Paphos Area holidays

While the Larnaca region, on Cyprus’ east coast, is known for its nightlife, the Paphos region in the west is celebrated for its beaches. Sand, shingle, built-up, remote – they come in every form. Plus, 12 of them have been given Blue Flag status, so you know they’re spotlessly clean.

Lady’s Mile Beach is a 15-minute drive from Limassol and, thanks to an RAF base next door, it’s one of the most undeveloped beaches in Cyprus. A British officer named the sweep after a horse called Lady that he used to gallop along the sands. Today, there are no horses, just tourists who come to sunbathe, and locals who come to show off their windsurfing skills.

If you’re after your own private patch of sand, seek out Lara Beach. This remote stretch curves along the coast, about 20 minutes’ north of Paphos. Ideally, you’d need a 4x4 to get through the forest that hides it, but it’s not essential. The beach is a nesting spot for turtles so it’s well protected. There’s also a turtle hatchery, where you can volunteer to lend a hand.

Paphos’ indoor market is the place to go for traditional crafts. You’ll find it near M&S, close to the Turkish baths. Lefkara lace is a really popular buy, and it’s crafted into table cloths, curtains and dresser sets. For touristy souvenirs, like mugs, key rings and postcards, head to the shops in St Andrews Street, opposite Limassol’s waterfront.

For a taste of home, check out the high street-style stores on Limassol’s Anexartisias Street. Here, British favourites like The Body Shop and Mango line up alongside Cyprus’ answer to H&M. There’s a Debenhams and an M&S in Paphos, too. You’ll find them on the Konstantinou Kanari avenue.

Limassol’s Makarios Avenue is great for jewellery shopping. If you’re treating yourself to some silver or gold, look out for pieces featuring moonstones – the precious stones are really popular on the island. You’ve also got designer labels like Calvin Klein and Ben Sherman to dip into along this road.

Paphos’ harbour front eateries are well-known for serving some of the freshest seafood in Cyprus. If you fancy trying lobster, this is the place to do it. Over in Limassol’s old town, the softly-lit restaurants offer atmospheric bouzouki music and classic dishes like kleftiko – lamb slow-cooked in red wine.

Most people associate nightlife in Cyprus with Ayia Napa, but western Paphos is starting to earn its party stripes. The best nightspots can be found along Agiou Antoniou, or Bar Street, where Irish pubs and karaoke joints battle for the loudest speakers. Over in Limassol, there’s Yermasoyia, a sophisticated district with a mix of bars, clubs and sports pubs.

This is, quite literally, Cyprus’ big cheese. Locals have it with everything from salads to pasta. During production, the curds are cooked for more than an hour, giving the cheese its unique rubbery texture.

This hearty casserole is the Cypriot twist on the popular North African tagine. Just like the tagine, the dish shares its name with the china pot it’s served in. It’s made with tender chunks of lamb and herby vegetables and, thanks to the dusting of cumin that goes on top, it’s got a lovely spicy kick.

Lountza is pork tenderloin that’s marinated in a rich wine and then smoked. It’s a belly-warming dish, usually cooked over coals or fried with eggs. Other times, it’s packed into pastry parcels and served as a meze treat.

Locals tuck in to these savoury pies at Easter. The melt-in-your-mouth pastry is filled with creamy goats’ cheese, egg and spices. The pie is given an egg yolk glaze and dipped in sesame seeds.

This sweet dessert wine comes from the Commandaria region of Cyprus, at the foothills of the Troodos mountains. It’s made with the xynisteri and mavro grapes, and is thought to date back to the times of the crusades, making it the world’s oldest named wine still in production.