November 11, 2021

Best Instagram Locations in Cyprus

BEFORE YOU GO

Travel insurance: SafetyWing
Fun Activities in Cyprus:
– Blue Lagoon Cruise from Ayia Napa
– Boat trip to Cape Greco and Blue Lagoon from Protaras
– Boat Trip Blue Lagoon Akamas and Relaxing Day from Paphos
– Half Day Caves Jeep Safari

This is my second trip to Cyprus, my first was back in 2011. I wanted to visit again, but it just had not happened, until this summer 2021. In this guide to Cyprus I will be showing you the best instagrammable places to visit in Cyprus. Cyprus is a beautiful island located in the eastern Mediterranean Sea and it is filled with some of the most turquoise crystal clear beaches I have been to. It is a mix between Europe vibes and the Middle East – a place where cultures and traditions have amalgamated – creating a transcontinental gateway.

Konnos Bay, Protaras

This is one of my favourite beaches on the island and you must put it on your bucket list when you go to Cyprus.

It is tucked away in a little cove which provides for calm waters, which are really warm during (June to September) – perfect for those who want to dive right in. If you are looking to feel refreshed you can find cooler waters as you swim out further from the shore. Konnos beach is surrounded by cliffs which make you feel like you are miles away from civilisation and provide for incredible views of the bay and are a great location for some picture perfect shots as are those closer up which show just how crystal clear and turquoise the waters are.

Girl sitting on a fence next to the water. The water is so turquoise. — If you go into the coffee shop/restaurant at Konnos beach there are some steps that lead down to this ramp.

Love Bridge, Ayia Napa

When you see photos from Cyprus, I think this is one of the first locations that comes up in Google searches. The famous, Love Bridge of Ayia Napa. Ayia Napa is also notorious among University students from all over Europe as the it place for nightlife and parties. While visiting Cyprus in 2011, I got to experience this fun place, but this year going along for a stroll in the streets, it was a different story. It was a far cry from the once happening place it was – a lot of places had shut down – just another stark reminder of the reality we are living in today with the current pandemic. But enough doom and gloom, because my time is Cyprus was far from it.

Facing the opposite direction to the Love Bridge in Agia Napa.

Fig Tree Bay, Protaras

ted not far from the shops and restaurants that run parallel to it on Protara Street. The water here is seriously beautiful. All kinds of beautiful blues! Unfortunately, I do not have any photos of my own as we went to the beach here later on in the afternoon. This is the perfect beach to meet up with friends or perfect for a family with kids as there are a lot of amenities around.

Girl sitting at the end of a walkway near the water

Sirena Bay, Protaras

This small beach is tucked away along the south eastern coast of the island and to my pleasant surprise a favourite spot for the local sea turtles.

To read more about the best places in Cyprus to swim with sea turtles click here.

Akamas Peninsula, Paphos District

Now this is a sight to see, but I must warn you from the outset – while it did not phase me, some friends got really worried about the drive – so I will say ‘it’s not for the faint hearted’.

To enjoy this Peninsula you can either enjoy it by vehicle or boat. By vehicle, it is scenic drive along a bumpy dirt road – you have a couple of options – by car or by ATV.

CAR – I strongly suggest you do not take a car that is NOT a FOUR WHEEL DRIVE. This is the type of car we had – a car that is able to handle off road conditions. We saw many people who had taken on this drive with SUV’s or Hatchbacks and we really struggling and some of them were even stuck. Believe me, this is not somewhere you want to get stuck.

ATV – If you opt for the ATV – I saw a rental just before the beginning of the dirt road called STS Motofun that offer Quad Bikes and Buggies. Be aware that with this option you will get DUSTY. It looks like a lot of fun and I would love to try it. My TOP TIP is to be prepared – from what I observed, the people who were prepared had taken scarves to cover their nose and mouth and sunglasses to protect their eyes from the dust. By the end you will be covered in red dust, which you will be able to wash off once you reach the Blue Lagoon and go in for a dip, but don’t forget it is the same situation on your way back.

FINAL TOP TIP IF YOU DRIVE – take the drive slow and steady. Do not rush as the road is narrow and traffic goes both ways.

