audere_est_facere

And so the European tour begins. The might Spurs have been drawn against Anothosis Famagusta who play in Larnaca.

I've never been to Cyprus (but my Dad got shot there in the 50s) so what's it like. i've always assumed it's full of old English people.

Is Larnaca a resort?

What is there to do if I make a longer stay of it?

All information greatfully received.

flanneruk

AnoRthosis, surely? You're not telling me they don't teach Greek at Winchester any more? Oh tempora... etc

I've not been there either.

But isn't the single crucial fact that Famagusta (the city) is in Northern Cyprus, one of the world's most pariah-ed states (even Burma gets fewer sanctions dumped on it), while Larnaca is in the Cyprus that's part of the EU?

So, football aside, you're walking into a political hot potato.

Now over to the travel experts...

audere_est_facere

The do teach Greek - they don't teach typing.

Famagusta is indeed in Northern Cyprus - which is why it's greek team plays in the south since the division. That is all I know about this.

Marz

I stayed in Larnaca a couple of years ago.

I would not describe it as a resort, to me it is a scruffy town with unpleasant industries on the outskirts (oil terminals etc).
It has a beach that did not look atractive and a sea front area with the usual wide footpaths and bars/restaurants/McDonalds/KFCs etc.

We stayed on the outskirts of town in a fairly pleasant hotel with views over the bay to the main town (and its oil terminals).

I would not opt to stay in Larnaca again.

I have stayed in Nicosia a few times, which is not a very long drive to Larnaca. Also stayed in Ayia Napa, bit further away and not my cup of tea.

audere_est_facere

Is there anywhere nearby that's better?

Also I would want to stay well away from Ayia Napa - that town full of thousands of Spurs fans isn't going to be a lot of fun.

Maria_H

You could try Paphos. It's about 15 years since we went to Cyprus. A lot of the resorts are quite built up but you'll find plenty of 4 star holiday hotels. There are plenty of ruins, Paphos has a fortress, the "tombs of the kings" and some interesting mosaics. There is some lovely scenery in the mountains and the Kykkos monastery was worth a visit.

Steve_James

Hi Audere - Will you have a car?

If yes, Protarus might be a good choice ...

Steve

audere_est_facere

No - no car as beer will figure quite highly on the agenda.

What i'm looking for is somewhere to spend a few days from where I can get to Larnaca for the game (although there is already talk of moving the game to a biiger stadium in Nicosia)

elina

Pafos. There you can go swim and play that you are Afrodite. There is a cliff named after her. It is said that is where she stepped when she was rising from the sea. Ups, I forgot, maybe you don´t want to play Afrodite after all.

But Pafos gets my vote. Or some village in Troodos mountains. There are charming restaured country houses that have been turned into small hotels.

Aya Napa is a beach/booze/disco place for 20-somethings.

audere_est_facere

I know about Aya Napa - and i'm too old and too snobby for that.

What i really want is a resort type place where me and the boys can go out to eat - have a drink and maybe a club - but not one that's crawling with kids.

Something to go and see during the day would be nice - Roman ruins etc would be nice.

kleeblatt

The Capo Bay Hotel on the Fig Tree Bay in Protaras. I didn't stay at the hotel but spent a dreamy afternoon at the beach. A truly gorgeous beach with older tourists. The hotel looked real nice too.

Odin

Southern Cyprus is full of Russians and other Eastern Europeans these days. The old English people still go there as well as the Germans/Swedes etc.

Limassol might be the answer; I don't like to stay in Larnaca myself, the seafront is OK for a stroll but there isn't much there. Le Meridien Hotel is very nice and within reasonable distance of the tourist strip - there's a fabulous Lebanese restaurant next door. The beach is not great but they have built a pier into the beautiful clear water. It's not that far from Larnaca. Paphos is too far.

Ayia Napa and Protaras are tourist resorts, both have nice beaches but that's about it (Ayia Napa has a lovely monastery in the village centre). If you want antiquities, Curium is just outside Limassol as well as Kolossi castle.

Limassol is central, so if you wanted to visit some of the wine villages in the mountains (eg Lofou, a UNESCO listed village) or go to Paphos/Polis, it is manageable. But a car is necessary.

Maria_H

I don't believe Paphos is full of kids and has enough bars and ruins to keep you occupied

Steve_James

Without a car I think your choices will be limited.

Paphos is way too far IMO. Even Limassol would be a 45-60 mins commute - and probably impractical by public transport after the match ...

If you do choose to stay in Paphos, Protaras - or anywhere else - I suspect you might need to stay in Larnaca itself on match-night.

Steve

Maria_H

Car hire is pretty cheap - well it was when we were there and they do drive on the left - most of the time!

PalenqueBob

Welcome to the Official Website of the Cyprus Tourism OrganisationOfficial site of the Cyprus Tourism Organization.
A travel planner to the history, archaeology, cuisine, and cruises from Cyprus to the Mediterranean.
www.visitcyprus.org.cy

Odin

You don't have to take public transport. You can take a shared taxi service, which operates between main towns on a scheduled service. This could be an option.

sheila

Ok; my scents worth.

It's some years since I was in Cyprus, which I've visited three times; and we didn't ever get east of Limassol.

I wouldn't touch Agia Napa with a bargepole and Protarus isn't much better.

Your "classy" bit of Cyprus these days in Paphos, and there's a good spin off in the mountains, but the mountains area good bit away from Paphos.

If you feel the need to get your toes wet, have a look at Perivolia, which is west of Larnaca and on the coast.

If you can bear to be inland, look at Pyrga and Lefkara.

They have a system of shared taxis which would be your best "public" transport option. But I think you could easily get a decent price on a private car.

If it were me (and I know I'm odd), I'd stay in or around Paphos, take the bus to Larnaca the day of the game, stay overnight and get teh hell out of Dodge.

It's not that Larnaca's that bad- as far as I can see, it isn't; it's just ordinary, but Paphos and Polis and the Troodos are in a different league.

AND you'd get to drive through Episkopi, which we still own. It's probably where your Dad got shot.

EricBentzen

If the game is to be played in Larnaca or Nicosia I'd go for Larnaca - it isn't far from Larnaca to Nicosia with a bus. For distances to Limassol and Paphos just look at a map.

Larnaca is a city where people live and work - Paphos is much more crowded with tourists and prices are higher. If you want Greek/Cypriot food, a splendid place to eat in Larnaca is Militzis (along the coast and west of the fort).

However if you are serious about the ruins, Paphos or the area west of Limassol (Kourion) is the place to go.

I have stayed at Le Meridien near Limassol and didn't like it - felt cut off from the rest of the world and prices were hideous.

Larnaca may seem dull to some, but I prefer it to Paphos. You can easily take a bus somewhere, and anyway if you are some guys travelling together you'll have your own fun anyway.

At http://www.sitestory.dk/rejser/indexe.htm are 3 of my trip reports from Cyprus.

Have fun,
Eric

audere_est_facere

Thanks for the help.

I'm still in a quandry though. I'll mull over what people have said.

Sheila: I don't knowe where my dad was shot (well I know he was shot in the arm, but you know what I mean).