Cypriot halloumi

Cyprus Trip Itinerary

Day 1

6.15 – “Wizzair” flight from Warsaw Chopin to Larnaca – 2h50
In Cyprus + 1 hour in relation to Poland. The temperature in November is around 25 degrees during the day. At the airport, they check Covid passports and the so-called Cyprus Flight Pass (48 hours before departure to Cyprus, you must register at cyprusflightpass.gov.cy).

From the airport, we take the minibus to the “Aercar” rental – a Nissan Note car for 4 days for about 600 PLN. 1 liter of 95 gasoline for 1.36 Euros (much cheaper gasoline in Northern Cyprus). We go to the situated near the airport, Hala Sultan Tekke – a mosque with the grave of Muhammad’s aunt who died in this place, a mosque located in a garden on the shores of a salt lake (free entry, but you must have appropriate clothing, including covered arms and legs).

We take the A1 and A2 motorways to Nicosia (motorways for free). We park for free on the street in Nicosia. We walk through the old part of Nicosia, surrounded by defensive walls – we visit the Freedom Monument and the Omeriye Mosque and the main promenade, Ledra Street.

In the cafe we ​​eat tuna sandwiches (1x 3 Euros), frappe (1.50 Euro), pomegranate juice (1.50 Euro). We are going to the border crossing with Northern Cyprus, the so-called Ledra Palace crossing (Ledra street crossing is closed) – Turks only check passports. In North Cyprus, the Turkish Lira is valid as the currency TL (1 Euro is about 11 to 15 TL), but you can also pay in Euros.

In North Nicosia, we visit caravanserais, i.e. former merchant inns (Kumarcilar Han and Büyük Han – the latter well-kept with restaurants and shops), the Selimiye mosque (former Catholic cathedral – currently renovated and closed to visitors) and the Belediye bazaar. We have lunch in a traditional Turkish restaurant “Sedirhan Cafe” – cacik (15 TL), ezme (15 TL), humus (15 TL), grilled haloumi (25 TL), Adana kebap (60 TL), Tavuk şiş (chicken skewers, 55 TL), Iskender kofte (in yogurt with bread, 55 TL), ayran (10 TL), water (3 TL), a glass of red wine (25 TL) – together we pay 368 TL.

In general, North Nicosia is more interesting than the Greek part – a lot of atmospheric streets without car traffic. We go back through the Ledra Palace crossing to Nicosia (only passports are checked) – we cross the nicely lit Eleftheria Square in the evening and drive to Larnaca via A1 and A2 motorways.

In Larnaca, we leave the car in the parking lot at Ayiou Lazarou 40-44 (2 Euros for 24 hours). Overnight at “Tiffany City Apartments” – 2 rooms with bathroom and kitchen – 55.08 Euros. In the evening we go to the wine bar “Stories” – a small bottle of wine for 5 Euros, juice for 2.50 Euros.

Day 2

We eat breakfast in the “StoArtos” bakery – 2x tuna sandwich (1×4.20 Euros), 2x baguette with haloumi and lountza (1x 3.65 Euros, lountza is smoked pork), cappuccino (2.50 Euros), peanut cake (2 40 Euros), apple juice (0.95 Euro) – we pay 25.25 Euros in total.

We walk around Larnaca – we visit the Church of St. Lazarus with the tomb where he was once buried, and we visit the seaside boulevard of Finikoudes, the castle – coastal fort and the former Turkish district.

We go to the Northern Cyprus through the Pergamos crossing – at the border, you need to buy car insurance for 20 Euros for 3 days (only can be paid in cash) and the Turks check Covid certificates. We go to Salamis (Salamis) – entry 20 TL or 2.50 Euros (cash only), children for free – ruins of a city from Roman times – we visit baths, theater and Christian basilica – a place nicely situated by the sea.

We go to Famagusta and park for free on the street. In the “Petek” bakery – tea (8 TL), frappe (22 TL), baklava mix (37 TL), biscuits e.g. lemon cheesecake (from 27 to 32 TL), water (3 TL), simit (4 TL, bagels with sesame) – we pay together 273 TL or 27.30 Euros.

We visit the mosque of Lala Mustafa Pasha, i.e. the former Gothic cathedral of St. Nicholas and we walk around the old town surrounded by defensive walls. We are going to Maraş or Varosha – a former resort, which was abandoned in 1974 and was inaccessible for tourists until 2020 – now you can enter the city ruins from 8 until 5 pm for free and walk the renovated streets overlooking decaying hotels, restaurants, shops or churches.

