Updated post for 2024. All the information about real estate investments in Cyprus.

Roman (my husband) and I moved to the city of Limassol, in Cyprus, in May 2021 (if you are interested in the topic of moving here, I wrote a detailed post about relocation to Cyprus). We moved during the COVID-19 period and Roman recognized that there is potential here in real estate investments.

Why? The prices were low because of the coronavirus, Cyprus really started to develop (we had been to Cyprus several times in the last seven years and on each occasion we had seen more constructions and more new places), they announced that they were going to open a resort with the biggest casino in Europe, they started building a port for cruises in Limassol, and in general because of the low taxes. A lot of friends started moving here, as well. In addition, the war between Russia and Ukraine started, which caused many Russians and Ukrainians to move here. Of course, all these things also caused an increase in prices, but it further proved to us the potential that exists in real estate in Cyprus.

About the real estate investments we made here in the city of Limassol

From the moment we moved in, we started looking for good properties to invest in and went to see a lot of apartments.

One day a really good investment opportunity popped up from someone who wanted to sell her apartment quickly. The apartment needed a complete renovation to make it livable and she did not have the financial ability for that.

We purchased the apartment and brought a couple of friends who are local architects to accompany us in the renovation process. They made sure to bring a contractor and his workers with them. The renovation took about three months and at the end we got a centrally-located, two bedroom apartment that looks like new. Although the building is old, it has also been renovated in the lobby and strengthened against earthquakes.

The price we paid was very low for the market and today there are no such prices (it came out to cost us 195 thousand euros including everything – including furniture). We rent the apartment for 1600 euros.

We were very enthusiastic about the subject of apartment renovation and continued to look for properties for additional investments. After a year or so Roman, found a second-hand apartment with three bedrooms again in a central location, at a low price for the market, and in need of a complete renovation. We decided to renovate it to a really high standard because we decided to move in. We hired the couple of architects and the contractor again and after five months of renovation we moved into the apartment. We bought this apartment with a mortgage from a bank in Cyprus.

We recently purchased an area with an investor in order to build a building there. We are now in the drawing process with the architects to get initial approval for the construction of the building (a process of about six months).

As you can probably see, we really believe in the real estate market in Cyprus. Although the prices are much, much higher than they were when we moved here, the apartment prices still haven’t risen to the same level as the rental prices, and this makes it possible to purchase an apartment at a relatively low price and get a return of at least 5%, and even in really good opportunities, you can reach 8%.

Since we moved here, I’ve documented our investments on Instagram and saw that a lot of people were interested in the subject. So I decided to write you a complete guide with all the information about real estate investments in Cyprus. I contacted Itay Erez, owner of the Winest Group, a company specializing in real estate in Cyprus and relocation processes, and together we wrote this post so that you can receive as much information as possible regarding investments in Cyprus.

So, how did it all start and what does it even mean to invest in Cyprus?

Even before the legal reform and much thanks to the coronavirus, many families wanted peace of mind and decided to relocate to more comfortable places such as Thailand, Costa Rica and Cyprus. Without a shadow of a doubt, the families simply jump into the water and try their luck. For many years the local economy has benefited from funds from foreign investors, starting with the Chinese who wanted to get European citizenship and invested money to buy properties. 

This continued with the Russians and Ukrainians who came following the great escape from the war. And let’s not forget the presence of the British, who once ruled here and Cyprus was their retirement home. There’s also the Christian Lebanese who ran away from everything that is happening with Hezbollah, and of course the Israelis, who are trying to escape from the country but are still trying to stay very close. And of course there are also Poles, Germans and other foreign investors.

So, what happened? The Cypriots announced the establishment of high-tech and financial companies in the city of Limassol, following the tax benefits for companies. They renovated the marina so that the largest cruise company in the world would arrive all summer, built the largest casino in the Middle East, and announced the construction of the new marina in Larnaca. And all this is without talking about the tourism that was already in Cyprus anyway. In 2019 there were almost 4 million tourists and there were 3.8 million tourists in 2023.

When the Israelis were looking for investments in countries around the world, the real estate market in Cyprus rose every year by dozens of percent and only in the last two years has the wave of Israelis reached the country.

When looking at real estate in Cyprus, we will probably focus on three main cities: Limassol, Larnaca and Paphos, however, there are also Ayia Napa, Protaras, Nicosia and of course the Troodos Mountains. Each of the cities has its own uniqueness that can suit the character of each investor according to their personal preferences and.

In which city should you invest in Cyprus?

