprus. There are early Christian memorials on the island. So if you are religious and interesting in history you can go basically everywhere — you will definitely find something interesting. But anyway let me offer you a great trip for the whole day.

The route begins right behind your house door. In my case it’s in Limassol.

Let’s take your car keys, something to eat, some of your nearest and dearest and drive to Episkopi village. But not to that one you are thinking about right now.

There are two villages with the same name in Cyprus. When you google “Episkopi” you usually get information only about the first one. It’s situated at the seashore not far from Limassol and is quite famous. The second Episkopi village, located in mountains, only a handful of people ever know about. But looking from religious point of view the second one is much more important and interesting. The village is located far from highways and touristic routes at a height of 190 m above the sea level. Here .

What interesting could we find there? The village has the biggest monolith of the island — a giant stone touching the sky with its top. 70m high and 250 m wide. It looks quite impressive and magnificent. But that’s not our focus. This was a place Saint Hilarion lived at in IV century BC, who, according to the legends, stopped tsunamis and threw cliffs at demons. Actually, exorcism was his main occupation in Cyprus. However he has never taken any money for that and lived a quiet peaceful life. After a while, in XI century, there was a church built on the place where he used to live. Basically right under the monolith, in a small cave. Miraculously a part of that church remained to the present day. Now there are lit candles and icons hanging there, so the place is not empty.

After your visit to the holy place you can go to the small tavern near the monolith. I haven’t tried any food there but coffee is very good.

This part of the trip doesn’t take long but it’s an atmospheric and quite impressive place that could be good not as a main destination but as part of the route. Let’s move on.

Now we will go up higher in the mountains. Next stop: Chrysorroyiatissa Monastery (located here ). The monastery is open already since XII century, however the main part of the buildings is dated back to XVIII century. It is also very famous because of the miracles connected with its Panagia Chrysorroyiatissa icon.

Also the monastery has its own museum. The exhibition shows relics of the monastery collected between XII and XIX centuries. Among the most valuable are: cross pendant of XII century, ancient icon from XIV century and paten from XV century. Except that the collection includes: liturgical utensils, chandeliers made out of Murano glass, candles, manuscripts, deacon and abbot church attire, crosiers, censers, gold brocade shroud, painted ceramic Eastern eggs, belt buckles, reliquaries and other heirlooms.

There is a painting gallery on the territory of the monastery, which exhibits 55 paintings of Cypriot and foreign artists collected in 1978-2010 by Abbot Dionysius.

And in addition — they have their own winery producing very good (by most accounts, one of the best on the island) vintage wine.

Optional — make a brief pit stop in Pano Panagia village after your visit to the monastery and take a look at the birthplace of the most esteemed Cyprus leader of modern times — Archbishop Makarios. The village is small but pretty much “alive and active”. The locals are very friendly. While my wife and I were walking a beautiful narrow pedestrian cobblestone street leading to Makarios birthplace we went into a small tavern (you can’t even find it on Google maps) and ordered Cyprus coffee. The host of the tavern brought our coffee, water and a plate with cookies. And when we asked for a check he just smiled and said: “Don’t worry, everything is on the house”.

Let’s climb up higher and go through dense wild inhabitant forest (I mean people don’t live here but various animals — of course do) to the most famous Cyprus monastery — Kykkos . By the way, you will pass by the Cedar Valley — a small patch of the forest covered with these magnificent conifers. You don’t even need to drive off the road.

If you live in Cyprus you probably already have been in Kykkos. But religious tourism differs from an ordinary one in the main aspect: people go to these places not to gawk at “cool monastery houses” but for a certain mind state. Holy endowed places have their own atmosphere according to the faithful. So orthodox tourist come here to touch intangible holy substances. That’s why it doesn’t matter how many times you have been at the same place, what kind of place is that — is the most important in this case. And of course such a gem of the orthodox world like Cyprus should be definitely included in your trip.

Kykkos Monastery ( here is the location). It was founded in XI century. Its main relic is Kykkos icon of Mother of God, which performed many miracles. Majority of pilgrims come to Kykkos exactly to see this icon.

The museum of Kykkos Monastery is a unique repository of culture and history of Cyprus; since 1992 it’s open for tourists and pilgrims daily (from 10 to 16 from November to April and from 10 to 18 from May to October).

Museum’s exposition includes several halls exhibiting Christian artworks. The museum is located inside the monastery (together with treasury, which is an integral part of it). Its exhibits: icons, shrines, embroideries, manuscripts, woodcarving, ecclesiastic attires etc. show sincere piety and history of the monastery at the same time.

Also there is a tomb of Archbishop Makarios close to monastery that is worth to visit too. Majestic and very beautiful place.

I think you are already tired after walking the halls of Kykkos Monastery but I suggest to go to one more last place. We will drive from Kykkos through Prodromos village to Trooditissa Monastery . However in this case it’s not the monastery that is interesting there (what is more the monastery is often closed for tourists) and we are going to park not close to it but on the same named picnic area ( here ). And again we are not interested in barbeque and noisy children running around: so we park our car, leave picnic area and go to the right. After a while you will notice stairs up on the mountain. It’s this way. Go up the stairs until the very top (it could be quite demanding for old people) and get to a small site hidden from view. Here, carved right in the cliff, is a secret chapel with few icons and always burning candles lit by nuns of Trooditissa Monastery. The place is very calming, beautiful and lends itself to hasteless thinking about some philosophical or theosophical questions.

This is the end point of our trip. It was a day full of events and impressions. The route itself resembles a horseshoe with its shape. We started from a foothill and finish at one as well.

The next stop: home!

“Welcome to Alaska”

I found local “Alaska” by accident. I wanted to walk around near Troodos. Google maps showed me that there is a road, which leads to the valley down the mountains. In reality I haven’t found any road there: only forest and steep crumbling slopes. But I already started my trip so it was no point to turn back. It took me quite long to go down but I found my way to an amazing place. Frankly speaking I’ve never been in Alaska but I’ve seen it on TV. And the nature I found near Troodos looks exactly the same.

One of the high-altitudeest rivers in Cyprus is flowing here. Thanks to the river and climate (it’s cool here and the sun doesn’t burn all the plants during the summer like in other parts of the island) the landscape is unique. Clear mountain river, beautiful cliffs surrounded by waist-high green grass, pines everywhere and magnificent mountains on the background. From the moment I saw all this beauty I even brought all my friends and relatives there. And everyone from them was impressed by the sight. But “Alaska’s” river landscapes are not the only thing that you can find there. And, you would be surprised, it’s not even the main attraction. If you walk along the riverbed to the end, there will be a lake with turquoise blue water (however it dries up completely from time to time) waiting for you and further — Martian landscapes. It’s a bottom of old abandoned asbestos quarry.

