6 Reasons Why Cyprus Will Become The Next Trendy Destination For Travelers

Mediterranean islands are commonly associated with beach getaways, translucent, teal waters and breathtaking sunsets, and they usually compete with each other for the title of leading summer destination every year. There’s just too many to name, and we’re sure you’ve heard all about Ibiza, Santorini, Mallorca, Malta and the like…

But what about the Eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus? Cyprus is gaining popularity fast and travelers may want to get there soon before everyone else has the exact same idea.

Move over, Italy

We can already see our British and European readers rolling their eyes at this, with Cyprus having been a major vacay hotspot for years. We totally get it, it is hardly Albania or one of those unheard-of, severely underrated countries most people can’t even pinpoint on a map. It is, in fact, one of Europe’s favorite summer islands.

Unfortunately, from our side of the pond, Cyprus is still not nearly as successful as Greece or Spain: the U.S. did not rank anywhere in the top ten of tourist arrivals into this country back in 2019, with fewer Americans visiting than Romanians, Poles, Ukrainians – and even the blacklisted Russians.

After two years of Covid and strict border rules, that have only recently been dropped completely, we will take a wild guess here and presume U.S. arrivals have dropped even lower on the list. While this may be attributed to a lack of nonstop flights between the two countries, this has never discouraged Americans from traveling to faraway locations before.

Thailand has been a major Asian destination for years, and direct flights have only returned recently after 10 years of pause; not to mention the Pacific islands, where connecting flights are the norm. No matter how far you go, you will find an American snoozing at the beach, beer cup hanging from the classic neck strap, in places as remote as Fiji.

So why have most Americans still not heard of Cyprus, one might wonder? On this article, you will find out why, as a U.S. citizen, you may be one of the few in the Western World still sleeping on this Mediterranean jewel – and of course, why it should definitely be as big a summer destination as other Southern European countries:

Where is Cyprus to begin with?

That’s a tricky question, and there is no simple answer. Let’s start with a few facts: first, Cyprus is a Mediterranean island, and over the ten millennia it has been inhabited it has received a large influx of immigration from neighboring kingdoms and Empires, such as Greeks, Persians, Turks, Armenians and whatnot.

It is a member of the European Union, even though it is located 226 miles from the nearest Greek island. Regardless of the distance, Greece is still Cyprus’ nearest fellow EU member. Comparatively, Turkey’s southern coast is only 50 miles away from the Northern Cypriot shore, and other closer neighbors include Lebanon, Syria and Israel.

While it is indisputably culturally European, Cyprus may be geographically placed in either Europe or Western Asia, due to its remote location in the East Mediterranean, only a stone’s throw away from several Middle Eastern nations. But then again, the line that divides the continents is blurry and has changed over time.

Today, despite surviving numerous invasions and being subject to the rule of every single superpower you can name, Cyprus has remained loyal to its Ancient Greek origins. The vast majority of Cypriots speak, and some even identify purely as Greek, meaning the island is Greek in (nearly) all aspects – despite being its own country.

Some takeaways from this:

• Cyprus is a Mediterranean island, and a country
• Although it is technically in Western Asia, it is a definitely a European nation and an EU member*
• Its official currency is the Euro
• 1.2 million people live there
• The vast majority of islanders speak Greek, although some speak Turkish (more on that later)

*Think the Canary Islands, that are an integral part of Spain and have been for centuries, but are geographically located in Africa

Ok, but what exactly are Americans missing out on?

1. First of all, Cyprus is warmer than most of Europe all-year round

Cyprus is hot. And we mean sizzling hot. In the words of the country’s own tourism board, it has an ‘intense’ Mediterranean climate. The long dry summer extends from mid-May to mid-October, when temperatures can reach over 100 degrees in many coastal cities. Luckily, the sea is never too far away for a refreshing dip.

Temperatures can easily reach triple digits as early as late April, though, and winters remain pretty mild, to say the least: the coldest it usually gets on the coast is an average 16 degrees. We’re of course not taking into account the island’s towering mountains, where snow falls profusely and skiing activities are widely promoted over winter.

The point is: Cyprus is the ultimate paradise island. For those who grew up facing the harsh Northeastern American winter, even January in Cyprus will feel like a summer break. It enjoys between 300 to 340 sunny days per year, and the sea remains considerably warmer than most other Mediterranean hubs, even in the low season.

If you would still rather experience that classic Mediterranean summer, make sure you bring enough sunscreen to avoid burns, limit your time at the beach, especially during peak sun hours, and drink plenty of water, maybe double the amount you would normally at home. Trust us, the Cypriot heat is no joke.

