Sun-soaked stretches of sand, pleasant Mediterranean climate, delicious wine, olive and citrus trees make Cyprus one of the most popular tourist magnets in Europe.
And Ukrainians aren’t trying to resist the temptation. According to Cyprus’ Statistical Service, nearly 100,000 Ukrainians traveled to the island in 2019, making one of the biggest shares in the general number of tourists to the country.
Ukrainian Andriy Klymenko, who moved to Cyprus about 10 years ago, says that it’s the country’s incredible warm climate and sea that makes it stand out among other European destinations.
“I have not yet found a warmer place in Europe – we swim almost all year round,” Klymenko told the Kyiv Post.
The country benefits well from its travel attractiveness. In 2019, it welcomed nearly 4 million tourists with the travel sector making up for about 23% of its yearly GDP.
The numbers surely dropped under the influence of the pandemic. In 2020-2021, Cyprus went through two lockdowns, restricting the operations of businesses and limiting entrance to foreigners.
According to Klymenko, such popular resorts as Ayia Napa and Paphos, where the local infrastructure is almost entirely focused on tourism, remain empty now.
“Where thousands of tourists used to walk, now there is silence,” Klymenko said.
But Cyprus is planning to go back to the previously booming tourist life soon. The Cypriot authorities are opening the borders to residents of 56 countries starting March 1. The members of the European Union, the European Economic countries and several third countries including Ukraine are on the list. The residents of these countries won’t need to self-isolate upon arrival but undergo a COVID-19 test before or after arrival or both depending on the country category. Every country’s category will be decided depending on the current epidemiological situation.
Ukrainians’ beloved destination
According to Ukraine’s State Border Service, Cyprus was one of the most popular “tourist countries” for vacations among Ukrainians in 2019 aside from Qatar, Egypt, Georgia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.
And the demand for tours to Cyprus grows every year, according to Ukrainian travel agency Join Up! The number of tours they provided in 2018 more than doubled in 2019, hitting over 20,000.
The main reasons for the island’s growing popularity among Ukrainians are the proximity, convenient flight connections and affordable prices.
A flight to Cyprus takes only about three hours and prices for plane tickets start at as little as Hr 900, or $32.
Before the pandemic, low-cost airlines like WizzAir and Ryanair, as well as Ukrainian International Airlines, had Cyprus-headed flights scheduled four times a week.
The volume of flights is expected to gradually resume now. As Cyprus announced the opening of its borders, some airlines have already opened sales for trips in March and April.
Join Up! alone plans to order charter flights for its tours starting March three times a week with the plan to increase to four flights a week in May.
Just like other foreigners, Ukrainians mostly travel to resorts along the northwest and southeast coast, controlled by the Cypriot authorities. The most-visited resorts Ukrainians flock to are Paphos, Larnaca and Ayia Napa.
Vacationing in Cyprus is a pretty affordable pleasure, compared to Western Europe. Join Up! for instance, offers package tours for two nights, which cover flights, accommodation and meals, for Hr 6,589 ($237) per person. The same tour for six nights would cost about Hr 19,000 ($680).
Renting a car for observing the island through and through costs about Hr 1,000 ($36) per day. And an average check for lunch with a glass of wine at local restaurants is around Hr 500 (18$) per person.
A general view shows the Petra Tou Romiou (Aphrodite’s Rock) in the southwestern Paphos region in the east Mediterranean island of Cyprus on August 21, 2020. – The site according to mythology is the the birth place of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, beauty and procreation, which makes it a popular tourist location in the island. (Photo by Christina ASSI / AFP)
Main attractions
Cyprus fits all types of vacations.
The neon lights of hundreds of bars and clubs make Ayia Napa the most popular youth resort in eastern Cyprus. There’s also golden sand and a clear shallow sea. “This is a place for non-stop parties,” Dmitriy Khromov, a department head at Join Up! told the Kyiv Post.
The embodiment of calmness, resort town Protaras, is a perfect match for a family vacation. Famous for its sandy beaches and picturesque bays, it is an option for those who seek solitude and unity with nature.
The locals say that the most magnificent sunsets in Cyprus are in the coastal city of Paphos. The choice of luxurious hotels here is greater than anywhere on the island. It is also the greenest area all around Cyprus.
Larnaca city is a real island of peace amidst the bustling resort life. Larnaca is the meeting point, from which it’s easy to get to any attraction all around the island. The city’s volcanic sand beaches have an unusual dark color, and the sea is shallow and safe for children.
The southern city of Limassol is the most popular resort in Cyprus after Ayia Napa. The resort is often called the Cypriot Riviera as it offers a whole package for a relaxing vacation, including fascinating seascapes, top restaurants and a friendly atmosphere.
Offbeat routes
“There is no rush in Cyprus. Everything is calm,” Masha Ledina, who moved from Kyiv to Cyprus four years ago, told the Kyiv Post.
Ledina lives in the small village of Latsi but often explores the island and organizes gastronomic tours for travelers.
Ledina recommends renting a car and going deep into the island, as Cyprus is much more than its perfect beaches.
The island offers a variety of other attractions from historical sites and scenic natural spots to famous wine routes and wild nightlife.
The legendary birthplace of the ancient Greek goddess of love Aphrodite, Cyprus is rich for Roman mosaics, mountaintop castles and Byzantine churches.
Local tours offer trips to Christian shrines and monuments like Kykkos Monastery, the tomb of St. Lazarus in Larnaca known as the biblical village of Bethany, the Church of St. Paraskevi, the ruins of the ancient city of Salamis and the temple of the martyr Justina.
Another famous sight is the island’s highest point, Mount Olympos, also called Mount Troodos, which reaches 1,952 meters.
Cyprus’ wind and water conditions open up endless possibilities for sports such as windsurfing, sailing and kitesurfing, together with an underwater exploration of diverse marine life.
Marvelous sea stack in Paphos called Petra Tou Romiou, also known as Aphrodite’s Rock, the mountain village of Agros and greenery oasis Atalassa National Park are known as the most Instagrammable spots of the island.
Gastronomic heaven
In addition to all the marvelous joys Cyprus offers to tourists, there is another one that would please international gourmets.
The centerpiece of every meal on the island is a selection of “meze,” traditional small dishes that fill the table. Meze roots back to a lasting local tradition: When guests come to a host, he or she opens the refrigerator and puts everything available into small plates.
“Meze is hard not to gorge yourself on,” Ledina jokes.
Heavily influenced by Turkish, Greek and Middle Eastern food cultures, Cypriots developed their own culinary delights: pork cooked in red wine called afelia, grilled sausages wrapped in caul fat called sheftalia and sticky baklava flavored with almonds and pistachios.
Other widely popular dishes are local kebabs souvlaki, baked lamb kleftiko and traditional Greek moussaka – baked eggplant layers with bechamel sauce, lamb, zucchini, mushrooms or potatoes. Traditional halloumi cheese made of goat or sheep milk is served here in several variations.
But the gastronomic experience isn’t limited to restaurants alone. Visitors never know where they can find a treat to taste.
“Here you can park your car by the roadside and pick as many wild almonds as you can and drive on,” Ledina said.
The southern and western areas are filled with vineyards and wineries. The most popular wine routes are Vasilikon Winery in Kathikas, Kyperounta Winery in Kyperounda village in the Troodos Mountains and many others.
And while Cyprus seems like a perfect destination that has it all, to enjoy a vacation to the fullest, Ledina says travelers need to do their part and dive into the island lifestyle.
“In Cyprus, they say do not worry, do not rush, everything will be fine,” Ledina said.