Whimsically shaped mountains, stony soil like in the pictures taken by mars rovers and panoramic views.

The whole route from the beginning of the river to the bottom of the quarry is not very long — only several kilometers. However, because you should walk mainly on the crumbling slopes and jump from stone to stone on the riverbed it could take some time. I would plan to spend the whole day on the “Alaska” trip. And of course don’t forget to bring some food to eat on “Mars”. This kind of domestic tourism could be compared to hiking in the forest somewhere in continental Europe.

Pedulas and All, All, All

What touristic villages in Cyprus have the most visitors and are on everybody’s A-list? Lefkara , Pissouri and Kakopetria . It’s almost always noisy and crowded in these three settlements. But to my opinion the most beautiful and interesting villages is completely another trio. It’s Pedulas, Moutoullas and Kalopanayiotis . Well, I don’t mean they much better then the first three but definitely worth your attention. All three villages are neighboursso one is slowly transformed into another.

The majority of settlements in the mountains look like ghost villages. People live there but you usually meet nobody on the streets. Well, what there is to do here? The only place where you will meet someone — is a tavern obligatory for every Cyprus village, which is usually standing in the heart of the settlement. But the life is way different in Pedulas, Moutoulas and Kaloponayiotis. There are plenty places to go to eat and drink as well as several attractions — quite often local authorities together with villagers organize public events. So you will find where to go and what to see. Now let’s talk about each village in more detail.

Pedulas . The highest of all three.1100 m above the sea level. You will find it here .

It’s a cherry capital of Cyprus. It has the largest cherry gardens in the country. The village even has its own coat of arms picturing this berry. Wild cherries grow in the forests all around it. The route that goes through the village leads to the west part of Cyprus, to Kykkos monastery, Cedar Valley, moufflon’s natural preserve etc. That’s why Pedulas is also a kind of transit base for many tourists. A lot of hostels and cafes of all types are concentrated near that road.

If you not take a turn to the village and drive 100 m more on the route, you will see a huge modern café to the left, a very unusual type for this kind of countryside landscapes. On the ground floor you can order things from a menu, the first floor is a buffet that is open only on Sundays. The buffet costs 15 Euros. The variety of dishes is not that wide (4-5 main courses including kleftiko and salads) but tasty. As a bonus you can enjoy a nice view from a veranda while sitting at one of the tables a little bit further from the entrance. Actually you will have a chance to sit at those tables only if you booked it in advance.

If you walk through the restaurant’s terrace behind the building, you will see a modern chapel and a big cross up on the hill noticeable from a distance. This place will provide you with a lovely mountain view.

If you go in the opposite direction, you will discover conifer forests with really old trees. This forest close to Pedulas village is one of the most beautiful to my opinion.

Pedulas, like the other two villages, looks like a snake road going down the mountain. And the houses are built all around this snake. First, highest part of the snake-shaped road plays a role of old village centre for Pedulas. Here are a lot of tourists, cafes and the life is lived. The most part of the cafes can brag with amazing views from their patios.

Following tiny side paths you will find yourself in an authentic part of the village with plenty of old churches and a couple of museums: Byzantium Museum and Museum of Folklore. Churches by the way are ancient — dated back to XII, XIV and XV centuries.

Regularly there are public events taking place in Pedulas. One of the most important and biggest is annual cherry festival.

If you drive further on the snake-road you will find yourself in Moutoulas already in few turns ( here is it on the map). This village is located much lower — at the height of 760 m above the sea level.

Among its sights — another church of XIII century guarded by UNESCO. Despite its tiny size, the abundance of different cafes along the road astonishes the newcomers.

And finally Kalopanayiotis village ( on the map ) — the last and the most peculiar of them. It’s located at the height of around 700 m above the sea level.

Even when Kalopanayiotis is a mountain village it is suitable for walks thanks to a small road going parallel to the main route. This road is quite picturesque and goes through old but “neat” village centre.

The cobblestone road will show you the view of the mountain valley.

Another notable thing about the village: it has a whole monastery in it. It’s inoperative nowadays but very colourful. It was built in XI century. By the way a Venetian bridge is located close to the monastery! Here a mighty river is flowing among the green lushes. The place is very pretty. What is more the whole village could be seen from the riverbank.

French restaurant is hiding in a small building close to the monastery and the bridge. It’s tiny indeed — has only a couple of tables. Prices are a little bit too high and interior far from a sophisticated one. On the other hand they have real French vintage wines and cook foiegras, frogs and other national delicacies. Nice blues is played in the restaurant and its hosts are very friendly.

Height difference between the monastery and the main road is significant — around 70 meters. A cable car will help you to travel such a distance with comfort. Looks really amazing, just imagine: tiny authentic village and, bang, a modern cable car all metal and glass. It is not free by the way. You have to pay 1 Euro for the chance to save your muscles from additional exercises.

What else is attractive about the village — it’s the locals. Many of them are not sitting back wandering the mountain landscapes with bored glaze but start to organize their own tiny but creative businesses.

One of the locals offers safari tours on quads. He is not speaking English and that’s why only the villagers know about these tours. But I would recommend it to everyone. First of all it’s the only safari tour in Cyprus where they will show you wild animals. Yep, other well-promoted trips have nothing to do with actual safari except of the common name. Usually safari tour Cyprus-style means that you will drive quad through some natural preserve or visit some obsolete ancient objects. But in Pedulas for instance you can observe moufflons in the wild. As a bonus in the middle of your route your guide will treat you with good Cyprus coffee and green walnuts jam as a dessert. In the final part of the trip (which is several hours long) you will be brought to a great tavern where they cook many different dishes of the traditional Cyprus cuisine. The food is delicious and they have a buffet. Maybe you know that people are often risking while buying guided tours that they will end up having lunch in some second-rate restaurants with terrible food at high prices. I would say the possibility of this scenario is usually 8 to 10. But the tavern you will visit after safari tour around Pedulas turned out to be so good that it immediately became one of my favourite places on the island.

