Cyprus-Forum.com

[DaveinCrete]

Hi all.

After several years living in Crete, my wife and I needed a break, Aegean Air were offering €49 all inc flights to Larnaca and so, being the last of the big spenders we have brushed aside Las Vegas and Hong Kong and instead will visit your island for three days next week. We have arranged a small hotel in Larnaca and will have a hire car but have not got a clue where we will go. We are looking for suggestions for driving days out, taking in beautiful scenery and stopping for lunch at a quiet taverna up in the hills. On our days out we try to avoid the obvious tourist resorts. We are more into gardens and parks than churches, more into mountains than beaches, and more into driving than sunbathing. Would love to read your suggestions please. PS I last visited Cyprus in the late sixties working in the Famagusta and Dakalia (?) areas. Also our car hire agreement prevents us driving to the occupied area.

[Sotos]

Here are some villages you should visit. Some are a bit more tourist oriented than other but none of them is considered a "tourist resort" and apart from Summer and Sundays these villages should be quite quiet. Platres, Kakopetria, Agros, Lania, Kyperounta, Lachi, Lefkara. In general you should visit Troodos Mountain and the villages around Akamas. Since you like driving on your way to the Paphos district after Limassol you can mostly use the old road which is more scenic instead of the motorway.

[DaveinCrete]

Thank you for taking the trouble to reply. I will take this information with me.

[bill cobbett]

Being a fellow big spender, was tempted by that price on Aegean... so looked up prices in late Oct/Nov... but no bargains to be had... never mind... perhaps in the Spring.

Agree with the list Sotos gives and deffo get off the Highways and use the old roads, although it may mean a drive to Limassol and a right turn to get in to the mountains.

Oh... and you'll remember that they drive on the same side of the road as here in GB, well most of the time.

Have a good break.

[DaveinCrete]

Yesterday we visited some of these villages and went to the top of Olympus. During the last couple of days we have also spent considerable time in Larnaca and Limmasol.
Our initial impressions after our very short visit are as follows:
(Compared to Crete)
Pros. Cleaner, disciplined drivers, good roads. Very cheap petrol. Modern shops, more choice, nicer houses.
Cons. Scenery uninspiring, not a pretty country, more likely to get ripped off in restaurants. A dry island with limited greenery, (apart from Troodos conifers) not much in the way of colour and nature.

The Greek people are generally the same on both islands although Cypriot Greeks are obviously more affluent. More businesses in Cyprus appear to be run by other nationalities than in Crete.

My wife would probably prefer to live in Cyprus because of the many English clubs and societies. I am not convinced as yet.

This is just opinion based upon very few hours in the island, perhaps my views will change after my visit to Nicosia today.


I really appreciate the assistance given by forum members.

Thanks to those on this forum who have madevour visit easier.

[Sotos]

This is not the best season for greenery ... the summer sun scorched most of it. Early-mid April the scenery would be very different... what you see now as brown it would be green and flowery at that time. As I wrote in my previous post if nature is what you care about you should go to Troodos and the villages around Akamas. If you have the appropriate car then you can enter Akamas also. Most of everything else will be dry in this season. I've been to Crete and I would say that both islands are very similar with the main difference that Cyprus is a bit more developed which translates in being better in some respects and worst in other. By the way, there is nothing much to see in Nicosia. It is the part of Cyprus with the least interest for tourists. Also there are some major roadworks in the entrance of Nicosia which can make the bad traffic even worst, especially in the morning when people drive from the suburbs to their jobs in the center.

[CBBB]

This is not the best season for greenery ... the summer sun scorched most of it. Early-mid April the scenery would be very different... what you see now as brown it would be green and flowery at that time. As I wrote in my previous post if nature is what you care about you should go to Troodos and the villages around Akamas. If you have the appropriate car then you can enter Akamas also. Most of everything else will be dry in this season. I've been to Crete and I would say that both islands are very similar with the main difference that Cyprus is a bit more developed which translates in being better in some respects and worst in other. By the way, there is nothing much to see in Nicosia. It is the part of Cyprus with the least interest for tourists. Also there are some major roadworks in the entrance of Nicosia which can make the bad traffic even worst, especially in the morning when people drive from the suburbs to their jobs in the center.

Bugger off Sotos, Nicosia is the best part of the island, apart from the KEO factory!

[DaveinCrete]

Actually we found Nicosia to be a good day out! We did most of the touristy things and came home absolutely knackered from walking. We walked for a couple of hours in the occupied area as well. The view from the observatory on the 11th floor above Debenhams should be a 'must see' for everyone. I stick by my comment on lack of colour, despite the season. Crete is still a mass of colour even now, mainly because of the bougainvillea which is more abundant. We did Troodos and villages as you recommended. A further comment in favour of Cyprus; there is a far greater variety in the types of restaurants.
We have had a good few days and understand why people like living here. This afternoon we return to Crete having enjoyed our break.