Cyprus

The thin finger of the Karpas Peninsula is all rolling meadows, craggy cliffs and wild beaches with a handful of snoozy villages thrown in. It’s a taste of old-style Cyprus that can’t be beat-en.

• explore Ancient Salamis, one of the most important cities of Cypriot antiquity
• maps
• savour spectacular coastal views from the once-mighty Byzantine fortress of Kantara Cas-tle
• transport
• road-trip through scenery of undulating hills and patchwork fields to wild beaches, half-hidden church ruins and remote villages on the Karpas Peninsula
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Famagusta (Gazimağusa) & Around, Karpas Penin-sula, The South Coast, Yenierenköy (Yiallousa), Sipahi (Agia Triada), Dipkarpaz (Rizokarpaso), Agios Filon & Afendrika.

Fields of gnarled olive trees march across the coastline where the harbour town of Kyrenia (Girne), backed by jagged mountain ranges, looks out towards the sea. This bite-sized region combines the best of Cyprus’ natural charm with oodles of history.

• climb up onto the ramparts of Byzantine Kyrenia before sitting back in the Old Harbour area to watch sunset
• maps
• relive the golden days of hermit monks and shining-armoured knights amid the towers of St Hilarion, a castle fit for a fairy tale
• transport
• get your literary-pilgrimage fix exploring medieval Bellapais Abbey and wandering the quiet lanes of Bellapais (Beylerbeyi) village
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Kyrenia (Girne) & Around, Kyrenia & the Ranges, Bellapais (Beylerbeyi), Lapta (Lapithos), The Northwest, Morfou (Güzelyurt), Gemikonağı (Kara-vostasi), Lefke (Lefka), Ancient Soloi, Ancient Vouni.

Pick a beach. Any beach. You’re pretty much guaranteed to come up trumps. Those golden strips of sand along the coast are what beckon most travellers here, but Cyprus’ east coast has more to offer than sunbathing and sandcastles.

• dive into the eerie innards of Zenobia wreck, one of the world’s most famous wreck dives
• maps
• check out Larnaka’s beach life before visiting the gorgeous Byzantine church of Agios Lazaros
• transport
• meander the cobblestone alleyways of Lefkara in search of the perfect piece of lace
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Larnaka & Around, Choirokoitia, Lefkara, Agia Napa, Ammochostos Region, Cape Greco, Konnos Beach, Protaras, Paralimni, Deryneia, Dekelia Sov-ereign Base, Pernera.

On the south coast, beaches hem the shore and offer relaxed holiday fun, while impressive sites such as Ancient Kourion showcase the island’s rich history. At its heart is cosmopolitan Lemesos (Limassol) –a rising star in Cyprus’ foodie scene.

• explore the tumbled columns and intricate mosaics of Ancient Kourion, then sit on your lofty Roman-theatre perch to enjoy the sweeping coastal view
• maps
• go all Aphrodite and take a dip at Aphrodite’s Rock & Beach, the legendary spot where the ancient patron goddess of Cyprus emerged from the sea
• transport
• have lunch at laneia’s Walnut Tree, a typical taverna in this beautiful hillside village of honey-toned stone houses and meandering cobbled streets
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Lemesos (Limassol) & Around.

The capital of the Republic of Cyprus is also its cultural heartbeat. Overlooked by most visi-tors, reduced to a day-tour jaunt from beach resorts, Nicosia (Lefkosia) is a curious and fascinat-ing mix of vibrant street life, confronting division and rich history.

• view the emblematic and superbly preserved Venetian Walls snaking around the Old City
• maps
• idle away an afternoon the local way, with a freddo cappuccino at a pavement café in Plateia Faneromenis
• transport
• discover the long and complicated history of Nicosia within the Old City mansion of Le-ventis Municipal Museum
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Nicosia (Lefkosia), The Mesaoria Plain.

Strolling the back streets of the Old City in North Nicosia (Lefkoşa in Turkish) feels like drop-ping into an earlier era. The Gothic pile of the Selimiye Mosque and the Ottoman bulk of the Büyük Han watch over the centre.