Another local bored by doing nothing in this countryside suddenly got a thought: what if I became a king of burgers? So he started to attend courses, read special literature, learn and gather information. As a result after several years he opened his own authentic burger café right in Pedulas. Since that time there are burger festivals in the village, which often take place in evenings. Such kind of event usually gathers around 200 people. Streets are decorated with colourful lanterns and the festival itself is followed by life music performance (not some kind of amateur talent show but great contemporary bands). Prices for burgers are quite affordable. These festivals are usually very homey and merry. Few beautiful touristic footpaths begin in the village. The nature around is nice and it’s a pure pleasure walking here.

In the end I also want to mention one of the most modern and posh hotel complexes in Troodos — Casale Panayiotis Traditional Village Hotel & Spa, which is located in Kalopanayiotis village too. The buildings of the complex perfectly match with the landscape of the settlement — they are built in traditional for these places architectural style. Looks like it’s not a super modern hotel but just well maintained village houses. However inside everything is high-class. It’s a four-star hotel and believe me, it has something to offer to you. Of course prices here are not modest accordingly. An average cost of the room is 200 Euros per night.

It is better to synchronize your trip to Marafasa valley (it’s where all three villages are located exactly) with some kind of festival or holiday. So you can get a full kit: have fun, admire the nature, try yummy food and take a look at some historical monuments.

Well the domestic tourism could be quite solid in Cyprus! Especially taking into account that the whole island be like “200 km in every direction”. Despite its small size the island can offer you plenty of activities to every taste, the majority of which are outdoor and promise you a lot of fun and new impressions. But of course domestic tourism could never replace travelling abroad. And actually it’s not the goal. On behalf of our editors team we wish ultimate victory in fight against coronavirus and complete restore of sea and flight traffic. But until then — parakalo!

Have a nice weekend!

Related reviews

This Often-overlooked European Island Is the Perfect Year-round Destination — With More Than 300 Days of Sunshine Each Year

How to plan the perfect trip to the sun-splashed island of Cyprus, according to local experts.

Lindsay Cohn is a writer, editor, and avid traveler who has visited 45 countries across six continents — and counting. She contributes to Travel + Leisure, Hotels Above Par, InsideHook, Well+Good, The Zoe Report, and more.

Best Hotels and Resorts

Best things to do, best restaurants, best time to visit, how to get there, how to get around.

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While travelers flock to Mediterranean hot spots like Santorini and Capri, those same sun-seekers all too often seem to overlook less obvious vacation destinations in the region, like the dreamy island of Cyprus.

Originally settled by Mycenaean Greeks, the island nation offers archaeological sites, delicious traditional cuisine, and stunning scenery. More than just a summer standout, it enjoys consistently pleasant weather and more than 300 days of sunshine each year. That means ample time to catch some rays on the sandy beaches, swim in the clear water , and hit the scenic hiking trails. Plus, this under-the-radar gem's low-key status translates to fewer crowds and lower rates (yes, even in the summer).

Read on for tips from local experts on how to plan a perfect trip to Cyprus.

Top 5 Can’t Miss

Soak up the sunshine on the nation's sandy beaches.
Eat delicious Cypriot specialties like halloumi cheese and moussaka.
Step into the past with a visit to Kourion archaeological site.
Explore the charming villages in the Troodos Mountains.
Stay in swish style at an oceanfront resort.

COURTESY OF MARRIOTT

Parklane, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Limassol

A favorite of discerning travelers, Parklane, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Limassol provides an array of accommodations — from rooms to suites to luxury villas — plus tons of amenities. The hardest decision you’ll have to make while staying at the property is whether to relax by one of the outdoor pools or the sandy beach.

Anassa Hotel

Anassa Hotel gives off vacation sanctuary vibes thanks to a serene hillside setting, sweeping vistas, and a secluded beach. The spa offers an indoor pool surrounded by Roman columns, saunas, steam baths, and tranquility-inducing signature treatments. Not just prime for relaxation but also romance, it’s a splendid option for a couples getaway or a honeymoon.

Columbia Beach Resort

Columbia Beach Resort , a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, merges many of the most captivating aspects of Cyprus. Situated on a beach overlooking Pissouri Bay, the five-star property shows off traditional Cypriot architecture, an infinity pool, gourmet dining, and a wonderful spa.

Set in the coastal enclave of Agios Tychon, Amara feels like the backdrop of a fabulous vacation. With two lauded, upscale restaurants — Matsuhisa and Ristorante Locatelli — exclusive suites featuring private pools and ocean views, and a sublime spa, it’s virtually impossible to leave.

Almyra Hotel

Spread across eight acres of gardens on the coast of Paphos, Almyra Hotel is a contemporary boutique resort. Tailor-made for couples, it also welcomes families with open arms. However, parents may want to book a babysitter to fully bliss out with marine-based rituals at the spa.

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Kourion Archaeological Site

Built up in the hills overlooking the Kouris valley, the archaeological remains of the once prosperous city-kingdom of Kourion continue to impress centuries later. “Highlights include the magnificent Greco-Roman amphitheater — which is now used for open-air musical and theatrical performances during the warmer months — private villas with intricate mosaic floors, and a bathing complex,” says Froso Patsali, the head concierge at Parklane, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Limassol.

Petra tou Romiou (Aphrodite's Rock)

“Legend has it that Aphrodite was born from the foams at Petra Tou Romiou, commonly known as Aphrodite's Rock,” says Cyprus-based ToursByLocals guide Sirin Suha . “Not only is the area steeped in mythology, it’s also very beautiful and a popular tourist location.”

Kykkos Monastery

“Perched in the mountainous Marathasa Valley, Kykkos Monastery, which was founded at the end of the 11th century by Byzantine emperor Alexios I Komnenos and dedicated to Panagia (the Virgin Mary), is one of the wealthiest and most photogenic religious sites on the island,” explains Patsali. Visitors can admire the stonework, arches, and frescoes and sip zivania, a Cypriot pumice brandy produced right on the premises.

Nissi Beach

While Cyprus boasts many gorgeous beaches, Nissi Beach in Ayia Napa looks like a postcard with its crystal-clear waters and white sand. Thanks to the pleasant climate, visitors can swim, sunbathe, stroll along the shore, and enjoy sunset cocktails at the many lively bars and tavernas virtually all year.

Troodos Mountains

The Troodos Mountains are known for charming villages and UNESCO-listed painted churches. The region is also home to many wineries that keep centuries-old viticulture traditions alive. Pro tip: If you plan to do a few tours and tastings, be sure to prearrange transportation for the day.

Andrii Marushchynets/Getty Images

Meze Taverna

One of the top-rated restaurants in Limassol, Meze Taverna is a small, family-run operation that earns rave reviews from diners for traditional dishes that follow recipes passed down through the generations. It’s also a special place to experience warm Cypriot hospitality.