BOAT – There are plenty of options:

Cruise organised by a tour company – these companies usually offer 2 options for visiting the Blue Lagoon. A morning and just after lunch option (around 2pm). There are also some that offer sunset options. A quick google search will bring up many options so that you may book in advance. While I did not do this option this time, I do not believe it is necessary to book in advance as when we were driving through Latsi there were many companies advertising availability for that day.
Hire your own boat – initially, we were meant to go for this option, however, as we ran late we decided to just go by road as the drive is shorter than going to the lagoon by boat. My friends with whom I was with and had gone by boat indicated that the boat trip from near Latsi to the Blue Lagoon took about 1hr as opposed to the 20min it took by car. Personally, I would have loved to go by boat, so this is definitely on my bucket list for next time.

TOP TOP TIP – whether you go by car or hire a boat, please please please make sure to take PLENTY OF WATER and snacks. Make sure you have SUN PROTECTION AND A HAT at the minimum – I highly recommend taking beach umbrellas. It gets VERY HOT in Cyprus during the summer and I mean HOT – you are looking at 40 degree weather (104 fahrenheit). Once you arrive at the Blue Lagoon there is nothing by nature around so you will not be able to find water, food or shelter.

Blue Lagoon, Akamas Peninsula

This insanely gorgeous lagoon is located on the North Western side of the island. If you are wanting to visit, I recommend either staying is the town of Paphos, which is about a 1hr 30min drive. Alternatively, if you would like to stay closer to the Blue Lagoon in Akamas I would recommend to find accommodation in areas closer to the lagoon like Latsi, Poli Crysochous, Neo Chorio, Crysochou, or Limni. If you are a fan of camping, there is a camping sight located near the Aphrodite Baths called Aphrodite Family Eco Camping.

TOP TOP TIPS – (if you read this above, I am repeating myself down here again as I believe these are so IMPORTANT)

Whether you go by car or hire a boat, please please please make sure to take PLENTY OF WATER and snacks. Make sure you have SUN PROTECTION AND A HAT at the minimum – I highly recommend taking beach umbrellas. It gets VERY HOT in Cyprus during the summer and I mean HOT – you are looking at 40 degree weather (104 fahrenheit). Once you arrive at the Blue Lagoon there is nothing by nature around so you will not be able to find water, food or shelter.
IF YOU DRIVE – take the drive slow and steady. Do not rush as the road is narrow and traffic goes both ways.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST – ENJOY YOUR TIME AND HAVE FUN IN THIS GORGEOUS GEM OF A LOCATION!

Paphos Old Town, Paphos

A picturesque city that is full of charm.

There are countless alleyways to be explored littered with tavernas, restaurants, coffee shops and bars. There is something for everyone. Unfortunately, we only stayed here for one day so there was not much to time enjoy the city during the day. I captured this snap after we got back home to our AirBnb after a day spent at the Blue Lagoon in Akamas and this is captures the vibe and feels of Paphos – a beautiful, colourful and vibrant place to see.

In 2017 Paphos won the title of “European Capital of Culture”. This is a title that is passed each year to lesser known cities within Europe. And, in the same year, Paphos was also nominated in Lonely Planet’s TOP TEN 2017 European destinations.

Through a lot of work in the last years, the city has received a facelift that has brought back much of its charm.

Troodos Mountain Villages

Tucked away from the bigger cities, you will find the cutest villages scattered around the Troodos mountains. Here you will not find flashy hotels, high rise buildings or crowds. Heading to the mountainside is the perfect escape into nature, to get some relief from the high temperatures (40 degrees plus – 104 fahrenheit plus) of Cyprus summer as well as the perfect opportunity to capture some photos.

Nicosia Old Town, Nicosia

Did you know that Nicosia is the last divided capital in the world. The city is divided in two (to the south (Cyprus) and the Northern occupied side) and is separated by what is known as the “buffer zone”. The total length of the “buffer zone” runs horizontally across the length of the islands and total’s 180km.

The juxtaposition here is real – one minute you are walking down beautiful alleyways with the cutest old school buildings, the next you are hitting the buffer zone – fences, cement blocks, sandbag fortifications, barb wire, checkpoints and what looks like houses are really empty buildings posing as a facade that block one side from the other. And, in some parts, you can see the other side/part of the city on the northern side. In the part of the old town that is closer to the buffer, in a way, it is like time has stopped – there are many remnants of a war zone, you can still see bullet holes in some of the buildings.

I know I have mentioned it before, but Cyprus really is a gateway between cultures and Nicosia reflects this perfectly. The architecture, the food, the stores, the people. Old town Nicosia is a great place to immerse yourself and enjoy hours roaming the streets and alleyways getting lost, enjoying yummy food and stumbling across the most unexpected of places.