Cyprus Resort Holidays

10,000 years of cultural history, multifaceted nature and spectacular beaches – spend a holiday with a surplus of variety in Cyprus, the third-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. With 300 sunny days a year, the beach season lasts from April to October. But the island is also perfect for active holidays. Discover more about ROBINSON CYPRUS and your next resort holidays on the island. 

The flight from the UK to Cyprus takes around 5 hours. Most flights are headed to the port city of Larnaca on the southern Cypriot coast or Paphos on the southwest coast. 

The climate in Cyprus is subtropical Mediterranean. Hot, dry summers alternate with mild and rather wet winters. Thanks to its position in the southern Mediterranean, summers last a long time, from April to October. Then the sun shines in a cloudless sky for up to 13 hours a day. 

During summer, it gets particularly hot inland, with temperatures reaching above 45 °C. Due to a constant ocean breeze, the coast has slightly less extreme temperatures of up to 38 °C. The water temperature rises from 20 °C at the end of April to 25 °C in midsummer. 

It gets noticeably cooler mid-November, and the thermometer often drops to 10 °C at night.  During the day, the temperatures from December to mid-March lie at around 20 °C. Even in winter, it rarely gets colder than 8 °C along the coast. But regular snowfall can be expected at higher altitudes, including the possibility to go skiing. 

Depending on your holiday plans, Cyprus is an attractive destination year-round. The best times for a beach holiday are the months of May, June and from September to mid-November. July and August also bring excellent beach weather, but it gets extremely hot. The months of March, April, and November are recommended for hikes and sightseeing tours. Even skiers are in their element in Cyprus. The lifts in the Troodos Mountains are generally open from January until mid-March. 

In a nutshell, Cypriot cuisine can be described as Greek cooking with a clear eastern influence. Typical recipes are refined with cumin, cloves, and cinnamon and, instead of the parsley that is common in Greece, coriander is added to the pot and plate. Cypriots love meat – preferably grilled or cooked in a traditional clay oven. Favourite dishes are lamb, beef, pork, and goat cooked with garlic, bay leaves, olive oil and red wine. “Luntza”, an air-dried ham, is a true island speciality. Cypriots also enjoy octopus and calamari from the sea. 

The Cypriot counterpart to Greek feta cheese is halloumi. This cheese is made from sheep, cow, and goat milk and marinated in brine with mint. Since halloumi doesn’t melt, it’s ideal for roasting and baking. Mezze plates are perfect to try out different dishes: Up to 30 appetizers are served in small portions. 

When it comes to desserts, Cypriots aren’t stingy with their sugar. The fried “lokoumades” dough balls, baklavas, or semolina almond cakes are especially tempting. Taste “Soutzoukos”, a thickened grape syrup with almonds or nuts, made only in Cyprus. 

The restaurants in Cyprus will take you on a culinary world trip. From Italian, French, and Spanish to Lebanese, Asian and Polynesian, the entire international cuisine is represented. Most menus are written in two languages: In addition to Greek or Turkish, you will also see dishes presented in English. Every meal is served with bread. Table reservations aren’t customary, unless you’re in a top restaurant or with a large group. Restaurants in Cyprus are usually open from noon to 3 pm and 7 to 11 pm. 

Tip: Even if the name might make you think differently: A “kafenio” doesn’t have much in common with a café. These are traditional coffee houses visited exclusively by men, who meet to drink together, discuss the day’s events and play board or card games. 

While Islamic holidays like Ramadan mark the calendar in Northern Cyprus, you will experience Christian-Orthodox and Greek national holidays in the south of Cyprus. The mood gets especially cheerful when the towns and villages honour their various namesakes with exuberant festivals. The Easter celebrations are also a special experience. Good to know: Since the religious festivals are based on the Julian calendar, Easter, for example, always occurs on a slightly later date than in Central Europe. 