Pyxida Fish Tavern

What could be better than fresh fish, a crisp glass of local white wine, and views of Limassol Marina? Not much, and that’s exactly what you can expect when dining at Pyxida Fish Tavern . The light, airy space and professional service are also deserving of attention.

Estiatorio Evroulla

Tucked away in Nicosia — a complex city and the last divided capital in the world — sits Estiatorio Evroulla , a casual eatery that serves some of the best no-fuss local food on the island (think: kebabs, Greek salad, and crispy fries), all for a reasonable price. It's the perfect quick, easy, and affordable lunch spot.

Laona Restaurant

Laona Restaurant is a tiny treasure in the Old Town of Paphos. Tables spill out from the taverna onto the cobbled sidewalk, giving passersby a front-row view of the homemade Cypriot dishes like rabbit stifado and moussaka, which patrons happily devour for lunch and dinner.

When you're walking along the marina in Paphos and want something memorable for dinner, pop into Estia (or better yet, have the foresight to make a reservation ahead of time). The menu spotlights traditional Greek cuisine, with octopus and chicken skewers served alongside pita and tzatziki as some of the homemade standouts.

Gatsi/Getty Images

Cyprus is a year-round destination, though it’s worth noting tourism (like the temperature) surges in the summer. To avoid the heat and crowds, consider planning a trip in May, June, September, or October. You’ll get to experience the wonders of swimming in the clear, blue Mediterranean water as well as the many hiking and cycling trails.

Travelers fly into either Paphos International Airport or Larnaca International Airport. Coming from the U.S., it’s essential to transfer through a larger European hub like London or Munich.

It’s easy to pick up a rental car at the airport to drive and explore at your leisure. Travelers who prefer the ease of organized tours or private transfers will find plenty of options.

Home » Travel Guides » Cyprus » 15 Best Places to Visit in Cyprus

15 Best Places to Visit in Cyprus

In the far reaches of the Mediterranean Basin, where the Greek Aegean gives way to the scorched Levant coast, Cyprus rises from the waters with the promise of ancient legends, timeless Greek and Roman ruins, sleepless party nights, mouth-watering mezze platters, eye-watering backcountry and – of course – picture-perfect beaches.

Here, we take a look at the top 15 places to visit on the island, ranging from the trodden south coast to the donkey-dotted reaches of the far-flung northern peninsulas.

The shimmering, seaside jewel in the Cypriot crown, Paphos hugs the lapping cobalt of the Mediterranean on the breezy south-western haunch of the island.

Pretty and tourist-friendly in the extreme, the developed centre here (known locally as Kato Paphos) comes complete with palm-shaded esplanades and bubbling al fresco seafood joints.

Bobbing fishing boats add to the Grecian flavour, while broadsides of the crumbling Turkic Paphos Fortress, the stony archways of Saranta Kolones (a medieval Byzantine castle that crowns the dock), a famous 2nd century Odeon and the glistening sands of the municipal Alykes Beach are also all major draws. Definitely not one to be missed!

2. Pissouri

Nestled neatly between two half-baked, scrub-clad headlands midway between the much-trodden towns of Limassol and Paphos, Pissouri oozes laid-back Mediterranean vibes and authentic Cypriot character from its small clutch of tavernas and rustic whitewashed homes.

Still largely untouched by the onset of mass tourism, the terracotta-topped village is host to local farmers and wine makers, and boasts one sun-splashed central plaza (Pissouri Square) and regular celebrations of island heritage.

And there’s a beach too – a half-pebble, half-sand stretch that arches its way below the rugged cliffs of the south coast just a short jaunt from the town proper.

3. Akamas Peninsula National Park

Rugged and windswept Akamas Peninsula National Park pokes its way out into the swells of the Med to form the north-western horn of Cyprus Island. It’s hailed by many to be one of the last remaining true wildernesses here; home to oodles of endemic species of flora and fauna.

Today, ecotourism is booming, and travelers can discover wonders like the chiselled ridges of the Avakas Gorge, winding hiking trails that weave past blooming fields of crocuses and gladioli, thick fir forests, the mythical Baths of Aphrodite and truly secluded beaches to boot.

There’s also a loggerhead and green turtle sanctuary that draws a crowd on Lara Bay; showcasing one of the more endangered marine species in the Med.

It’s likely that travelers landing in Cyprus will touch down first in Larnaca International Airport, while those who opt to make a beeline for the city itself (the third-largest in the country) are in for a medley of ancient sites and medieval relics, bustling, built-up seaside promenades and pretty churches.

Start with tour of the hallowed Church of Saint Lazarus – the home of the tomb of its eponymous New Testament figure – before exploring the minarets and mosque domes of the Hala Sultan Tekke.

And once the culture’s checked, Larnaca’s sun-kissed Phoinikoudes Beach beckons with its sea of colourful sun umbrellas and lines of fasolaki (black bean and lamb stew) touting tavernas.

Forged by the Peloponnesian Greeks (fresh from the Trojan wars no less), Venetian settlers and Ottoman imperial rulers alike, Kyrenia – Girne in Turkish – remains one of the most enchanting and ancient towns on the entire north coast.

The city can be found hugging a shimmering blue harbour on the edge of the rugged Kyrenia mountain range, and tourists now flit between the aromatic kebap and mezze joints here, people watching and enjoying the sight of salt-washed kaiki (traditional fishing boats) bobbing out at sea.

Don’t miss the formidable rises of the Kyrenia Castle that dominate the eastern end of the harbour – a sturdy bulwark of Byzantine stone that has made this town such a tactical possession over the centuries.

6. Tombs of the Kings

UNESCO-attested and officially a part of the Paphos Archaeological Park, the mighty Tombs of the Kings are certainly worth a mention in their own right. They date back as far as the 4th century BC and offer an insight into the great mixing of architectural traditions and cultural heritage that took place on Cyprus in antiquity.

Note the monolithic construction, and how the dusty colonnades of the various sepulchres emerge almost organically from the sandstone and windswept cliffs here on the edge of Kato Paphos.

Curiously it’s Egyptian and Greek styles that dominate, with excavations revealing Doric colonnades and subterranean crevices where the bodies of Hellenistic and Roman noblemen were stowed.

