Image: The Sea Caves about 10 minutes drive from Protaras.
Highlights
– How to spend six days in the Mediterranean island of Cyprus.
Time of Visit: November 2025
Duration of Visit: Six Nights
Description
Cyprus is the third-largest island in the Mediterranean. The island is blessed with beaches with turquoise and clear waters, a pine covered Troodos Mountains in the center, archeological sites and charming rural villages.
One thing we did not know prior to planning a trip to Cyprus is that it is a divided island. The north side is Turkish while the south side is Greek. People pass through an actual border crossing between the two sides.
There are definitely a lot of things to do and see in Cyprus such that the six nights we spent there was not enough. We spent our time mostly on the Greek side of Cyprus by staying two nights in the tourist town of Protaras at the east end and four nights in the city of Paphos at the west end. Here we describe what we were able to see and do during our stay.
Activities
Protaras
Protaras is one of the tourist towns in the island’s Southeastern peninsula. There are many fantastic swimming beaches within a twenty minute drive. Our favorite is Nissi Beach which is a large cove with shallow and calm water. It is a popular destination too for beachgoers. We found that beaches on the South side of the island are calmer than the beaches located on the East. Fig Tree Bay which is walking distance from Protaras’ main street.
Other attractions within a short drive from Protaras are the Bridge of Love and the Sea Caves. Both locations are popular with cliff divers.
Lefkosia (Nicosia)
We made a short detour to Lefkosia (Greek name) or Nicosia on our way to Paphos from Protaras on our third day. Lefkosia is the capital of the island and is divided between Cypriot South and Cypriot North. The Greek side feels more like a large city while the Turkish side feels more like – well, Turkish.
We crossed at the Ledra Border crossing on foot into the Turkish side for a day visit. The border crossing was quick and easy to Cypriot North and back to Cypriot South.
As mentioned earlier, Cypriot North felt more Turkish. We were immediately greeted with stalls selling apparel, bags and souvenirs lined the pedestrian streets. There were also plenty of restaurants to choose from. Perhaps the highlight of crossing into Cypriot North was the Selimiye Camii Mosque which is a beautiful building.
Aphrodite Rock
We decided to slack off a little on our fourth day and went to Aphrodite Rock late in the afternoon. Aphrodite Rock is a massive coastal rock about 30 minutes from Paphos. The beach is covered with pebbles and small rounded stones. The water is calm and clear so it is a nice place to go swimming. Aphrodite Rock is also popular for the sunset view. There is a viewpoint above Aphrodite Rock off the road side that is great for taking sunset photos.
Troodos Mountains
Our fifth day was spent exploring the expansive Troodos Mountain range. It is pine covered and sits well above 1,000 meters above sea level. The temperature is much cooler up in the mountains compared to the coast. The best part of the Troodos Mountains is that it is just over an hour drive from Paphos.
Described below are some of the places in the Troodos Mountains that we think are worth visiting.
Kykkos Monastery
There are several monasteries in the Troodos Mountains. We were only able to see Kykkos Monastery during our day trip and we were happy that we did. We probably spent a couple of hours wandering its halls and admiring the colorful frescoes that seem to cover every available square inch. The best part is that it is free to the public.
Throni Shrine
About a five minute drive from Kykkos Monastery is the Throni Shrine. It is basically a chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Walking around the shrine’s perimeter provides sweeping views of the mountain range and even the coast. Not far from the shrine is the burial place of Archbishop Makarios III, Cyprus’ first president.
Mount Olympus
Mount Olympus is Cyprus’s highest peak at 1,952 meters above sea level. There are radio and telecommunication towers on the mountain top which makes it off-limits to vehicles. But there are trails just below the peak that provide panoramic coastal views. The Artemis Trail is one such trail that goes around the slopes of Mount Olympus.
Villages
We drove through several charming villages while driving around the Troodos Mountains. A common theme among the villages are traditional stone buildings that provide charm and character. Unfortunately, we were short on time to explore these villages. Instead we just had to contend with having lunch in one of the restaurants along the road and enjoyed delectable Cypriot cuisine accompanied with a nice view.
