If you want to enjoy the real Mediterranean vacation without feeling cheated or overcharged, the island of Cyprus is the right place for you. Surprisingly, the island still hosts quite a few tourists compared to Greece or Turkey. The beaches are pristine, well preserved, and most of the coast has been declared a national park, so there is no illegal fishing or contamination of the seabed here.
The top ten places of outstanding natural beauty in Cyprus include.
1. Courion Castle
2. The Paphos mosaics
3. Paphos Castle
4. Ayia Napa and Protaras
5. Lake Larnaca and Hala Sultan Teke
6. Valley of the cedars
7. Walls of Nicosia
8. House of Hadigeorgakis Kornesios
9. Panayia tou Araka
10. Lefkara and Choirokitia
The old castle, which has been a thorn in the side for both the Venetians and the Ottomans, is open from 9am to 7am in summer. It could be catching the late night crowds with many artists performing here as the venue makes a great backdrop for some good parties but the real charm is the port. There are always colorful activities happening here. There is some amazing fishing going on right off the harbor and everyone catches something, even novice new kids find huge fish here.
The other famous castle a few kilometers away is the Curium/Kolossi castle. It is located in Limassol, right next to the new and elegant residential district. This incredible set of ruins has been considered the best example of life from the 2nd century AD even up to the Koloss period. Most of the artifacts found here have been transferred to the nearby museum in Episkopi.
The Salt Lake in Larnaca is very close to the main Larnaca airport. This is one of the most impressive places to visit and enjoy some wonderful lakeside fishing. The salt lake often has layers of white salt scattered during hot weather in the corners as the water evaporates. Here is an ancient mask that recalls the Moorish roots of this area.
The other nearby lake is Hala Sultan Lake, this beautiful lake is home to many migratory birds and flamingos as well. The third lake is also located quite close at Akortiri. The visiting time here starts from 7.30 in the morning to 7.30 in the evening in summer.
Ayia Napa is the entertainment capital of Cyprus. This small town has gone from being a fishing village to a world-class water sports port in just two decades. There are many popular clubs here that offer basic training and also give diving diplomas. The best time to visit here is from 10 am to 8 pm in the afternoon during the summer.