7. Limassol

Touting an enchanting Old Town area of rustic low-rise bungalows, a terrific Byzantine castle, a vivacious seaside esplanade that weaves between the shore and the pretty palm-dotted gardens of the Akti Olympion Park, and one of the busiest ports in the entire eastern Mediterranean, Limassol strikes a fine balance between laid-back holidaying, culture-packed sightseeing and modern, Cypriot energy.

And while Lady’s and Governor’s Beach dominate the line-up in the day and the fish eateries pull with fresh swordfish in the evening, it’s the clubs and pubs that take centre stage in Limassol after dark, pumping with chart hits, Europop and house between the buzzing strips of Potamos Yermasoyia.

The city that was hewn in two by the tumultuous political upheavals of the last century, Nicosia is slowly but surely regaining its balance.

Today, visitors here experience one of the richest and most refined destinations in the country, where a romantic old town of Venetian-style palazzos and sun-splashed squares gives way to a labyrinth of winding alleys where chic bars meet fine-dining joints and al fresco coffee terraces.

Meanwhile, North Nicosia (the Turkish side of town) is spiked with the minarets of Selimiye Mosque and awash with bustling Ottoman bazars and Byzantine houses, connected to the Cypriot south by the recently-reopened Ledra Street – a sprightly strip of shops, bars and bistros that’s something of a symbol for the new Nicosia.

Cascading down the pine-dotted hillsides of the rugged Troodos Mountains in the very heart of central Cyprus, Agros’ whitewashed homes and red-tiled roofs shimmer a brilliant white against the Mediterranean sun.

Rustic and away from the crowds of the coast, this is where the island’s agrotourism and ecotourism really booms, with hikers and bikers eager to hit the trails around town and foodies in search of the earthy smoked pork fillets and lamb cuts that are famed in these hills.

What’s more, roses are one of the region’s main exports, and Agros locals are renowned for their production of rosewater, which is sold in roadside stalls and boutiques throughout the streets.

Nestled on the panhandle where the rugged wilds of the Akamas Peninsula bend into the northern coast, Polis is a laid-back, sun-splashed seaside town that draws visitors (mainly domestic ones) with the promise of an authentic and unhurried holiday.

It’s enfolded by sweeping ridges of eucalyptus trees and dusty coastal rocks, and offers an old town centre of low-rise buildings clad in stone, where small beer bars rub shoulders with the ubiquitous souvenir stalls.

Other draws include the string of secluded beaches that run along the coast to the west, and the interesting array of Attic ceramics at the Polis Archaeological Museum.

11. Troodos

Tiny little Troodos and its rustic array of half-timbered, dry-stone houses sits high up in the middle of the rugged northern reaches of Cyprus Island.

It’s famed as the namesake of the great Troodos mountain range that dominates this section of the land, rising to a top with the snow-mantled (at least by winter) summits of Mount Olympos, where – believe it or not – two ski fields operate during the colder months of the year!

A haven for hikers and outdoorsy types, this beautiful swathe of undulating peaks comes dressed in calabrian pines and golden oaks, soaring cypress trees and colourful orchid beds, peppered with UNESCO-attested Byzantine churches and crisscrossed by oodles of marked trails.

12. Famagusta

Famagusta is a culturally-rich town on the eastern end of Cyprus; a city of more than 40,000 people that boasts a buzzing port and a history that goes back all the way to the time when the rulers of Ptolemaic Egypt held sway in this section of the Med.

The spot’s real gem, however, is its medieval heart, now hailed as one of the most enchanting walled cities in southern Europe. This is where travelers will find the Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque and its curious Gothic edifices that belie its erstwhile moniker: the Cathedral of St. Nicholas.

There are oodles of other renaissance gems to see in the area too, along with the old bullet holes and cannon craters of a 15th century Ottoman siege.

13. Ayia Napa

Just the name Ayia Napa is now synonymous with the Mediterranean’s hedonistic side, and boy does this sun-kissed stretch of pearly white sands and turquoise shore waters live up to its rep as a partying capital.

Yes sir, while daytime means soothing hangovers on the sands of Nissi Beach and Grecian Bay, night time here ushers in an endless cacophony of hard house, grime, garage and Europop.

The action centres on The Square; a small cobbled kernel of neon-lit bars and determined promoters that throbs with class-act DJs, rowdy pub crawls, multi-coloured shots and one serious lack of inhibitions. You’ve been warned!

14. Protaras

Something like the sober side of Ayia Napa, Protaras is a package holidayer’s dream. The town shimmers and shines against the deep blue hues of the Mediterranean Sea; its beaches – crowned by the much-lauded Fig Tree Bay – slope softly down to the lapping shores, peppered with sun loungers, volleyball courts and the occasional concession stand.

Meanwhile, luxurious hotels and their crystalline swimming pools line the boardwalk along the coast, bicycles click past and international eateries offer mezze next to pizza and fries.

Then there’s the pull of the waters here, with dive outfits operating out the town extolling the fantastic visibility and kaleidoscope of parrot fish, shipwrecks and corals below the surface.

15. The Karpaz Peninsula

The elongated finger of land that stretches out from the north-eastern edge of Cyprus is something of an untrodden gem. It’s only visited by a few tourists each year and as such comes totally undeveloped, wild and rugged.

Travelers who do come can expect to find a glorious montage of craggy rocks and salt-sprayed cliffs, secluded coves decorated with blooms of sand lily, and curious wild donkeys roaming between the heaths.

Other must-sees in the region include the 10th-century Byzantine castle of Kantara, which sits at the very base of the peninsula, and the Apostolos Andreas Monastery – a pilgrimage destination for many a local.

15 Best Places to Visit in Cyprus:

Akamas Peninsula National Park
Tombs of the Kings
The Karpaz Peninsula

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Cyprus Domestic Tourism Scheme launches

The Cyprus deputy tourism ministry announced Monday that a new government scheme aiming to boost domestic tourism is set to be launched in September.

The Cabinet-approved plan will allow locals to take advantage of discounted stays at hotels, as the government will shoulder a portion of accommodation costs.

The deputy tourism ministry’s press release said the scheme aims to support local businesses that took heavy blows after the pandemic stunted tourism on the island, and as such tourist establishments that will participate in the scheme will be obliged to only offer breakfast to guests.

The press release added that the scheme also aims to extend the tourism season and to encourage locals to appreciate the beauty of the island.

The scheme, set to be launched on September 1 and to remain in force until the end of November, will see the participation of a number tourist accommodations across the island, where the government will shoulder 25% of accommodation costs and any costs for children who will sleep in the same room as their parents.

