Even though Cyprus didn’t completely win us over, we still recommend it for a vacation with children. Short distances and plenty of attractions beyond just the beach make Cyprus a great choice for a family trip.
We visited Cyprus during May with Nella when she was 1 year and 8 months old. We brought along the Axkid Minikid car seat, which we had packed carefully in bubble wrap.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Getting There – How to Get to Cyprus?
When to Go – Weather in Cyprus
Where to Stay – Accommodations in Cyprus
Getting Around Cyprus by Car
What to See in Cyprus Map
Paphos
Avakas
Tombs of the Kings
Limassol
Kourion
Omodos
Larnaka
Ayia Napa
Lefkara
Nicosia
Food
Cyprus with Kids – How to Plan and What to See
Other Things to Do in Cyprus with Kids
How to Get to Cyprus Direct flights from Poland to Cyprus are offered by LOT, Ryanair, and Wizz Air airlines. The flight takes about 3.5 hours one way. You can fly directly to Larnaca (closer to the eastern coast) or Paphos (in the west). If you’re primarily interested in beach activities, Larnaca will be more convenient for you.
When to Go to Cyprus – Weather
Depending on your weather preferences, you can consider visiting Cyprus throughout the year.
During the winter, temperatures rarely drop below 10 degrees Celsius, but you might see snow in the mountains.
For traditional warm and sunny holidays, the best time to visit Cyprus is between May and July. The ideal period is May and June when it’s dry, and the air temperature should range between 20 and 30 degrees Celsius.
July and August can be too hot for some, with daytime temperatures often exceeding 35 degrees Celsius, while nights should be around 25 degrees Celsius.
Cyprus with a Child – Where to Stay – Accommodation in Cyprus
The most popular resort is Ayia Napa.
If you plan on doing a lot of sightseeing, it’s worth considering accommodation near Limassol – it will be close enough to drive to the beaches in Ayia Napa and at the same time explore the mountains.
The west of the island – near Paphos – is definitely the least popular. It doesn’t mean there are no beaches or resorts here; there are just fewer of them.
Cyprus by Car Roads
The roads in Cyprus are in good condition.
Parking: We never had any problems with parking. Near every attraction, you’ll find a place to park, and sometimes these are paid parking lots.
Driving Culture: Driving is quite normal; there’s no need to be afraid of renting a car.
Cyprus with a Child – What to See
Paphos Nea Kato Paphos
Paphos Archeological Park Located in Paphos, this archaeological site consists of the remains of an ancient Greek-Roman city. You can easily spend several hours exploring it, as there is a lot to see. Plenty of sunshine, limited shade, and certain distances to cover may not be conducive to quick exploration with a child. It’s a good idea to bring water and snacks for your child because there aren’t many places to buy anything on the site.
Apart from the impressive ruins, you can also see beautiful mosaics adorning the floors and walls of the buildings.
The entrance is subject to an admission fee, and car parking is available directly at the entrance. You can explore the site with a stroller, but there are some stairs in certain areas. In such cases, you can leave the stroller for a while and carry your child in your arms.
Avakas Gorge on the Akamas Peninsula
A very pleasant place to spend a few hours. The trail is flat but not suitable for strollers. We recommend bringing a baby carrier. It’s a good idea to go in the morning before the sun gets too hot. Carrying a child in the sun and protecting them from the sun can be quite tiring. At one point, you’ll need to enter the water to continue through the gorge. If you don’t want to turn back at the first water obstacle, it’s a good idea to bring suitable shoes for walking in the water. There’s a bit of a walk from the parking area to the starting point of the gorge, so don’t get discouraged. Be sure to bring water because there are no facilities along the way.
The Tombs of the Kings
The Tombs of the Kings are definitely worth a visit. It’s not a large complex, but you can take some cool Indiana Jones-style photos there. The terrain is flat, but to reach most of the tombs, you’ll need to descend down stairs, so you’ll have to leave the stroller at the top.
Petra tou Romiou
Petra tou Romiou, also known as Aphrodite’s Rock, is one of the most popular attractions in Cyprus. Expect crowds when you visit. If you’re driving, navigation will lead you there without any issues, and from a distance, you’ll already see the line of cars and buses parked along the road.
