Yes, a friend told me about Ayia Napa that European youth there have a lot of fun. At night they scream, they fuck almost under the windows, in the morning there are condoms and syringes lying on the beach. This was in 2010. I don’t know for a month, I didn’t ask. And in general, this Cyprus surrendered to you. Cyprus and Greece are more for those who do not sit in a hotel, but rent a car and drive around the island. With a child, it’s true, it’s better to go to Turkey to Alanya in the 1st half of September to Justiano Park Conti - and the territory is gigantic - shared by several hotels of the Justiano chain, and children’s animation in Russian and the food and service are at the same level. Or to Bodrum - green, not hot, comfortable. Or to Spain.
Well, you compared... Near Giustiniano there are rocky beaches...
And in Cyprus, most resorts have sandy beaches. Do you even have children to advise this?...
preciosa: What “is that”, what are you even talking about? Yes, there is half a hotel of children. The hotel is designed for families with children. Look at the photo of Justiono beach - the beach is large and sandy. And the fact that the rocks and the area are on a slope - well, we are not old men and women. And the children like it there, the hotel is old and the greenery is all grown up, the palm trees are large, in general it is surrounded by greenery. Parents are calm - the road is more than 1 km away. and away from populated areas.
You know, Vasily, now it’s clear why you so categorically criticize hotels in Cyprus. You are a supporter of Turkey. And you obviously don’t have small children. I agree that Turkey has good conditions for holidays with children (I’m not talking about a specific hotel, I don’t know it, I’m talking about it in general). But have you thought that someone doesn’t want to go to Turkey? Just because he doesn't like it there. For example, I prefer Greece. And I think that Greece and Cyprus (although I like them less) are good alternatives. And the children have a great time there.
Besides, I don’t see any logic in your advice. You don’t recommend Greece, but you recommend Spain. Have you compared it with Turkey? In Spain, too, you have to take a car and drive around the surrounding area. I’m generally silent about municipal beaches. This is not very convenient. And in Greece and Cyprus there are beaches at hotels.
The man asked a question about Cyprus; he did not ask for advice on which country he should go to). So let's talk about Cyprus. If you didn't like it, it's your right.
iroza: Emotions... emotions. I don’t appreciate Cyprus, but only Limassol. I’m not against Cyprus, because the English spirit still hovers there. But if you go to Cyprus with a child, then to Protaras. And I compared it with Turkey, because... they are approximately in the same price category - Limassol is the cheapest resort in Cyprus.
Yes, Limassol is the cheapest resort, I don’t argue. But it is older compared to Protaras, which began to rapidly develop relatively recently. Protaras is now positioned as a family resort. Protaras has good beaches, but it is completely bald. And here it is important what a person’s priorities are. For example, I will choose a worse beach, but more greenery. And I’m not the only one, I assure you. In Limassol there are hotels with green areas, and there are hotels of a good standard. But many people don’t like Limassol because of the volcanic sand. Especially if a person is a fan of sandy beaches. I personally like Paphos better because it is more beautiful, although the beaches there are generally terrible, compared even to Limassol.
There are not many resorts in Cyprus; of those that exist, Limassol and Protaras can be recommended for children.
Among the countries whose shores are washed by the Mediterranean Sea, Cyprus hardly stands out in any way: the sun is warm, the beaches are clean, the cuisine is delicious, the hotels are comfortable. Differences can only be noticed in small details.
For example, a beach holiday with children in Cyprus can be planned for May, while neighboring Turkey and Greece are just preparing to receive tourists at this time. What else is good about a family holiday in Cyprus? You will find answers to all questions in our review.
Where is Cyprus
Cyprus is an island in the Mediterranean Sea, off the coast of Greece and Turkey. Currently, the territory of Cyprus is occupied by three states: the Republic of Cyprus, the partially recognized Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and Great Britain. The capital of Cyprus is Nicosia. The island is divided into 6 districts: Nicosia, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Paphos, Famagusta.
Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean: it is significantly smaller than Sicily and Sardinia, but larger than Crete and Majorca. However, the distance between the extreme western and eastern points of the island is only 240 km, and between the extreme northern and southern points - about 100 km.
