Cyprus is one of the most exciting islands in Europe. It is a place of breathtaking sunsets, Biblical stories, fabulous beaches.

It has a long and impressive history. Traces of settlements go back as far as 8200 BC. In the bronze age, they learned to work the copper mines, and about 1500 BC Egypt became an important trade partner. It is the third-largest island in the Mediterranean and is divided into 2 parts: Northern Cyprus, which is occupied by Turkey and Southern Cyprus, which is totally a Greek island.

Let's discover some travel facts about Cyprus:

Airports - There are airports in Larnaca and Paphos. The airports are small, but Larnaca's is considered as the main largest airport that has more traffic in a very high season.

The Weather in Cyprus - Cyprus is in the Mediterranean's southeast corner. Summers are hot and have almost no rain. Winters are mild. Spring and autumn are the best seasons, and the island is prettiest in the springtime.

Where to Stay? - This really depends on what you want from your holiday. In Larnaca, there is a hotel area west of the city close to the airport, but if you want local color, it is better to stay in the city itself. There are many hotels and apartment hotels. Larnaca has an excellent beach and is more tranquil than other popular tourist destinations.

In Paphos, tourists are concentrated in Kato Paphos, the district by the harbor, but there are also tourist areas to the north (for instance Coral Bay). Paphos and the south-western part of the island have the most to offer when it comes to historical sights. Still, the tourist concentration is significantly higher than in Larnaca.

Limassol is the second largest city in Cyprus. It is the island’s main port, a main tourist center and the center of the wine industry of the island. Limassol has two of the most spectacular archaeological sites in Cyprus; built on cliff tops the ancient cities of Amathous and Kourion are situated East and West respectively in the city with spectacular views overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Unearthed at Amathous the largest stone vase ever discovered (resting in the Louvre Museum in Paris) is just one of the finds that have made their way abroad to international museums from these ancient sites.

Ayia Napa and Fig Tree Bay are pure tourist destinations with only 2000 and 1000 local inhabitants. This is where you go if you just want sun, pool, and beach during the day and disco and parties at night.

Sights - The most interesting historical sights are in Paphos and the area west of Limassol (Kourion). In Larnaca, there are ruins of the ancient city Kition. In winter Larnaca's salt lake is home to many birds. The lake dries out during summer, and many birds migrate. If you are interested in churches, there is an opportunity to visit Greek orthodox churches in Cyprus.

It is definitely worth your while to visit some of the villages in the Troodos Mountains. Here you get a good impression of an older and more original Cyprus. The mountains are beautiful (especially in the springtime), and the temperature can be more comfortable. You can take a bus or go on an organized tour.

Activities - Being an island, Cyprus offers all sorts of water sports like diving, sailing, fishing, windsurfing, etc. There are golf courses in the Limassol and Paphos area, and you can go mountain hiking or biking.

Restaurants in Larnaca and Paphos - When in Cyprus, be sure to order meze at least once. It's a selection of the best dishes in Cyprus cuisine. You can either order a meat or fish meze. In both cases, it begins with small starters, which consist of fresh salads and vegetables. Also, you will always get a pita with a choice of different sauces.

Be sure to leave some space for what comes next. Many plates with different varieties of meat or, if you prefer, fish. Scrambled eggs with eggplant, ravioli, hummus, and much more. In fish meze, you'll get octopus, shrimps, mussels, squids. Either grilled or deep-fried. And wine.

Quick facts -

• Population: about 788.000
• Size: 9.250 km2 (of which 3.355 km2 are the Northern Turkish part).
• Language: Greek and Turkish. Most people in the Southern Greek part speak English also a little Russian.
• Currency: Euro.
• Area Code: 357
• Time: GMT +2 or Central European time + 1 hour.