North & South Cyprus Discovery

After breakfast this morning, we will drive around 40 minutes to the Aphrodite's Rock (Petra tou Romiou). It is said that Aphrodite, the goddess of love in Greek mythologies, also known as Venus, was born from the shell encased in the coastal rock. The Italian painter Botticelli (1445 - 1510) created the painting "The Birth of Venus" based on this legend. Then we will drive along the coast to Paphos. There, you will explore the Paphos Archaeological Park, which preserves many exquisite mosaic inlays that tell Greek fairy tales. One of the most interesting sites is the House of Dionysus. Most of the mosaics here depict the drunk Dionysus. You can admire the mosaics while listening to the stories of Dionysus told by our tour guide. There's no shade in the park, so please remember to bring sun-protective devices.

Next, we will visit the Tombs of the Kings in Greek and Roman architectural style built in the 7th to 4th century B.C. These tombs were not for kings, actually, but for nobles and high-ranking officials back then. The internal layout of the catacombs is built like a homestead, with a central courtyard surrounded by rooms, which indicates that more than one person was buried in a single grave.
►Tips:
1. There is a lot of gravel in the catacombs, so it is best to avoid wearing sandals.
2. Some of the stairs in the catacombs are weathered and broken, so be careful not to be stumbled.

Finally, our guide and driver will transfer you back to the hotel in Limassol or drop you off at Limassol Marina if you want, where you can see many yachts. Watch out for the cracks on the boardwalk when strolling here to avoid tripping. You can also enjoy dinner on your own at a restaurant near the marina.

Recommended Restaurant for Dinner: Jamie Oliver Kitchen
Located next to the Limassol Marina, the restaurant is a 12-minute taxi drive from the hotel, where you can see the fishing boats and yachts moored in the harbour. Its specialty is halloumi fries which are made of halloumi, a unique Cypriot cheese that doesn't melt when fried but becomes creamy and mellow in taste.

After dinner, you can hail a car on CABCY, a local hailing app in Cyprus, to return to the hotel. Taxis in Cyprus always pay by meter. In Limassol, it starts at €3.50 and charges €1.05 per kilometer. It may cost around €9 from Jamie Oliver Kitchen to the hotel. The price may be higher at night. You can pay with the card. Cash in euros is also acceptable, but you should be aware that the drivers usually take the extra money as a tip.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Atlantica Miramare Beach Hotel, Limassol (4 stars) or similar

We will pick you up from the hotel and then start the day with a visit to the Limassol Castle. It is said that Richard the Lionheart of England married Princess Berengaria here. The castle now houses a Medieval Museum, where you can see medieval pottery, Byzantine silver, weapons, and coins. Climbing to the battlements with our guide, you will receive a panoramic view of the Mediterranean Sea. Then you will take a leisurely walk in Limassol Old Town, where you can see many houses with colorful doors and stone walls. Craft shops and cafes stand on the sides of the streets, where you can also see street graffito. After that, we will drive to Kolossi Castle, a 13th-century military building on a hill. Climbing the spiral staircase to the top of the castle with our guide, you can catch the stunning view down the hill.

★ A Wine Tasting Experience in Omodos

Today's sightseeing will begin from the medieval Saint Hilarion Castle. It is said that Richard the Lionheart of England spent the honeymoon with Princess Berengaria here. The arches and windows of the castle are like frames, forming paintings together with the blue sky, white clouds, and mountains outside the castle. Situated on the top of the mountain, it offers a picturesque scene of Kerynia.
►Tips:
1. You may need to walk through bushes to reach the castle, so please wear sneakers or hiking shoes.
2. You'd better not stay too close to the edge of the castle to avoid falling.

The next stop will be Bellapais Monastery. This 800-year-old monastery in Gothic style does not have high buildings but is large in scale with scenic views. After lunch, we will visit the impressive Kyrenia Castle and its famous Shipwreck Museum, which displays a 2,300-year-old shipwreck discovered in Cypriot waters. This sunken ship is said to have been loaded with amphorae containing almonds, grape seeds and fig seeds. You will enter the castle from the northwest corner with our guide. Then, a ramp will take you to the parade ground in the center, where you can also see the guardhouse, dormitories, and stables built before. The castle is nestled to the Kyrenia Harbour. A leisurely stroll around here will round off the day. Finally, we will get back to the hotel in Kyrenia.