Most of the territory of Cyprus is occupied by mountains: the Kyrenia chain in the north and the Troodos massif in the southwest. The island's best resorts are located on the south coast.
The Republic of Cyprus is a member of the European Union and its territory is subject to Schengen legislation, but with some exceptions. Thus, holders of passports from EU member states can enter Cyprus freely without obtaining a visa.
Since 2017, Ukrainian citizens can also enter the country without a visa using biometric passports. Residents of other countries must obtain a pro-visa to enter. The application for this is submitted by email and there is no visa fee. If you have a double or multiple entry tourist Schengen visa, you can visit Cyprus without applying for a pro-visa.
Vacation with children
The first reason why many come to Cyprus with children is obvious - the warm climate promotes health.
Favorable conditions for recreational holidays develop in May-June and September-October. At this time, there is no oppressive heat, and the sea warms up enough for children to stay in the water for hours. In addition, in spring and autumn acclimatization is much easier.
But this is not the only reason to relax with your child on an island in the Mediterranean Sea. We have five arguments in favor of a family holiday in Cyprus.
- Two international airports are located near the resorts. The journey to the hotel rarely takes more than an hour.
- The island is dominated by sandy and small-pebble beaches with convenient access to the sea.
- Three water parks near major resorts offer an amazing selection of activities for kids (and adults, too).
- The weather allows sunbathing at the beginning of May, and the swimming season lasts from June to the end of October.
- Local fruits will be a pleasant addition to main dishes, and sometimes successfully replace them.
Hotels in Cyprus are not included in our list for the reason that not all of them are focused on holidays with children. This means that only some hotels have children's clubs, games rooms and swimming pools.
But comfort and coziness can be found in hotels of any category. There is also no need to depend on the children's menu: restaurants and taverns at the resorts offer dishes of Cypriot and European cuisine, and in shops and markets it is easy to buy products to prepare what your child loves.
But when you go on vacation with an infant, we advise you to take your usual food, since supermarkets may not have the necessary mixture, puree or porridge. It must also be said about the limited choice of entertainment in Cyprus for children. But there are tricks that will help make your vacation interesting and memorable.
When is the best time to go?
From the point of view of the majority, the season in Cyprus lasts only in the warm season. The period from May to October is worth choosing if you are planning a vacation with a child.
The best time to travel with children is May-June and September-October. In May, the beach season just opens, and there are not many people at the resorts. In June you can safely swim in the sea, and the swimming season in Cyprus will last until mid-autumn.
Warm September and October days are good for beach holidays and excursions. It is better to come to Cyprus with a baby in the fall to immerse yourself in an atmosphere of tranquility.
notice, that During the warm season there are several interesting festivals. In May, Cypriots hold the Anfestiria, or flower festival. Larnaca hosts an arts festival in the summer, which attracts dancers, musicians, actors, and artists. Ayia Napa hosts a celebration of Cypriot culture in September and a Medieval Festival in October.
Those who love active recreation have their own opinion about when is the best time to go to Cyprus. From October to April, windsurfers flock to the island, as the cold weather creates optimal conditions for surfing. And in January-February you can ski in Cyprus. The only ski resort is well equipped and is a good starting point for beginners.
Weather and climate
Summer, which begins in April and ends in October, is the most attractive detail in describing the climate of Cyprus. But there are other benefits:
- the number of sunny days in the resorts of Cyprus is at least 300 per year;
- the number of rainy days from May to September is no more than 2-3;
- air humidity is moderate, up to 64% in summer and up to 70% in winter.
Summer in Cyprus begins in mid-April, when the daytime temperature every now and then jumps to +20°C.
In May, the temperature easily surpasses +24°C - the time for the opening of the season comes. But the best holiday in Cyprus with children occurs in June, when the air warms up to +27°C and the sea - up to +23°C.
The average temperature in July-August is +29°C, but on the hottest days it can reach +35°C. Hot weather, although without extreme temperatures, is typical for September: in the first month of autumn, +27-28°C can be seen on thermometers. In October it is still warm like summer, about +25°C. This is the ideal time for a holiday in Cyprus.
In November, daytime temperatures still hover around +20-21°C, and only rain reminds of the onset of autumn. They will go on and off until April, and the temperature of the winter months will be only +13-17°C.