At accommodations that will participate, the maximum price of a night’s stay will be 80 euros in September, 70 euros in October, and 60 euros for a double room with breakfast in November. Guests wishing to take advantage of the scheme are required to spend a minimum of two nights at the hotel or tourist accommodation.

Two nights are set as the minimum stay for use of above prices.

Detailed price lists of hotels by province:

» Famagusta

» Larnaca District

» Limassol and mountains

» Nicosia, mountains and Tylliria

» Paphos and mountains

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GREEK EDITION

Cyprus domestic tourism scheme to launch in September

The scheme will see the cyprus government subsidize 25% of accommodation costs of guests staying at participating hotels.

The Cyprus deputy tourism ministry announced Monday that a new government scheme aiming to boost domestic tourism is set to be launched in September.

The Cabinet-approved plan will allow locals to take advantage of discounted stays at hotels, as the government will shoulder a portion of accommodation costs.

The press release added that the scheme also aims to extend the tourism season and to encourage locals to appreciate the beauty of the island.

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Cyprus Deputy Ministry of Tourism announced Monday the launch of an Extraordinary Plan for the Support of Domestic Tourism aiming to encourage holidays in Cyprus. According to a press release, the plan approved by the Cabinet, is for permanent residents of Cyprus and includes the provision of affordable prices from tourist accommodation and subsidizing part of the cost of accommodation to the citizens who will use it.

It is added that the main purpose of the plan is also to support all local businesses in various parts of the country, and for that reason tourist accommodation that will take part to the plan are obliged to offer only breakfast. According to the Deputy Ministry, the general objectives of the plan is the extension of the tourist season and the acquaintance of Cypriots with the beauties of their homeland in various areas of the island. The plan is expected to reduce the recession of the economy and maintain employment, in the difficult times that the global economy is going through due to COVID-19. The Plan, will last from September 1 to November 30, 2020. It includes Tourist Accommodations, which offer for September the maximum price of 80 euros for October 70 euros and for November 60 euros for a double room per night with breakfast. In addition, the plan provides for the coverage of 25% of the accommodation costs by the Deputy Ministry, including the charges for children, who will live in the same room with their parents. The two nights are set as the minimum stay for the use of the above prices.

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Cyprus launches domestic tourism scheme

Cyprus has launched its Extraordinary Plan for domestic tourism by encouraging Cypriots to take a discounted local holiday during the pandemic.

The plan for residents includes the provision of affordable prices from hotels with the state subsidizing part of the cost.

The scheme aims to support local businesses which is why tourist establishments taking part in the plan can only offer breakfast.

According to the Tourism Ministry, the general objective is to extend the tourist season and get Cypriots acquainted with the wonders of Cyprus.

In doing so, it hopes to buffer the recession and preserve jobs in these difficult times the economy is going through due to COVID-19.

The scheme operates from September 1 to November 30.

During this period tourist accommodation in September will be available at the maximum price of €80 for a double room per night with breakfast, for October it is €70 and November €60.

In addition, 25% of the accommodation costs will be covered by the ministry, including the charges for children who stay in the same room as their parents.

Discounted prices apply for a minimum stay of two nights.

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“Examining perceptions of local tourists towards domestic tourism in islands: the case of Cyprus”

Tourism is the consecutive growing industry all over the world, and it is one of the main economic activities in Cyprus. The purpose of this research is to analyze the perceptions of local residents towards domestic tourism and its development regarding to the provided offerings, as well as its management. This research also reveals the effectiveness of strategies which developed and applied by Cyprus tourism policy makers. Regarding the research methodology, our study is based on secondary and primary data, a careful investigation and analysis was done on the basis of primary data, beside other important related information was based on the secondary data. The research provides information regarding local tourist levels of satisfaction and expectations from the local Cypriot population. The results have shown that overall the local population is satisfied with Cyprus as tourist destination. However, there are discrepancies concerning some of the attributes of the local tourist destinations that affect the local population’s decision when choosing Cyprus as their holiday destination. From the data gathered, we managed to come up with recommendations that provide some guidelines for improving the current state of domestic tourism in Cyprus.

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Travel and tourism's total contribution to GDP in Cyprus 2019-2034

In 2023, the total contribution of travel and tourism to Cyprus' gross domestic product (GDP) was 5.7 percent higher than in 2019, the year before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, the total contribution of these industries to the country's GDP amounted to 3.7 billion euros in 2023. This figure was expected to reach an estimated four billion euros in 2024.

Total contribution of travel and tourism to GDP in Cyprus in 2019 and 2023, with a forecast for 2024 and 2034 (in billion euros)

Additional Information

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2019 and 2023

figures are in constant 2023 prices and exchange rates as of March 2024

¹ Data for 2024 is estimated. ² Data for 2034 is forecast. Figures include the direct, indirect, and induced impact of travel and tourism.

Statistics on " Travel and tourism in Europe "

International tourist arrivals worldwide 2019-2022, by subregion
Travel and tourism's total contribution to GDP in Europe 2019-2034
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International tourism spending in Europe 2019-2034
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Inbound Tourism July 2024

Background Notes

Foreign visitors increased by 0.8% in July 2024

Periodicity.

Annual/Monthly.

Inbound travel patterns of foreign residents visiting Ireland, which involve overnight stays and same-day trips, and associated variables.

All foreign resident visitors departing Ireland on overseas air and sea routes. Foreign resident visitors who depart Ireland via Northern Ireland are not covered. Foreign resident cruise excursionists who visit Ireland are also not covered.

The purpose of the Inbound Tourism statistical series is to measure the travel patterns (trips, nights, purpose of trip, type of accommodation, expenditure, etc.) of foreign resident visitors to Ireland. The series is one of several Central Statistics Office (CSO) tourism series conducted to comply with the requirements of Council Directive 95/57/EC of 23 November 1995 concerning the collection of statistical information in the field of tourism for data to the end of 2011 and Regulation (EU) No 692/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 July 2011 concerning European statistics on tourism and repealing Council Directive 95/57/EC in respect of data from the beginning of 2012.

Data Collection

Information is collected via the Passenger Survey , an ongoing survey of departing passengers at Cork, Dublin, Kerry, Knock and Shannon Airports, and at Dublin Port, Europort Rosslare and Ringaskiddy Port.

