In 1878, the British Empire took over Cyprus from the Ottoman Empire. Since then, there has been an ongoing dispute in the Republic of Cyprus between the Greek Cypriots in the south and the Turkish Cypriots in Northern Cyprus (the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus). In 1974, there was a failed coup attempt by the Greek military. Today, the United Nations maintains a buffer zone, the Green Line, between the two halves, which passes through the capital, Nicosia, a city of 300,000 inhabitants. The capital is more populous than Limassol and Larnaca, which are also great places to visit in Cyprus. Likewise, these cities have an interesting cultural heritage and fascinating things to see and do.

 
What are the best things to do in Cyprus? Limassol, in history also known as Neapolis and Theodosias, is, with a population of 100,000, the second-largest city in Cyprus. If you arrive in Cyprus by cruise ship, Limassol will likely be your port of entry to the island. It is a good point of departure for sightseeing around Cyprus, whether you go west towards Paphos, drive around Mount Olympos to the north coast, Kyrenia, and Nicosia, or head east to the Larnaca area to Cape Greco, Nissi Beach, Fig Tree Bay, Famagusta, and Salamis Ancient City.

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When was Limassol founded? Limassol, or Lemesos in Greek, on Cyprus’s south coast, is the second largest city in Cyprus after Nicosia. The area has been inhabited since ancient times when the cities of Amathus (Amathounda) and Kourion (Curium) existed. Excavations have shown that there have been people living here around 2000 BC. Much later, when the English King Richard the Lionheart was travelling to the Holy Land in 1190 as part of the Third Crusade, he came to Limassol, where he besieged and captured the city. As a result of invasions by conquerors, Amathus was destroyed and abandoned. After this, a turbulent time followed as Cyprus was first sold to the Templars, then turned into the medieval Kingdom of Cyprus and finally occupied by the Ottomans in 1570.

The arrival of merchants in Limassol from the 13th century resulted in a high level of prosperity and cultural development of the city. In 1489, Cyprus was sold to Venice, and the Venetians now made their mark on Limassol Castle.

Kolossi Castle | Photo: Dimitris Vetsikas / Pixabay

When the Knights arrived at Limassol during the Crusades, they founded the medieval Kolossi Castle (Colossi).

What are the best things to do in Limassol? Today, Limassol has a historical centre around the Old Port and Limassol Castle, where Richard the Lionheart was married centuries ago during his Cyprus stay. The buildings now house the Medieval Museum of Cyprus, and the surrounding neighbourhood is a vibrant part of the city with numerous bars and restaurants. You will also find the 19th-century Cathedral of Ayia Napa. Moreover, Limassol is culturally thriving with an annual wine festival and several museums telling the story of the past in Cyprus.

Ancient Amathus | Photo: Dimitris Vetsikas / Pixabay

One of the exciting things to do in Cyprus is to visit the archaeological site of Amathus, a few kilometres east of Limassol. The former settlement and city-kingdom dates to 1100 BC. Over the years, several invasions took place at Amathus, including Persian, Roman, Byzantine, and Arab invasions. Ultimately, these invasions led to the decline of Amathus in the 7th century AD.

Photo: Dimitris Vetsikas / Pixabay

Ancient Amathus is today a UNESCO World Heritage Site covering a large area in the landscape. Sights at Amathus include the ruins of the ancient acropolis, the harbour, the agora, public baths, basilicas, tombs, and the Temple of Aphrodite. According to the myth, Amathus was where the Greek hero Theseus left a pregnant woman, Ariadne, and it became an important site of worship of Aphrodite-Astarte, the deity of fertility and sexuality.

Photo: Dimitris Vetsikas / Pixabay

Two large, spectacular monolithic vessels, dating to the Archaic era, originally marked the entrance of the Temple of Aphrodite. One was brought to the Louvre in Paris in 1865, leaving just a replica behind at Amathus. Fragments of the other can be found on the archaeological site, where excavations still take place.

