In Cyprus, An Extended Summer — And A Few Surprise Visitors

Within the seaside resort of Larnaca, Cyprus, the European summer season journey season goes on — and that fits everybody there simply high quality.

With temperatures within the excessive 80s and a cooling breeze from the Mediterranean, guests from Germany, the U.Okay. and Russia try to squeeze in a single final seaside trip earlier than winter.

It is already wet and chilly in Scandinavia and different elements of northern Europe, the place fall is in full swing. Cyprus is one among Europe’s final warm-weather holdouts. Not surprisingly, that has prolonged the vacationer season right here, too.

“Guests from Northern Europe favor late summer season and early fall as a result of it is not as sizzling right here,” says Sophia Charalambous, a market improvement officer for Go to Cyprus. “So this October is excessive season right here.”

The place is Cyprus positioned?

Cyprus is an island within the jap Mediterranean. It is about 80 miles south of the Turkish coast and west of Syria and Lebanon. A member of the European Union, it’s well-known for wreck diving, dessert wine and artisan traditions like needlepoint lace and basket weaving.

The considerably central location of Cyprus — between Europe and the Center East — makes it a favourite vacation spot of Europeans, Israelis and Russians. It is a curious assembly level, however the highway indicators inform the story. In Larnaca, close to historic St. Lazarus Church, you possibly can see indicators in Greek, English and Russian. The receptionists on the Opera Lodge on the principle sq. simply swap among the many three languages, relying on the visitor.

As an American in Cyprus, I felt a bit uneasy at first about sharing a resort with so many Russians. However as one native defined to me, the jap Europeans, together with the Russians, Bulgarians and Poles, come right here to flee politics. And, because it turned out, the entire Russians I met had been exceptionally pleasant. In spite of everything, they had been on trip — or possibly dodging conscription.

Is it protected to journey to Cyprus?

Cyprus is comparatively protected. COVID instances stay low and there aren’t any vaccine necessities for entry. The Division of State classifies Cyprus as a “1,” which suggests it is best to train regular precautions. Essentially the most distinguished authorities warning is to make use of a certified crossing level when coming into the Turkish facet of the island and to not take footage of any border crossings.

However “protected” is a relative time period. If you happen to stay in Cyprus, you must bear in mind to keep away from ingesting the tapwater (it isn’t protected, say locals) and, whereas I am with regards to loos, by no means flush rest room paper. It clogs the antiquated pipes. For extra data on journey security, see my free information on journey well being and security.

Tourism is again in Cyprus — type of

Tourism to Cyprus took a success through the pandemic, with guests dropping dropping under 500,000 after which rebounding.

This summer season, Cyprus tourism authorities reported that income from tourism reached $382 million for the primary half of the yr, up 55 % from a yr earlier than. Officers are hoping for a full restoration by 2023

Who ought to go to Cyprus?

Cyprus will not be precisely on the map for many American guests. Tourism officers say many People who come to Cyprus are exploring their cultural heritage. There are some special-interest vacationers, too — those that have an interest within the culinary scene or the island’s artisans. Cyprus additionally presents rather a lot for adventure-seekers. The wreck of the Zenobia, a ferry that sank on her maiden voyage in 1980, is a draw for scuba divers. Nonetheless, final yr, fewer than 20,000 People got here to Cyprus, making it one of many extra undiscovered European locations.

In Nicosia, there is a extra laid-back vibe than you discover in different southern European locations. Even Athens appears extra high-strung — a phrase that is not typically used to explain Athens — compared to the Cypriot capital.

Within the outdated city, vacationers browse the vintage outlets and clothes shops. Within the night, they sip espresso and sit with their hookahs in one of many many cafes below the watchful gaze of the ever-present St. Helen cats.

Cyprus is a perfect vacation spot for vacationers who lover historical past. The Cyprus Museum in downtown Nicosia is only a sampling of that historical past, with displays that take you from Neolithic artifacts to the early Bronze Age. Presently of yr, there are few guests and loads of alternatives to linger and skim each show.

There are fewer vacationers in Nicosia, the capital, than in Larnaca. Many of the guests I met had been from Germany and the U.Okay, and lots of appeared to be on organized excursions. You may simply hit the highlights of Nicosia in a day, together with the museums and outdated city. However this metropolis, and certainly this island, piques your curiosity. It’s a place that does not fairly align along with your perceptions. It’s someplace between Europe and the Center East, and but relying on the place you’re, it is usually fiercely Greek or Turkish.

For guests, Cyprus is a thriller that’s begging to be explored.