A special feature of the holiday season in Cyprus is cool evenings. Even in the summer, when it gets dark, you want to dress warmly, and in May or October it won’t hurt to take a light jacket and hat with you.
However, in the mountains of Cyprus, winter can be so cold and snowy that a ski resort operates successfully on the island. In January-February, a decent snow cover forms on Mount Olymbos, the highest point of the Troodos massif.
The daytime air temperature is +1-5°C, the night temperature is -2-6°C. This weather persists until mid-March, and then the warm and rainy Mediterranean spring comes to the mountains.
Sea water temperature
Some tourists, coming to Cyprus on vacation, are not at all interested in the sea temperature. They prefer to swim in pools - fortunately, many hotels provide this opportunity.
If you are going to Cyprus in April-May, then the pool will really be a good help: in mid-spring, the sea water has a temperature of +18°C, and in May - about +20°C.
In June, the water temperature in Cyprus is ideal for swimming: when the sea warms up to +23°C, children can splash in the water for a long time. The Cypriots themselves open the season at the beginning of summer, timing sea bathing to coincide with the holiday “Kataklysmos” (translated from Greek as “Flood”). On the day of “Kataklysmos” it is customary to swim and pour water on each other.
In July-August, the sea temperature reaches +25-26°C, although only real heat lovers will want to be on the beach during these months. But in September, when the heat subsides, the sea will remain warm.
Until mid-autumn, the water temperature will remain at +24-25°C. The sea will begin to cool only with the beginning of the rains. In November the temperature will drop to +20-21°C, and in the winter months - to +16-17°C.
Sea and beach
If you are planning a trip to Cyprus, then your number one task is to relax at sea. The island is deservedly proud of its well-groomed and landscaped beaches. Blue flags flaunt along the entire coast of Cyprus - this award is given to beaches with ideal cleanliness of the coast and sea, with convenient infrastructure for vacationers and with a reliable rescue service.
All beaches on the island are municipal; part of the coastline is rented by hotels. Entrance to any beach is free, but you can use an umbrella and sunbed for an additional fee.
Seaside holidays in Cyprus have their own characteristics: almost everywhere the coastline is narrow, sometimes surrounded by rocks. However, every centimeter of well-maintained beaches is intelligently planned, so it is very convenient to relax. True, there are no children's playgrounds anywhere, so take with you to the sea all the accessories for playing with sand.
The best beaches for children are located in Ayia Napa and Protaras. At these resorts, the shore is covered with fine golden or light sand, the entrance to the water is gentle, and there are no stones at the bottom.
In addition to the busy city beaches, the suburbs have secluded small bays and very spacious areas that are not crowded with people. In addition, Ayia Napa and Protaras are considered optimal places for windsurfing.
The sandy beaches of Larnaca are also good, although less picturesque: the perfect picture is spoiled by gray sand. In the suburbs of the resort, where most of the expensive hotels are located, the sand gives way to small pebbles.
Limassol has both sandy and pebble beaches. During the high season, there is nowhere to fall on the coast, but outside the resort you can find well-equipped and uncrowded beaches.
Paphos is the least suitable place for a beach holiday in Cyprus. The coast within the city is rocky, the descent into the water is inconvenient. But near Paphos there are several truly luxurious beaches - however, you will have to get to them by bus or car.
Alpine skiing in Cyprus
Yes, yes, despite the fact that the average annual temperature in the southern resorts of Cyprus is +18-19°C, there are places on the island with real winter and good ski slopes. The only ski resort in Cyprus is located on the slopes of Mount Olymbos (height above sea level - 1952 meters), 45 km from Limassol.
Several easy trails are located on the southern slope of the mountain, in Sun Valley. Difficult trails are located on the northern slope. Each area is served by two double lifts (three rope tows and one chairlift), in addition, there is a children's lift on the southern slope.
The season on Olymbos is short - from early January to mid-March. During the day, temperatures on the slopes usually reach above-zero temperatures, but with the onset of darkness there is a slight frost. Snowfalls often occur in the Troodos Mountains, where the resort is located. But the resort does not depend on the whims of nature: snow cannons provide good coverage on the slopes.
