The perfect destination to keep the whole family happy on holiday.
Cyprus is a top choice for British families thanks to its year-round climate, delicious food, fantastic Blue Flag beaches and legendary hospitality and Greek culture. The island is packed with a huge range of different activities to suit everyone’s interests.
So, there’s no need to worry about what to do with the children when they get bored of the beach and the pool. Here, the Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO) shares the top things to do with your kids to ensure a fun-filled trip.
For Water Babies
With several Blue Flag beaches (an international sign of high beach standard), Cyprus is a brilliant destination for ocean-loving families. Paphos has 12 Blue Flag beaches, Limassol has over 10 clean and child-friendly beaches and Larnaca’s CTO beach in Pyla is great for families. There’s a range of water sports centres where you can try out waterskiing, para sailing, wake boarding, banana boat rides and more: Central Watersports, Larnaca, Nick’s Watersports Centre in Paphos and XS Watersports in Protaras.
The Yellow Submarine glass-bottomed boat runs trips from Ayia Napa or join your own pirate quest on the Black Pearl pirate ship with daily cruises departing from Ayia Napa harbour which include lunch, entertainment and swimming stops. Budding scuba divers can learn to dive and explore the famous Zenobia shipwreck with the Nemo dive centre.
As well as its spectacular beaches, the kids will love Cyprus’ waterparks: the Watermania waterpark, Limassol, offers fish pedicures and temporary tattoos as well as the usual waterslides and wave pools; WaterWorld in Ayia Napa – Europe’s largest themed waterpark – has a wave pool, obstacle course, lazy river, water playground and go-karting; and Aphrodite waterpark, Paphos, is open year-round.
For Thrill-Seekers
There are endless options for kids with an adventurous streak: paintball at Paintball Z in Limassol; Sparti Park, Limassol – Cyprus’ first rope adventure forest park; go karting just outside Nicosia with Daytona Go Karting; racing, quad biking and archery at Sayious Adventure Park in Limassol; biking adventures with Bikin’ Cyprus; go-karting, amusement arcades and a roller coaster at the Lucky Star Park in Larnaca; ice skating, paintballing, archery, rock climbing and orienteering at Adventure Mountain Park; bouncy castles, obstacles courses and a climbing wall at the Wow Action Park in Larnaca, which also hosts kids’ birthday parties; roller coasters and more at the Palliatso adventure park in Ayia Napa; jump on trampolines or try an extreme sport at the Extreme Park in Nicosia; enjoy the bowling, ball pits, video games and more at Galactica Entertainment; or learn the Brazilian martial art of Capoeira at a class for kids in Oxygen Gym in Nicosia. All great for letting off some steam!
For Animal Lovers
Animal-lovers have plenty of entertainment options too: horse riding at family-run riding school Lapatsa, Eagle Mountain Ranch, The Moonshine Ranch, or Horse Riding Paphos; camel riding and feeding the animals at the Camel Park Farm, Mazotos Village; visit Riverland Bio Farm to see how a sustainable farm is run and feed some of the animals; learn about marine life at the Ocean Aquarium Park, Protaras; ride a donkey and taste donkey milk frozen yoghurt at Golden Donkeys Farm in Skarinou village; learn about organic egg production at Petrides Farm, Nicosia; see wild and domestic animals and learn about the conservation efforts at Paphos Zoo; or try to spot a turtle on one of the daily Paphos Atlantis Yacht Cruises.
For a Breath of Fresh Air
With its year-round climate, Cyprus is a great place for the kids to get outside and into the fresh air: enjoy the mountain air and hike the 3km Caledonia Falls Trail, Troodos, which ends with an impressive waterfall; encourage the kids to take part in a range of outdoor activities at the Kids Adventure Camp by One Step Further; play mini golf at the 19-hole course at Star Leisure Mini Golf in Protaras; soak up the peaceful atmosphere at the Athalassa National Park; go cycling, hiking or fishing in Kalopanayiotis Village; or climbing, biking, trekking or kayaking with Zephyros Adventure Sports.
For Culture Vultures
Cyprus is packed with museums and cultural activities too: The Thalassa museum in Ayia-Napa which features the replica of the 4th century Kyrenia shipwreck where kids can try ‘excavating’ some of the wreck; the Leventis Gallery in Nicosia hosts special art workshops for children and families; the Palaeontology Museum in Larnaca; the Cyprus Theatre Museum in Limassol; the Rota Children’s Museum in Nicosia; the Shadow Theatre Museum in Nicosia where families can create their own performances; learn about physics at the Archimedes Museum in Limassol; about astronomy at Larnaca’s Kition Planetarium; take an informative trip on George’s fun bus and teach the kids all about Cyprus as you travel around the island; or enjoy panoramic views at the Ledra Museum Observatory on the 11th floor of the Shacolas Tower.
Cyprus – the third largest island in the Mediterranean – attracts over two million tourists annually. Cyprus is a year-round island appealing to a wide range of personal tastes and lifestyles, from families and couples, to the most discerning of culture and nature-oriented travellers.
Getting there: Monarch, the scheduled leisure airline, operates flights and holidays to Paphos from Birmingham and London Gatwick airports with fares, including taxes, starting from £52 one way (£139 return). Flights to Larnaca from Birmingham, London Luton, London Gatwick and Leeds Bradford airports with fares, including taxes, start from £63 one way (£133 return) For further information or to book Monarch flights and Monarch Holidays, please visit www.monarch.co.uk
For more information, go to www.visitcyprus.com, www.facebook.com/visitcyprus.uk or www.twitter.com/visitcyprus.
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About the Cyprus Tourism Organisation
Cyprus – the third largest island in the Mediterranean – attracts over two million tourists annually. Cyprus is a year-round island appealing to a wide range of personal tastes and lifestyles, from families and couples, to the most discerning of culture and nature-oriented travellers.
Tourists are attracted by the island’s legendary hospitality, glorious coastline and stunning mountain villages. There is something to suit everyone – family resorts, world class spas, golf courses, marinas, agro-tourism and food and wine trails. The active can enjoy the warm waters of Cyprus for diving and waterskiing while adventure seekers can explore the island’s beauty with trekking or bird-watching tours, while golfing enthusiasts play on award winning courses.
The island boasts the cleanest bathing waters in Europe, combined with a rich cultural heritage, a variety of agro-tourism projects and a wide choice of special interest activities.
For more information: www.visitcyprus.com