“Green Monday” ushers in the Lenten season in Cyprus. It marks the end of the Carnival season, during which colourful costume balls are held in Paphos, Limassol and Larnaca. During Holy Week, many Cypriots traditionally observe strict fasting rules and attend a long church service on Easter Saturday. In many places, this ends with great fireworks that symbolize the resurrection of Jesus. On Easter Sunday, people invite their family and friends to convivial barbecues. 

The second most important Christian festival is Mary’s Assumption on 15 August. On this day, Cypriots like to meet for picnics, and parish fairs are held in many places. No less than two holidays demonstrate the Cypriots’ pronounced love of freedom: The revolution against the British colonialists is commemorated on 1 April. This “EOKA Day” remembers the civil war in the 1960s, in which Cypriots fought for independence from the Kingdom. For the second time each year, on 1 October, the Greek part of Cyprus celebrates its release from British rule on Independence Day. 

When you drive from Paphos to Limassol along the ocean, you will pass the distinctive Aphrodite’s Rock: It is said that the Greek goddess of love, Aphrodite, emerged from the ocean near this prominent rock formation. According to legend, swimming around Aphrodite’s Rock three times will grant couples eternal love. On full moon nights in particular, you probably won’t be alone during this romantic activity. 

Myths pertaining to the goddess of love can be found in many other places in Cyprus too: On the east coast, for example, you can find the “Bath of Aphrodite”. Allegedly, the goddess was bathing in the pure spring water of this small grotto beneath a fig tree when the handsome Adonis saw her and fell eternally in love with her. Aphrodite relented to Adonis’ courtship, although she was married to the god of fire, Hephaestus. 

Feel wonderfully free on this holiday by renting a car on arrival at the airport in Paphos or Larnaca. Or rent a car in the resort for just a few days to reach specific destinations. A rental car gives you independence from the bus schedules in Cyprus, so you can reach even desolate beaches or the mountainous inland easily. Along the way, you can stop at any vantage points you please.  

Just like in the United Kingdom, you drive on the left in Cyprus. This was “inherited” from the British colonial period. 

Fantastic sand beaches in Cyprus

In Cyprus, one beach paradise is followed by the next. Among the many beautiful spots along the crystal-clear water, you find numerous bays and beaches with fine sand – many of these in the popular coastal region of Ayia Napa. While the sandy beach of Nissi in this area boasts a vibrant beach life with beach bars, music and great water sports – other swimming spots in Cyprus feel miles removed from the beach resorts. One of these is on “turtle beach” in Alagadi, Northern Cyprus. There you can enjoy the view of the sun sparkling on the ocean in the midst of unspoiled nature. 

Fantastic pebble beaches in Cyprus

Soft and sun-warmed sand may feel great on the feet, but the water is even clearer along the many small pebble beaches of the Mediterranean island. Conditions there are ideal for divers and snorkellers and often also for other water sports enthusiasts, such as wind and kite surfers. The best-known pebble beach in Cyprus is probably the one near Paphos: Aphrodite Beach is said to be the mythical birthplace of the Greek goddess of love. There, the Cypriot coast also displays a rather rough charm and appears very picturesque. 

Hidden bays and insider’s tips in Cyprus

Do you want to have a spectacular view of the water all to yourself? Or are you looking for a very special place for romantic moments? From famous holiday spots like Paphos or Limassol, it’s not far to reach many of these hidden places. Some scenic bays are so remote that even the drive there through idyllic, untamed landscapes is an adventure itself. This includes secret swimming areas on the wild and romantic Diskarpaz peninsula in Northern Cyprus. 

Spring and autumn offer the best conditions for a hiking holiday in Cyprus. With the mild weather and pleasant temperatures, trekking tours along the coasts, through forests and over mountains are a pure delight. Overall, the Mediterranean island is covered by an expansive, 200-kilometre network of interesting routes. You can take particularly picturesque walks in the Troodos Mountains and on the Akamas peninsula. 

Cyprus is also a wonderful place for golf resort holidays. Train your handicap and enjoy the warm weather at the same time. Even in winter, it is warm enough to play golf. There are four golf courses on the island around Paphos. From some courses, you also have a fantastic view over the Mediterranean Sea.