The most important advantage of a ski holiday in Cyprus with children is the low cost of skiing and training.
If your whole family is just looking into skiing, there is no need to go to the large resorts of Austria or Germany: the slopes of Olymbos are quite suitable for mastering basic skiing skills under the guidance of an instructor.
Well, if there is a professional skier among you, he will be able to show his class on difficult slopes, while the rest take their first steps on gentle slopes.
Winter holidays in Cyprus are also interesting because you can visit both the snow-capped mountains and the warm coast in one day. If you are lucky with the weather, you can even sunbathe on the beaches of Limassol, which are deserted at this time.
But since in January-February in the south of Cyprus it is usually around +15-17°C, it will be more comfortable to walk around the zoo or warm up in indoor entertainment centers.
Nutrition
Hotels in Cyprus rarely use the all-inclusive system; much more often they offer only breakfast or half board. On the one hand, eating at the hotel is convenient: you don’t have to look for a restaurant with an acceptable selection of dishes and prices. Reputable hotels sometimes have a children's menu.
On the other hand, the cuisine of Cyprus is tasty, varied, and many of its dishes are suitable for children. The ingredients are the simplest - fresh vegetables, fish and meat, olive oil, soft cheeses, yogurt, herbs - and each dish has a special taste.
Cypriot cuisine has a lot in common with Greek: they also love the aromatic appetizer tzatziki, vegetable salads with cheese, moussaka, and souvlaki kebabs.
There are no less healthy sweets in Cyprus - sujukos made from boiled grape juice and nuts, Turkish delight from local fruits, kozinaki made from peanuts and sesame seeds, exotic varieties of honey: orange, eucalyptus, thyme. The most unusual dessert, perhaps, can be called carob pastille.
Not every child will want to eat in the heat, but Cypriot berries and fruits will replace a full meal. In summer, the markets are dominated by cherries, figs, apricots, peaches, and papaya.
In autumn they are replaced by grapes, plums, pomegranates, mangoes, guava, and persimmons. In winter comes the time for citrus fruits - oranges, tangerines, kumquats, grapefruits. In spring you can enjoy strawberries and medlar.
There are also many exotic fruits growing in Cyprus, the most unusual of which is the fruit of the prickly pear cactus. The main thing is to wait until a professional frees the juicy pulp from small and very tenacious spines.
If you prefer to cook yourself, supermarkets and markets will delight you with a choice of products. The stores have quite a variety of dairy products: in addition to regular milk and yogurt, they sell lactose-free milk, kefir, fermented baked milk, sour cream, and cottage cheese.
Baby food can also be bought in supermarkets. As a rule, any resort sells products from several well-known manufacturers. The choice is not very wide; it can be difficult to find monopure. If you don’t want to experiment on your trip, it’s better to bring your usual food with you.
Transport
Family hiking routes in Cyprus mainly run along the southern coast and the Troodos Mountains. The distance between Paphos in the west and Protaras in the east is only 188 km: if you are not planning to rent a car, then buses are quite suitable for travel.
Buses are the only form of public transport in Cyprus. City and intercity routes are laid out very wisely: you can easily get to the airport, to a convenient beach, to a water park or to a supermarket.
Transport in Cyprus runs according to a schedule, which can be found on the carriers' websites or on the windshield of buses. Timetables may vary: some buses run only a few times a day, and do not run in the evenings or on Sundays. There are night flights (night is considered the period from 21:00 to 4:00).
The cost of a single trip on a city bus is 1.5 euros. Note that the bus is considered a city bus, even if it runs through surrounding villages within the same area.
A trip on a night bus costs 2.5 euros. If you plan to make several trips in one day, you can buy a day ticket for 5 euros. The cost of a ticket for an unlimited number of trips within 7 days is 20 euros.
Generally, tickets for children over 6 years of age are the same price as tickets for adults. Only in Paphos there is a 50% discount for children from 6 to 12 years old.
The cost of travel on intercity buses depends on the duration of the route and is 4-7 euros when buying a one-way ticket and 7-13 euros when buying round-trip tickets. Separate fares apply for express trains running between airports.
