Kyrenia Castle, situated at the entrance of a picturesque harbour, is a remarkable historical site dating back to the 7th century. Originally built by the Byzantines and modified by various conquerors throughout the centuries, the castle offers you a captivating glimpse into Cyprus's past. As you walk along the ramparts, you can enjoy stunning views of the harbour and explore the castle's cistern, dungeon, chapel and two small museums. One of the castle's most intriguing attractions is the Kyrenia Shipwreck Museum, housing the remains of a 4th century Greek merchant ship discovered in Cypriot waters. Believed to have sunk around 300 BC, the ship's cargo included amphorae, almonds, grain, wine and millstones from the Greek islands of Samos, Rhodes and Kos. The museum offers a unique opportunity for you to explore an ancient shipwreck and its well-preserved artefacts, providing insight into maritime history and trade during the time of Alexander the Great and his successors.

There is a bustling fish market in the Vieux Port (old port) well worth exploring. The intense smell of fish and salty sea breeze contributes to making this experience engaging to the senses. Why not buy some fresh fish and try your hand at the local speciality fish stew (bouillabaisse)?

The Manuel Antonio beach is an absolutely beautiful piece os nature where you can see monkeys, toucans, raccoons and sloths on the seafront edges of the national park. Mind your stuff — those monkeys love grabbing backpacks and dragging them into the forest. You'll find a cute café up the hill and a shower facility.

Take a trip to the mountains to discover an alternate view of the island. Rising to almost 2,000 metres above sea level, the Troodos peaks provide panoramic views of all corners of the island, a cool retreat from the heat of the coast and a popular destination for taking in the healthy mountain air and enjoying nature in all its majesty. Charming villages, some with cobbled streets and preserved folk architecture, nestle on terraced slopes among pines or amid vineyards and orchards. Wander through the village roads in the Solea Valley, known as the “apple valley” and Marathasa, known as “valley with cherry trees”. Those areas are renowned for their traditional architecture and their Byzantine churches and monasteries. Explore the traditional character of the villages of the picturesque Pitsilia, the interesting churches and the hospitality of their inhabitants and also the Wine Villages (Krasochoria), renowned for their vineyards and wine. A number of small wineries welcome visitors on wine tasting tours. Burbling mountain streams and nightingale’s songs are often the only sounds to fill in the air in a region that poets have waxed lyrical over. The Troodos mountains are where the painted churches of Cyprus can be found, superb examples of Byzantine art, ten of which have been listed among UNESCO’s World Heritage wonders. There’s much you can do, from mountain biking to playing tennis, angling in one of the dams, or even skiing in winter. A series of walking trails will take you through areas of exceptional beauty among scented pines, running streams and the occasional waterfall, stopping at a shady picnic site. Some of these form part of the European path E4, an international network of long-distance walking routes crossing the whole of Europe. The specific climatic conditions created by the high altitudes and the peculiar geological substratum may have contributed to the unique flora found in Troodos with nearly 800 different plant species, 12 of which found nowhere else in the world. Occasionally, if lucky, one may spot a Cyprus mouflon, a kind of wild sheep which roams free in the extensive forests. Birdwatchers may spot the rare and protected eagles or the colourful hoopoe with a pink body, a black and white crest and a call which can be heard from miles around.