We take the express road towards Nicosia to Girne (Kyrenia). We park the car on the street for free. We have lunch at the Kebab Palace restaurant – calamari (60 TL), chicken skewers (60 TL), a glass of wine (35 TL), a set of meze (eggplant, hummus, ezme, paprika) – we pay TL 490 in total. We walk around the port with ships moored – there are no tourists in the city. Girne is one of the most beautifully situated cities in the Northern Cyprus. In the shop we buy local wine for TL 29.50, water 1.5 l for TL 4.50, Lipton Ice tea for TL 3.99.

We are going to Alsancak (Karawas) and overnight in the apartment “Sea & Sky on Escape Beach” – 59 Euros for 2 rooms with a kitchen – good conditions and with a terrace overlooking the sea.

Day 3

We go to Girne and we eat breakfast in the bar on the way – 2 Turkish coffees, 4 haloumi sandwiches, 2 x lipton Ice tea – 145 TL in total. We park at the port in Girne – 2 Euros for 2 hours. We walk around the port and around the fortified castle.

We are going to the Bellapais monastery – entrance 15 TL / adult and 7 TL / child (you can also pay in euro and then 6 euro for 4 people) – abbey from the 13th century, including the church and cloisters, well preserved, from the terrace a nice view of Girne and the coast. In the bar next to the monastery we drink pomegranate juice (1 pc for 2 euros). We refuel at the gas station – 1 l of 95 for TL 8.80.

We are going to the border crossing in Zodia – quick control, only passports are checked. We go to the Panagia Asinou church located in the Troodos mountains in Nikitari (visiting for free) – from the outside it looks like a simple, single-story house, and inside there are some of the best-preserved frescoes depicting, for example, the Annunciation or the birth of Jesus.

We go to the town of Kakopetria, where on the slopes of Mount Olimp there is the church of Agios Nikolaos tis Stegis from 11th century with colorful frescoes inside (free of charge). We go to the town of Lania to the “Platanos” tavern – 2xtzatziki, 2x keftedes (meatballs, 8 euros), 2xsouvlaki, horiatiki salad (5 euros), bread, fries, 2 small wines, tonic – we pay 50.10 euros in total. We walk around Lania – well-kept stone houses and narrow streets.

We go to Limassol to the hotel “Sunquest Gardens” – 63 euros for 2 rooms with kitchen, but the hotel looks nothing special. We walk along the promenade by the sea in Limassol. We eat Greek yoghurt ice cream (3 euros for small).

Day 4

We eat breakfast at the hotel – the so-called Cypriot set for 5 euros (haloumi, lountza and fried eggs). We take the A6 motorway to the so-called Rocks of Aphrodite – the birthplace of Aphrodite – we go to the rocky beach through a tunnel under the road.

We continue our trip to Paphos and then to Peyia to see the Edro III shipwreck. The shipwreck from 2001 is close to the shore, surrounded by rocks and coves.

We return to Paphos to the so-called Royal Tombs – entrance 2.50 euros per person, children free – a vast necropolis with tombs carved into the rock. We are going to the “Hilltop Gardens Hotel Apartments” – 2 rooms with kitchen for 60.10 euros – good conditions, swimming pool with a bar (cold water in the pool). In the bar we try Cypriot sweet wine “Commandaria” (3 euros for glass).

We go by taxi for 10 euros to the center of Paphos. We eat lunch by the promenade in the “Ideal Cafe” restaurant – a glass of wine (5 euros), tzatziki (4 euros), taramosalata (roe paste, 4 euros), 4xsouvlaki with chips (1x 10.50 euros), drinks – 59 euros. We walk around Paphos – promenade, fortified castle. In the evening we go to the typical British pub “Green Corner” – a glass of wine (2.50 euros).

Day 5

We eat breakfast at the hotel – 4x tuna sandwiches, coffee, drinks – 22 euros. We go to the “Aercar” (car rental agency) near the airport to return the car (an additional fee of 40 euros for returning the car in Paphos).
10.15 – “Ryanair” flight to Thessaloniki – 1h15, 32 euros for 4 people. At the airport in Thessaloniki, you must show your Covid certificate and before arrival you have to register at https://travel.gov.gr/ At the airport, we eat orange cake (4 euros).
14.35 – “Ryanair” flight from Thessaloniki to Krakow – 2h. From the airport, a train to the Main Railway Station in Krakow – PLN 12 per person.
19.52 – train from Krakow to Warsaw – 3h – family ticket 144 PLN.