To get around Cyprus, it is sometimes more convenient to order a taxi than to take a bus. For example, it is easier to get from the airport to the resorts by taxi. This same type of transport will serve you well on weekends when many buses do not operate.
Sometimes a taxi is the only way to get to picturesque villages. But when traveling around the city, this is not the best option: in small resorts everything is within walking distance, and in large resorts there is a risk of getting stuck in traffic.
All taxi drivers on the island are licensed, all cars are equipped with meters, and fares are the same throughout the southern coast. The exception is village taxis: they do not have meters, and the fee depends on the distance of the trip.
If you have a reliable car with which you are not afraid to go on a long journey, then enormous opportunities open up before you. Today we will look at several routes for traveling by car in Europe that you can take on board this or next summer.
Most often, the distance of a route is influenced not by technical and financial capabilities, but by knowledge of foreign languages and experience of independent travel. An experienced tourist can explain himself at a hotel or ask for help without deep linguistic knowledge, so he is not afraid to travel to any country. But now, in the era of smartphones, there is no problem in downloading all the dictionaries and phrase books to your phone, which you can use if necessary. In Europe, people are very willing to respond to requests and questions from tourists, but communication at gas stations and restaurants can be kept to a minimum.
But still, if for the first time you decide to go somewhere by car abroad in the summer, we recommend starting with those countries where the Russian language is at least understood, and representatives of the older generation are even able to answer it. Therefore, we recommend that novice travelers go to the Baltic states, Poland or the Czech Republic. For more experienced tourists, we would venture to offer a car route to Austria.
Driving routes in Europe
"Baltic Ring"
- Moscow – Tartu – Tallinn – Riga – Palanga (optional) – Vilnius – Moscow
- Kilometers: 3000 km
In order not to travel all the way to Tallinn from Moscow, we recommend spending the night in Tartu, which is called the spiritual capital of Estonia. This small town is worth an evening of strolling through the old town and grabbing a bite to eat at one of the local restaurants. The next day, having covered a 2.5-3 hour road to Tallinn, you will find yourself in the capital of Estonia with its beautiful old town and unique Estonian atmosphere, which is strikingly different from what awaits you in Latvia and Lithuania. We recommend setting aside one full day to explore Tallinn. After Tallinn, we recommend going to Riga, where you can stay for 2 days. One day here can be devoted to a walk through the old city, and the second day to its attractions.
Then the route can be adjusted to your taste. If you go on a trip by car in the summer, you can stay for 4-5 days in or to sunbathe and appreciate your vacation on the Baltic Sea. If the sea is not included in your plans, then the next point on the route is Vilnius, where you can see all the most interesting things in the old city in half a day, and spend the second day in the Akropolis shopping center, which has been the main point of all tourists’ routes for many years now from Russia and Belarus. Here, with the remaining money, you can do shopping therapy and, with renewed vigor, set off on your way back to Moscow or St. Petersburg.
"Czech"
- Moscow – Wroclaw – Spindleruv Mlyn – Prague – Brno – Krakow – Brest – Moscow
- Kilometers: 3940 km
Prague is one of the most popular and budget destinations among Russian tourists. The capital of the Czech Republic needs no further introduction, but traveling such a distance by car just to spend a weekend in Prague would be wrong. Therefore, we recommend combining a tour of Prague with a holiday in the mountains or in Karlovy Vary (your choice).
The route from Moscow to the Czech Republic is not short (about 1800 km), so you will need one overnight stay in Poland. On the way to the Czech Republic, we recommend stopping in Wroclaw or Warsaw. Both cities have something to offer tourists in their historical centers and this program will be enough to unwind in the evening after a long journey.
Spindleruv Mlyn is a popular ski resort in the Czech Republic, where you can have a great time at any time of the year. When traveling by car in the Czech Republic in the summer, don't forget to plan your route to see some of the castles in the Czech Republic, a map of which you can find.
On the way back from Prague to Moscow, it is better to take the Brno-Ostrava expressway, then head for Krakow, where you can spend the night and visit the old town before the final leg of your trip. By the way, if you decide to go by car to the Czech Republic this summer, don’t forget to buy a vignette (price - 13 euros for 10 days).