Why departing passengers (as opposed to arriving passengers). There are three reasons for this:

EU Regulation on tourism statistics specifies that it is the date of departure, rather than the date of arrival, that determines the reference month for tourism flows. Surveying departing passengers aligns with this concept.
The full details of a trip are not always known the moment a visitor first arrives in a country. This is particularly the case in relation to expenditure, where the visitor will not usually know exactly how much he/she will spend on their trip. Surveying departing passengers only, when the full trip details are known, avoids this ambiguity.
From an operational perspective, it is easier to survey departing passengers (whilst waiting at an airport departure gate or waiting to board a vessel) than arriving passengers (who often depart directly the airport or port facilities).

The Passenger Survey is conducted by CSO enumerators and consists of enumerator-led interviews of a sample of departing passengers. The data is captured by the enumerators using of an electronic questionnaire hosted on tablets and mobile devices. The questionnaire captures information on the flight or sailing of the departing passenger, their residency, reason for travel, their length of stay in the country, the accommodation types they used and various expenditure information such as their fare cost, accommodation cost and day-to-day expenditure.

The Passenger Survey was first trialled in Dublin Airport in 2019 then, following a hiatus due to COVID-19, was fully implemented in Dublin Airport in 2022, before being rolled out to the other airports and seaports in early 2023.

Sample Design

The Passenger Survey employs a hybrid sample design. At Dublin Airport, where the main enumeration effort is made, a two-stage cluster sample approach is used. A sample of departing flights (clusters) is randomly selected. Then the enumerators interview a systematic sample of passengers preparing to board those flights. At Cork, Kerry, Knock and Shannon Airports, where flight departures are less frequent, a different approach is used. Enumerators are allocated rotating shifts that represent the full range of flight activity. The enumerators then attempt to interview a sample of passengers on all flights departing in their shifts. At the seaports, where sailings are even less frequent, a different approach again is taken. A systematic sample of departing sailings is selected and the enumerators then attempt to interview as many passengers as possible preparing to board these vessels. The overall sample size of the Passenger Survey by year and month is as tabulated.

Aggregation

The Inbound Tourism results are compiled by weighting the Passenger Survey returns to total departing airport and seaport passenger numbers reported monthly by the airport authorities and sea ferry operators respectively. There is a separate weighting scheme for each airport and seaport. The weighting scheme for Dublin Airport is the most complex, with passengers surveyed on a specific flight first being weighted to the total number of passengers on that flight then weighted again to represent the total passenger numbers departing to various countries. Non-transfer and transfer passengers are weighted separately. For the other airports, the passengers surveyed departing to the various destination countries are simply weighted to the total passengers departing to those countries. For the seaports, passenger returns departing on each specific ferry route are weighted to the total number of passengers departing on those ferry routes. All individual airport and seaport results are then combined to produce the Inbound Tourism results.

In January 2023 the Passenger Survey was fully operational only at Dublin Airport and Knock Airport. It was only in April 2023 that the survey was fully operational at all airports and seaports. To allow the compilation of full results for the year, imputation techniques were used to fill the gaps in coverage at the non-operational airports and seaports at the start of the year. For the most part, the imputation entailed using survey returns for the airports and seaports in the comparable months of 2024 and reweighting these to 2023 monthly passenger totals. The 2024 return expenditures were deflated using the Consumer Price Index to arrive at comparable 2023 expenditure estimates. For some months later in the year, imputation was also used at Kerry Airport and Ringaskiddy Port when coverage of these could not be provided for operational reasons. Some 4,744 passenger returns were imputed in total in 2023 (increasing the nominal Passenger Survey sample size to 130,203 for that year). These imputed returns represented 2.3% of the published passenger estimates for 2023.

Definitions

Means the activity of visitors taking a trip to a main destination outside their usual environment, for less than a year, for any main purpose, including business, leisure or other personal purpose, other than to be employed by a resident entity in the place visited.

Usual Environment

The usual environment of an individual is defined as the geographical area (though not necessarily a contiguous one) within which an individual conducts his/her regular life routines. Places that are frequently visited are part of a person’s usual environment even though they may be located at a considerable distance (or in another country) from the place of residence. For the purposes of this release, trips taken on a weekly or more frequent basis are considered to be within a respondent’s usual environment and are thus excluded from estimates for tourism trips. The one exception being that of holiday homes which although may be frequently visited, are considered outside the usual environment according to the UNWTO 2008 International Recommendations on Tourism Statistics (IRTS).

Inbound Tourism

Inbound tourism is defined as the activities of foreign residents travelling to and staying in places within the Republic of Ireland and outside their usual environment. It is important to note that trips by Northern Ireland residents to the Republic, whilst technically classed as inbound tourism, are excluded from these series for practical reasons. Northern Ireland residents who depart the Republic via an airport or seaport in the Republic, are assumed to the same day visitors simply transiting through.

A Visitor is defined as 'any person travelling to a place other than that of his/her usual environment for less than twelve months and whose main purpose is other than the exercise of an activity remunerated from within the place visited'.

Same Day Visitor

A same day visitor is a visitor who spends no more than one day in the country visited. They do not stay overnight.

Overnight Visitor

An overnight visitor is a visitor who stays at least one night in the country visited.

A trip refers to the travel by a person from the time of departure from his/her usual residence until he/she returns: it thus refers to a round trip. A trip may be made up of visits to different places. Only trips by foreign residents to Ireland are included in the Inbound Tourism series.

Reported are foreign resident overnight and same-day trips that ended in the reference month. Note that the overnight foreign resident visitors may have arrived in Ireland prior to the reference month (e.g. if a visitor arrived in Ireland in May 2023 and departed in June 2023, this would be classed as a June 2023 trip).

Included are all trips for personal or professional purposes (e.g. holidays, visiting friends or relatives, business or professional trips, sporting or religious events, medical visits, shopping trips). Excluded are all trips that are part of normal work routines, such as trips by aircrew, sea crew and commercial vehicle drivers.

Country of Residence

Country of Residence is defined as the country in which the person has resided during the greater part of the 12 months prior to being interviewed.

Departing Passenger Categories

All passengers departing Ireland on overseas routes are divided into one of five categories;

Outbound Irish; these are Irish residents heading abroad for tourism or other purposes. Irish residents (which may include foreign nationals) are those who have lived in Ireland for at least the last 12 months.
Same Day Visitor: Northern Ireland; these are residents of Northern Ireland departing the Island of Ireland through an airport or sea port in the Republic of Ireland. It is assumed that these residents of Northern Ireland are merely transiting through the Republic to avail of the various additional overseas travel routes on offer. Therefore, these passengers are categorised as same day visitors.
Same Day Visitor: Transfer; these are foreign residents who travel to an Irish airport solely for the purpose of catching a connecting flight to a foreign destination. They are usually in the country for just an hour or so and are therefore considered same day visitors. Transfer passengers are not the same as transit passengers, who remain onboard their aircraft before it flies on to a further destination. Transit passengers are outside the scope of this Inbound Tourism.
Same Day Visitor: Other; these are foreign resident departing passengers, other than Northern Irish residents or transfer passengers, who depart an Irish airport or seaport on the same day they arrived. Examples include business travellers flying in and out on the same day for a business meeting or travellers flying in and out for a family funeral.
Overnight Foreign Resident Visitors; these are departing foreign resident visitors to Ireland whose trip has comprised at least one overnight stay in the country.