Wineries
There are several wineries on the lower slopes of the Troodos Mountains. Unfortunately, due to a late start on our day trip, we did not have time to do any wine sampling in any of the wineries. So if you decide to visit the Troodos Mountains and love wine, leave early so that you may have time to sample what these wineries offer.
Blue Lagoon Tour
Our sixth and final day was spent doing a tour. A visit to Cyprus would not be complete without going to the Blue Lagoon. The Blue Lagoon is located at the island’s western tip. It is only reachable by a 4×4 vehicle or by boat. We went with a boat route which was really inexpensive and took the entire day. We were picked up by the tour bus close to our accommodation in Paphos. There were 55 people on the tour led by an English speaking guide. We also had assigned seats on the bus which was nice.
The tour made four stops. First stop was the banana plantation, sea caves and the Edro III shipwreck. We were given 40 minutes to look around which was enough.
The second stop was the coast town of Lachi where we boarded a two story cruise boat that took us to the Blue Lagoon. The boat trip took about 40 minutes and we had a little over an hour at the Blue Lagoon to go swimming. The water was unbelievably clear and it had a sandy bottom. It was chilly at first but felt refreshing afterwards. Our guide said that normally, their Blue Lagoon Tour ends in October due to the season. We lucked out as Cyprus was having an extended summer season.
Our third stop was the Aphrodite Baths. Nothing really much to look at but we saw a nice and not so busy beach and a campground nearby.
Our last stop was the town of Polis where we had a late lunch (not included with the tour). After lunch, we had about an hour to roam around the old part of town before we were taken back to Paphos.
Overall, we got picked up around 8:30 AM and dropped off around 4:30 PM. Not bad for a full day of activities.
How To Get There
The island of Cyprus has three international airports which are in Paphos (PFO), Lenarka (LCA) and Ercan (ECN). PFO and LCA are on the Greek side while ECN is on the Turkish side. If you want to see the Greek side of Cyprus, like most tourists, you must fly into PFO or LCA.
If you fly into ECN and cross the border at Nicosia, you risk being denied entry into the Greek side of Cyprus. This is because the Greek side of Cyprus does not recognize ECN as a port of entry. Do not expect you can get your passport stamped at the Ledra border crossing at Nicosia as it is not a formal border crossing because there are no immigration and customs agents.
Where To Stay
Protaras
We stayed at the Protaras Plaza Hotel which is a few minutes walk away from Fig Tree Bay and the beach.
Paphos
We stayed at the Blue Oasis Apartment which is about a 15 minute walk from the promenade but within the pick-up area of tour companies.
How To Get Around
There are city buses and tours that will allow you to see much of the Greek side of Cyprus. Bolt ride hailing is also available as well as taxis. If you are driving, watch your speed as there are radar monitors along the highways. In Paphos, there are also red light cameras. Remember to drive on the left side of the road.
Expected Expenses
We only had the parking expense and the Blue Lagoon tour during our stay in Cyprus (besides car rental, gas, food and accommodation). We paid 3 Euros using a credit card to park just under three hours at the Lefkosia (Ledra) Public Parking Garage.
Summary
Cyprus is a favorite tourist destination because it offers a rare combination of history, leisure, and natural beauty within a compact area. Visitors can explore ancient ruins in Paphos in the morning, swim in the Mediterranean by afternoon, and dine on traditional meze under the stars at night. Its sunny climate — with over 300 days of sunshine a year — makes it a year-round destination, ideal for beach vacations, outdoor adventures, and cultural discovery.
The island’s reputation for hospitality, high-quality accommodation, and safety further enhances its appeal. Tourists are drawn to the warmth of Cypriot people, the flavors of local wine and halloumi, and the ease of traveling across scenic mountain villages and coastal resorts. Whether for relaxation, romance, or exploration, Cyprus captivates visitors with its timeless charm, making it one of the Mediterranean’s most rewarding destinations.