"Northern Poland"
- Moscow – Kaunas – Gisiczko – Ketrzyn – Olsztyn – Gdansk – Sopot – Gdynia – Frombork – Vilnius – Moscow
- Kilometers: 3940 km
Northern Poland may not be as popular among those who travel by car, but that doesn't make it any less interesting. If you decide to travel this summer by car along this route, you will have the opportunity to get to know both Lithuanian capitals, where you can stay overnight. In Gizichko you will find beautiful lakes where you can swim and relax for a couple of days. In Ketrzyn you can visit castles and Hitler's bunker. Along the entire road there will be exits to ancient Polish castles, of which there are quite a few. You can spend a longer time on the beaches of Sopot, from where it is convenient to get to Gdansk and Gdynia, where there is also something to see. On the way back you can visit Frombork, where the Copernicus House Museum, Cathedral Hill and another beautiful medieval castle are located.
This route requires additional and careful planning, since northern Poland has many attractions for which it is worth designing the route yourself.
Route “Austrian Lakes + Germany”
- Moscow – Warsaw – Berlin – Munich – Zell am See – Salzburg – Vienna – Krakow – Moscow
- Kilometers: 4900 km
We recommend this route to lovers of beautiful scenery and fast driving. The most boring part of this route is the road to Berlin. It is physically difficult to cover 1800 km in a day, so one intermediate stop in Warsaw or any other city in Poland is recommended, fortunately there are a lot of hotels along the road. You shouldn’t stay in Berlin for long, as real beauties await you further. We highly recommend spending the evening and night in Munich, which you can reach quite quickly via the German Autobahn from Berlin. Head early in the morning to the Austrian year-round resort of Zell Am See. If you come here by car in the summer, then choose hotels that offer “summer cards” (Sommer card). These cards give you unlimited free access to all lifts and excursions in the region. The resort of Zell am See is located on the lake of the same name, which warms up to 23-24 degrees in summer, so you can safely relax here for 5-7 days, which will remain in your memory for a long time.
On the way home, we highly recommend visiting Salzburg, where you can visit the impregnable castle and the house where Mozart was born. Vienna with its rich cultural program is located 4-5 hours drive from Salzburg.
Cyprus is a small island in the Mediterranean Sea, but very attractive in terms of tourism. Year-round warmth, developed infrastructure, a large selection of resorts, boarding houses and hotels, a mild climate - all these factors turn Cyprus into a real paradise for travelers. A family holiday in Cyprus will give children and their parents a lot of pleasant sensations and healthy emotions and will provide a charge of vivacity and energy for the year ahead.
Let's consider all the features and nuances of tours with children to Cyprus in more detail.
The main advantages of holidays with children in Cyprus
Cyprus is an island-state with its own culture and traditions. The beach season starts here a little earlier and ends a little later than in other Mediterranean resorts. Cyprus is a country where natural beauty is ideally combined with monuments of ancient history. There is almost no industry in this state: the population receives its main income exclusively from the travel industry.
Holidays with children in Cyprus mean healthy sea air, water activities, many parks, cafes and playrooms where your kids (regardless of their age) will not be bored.
The main advantages of holidays in Cyprus:
- A large selection of hotels, holiday homes and resort areas with their own specific infrastructure;
- Mesmerizing Mediterranean landscapes, magnificent gently sloping beaches with golden sand;
- Sanatoriums, boarding houses and other medical and preventive institutions with a European level of service and advanced medical equipment;
- Rich and varied entertainment and excursion holidays for the whole family;
- Healthy natural cuisine, close to Greek - with a predominance of the freshest seafood and delicious cheeses.
An additional bonus is a wide selection of respectable hotels operating under the all inclusive program.
When is the best time to go on holiday to Cyprus with children?
There are more than 320 sunny days a year in Cyprus. The maximum influx of vacationers occurs in August-September. For accelerated acclimatization of children, it is better to choose the first months of autumn, when the temperature begins to gradually decrease. This does not affect the quality of a beach holiday, but kids adapt to this weather faster.
The ski season is open on the island from January to March. Experts believe that the best time for skiing in Cyprus is February. Popular resorts for winter holidays are Platres and Troodos, reminiscent of Alpine villages. In winter, there is an atmosphere of constant celebration here: both adults and children will have fun.