2. 402 miles of coastline with turquoise waters

Unlike most Southern European countries that are only partially on the Mediterranean – Spain, France, Croatia, Turkey and others – Cyprus is fully surrounded by it. More precisely, it has 402 miles of either sandy beaches or scenic coastal rides where the turquoise glow of the ocean dominates the landscape for miles on end.

This means Cyprus is one of the few European nations with just enough beaches to counter overtourism. Don’t get us wrong, we are definitely not saying it does not get crowded. Many of the most popular beaches in the country like Ayia Napa and Protaras are absolutely packed in summer, but if you’re looking for quieter spots, it won’t be too hard to find them.

With so many beaches and other bathing areas inland available, including calm water rivers and waterfalls, you will be surprised at how many unblemished natural sites Cyprus still hides. Some of the best ones are situated on the island’s Northern coast, and they do not receive half as many tourists as the South.

We will explain why that is further below, but many of the seaside towns and sandy beaches on Cyprus’ Karpas Peninsula, that one crooked finger stretching out on the map that gives the island its distinct geography, are virtually unspoiled by mass tourism. The same cannot be said about other Medi competitors like Italy.

Before item No. 3, the shortest History lesson possible

So why is the North not as popular among tourists? In sum, Cyprus has been a divided island from 1974 onward, when an attempt to unite the island with Greece was violently hampered by a Turkish invasion. Due to its proximity to Turkey – the Cypriot coast can be seen from the Turkish mainland with the naked eye – the North was seized by the latter’s troops.

Prior to that, both of Cyprus’ Greek-speaking and Turkish-speaking populations lived somewhat peacefully in mixed communities. After the invasion, Turkish Cypriots were forced to move to the North, and the Greeks living in the North had to flee South. Fast forward a few decades, and a second de facto country now claims 36% of the island: the TRNC.

TRNC is an acronym for Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a ‘country’ whose independence has only been recognized by – tee-hee – Turkey! The entire international community, including the United States, considers the North to be an integral part of the Republic of Cyprus (the South) that has been under an illegal occupation since the division took place.

For that reason, Turkish-speaking Cyprus has not enjoyed the same economic boom the Greek side has, maintaining official diplomatic relations only with Turkey and being under harsh economic sanctions. Even though visitors are welcome, and the Northern Cypriot administration strongly encourages tourism, very few actually venture far North.

Off path travel, anyone?

3. Here you will find the last divided capital in the world

Curiously, the UN-established Buffer Zone separating the internationally recognized Republic of Cyprus from the self-proclaimed TRNC runs along the heart of Nicosia, the island’s capital, dividing it between both states. Greek Cypriots claim the entire city – at the same time, Turkish Cypriots consider Northern Nicosia their capital.

Due to this complex situation, checkpoints have been installed in the city, including on the main street, effectively functioning like international borders. Because of that, in order to cross from the Greek part into the Turkish, you will need to present your passport, even though the Cypriot Government considers the TRNC a part of Cyprus.

Much like Berlin in the 1980s, prior to fall of the wall, Nicosia is a city plagued by division. Sad as it might be, and we are sure this is not easy for Cypriots raised there, it is the barbed wire-protected streets, the political murals lining up the Buffer Zone, and the constant clash between the Greek and Turkish worlds that make it such a unique, fascinating city break.

You could be having a sumptuous Turkish breakfast in the morning on the Northern side, as you listen to the Quran being recited out of the nearest minaret, and then cross to the South in the afternoon to try some traditional Greek pastries and visit museums where you’ll learn about the island’s Greek origins. Quite literally, Nicosia offers the best of both worlds.

4. Wine tours. Yes, in Cyprus.

Those coming to Europe with their hearts set on a winery tour will hardly ever think of Cyprus as their first pick. After all, how could Cyprus even compete when France has Bordeaux, Champagne and the Loire Valley, right? That’s when Cyprus becomes massively underestimated – even among Europeans that have been visiting for years.

It has the ideal climate for growing grapes, and Cypriot wine is among the best quality wine in the whole of Europe, ranking 50th in the world in terms of total production. A majority of visitors may want to head straight to the nearest beach straight out of the plane, but little do they know Cyprus has a whole wine industry that is yet to be discovered.

An off the path thing to do in the country – we love those – is going wine tasting in any of the inland villages, particularly those on the slopes of Troodos Mountains. This range sits on the exact center of the island and features the highest Cypriot peak: the aptly titled Mount Olympus, evocative of the Ancient Greek mythology.

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