Recommended Restaurant for Dinner: Tervetuloa Restaurant
Tervetuloa Restaurant is a 16-minute taxi drive from the hotel. It is an outdoor restaurant with tables set under trellises decorated with vines and strung with gourd lights. It costs 15-20 euros per person. Kleftiko, a traditional Greek dish made with lamb, is the most popular here. The chef marinates the lamb with garlic, oregano, thyme, parsley, and various seasonings, then wraps it in parchment paper with potatoes, tomatoes, bell peppers, and onions and bakes it in the oven. The cooked kleftiko is usually served with rice.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Pia Bella Hotel, Kyrenia (4 stars) or similar

After breakfast, our guide will pick you up from the hotel and accompany you to the St. Barnabas Monastery in the suburb of Famagusta. It is where St. Barnabas, the patron saint of Cyprus, is buried. It also offers a great view of the ancient city of Salamis. Then, go to see the Ancient Ruins of Salamis at a close distance. Like Italy's Pompeii which was buried in volcanic ash, most of Salamis's buildings were buried in sand during the earthquake. They were not excavated until more than six hundred years later. It preserves a Roman shopping mall, stone pillars, human statues, an ancient water supply system, and Cyprus's most significant Roman amphitheater. In addition, a temple of Zeus stands on a raised platform at the southernmost point of the ruins. Following the ramp you can get into the courtyard where you can see Corinthian porticos on either side. If you visit here in summer, please bring sun-protective gears and enough water to avoid heatstroke.

Next, we will head to St. Nicolas Cathedral,  now known as Lala Mustafa Mosque, in the old city of Famagusta, which has the most beautiful Gothic-style architecture in the country. The last stop we will visit today is Varosha, the ghost town about 1.6 kilometers (1 mile) south of Famagusta old city. It has been abandoned since 1974 due to political issues, but many remnants of the past inhabitants remain here. Some houses are crumbling, so please stay away from them for your safety. After that, we will transfer you to the hotel in Nicosia and help you settle down.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Centrum Hotel Nicosia (3 stars) or similar

Our last destination in Cyprus will be its capital city - Nicosia, and the first sightseeing stop there will be Ledra Street, which was divided into two sections because of the Green Line, also known as the military buffer established by the UN to avoid the conflict between the north and south parts. We will visit the south part, which is a pedestrian street lined with souvenir shops, restaurants, cafes, and more. Then, we will visit the Leventis Municipal Museum built in a typical Mediterranean style. You can see ancient maps, jewelry, pottery, numerous costumes, paintings, and other archaeological artifacts dating back to 3000 B.C. The museum has a cultural and creative shop where you can find souvenirs designed based on the collections. After that, we will visit the Venetian Walls built in the 16th century, which is now the boundary between the new and old Nicosia. Due to the Green Line, the Venetian Walls are divided into two parts, so you cannot visit the entire of it. But our guide will take you along the path on the wall to Famagusta Gate, Nicosia's best-preserved city gate. The enormous wooden gate leads to the other side of the city wall, where art exhibitions or concerts are held sometimes. If you are lucky enough, you will have the chance to experience the artistic atmosphere of Cyprus here. The next stop will be the House of Hadjigeorgakis Kornesios, a villa built in Turkish style. You can see wooden carvings and paintings that were once used to decorate the house and daily necessities such as coins and plates. Then, follow our guide to cross the Green Line, and head to Buyuk Han, a caravanserai built in 1572 for traders. During the British colonial period, it was used as a prison. Nowadays, after the restoration, it has become one of the most popular attractions for visitors, and you can see many handicraft shops, coffee shops, and restaurants there.

After a short break, we will begin our north Nicosia walking tour. Appreciate the grand exterior of the Selimiye Mosque, which was remodeled from a Gothic church. Then our guide will take you to Bedesten - Eski Ayanikola Kilisesi (Kıbrıs Türk İslam Eserleri Müzesii), a Byzantine church nearby. It is now used as Nicosia's cultural center, where some beautiful Turkish carpets are collected.

★ Witness Whirling Dervish Ceremony at Bedesten - Eski Ayanikola Kilisesi
Here is a special chance for you to see the spiritual dance performed by Mevlevi dervishes. Every Monday to Saturday, there are performances at 12 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m., and 5 p.m. Wearing white robes and tall hats made of camel’s hair, the dervishes gracefully twirl with their right hands pointing towards the sky to connect with the divine, and left hands pointing to the ground to pass on blessings to the audience.
►Tips:
1. We recommend you refrain from taking photographs out of respect for the fakirs and the religious ritual.
2. Please be quiet and not applaud during the performance.
Then follow our guide's steps strolling at the square where Venetian Column is situated, exploring residential areas such as the Samanbahçe Quarter and Arabahmet Quarter to experience the life of locals.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Centrum Hotel Nicosia (3 stars) or similar

As the tour ends, our guide and driver will send you to Larnaca International Airport from the hotel in Nicosia, where you will take the onward flight back home or to your next destination. Our tour destinations are worldwide, and we hope we can assist you.

►Notice:
It takes around 45 minutes to drive from the hotel to Larnaca Airport. Usually, arriving at the terminal three hours in advance would be best. However, due to the strengthened security measures, it is advisable to arrive one hour earlier than planned to avoid unexpected situations that may cause you to miss the flight. One more thing you need to know is that if your next destination is Turkey, you can only depart from Ercan Airport.

Free Time Suggestion:
If your flight departs late today, you can go to the Cyprus Museum, which is only an 11-minute walk from the hotel. There is a collection of lovely and hilarious pottery, delicate sculptures, and other historical relics such as jewelry, coins, and other artifacts from the Neolithic to the Byzantine periods. You can finish visiting the museum in about an hour. It is free to enter and there is an audio guide in English.
Meal: Breakfast