Types of recreation for tourists of all ages
Cyprus for adults
There is always something to do for adults in Cyprus. Fans of architectural sights should visit the capital of the state - Nicosia. In the old part of the city all the most famous monuments of the island are collected - Byzantine churches, the famous Cathedral of St. John, Venetian Wall.
There are other options:
- 24-hour discos in the youth resort - Ayia Napa;
- Relaxed beach holidays in Larnaca and Limassol;
- Excursions to places of ancient legends;
- Trains to the ancient city of Kourion - a settlement destroyed by an earthquake at the beginning of our era.
In addition to the above, each hotel offers travelers its own entertainment program.
Cyprus for children
On the island of Cyprus, little tourists will not be bored. If they get tired of a varied beach holiday with sea activities, you can always find other ways to have fun:
- Sightseeing sea excursions with fascinating stories from the guide based on ancient legends and myths;
- Children's playgrounds in hotels with free attractions and daily entertainment programs for young spectators;
- Children's clubs with Russian-speaking animators and teachers: such a vacation will not only be pleasant, but also educational.
You can also visit the famous zoo in Limassol - the only one on the island. In the same city, by the way, the country’s most popular water park, Fasouri Watermania, is located, awarded many international medals for quality of service and safety.
Resorts and hotels in Cyprus for families with children
Ideal resorts in Cyprus for families with children are Larnaca, Paphos, Limassol, Protaras. These places are far from noisy highways and highways and are perfect for a relaxed and quiet time. You will also not be disappointed if you visit Ayia Napa: this resort is noisier and more youthful, but it has the most picturesque beaches on the island - snow-white, clean sand, a gentle slope and many options for water activities.
Almost all hotels in Cyprus can be visited by the whole family: the hotels on the island offer a consistently high level of service, excellent food and first-class recreational conditions. But some hotels, due to their geographical location and infrastructure (children's playgrounds, animators, swimming pools, children's menu in the restaurant, babysitting services), are more suitable than others for staying with children:
- (Pathos)
- (Pathos);
- (Ayia Napa);
- (Protaras).
You're out of luck: your vacation falls in the off-season. This is not a reason to be upset - there are many places for a good rest with your family. Where is the best place to go? To Cyprus! You won't regret this decision. Cyprus is always beautiful for everyone. It welcomes lovers of solitude, admirers of antiquity, and noisy couples with children of all ages.
Island of contrasts
Europeans love Cyprus for its year-round warm weather. Winter here is short and relatively mild, without slush and disasters. The full beach season lasts from April to the end of October. This is one of the reasons why Cyprus is the epitome of beach holidays. One, but not the only one. Where to go in Cyprus? Choose according to your preferences.
It is simply amazing how this small island in the Mediterranean was able to combine contrasting details so harmoniously. The most modern city buildings - and very close by is a patriarchal quiet village with herds of cows and shepherds. Large windows of fashionable stores and presentable restaurants coexist with quiet home cafes, pastry shops and market stalls. Add to this the majestic southern landscapes, the spirit of ancient history, and Mediterranean cuisine - and it becomes clear: if finances allow, this is where you should take your family.
Vacation with children
What do parents who are planning to spend their holiday tour with their children need to know? The choice of a vacation spot in this case differs in many ways from a place for adults. What is your first concern?
- Does the hotel accept travelers with children and at what age?
- Is a children's menu offered?
- How are the beaches equipped?
- Are there children's playgrounds and swimming pools on site?
- Security level.
- Nanny services, animators.
- Specially trained personnel.
To the advantage of Cyprus, these requirements are met by most hotels along the entire resort coast. The best time for little tourists: May-June and September-October. Where to go to Cyprus with a child? Let's take a closer look at what the most famous resorts on the island offer us.
Protaras
For sure this is the best place to go. In Cyprus, this resort area has everything for a calm, measured holiday. Families with small children feel great here: the beaches are equipped with special ramps for strollers, and along the shore there is a cozy embankment for walks with children's transport. For these purposes, park and walking paths are equipped with special slopes and crossings.
There are many cafes in Protaras with children's menus and delicious, inexpensive ice cream. For the little ones, food can be bought in local stores, as well as everything necessary for children. You can choose hotel rooms with a kitchen and cook your children’s meals yourself.