• crane your neck to take in the soaring Gothic arches within Selimiye Mosque, a stunning cathedral-turned-mosque
• maps
• fall into a time-warp amid the lanes of quiet Arabahmet Quarter, fringed by preserved Otto-man-era town-house architecture
• transport
• relive the long-gone days of travelling merchants within the grand old caravanserai of Büyük Han
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: History, Sights, Activities, Eating, Drinking & Nightlife, Entertainment, Shopping.

Pafos was nominated joint European Capital of Culture for 2017 in recognition of its extraor-dinary archaeological sights. Unsurprisingly, these have attracted tourists for decades – as have more hedonistic pursuits.

• explore Pafos’ ancient past by visiting the Tombs of the Kings’ Roman mosaics and ne-cropolis
• maps
• keep an eye out for tree frogs when hiking the Avgas Gorge in the Akamas Heights
• transport
• watch the weavers at the Folk Art Museum in picturesque Fyti, a village famed for its craft-work
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Pafos & Around, Coral Bay & Agios Georgios, Akamas Heights, Akamas Peninsula, Polis, Tylliria, Pomos, Kato Pyrgos, Western Troödos.

This chapter contains the Welcome to Cyprus, Cyprus’ Top 18, Need to Know, What’s New, If You Like…, Month by Month, Itineraries, Accommodation, Eat & Drink Like a Local Activities Travel with Children, and Regions at a Glance chapters from Lonely Planet’s Cyprus guidebook.

Your journey to Cyprus starts here. You’ll find the tools to plan your adventure: where to go and when, how much to budget, plus in-depth info on travel with children.

• tailor-made itineraries, arranged by region, themes and events
• list of highlights and best experiences
• everything you need to know about the best of Cyprus’ food and drink
• user-friendly country overview ensures you won’t miss a thing

Coverage includes: Welcome to Cyprus, Cyprus’ Top 18, Need to Know, What’s New, If You Like: Archaeology, Beaches, Arts & Crafts, Tantalising the Taste Buds, Month by Month, Itineraries, Accommodation, Eat & Drink Like a Local, Activities, Travel with Children, and Regions at a Glance.

Home to Mt Olympus, the island’s highest peak, this stunning mountain range provides visi-tors with a forested flip side to the coastal resorts and big-city clamour. The park is ideal for camping, picnicking, hiking, cycling and birdwatching, or winter skiing and snowboarding.

• wonder at the extraordinary Byzantine painted church of Panagia Forviotissa in the Solea Valley
• maps
• explore the fragrant and beautiful Troödos Botanical Gardens
• transport
• marvel at the treasures of Kykkos Monastery, the island’s most opulent and imposing monastery
• restaurants & accommodation

Coverage includes: Troödos, Platres, Omodos & the Krasohoria, Mara-thasa Valley, Pedoulas, Kalopanayiotis, Kykkos Monastery & Around, Treis Elies, Solea Valley, Kakopetria, Pitsylia, Agros & Around, Spilia-Kourdali.

This chapter contains the Cyprus Today, History, The Cypriot Way of Life, Landscapes & Wildlife, The Arts, Directory A–Z, Transport, and Behind the Scenes chapters from Lonely Plan-et’s Cyprus guidebook.

All the info you need on everything from history and Cyprus today, to flights, public transport, climate, money, the internet... you name it. Get tips for women travellers, gay and les-bian travellers, travellers with disabilities, and travellers with kids. And get the most out of your conversations with a handy language guide and glossary.

• a rundown on Cyprus’ arts and traditional crafts
• info on the island’s dramatic landscapes and one-of-a-kind wildlife
• full coverage of Cyprus’ complicated history
• details on the Cypriot culture and way of life

Coverage includes: Cyprus Today, History, The Cypriot Way of Life, Landscapes & Wildlife, The Arts, Directory A–Z, Transport, and Language.