Photo: Dimitris Vetsikas / Pixabay

The other city-kingdom of antiquity in Cyprus, Kourion, is situated west of Limassol. Just like Amathus, Kourion has impressive archaeological remains. The Greco-Roman city was founded in the 12th century BC by settlers from Argos in the Peloponnese on a plateau overlooking the sea. However, the ancient city dates to the 8th century BC. The ancient constructions include a magnificent amphitheatre, dating to the 2nd century BC, with a capacity of 3,500 seats. It is still in use and provides a stunning setting for special events.

Photo: Dimitris Vetsikas / Pixabay

For the culturally interested, visiting Kourion is one of the obvious things to do in Cyprus since it is among the most impressive excavations on the island. Besides the theatre, the remains include the ruins of several basilicas, temples, beautiful intricate mosaic floors belonging to ancient mansions, a stadium, the House of the Gladiators, the House of Achilles, a Roman market, a stoa, as well as a palaestra.

Finally, Kourion’s Amathus Gate Necropolis is an imposing cemetery, in antiquity consisting of many tombs, including sarcophagi. During the excavations, skeletons of at least 111 individuals have appeared, representing the period from the 3rd century BC to the 7th century AD.

Aphrodite’s Rock | Photo: Travel In Culture

An iconic rock, Petra tou Romiou (Rock of the Romans), also known as Aphrodite’s Rock, is a beautiful rock in the sea along the main road from Limassol to Paphos. The setting is the stunning scenery, with its natural elements: pristine blue water, white rocks, pebbles, and coarse sand.

Coast of the Cyprus Rock of Aphrodite | Photo: Travel In Culture

According to the legend, the rock formation symbolises the birth of the Greek goddess of love, Aphrodite, and is thus her birthplace. From the viewpoint above Aphrodite’s Rock (Aphrodite’s Rock Viewpoint), you can enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding seascape.

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Paphos is a coastal city in the southwest end of Cyprus. Surrounded by beautiful beaches, including the gem Coral Bay, north of the Paphos, Paphos is attractive. The city covers various cultural interests and fulfils any wish to visit a charming and lively small harbour, with local restaurants and a promenade, which takes visitors out to the old Paphos Castle.

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The Paphos region has a plethora of attractions with a fascinating history, including shipwrecks, monasteries, and templar ruins such as the Holy Monastery of Saint Neophytos the Recluse and the Foinikas Templar Knights Village inland.

Holy Monastery of Saint Neophytos | Photo: Travel In Culture

The medieval Paphos Castle is idyllically set, with the sea as a backdrop. It was originally a Byzantine fort, which both the Venetians and the Ottomans later left their mark on. There is an enclosed courtyard in the middle. Besides serving as a fort to protect Paphos, it was, during the Ottoman period, also used as a prison. The canons were removed in 1878 when the British took over the island.

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Paphos is a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its ancient architecture and outstanding mosaics at Paphos Archaeological Park. Read more about the ancient Paphos, the excavations, and the Tomb of the Kings: Paphos – Top Archaeological Site in Cyprus.

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A bit west of Paphos, near the Tala village, the Holy Monastery of Saint Neophytos the Recluse was built nearly a thousand years ago. The monastery was founded by a monk, Neophytos, in 1159 after a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. He discovered a natural cave in the mountain and further excavated it into a small chapel, a retreat where he could live in peace as a hermitage without being persecuted. It is known as the Enkleistra. He carved out a bench and prepared his future tomb in the cell. In the end, there were three caves: the Cell, the Bema, and the Naos.

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He spent his time writing and preparing manuscripts describing the history of the early crusades. The Bishop of Paphos ordained him as a priest in 1170, and he got a disciple to join him in his work. Over time, more monks followed – and it led to the construction of the Saint Neophytos Monastery 150 metres from the Enkleistra. A dome basilica was added in the 16th century.