Reviews indicate that here is the best place in Cyprus, if you are traveling with a small child. The downside is that there are few playgrounds.
Ayia Napa
A sacred place in Cyprus and a very lively resort, which is also preferred by the Cypriots themselves. But we choose the time for a children's holiday, and just at the beginning and end of the season, Ayia Napa is relatively calm, like the whole of Cyprus. Where to go on vacation in the “Sacred Forests” (this is how the translation of the city’s name sounds)?
In general terms: the beaches are all very clean and, which is important for children, flat and sandy.
Children's entertainment - a large water park and amusement park with a children's pool.
Reviews from vacationers recognize the clean sea, beaches and parks as amazing. Now about the minuses: a very small hotel area with a minimum of children's playgrounds. Not everyone has baby food, and five stars is not always an indicator. Animators and nannies, if present on staff, mostly communicate in English. Atlantic Aeneas is recognized as the best hotel for children.
Pathos
The birthplace of Aphrodite is another family-friendly destination. Amazing sandy beaches in a picturesque bay, many small private hotels on the coast. Where better to go to Cyprus than Paphos? Read the descriptions of hotels carefully - not all of them specialize in welcoming vacationers with children. But the ones you need are equipped with children's recreation areas; they prepare not always varied, but very tasty and healthy children's food.
Where is it better to go to Cyprus with a child, where there is something to do, where there is a lot of new and interesting things besides the beach and the sea? Of course, to Paphos! As for family entertainment: older children and their parents will be interested in multiple routes along the legendary trails. If you are indifferent to history, visit the unique bird aquarium; they will not leave both the little ones and adults indifferent.
Larnaca
The most ancient settlement of the island is the city of Larnaca - a place where you can go in Cyprus if funds are limited, but you want a complete vacation. Cheaper than everywhere else does not mean worse, it’s just that this ancient town is less saturated with entertainment clubs. And reviews from families with children characterize this place as the most friendly and suitable for children's holidays.
Entertainment: "Lucky Star Park" is the largest amusement park, which has a cafe with a children's menu; a large Camel Park, where you can walk with animals (not just camels); Sea diving is available for children over 10 years old.
Limassol
Unlike the previous one, the resort of Limassol is the place where you can go in Cyprus if you crave a cool, noisy, fun holiday! The name of the resort translates as “middle city”, and does not indicate the mediocrity of the settlement, but its location in the middle, so from here it is convenient to travel around the entire resort of Cyprus and compare the sights. Limassol is a club and nightlife, rivers of Cypriot wine, unceasing entertainment all year round.
Families with children can also find a place here, but it is still better to find the comfort of home in Paphos, Larnaca or Protaras. The majority of the public in Limassol are party-going youth, and the establishments are nightclubs and discos.
If you are at least 25 and no more than 70 years old, you can easily rent a car. This is an excellent option for spending leisure time with children: you don’t need to adjust to the excursion schedule, you have the opportunity to see all the beauty of the island without tiring your children with long treks; compare the amenities of neighboring beaches and parks.
By car you can travel to places that standard excursion routes often bypass. Ordinary rural settlements will be a real discovery; their originality and unusual way of life for us will interest us no less than the beaches and embankments. In addition, it is in such quiet and secluded places that you can find an unusually cozy pastry shop or bakery with fresh pastries, a family cafe with home cooking, or a wine cellar. And all this will be much cheaper than in the resort area.
What a driver needs to remember in Cyprus:
- The most important thing is to soberly assess your driving skills and ability to change lanes.
- You cannot cross the border between the Greek and Turkish sides of the island by car.
- An excellent ban: you cannot smoke in a car if there are children in it. And it doesn’t matter whether it’s a personal car or a rented one.
- You cannot eat, drink or talk on the phone while driving.
Otherwise, the traffic rules are the same as in most European countries.
Choosing a direction to go to Cyprus with a child is not a problem. The pearl of the Mediterranean is an excellent alternative to the noisy and expensive resorts of Greece, Turkey, and Egypt. You can always choose a resort taking into account personal requirements, the age of the child and the family budget.