The rock formations didn’t impress us at all, perhaps because it was cloudy, and they just looked like rocks in the water, of which there are many. The beach with pebbles, on the other hand, is quite nice.
You can swim at the rocks, and despite the cool weather, we saw a few brave souls doing so. We decided not to swim, but on the other side of the road (you can walk through an underground tunnel), there is a place selling delicious ice cream, which we highly recommend.
A visit to Aphrodite’s Rock takes a maximum of 1-2 hours unless you’re ambitious and want to explore everything.
Kourion
Kourion is an archaeological site located 13 kilometers west of Limassol. It consists of the remains of an ancient city-state that existed between the 2nd century BCE and the 2nd century CE.
In addition to the impressive amphitheater (which you can see in the photos below), Kourion is known for its beautiful floor mosaics.
Omodos Village
Charming village in the Troödos Mountains, located about 42 kilometers northwest of Limassol. We highly recommend spending a few hours here on a leisurely stroll through the streets. You can visit the monastery, have lunch, and buy some souvenirs. The village is said to be famous for its wine production, but unfortunately, we didn’t get to try it because I was breastfeeding Nella and already pregnant with Nikos, while Fryderyk was our driver.
Don’t forget to visit the monastery. You can enter the church, light candles, and take a stroll in the courtyard. I don’t remember if there was a requirement to cover your shoulders, but it’s generally a good practice to have a scarf or a lightweight shirt with you that you can drape over your shoulders in such situations.
Lefkara Village
Lefkara is a village known for its lacework (there’s even a special term for these creations: lefkaritika). The village has several charming streets to stroll around.
Nella often wakes up at 5:00 in the morning, so by 7:00, we are already up and ready to explore. That’s how we ended up in Lefkara when no other tourist had set foot there yet (on that day). Empty streets, tranquility, and cool weather all for free. Hungry stomachs as well. So don’t arrive too early if you want to enjoy a coffee or have breakfast here (before 10:00 – 11:00).
Lefkara is a very picturesque village, and it’s definitely worth stopping here for a few hours. It’s not a full-day trip. If your children don’t mind car rides (ours doesn’t…), you can easily visit one or two other villages in the area on the same day.
Lefkara is located about 43 kilometers from Larnaca. To get there, you need to take the A5, A1, and E105 roads. We found parking on-site by simply driving through the streets and parking where other cars were parked.
Cape Greco
Cape Greco is a cape on the eastern coast of Cyprus that you can (and should!) visit. Beautiful rock formations and crystal-clear blue waters make it a fantastic place to explore.
You can explore it by car, but you can also hike, especially if your starting point is Ayia Napa, which is only 7 kilometers away. However, if you’re traveling with a child, it might be more convenient to stick with the car. During drives, your child can take a break from the scorching sun.
Cape Greco is a national park, but admission is free. There are marked hiking and biking trails in the park, so if you’re in the mood for more active exploration, you can go on a half-day excursion. However, you should keep in mind that it’s hot, the sun is strong, there’s no shade anywhere, and did I mention that it’s hot?
Places worth visiting include:
- Cavos Viewpoint (and Peace Monument)
- Kamara Tou Koraka (the Crow’s Arch)
- Ayioi Anargyroi Chapel with hidden stairs and a view of sea caves
- Love Bridge (Monachus Monachus Arch)
- Sea Caves
These locations offer stunning natural beauty and are definitely worth exploring in Cape Greco National Park.
A week in Cyprus – how to plan your sightseeing
We spent 11 full days in Cyprus, with 6 nights in Peyia and 5 nights in Mazotos near Limassol. The first 3 days were leisurely as we were waiting for friends, and Fryderyk was working remotely. During this time, we mainly relaxed by the pool and explored the surrounding area.
DAY 1: Arrival in Larnaca at 21:00, transfer to the cottage.
DAY 2: Pool/beach day.
DAY 3: Avakas Peninsula.
DAY 4: Archaeological Park in Paphos.
DAY 5: Aphrodite’s Rock and Kourion.
DAY 6: Omodos.
DAY 7: Lefkara.
DAY 8: Cape Greco.
DAY 9: Nicosia.
A full-day trip to the capital of Cyprus, Nicosia.
DAY 10: Beach/pool day.
DAY 11: Departure.
