It’s been over two years since Jamie and I went to Cyprus but I’ll be honest, I’m kind of hankering to go back. We went for our friend’s wedding but it was pretty much a couples holiday with some friends and the wedding was an added bonus. With it being a couples holiday we obviously left the children behind but I would really love to take them back. There are endless reasons I’d like to revisit, but here are my top five for wanting to take the boys on a family holiday to Cyprus!
1. The Weather
When we went in August the temperatures were easily hitting the mid thirties. If we were to go as a family we’d probably go in May or October which means we’d probably get a good run of warmer weather, but it wouldn’t be so hot that I’d not want to take the kids out.
Cyprus has pretty good form for having stable and mild weather all year round so I don’t think it really matters what time of year you go. It’s pretty much one of the most important factors for us when considering a holiday with the boys; I’m incredibly pale and I always worry about the boys being out in the sun so “warm but not too hot” is a great raw ingredient.
2. Family Orientated Culture
Cypriots are renowned for being super family orientated. The whole culture revolves around family, extended family and children are a constant source of joy. I feel like this means you’re more likely to find well equipped, family friendly villas over some other countries.
It’s always worth asking local staff or the closest tourist office for details of any family activities; whether it’s an UNESCO site, something down by the beach or one of the traditional fiestas in the town. I know that there was a playground down by our villa when we stayed, so it may also be worth seeking out your closest one if your kids are of the younger ages.
3. The Restaurants & The Tastes
Greek Moussaka. Halloumi. I probably don’t need to say anymore, but I will. The food in Cyprus was some of the freshest tasting I’d had of anywhere I’d been. I really, really enjoyed it. When it comes to thinking about family choices, our boys (at least one of them, anyway) are quite fussy eaters so sometimes an all inclusive holiday would be better as they’re able to try new things as and when and if they want to, but there are always things that we can guarantee they’ll eat.
Typically, Cypriot food isn’t spicy so it’s probably one of the easier ones to get them to taste – we just have to lie about what it is sometimes before it’ll get to their lips! We actually stayed in one of the many villas in Pissouri so went self catering which meant we were able to explore the restaurants a lot more freely.
The only thing I noted really was how late Cyprus tends to eat. The eating hours seem a lot later over there; it could be the weather, or it could be just how it is, but either way you can expect a few later nights! However, it’s easy to find somewhere that’s open that sells food; whether that’s a bit of fast food, a patisserie, a supermarket, a bar or even a nice kebab!
4. The Outdoor Activities
There’s something for everyone in Cyprus. We didn’t get to explore as much as I’d liked to have done, which is one of the reasons I’d like to go back.
Of course you’ve got all your usual beach and water activities which I’d love to get involved with but there’s also cycling, castles, treks, parks and zoos amongst everything else.
You can guarantee there’ll be a museum and there’s always a chance to visit the Tomb of the Kings which I think would be pretty cool.
I like to think as the boys get older, and a bit easier in terms of what I need to pack for a day out, that we’ll be able to hit all of those things and enjoy them. They don’t really enjoy being indoors and really flourish and thrive when they’re outdoors exploring and learning.
5. Easy To Explore
Compared to other countries, Cyprus is relatively small and easy to get around – that’s not to say you’d want to be driving all over the country unless you did a whistle stop tour of a few areas over the course of your visit.
We were based in Pissouri so hired a car which meant we had quick access to the bigger part of town about 15 minutes drive away and were able to visit a good sized supermarket for all of our self catering needs. It also enabled us to visit a superb waterpark which we spent all day at.
Depending on your process for booking a holiday, I always find Clickstay have a great repertoire of villas – even if just to give you an idea of the area you might like to stay in. I think with a family, it is easier to stay in a villa rather than a hotel room. You can unpack properly, unwind and have a full “house” base rather than trying to cram all your needs into one room – and you usually get the added bonus of the swimming pool to yourself!
Have you been to Cyprus? I’d love to know if you have recommendations of where to stay!
*This is a collaborative post.