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Today, it still exists as an inhabited monastery, although, at the same time, a museum where you can visit the Enkleistra with its beautiful frescoes, as well as the Monastery housing an ecclesiastical collection of valuable relics, including icons, manuscripts, and outstanding books. To pay a visit here is one of the recommended things to do while in Cyprus.

Larnaca | Photo: Dimitris Vetsikas / Pixabay

It is worth spending a few days in Larnaca (also written Larnaka) and this region of Cyprus. One of the most important sights is the 9th-century Church of Saint Lazarus. It is an orthodox church in Byzantine style that contains the tomb of Saint Lazarus rising from the dead. Every year, before Easter, there is a procession in honour of the saint through the city. You can also visit the Saint Lazarus Byzantine Museum.

Other sights include idyllic beaches surrounding the city, the Kamares Aqueduct, a historic landmark in Cyprus from 1750, as well as the great Larnaca Salt Lake. The lake is four connected salt lakes, in which you, especially in winter, can see pink flamingos and many other migratory birds. As the second largest salt lake in Cyprus, it is an exceptional biotope for wildlife.

Larnaca, Cyprus | Photo: Dimitris Vetsikas / Pixabay

Hala Sultan Tekkesi is a lakefront mosque and pilgrimage site, which was constructed between 1760 and 1817. The Islamic monument was built above Umm Haram’s grave. She was a woman who, according to the books, was the Prophet Mohammed’s aunt and a holy person. She died unexpectedly here in Larnaca in Cyprus – and immediately after, construction of the mosque began.

Nicosia, the island capital, is the capital of two ‘countries’ in Cyprus. As both the capital of the Republic of Cyprus and the capital of Northern Cyprus (which is only recognised by Turkey), Nicosia plays the role of a divided city, even with a buffer zone, the Green Line, in the middle. The border separates the Turkish Cypriots from the Greek Cypriots. If you want to visit the northern part of Nicosia, you need to cross this border in Cyprus.

The neoclassical Nicosia Faneromeni School | Photo: Dimitris Vetsikas / Pixabay

Anyway, Nicosia is fascinating to visit. It is multifaceted and colourful due to its diversified background and cultures, and there are both Turkish and Greek Cypriot food options! As Nicosia is not overrun by tourists, you will find plenty of opportunities to experience the local side of the city. There is beautiful architecture, a walled town (the old town), and the captivating Ledra Street, with the Ledra Street Checkpoint in the UN administrated zone as a point to cross to the other side. The architectural styles in Nicosia include Cypriot colonial style, Cypriot Gothic style, neoclassical, Byzantine, and Venetian, in addition to Islamic and ultra-modern designs scattered across the city.

Nicosia Cyprus | Photo: Dimitris Vetsikas / Pixabay

Nicosia is rich in museums, galleries, and cultural heritage. A museum telling the history of Cyprus and its past is the Cyprus Museum. The museum has a wide range of archaeological artefacts on display. There are also many mosques in Nicosia, including the impressive Selimiye Camii, a present-day mosque converted from a 13th-century Catholic Gothic cathedral.

Nicosia is an overlooked gem – with lots of fascinating sites to explore!

At Kyrenia Castle (Girne Castle in Turkish), you can get an insight into the history of Cyprus. The castle is today home to Cyprus’ fascinating shipwreck museum. It holds the world’s oldest shipwreck, a trade ship carrying a cargo of almonds and wine, dating back to 300 BC. Kyrenia is a lovely place, and the castle is a beautiful entrance to the town when arriving from the sea.

Photo: Cevenstar / Pixabay

The 16th-century castle goes back to the 1500s, built to protect the port of Kyrenia. Kyrenia is older, though, dated by its Roman remains and even older Greek traces. Hundreds of years later, it became a crusader fortification when King Richard I conquered it on his way to the Third Crusade.

The Byzantines, the Lusignans, and the Venetians left their mark on the castle in turn – the latter by reinforcing the castle, including constructing a gatehouse, to resist any siege by the Ottomans. However, the Ottomans finally invaded Kyrenia Castle in 1571.

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