Nights refer to the number of nights stayed in the country by the foreign resident visitors. By definition, same day visitors spend no nights in the country. It is important to note that the number of nights reported in a particular reference month refer to the cumulative trip nights spent in the country by the visitor departing that reference month. They are not apportioned out over individual months. Thus a visitor who arrives in Ireland on 24 May and departs on 8 June will be classed as having spent 14 nights in the country as he departs in June (even though 7 of those nights were actually spent in May). Seasonal factors (e.g. foreign students departing the country at the end of term) may inflate the number of nights reported in specific months (e.g. December).

Main Reason for Travel

The main reason for travel is the primary purpose for which the visitor came to Ireland. A visitor may have multiple reasons for visiting Ireland, but only the main reason is reported.

Main Accommodation Type

Main accommodation type is the type of accommodation the visitors used more than any other type. Very often, visitors will stay in only one accommodation type and this is their main accommodation type by default. If visitors stay in more than one accommodation type, the type they spent the most nights in is designated their main accommodation type.

Expenditure

Expenditure covers all routine expenditure relating directly to a trip. Expenditure is divided into four categories:

Fares; the cost of air and ferry tickets to travel to and from Ireland.
Prepayments; purchases of services in Ireland (e.g. car hire, tour bookings, concert tickets, etc, but excluding accommodation) undertaken in advance of the trip and relating directly to the trip.
Accommodation; the cost of hotels, guesthouses, rented holiday homes etc, during the trip.
Day-to-day expenditure; These are all other routine costs incurred during the trip. These include the cost of eating out, the purchase of gifts and routine consumables, tour and equipment costs (where not prepaid in advance of the trip) and other incidental expenses.

All expenditure relates to individual expenditure. Where visitors travel as a group and can only provide the cost of the group fare, group accommodation, etc. these group costs are divided by the number of persons in the travelling party to estimate the individual costs. The expenditure covers both payments made by the travelling party and all expenses paid for or reimbursed by others (e.g. an employer).

Fares only cover the cost of travelling directly to and from Ireland. Where a visitor purchases a ticket covering multiple destinations only the cost of the direct route to Ireland is nominally included (e.g. if a US visitor flies from John F Kennedy Airport to Heathrow Airport and from there to Dublin Airport, only the Heathrow-Dublin element of the fare is included). In these cases the visitor is assigned the median fare of those who only travel the direct route. For those who travel to Ireland by ferry, their accompanying vehicle (if any) is included in the cost of the fare.

Package fares are assumed to cover the cost of both fares and accommodation. Visitors who package fares are assigned a median fare based on their travel route and the remainder of their package costs are assumed to be their accommodation costs.

Prepayments only cover the purchases of services in Ireland. The purchase of travel-related services in other countries (e.g. airport parking at their point of embarkation to Ireland) are excluded.

Accommodation costs cover all direct costs associated with booking a room, bed or space in the accommodation premises. The purchase of additional services from the accommodation provider (e.g. an evening meal or on-site parking) are classed as day-to-day expenditures (or prepayments, when booked in advance). Note that nights spent with friends or relatives or in the visitors own properties are assumed to be unpaid accommodation.

Excluded from trip costs are any expenditure on housing, land, real estate, goods for resale, donations to charities/institutions or cash presents/payments to relatives and friends who are not part of the travel party.

Individual figures have been rounded independently and the sum of the component items therefore may not necessarily add to the totals shown.

List of Countries - Inbound Tourism

Relationships to other cso tourism series.

The Inbound Tourism series complements the Household Travel Survey series in that whilst the former reports statistics on Inbound Tourism, the latter reports statistics on Domestic Tourism (Irish residents travelling within Ireland) and Outbound Tourism (Irish residents travelling abroad). Definitions and classifications between the two sets of series are harmonised as closely as possible and statistics on Outbound Tourism are calibrated to departing Irish resident passenger numbers compiled from the Passenger Survey . Taken together, the Inbound Tourism series and the Household Travel Survey series provide a very comprehensive overview of all tourism activities impacting the state.

The Inbound Tourism series also complements the Air and Sea Travel Statistics compiled and published during the COVID-19 era (and updated and maintained on a monthly basis in the CSO Database system:

Air and Sea Travel Statistics , ASM01 , ASM02 , ASM03 , ASA01 , ASA02 , ASA03

Whilst the Air and Sea Travel Statistics reports the overall number of passengers arriving and departing on overseas routes, the Inbound Tourism series provides the detailed characteristics of the departing passengers. The Inbound Tourism series is weighted to the number of departing passengers reported in the Air and Sea Travel Statistics .

The Inbound Tourism series is also related to the former Overseas Travel series (published monthly up to February 2020) and the former Tourism and Travel series (published quarterly to the fourth quarter of 2019), in that all three sets of series report on the characteristics of foreign resident visitors who travel on overseas routes to Ireland. However, care must be taken comparing the Inbound Tourism series to both the Overseas Travel series and Tourism and Travel series. The Inbound Tourism series is compiled using a very different sampling methodology and a very different mode of data collection. Therefore, the results of the respective series are not directly comparable. The Inbound Tourism series should be seen as a completely new and different statistical series rather than a continuation or update of the Overseas Travel and Tourism and Travel series.

Methodological Review

The Inbound Tourism series is a new statistical series based on an updated sampling methodology and data collection process. This new methodology represents a significant improvement on the previous methodology, particularly in terms of the sampling and a move to a fully digitised process, and this produces an enhanced measurement of inbound tourism in Ireland. In line with best practice, the CSO monitors the quality of its methodological processes and outputs of its statistical work. As part of the review process for this series, a range of validation exercises have been conducted including a review of the raw passenger data by destination and the change to surveying departing passengers only (versus the previously applied process of surveying arriving and departing passengers). The CSO will continue to review its application and outcomes over the coming months.

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