Limassol

The most developed city in Cyprus that is not based only on tourism, but is also known as a place of employment for high-tech and where the “big money” is found. When you arrive in Limassol, you cannot miss the magnificent towers they built, ones that cannot be found anywhere else in Cyprus. The old town in Limassol attracts locals and tourists alike – there we can find the avenue of shops, bars and places of entertainment. 

In the real estate aspect, it seems that prices on the eastern side of the city have risen significantly and it is very difficult to find properties at cheap prices, therefore there is a very large demand on the western side of the city, in the Zakaki area. It is important to note that the Zakaki area is not developed and looks like the ‘Zone’ regional council, between Holon and Tel Aviv, where we can see factories, trucks and more. Real estate prices in the city have risen significantly – we can find apartments (in general) with two bedrooms and a living room, as cheap as €220,000. Of course, there is always a bargain and you might be able to find an apartment even for 200,000 euros. In the eyes of many, Limassol has made a significant leap and there is a fear that it has reached its peak, but the real estate majors compare Limassol to Tel Aviv in Israel and predict that the increases will continue in the coming years. As long as the island is under development, the market value of Limassol will continue to rise.

Larnaca

The international airport of Cyprus is in Larnaca, which causes millions of people to pass through the city. It is located between Limassol and Ayia Napa, and at a very short distance from Nicosia, the capital city. Larnaca is a port city that is known its tourism during the warm periods of the year, however there are also travelers who come in the winter. In the last two years, the real estate industry in Larnaca has jumped by tens of percent following the changes that are being made in the city, such as the new shopping mall and the announcement of the construction of the new marina in the city. The village in Larnaca that is best known among Israelis is Livadia, which is very close to the new marina and many believe in the potential and increase in value there. We can find properties in Livadia with two bedrooms and a living room in a new complex with a pool and a gym for only 250k euro. We can also find a two-bedroom apartment and a living room for 700 euro. In my opinion, Larnaca is a destination with excellent potential, because the city is at the beginning of its development and the loans are more accessible. The biggest anticipation I have is to see what will happen to the city and the whole island when it seems that the construction of the marina is really progressing.

Paphos

An amazing city that is very suitable for people who love nature. We can see the sea from the window of almost every village in the Paphos district and it is known as an excellent summer town. We can find a complex with a pool or all-inclusive hotels at attractive prices. Recently, there has been a positive immigration to Paphos, causing an increase in population, which has resulted in Paphos not being just a summer town, but a city that operates all year round. 

Unlike Larnaca and Limassol, in Paphos we can see greenery almost everywhere, however there has been a very large development in the last two years and we can notice buildings that are under construction almost everywhere. 

As of today, the prices in Paphos are a little more expensive than those in Larnaca – we can find a complex with a pool and a gym in reputed areas such as Universal, Kato Paphos and the Tombs of the Kings for a little over a million shekels. In the eyes of veteran investors, Paphos still has a lot to expand to, but this will cause the green areas to become construction sites in the coming years.

In each of the cities we can find an excellent price, a good yield and of course very favorable taxation.

When talking about the yield, it is important to note that the real yield today in Cyprus is about 5-7%. Yes, there is still a “reality” of 8%+ but nevertheless the prices are rising. 

Until now we have talked about the real estate route in Cyprus in its three main cities, and now we will touch on taxation – one of the biggest advantages of the country.

Recommended neighborhoods for investment in the city of Limassol

In general, the central and tourist areas are under the highway. But there can still be good investments above the main road if there is quick access to it.

Mesa Geitonia area, a central area in Limassol – there are many corporate offices here, the main avenue of Makrios passes through here, and it is a sought-after area for rent.

The touristic areas that are close to the sea – especially the touristic neighborhoods of Germasogeia, Agios Tychonas, Mouttagiaka, Limassol, Neapolis.

The zoo area and the urban garden

The marina area – a very prestigious area

The Old City – mainly good for short-term rental apartments

Zakaki area – we personally connect less with this area because it is far from the center but on the other hand it is a very developing area because it is close to the resort and has the largest casino in Europe – which opened the previous summer. Because the rents in the city center are too high, many companies prefer to set up their offices there. It is an area that is considered more of a zone to buy new apartments as well and in the long run it may or may not pay off.

Of course, every neighborhood has exceptions. There are certain buildings or areas in neighborhoods where immigrants/refugees live. In this case, most of the buildings will be outdated and not maintained: an elevator does not work, a smelly stairwell, etc. They usually have several roommates living in one apartment, so it is necessary to check each case individually.

Limassol is considered the most expensive city in Cyprus, so an investment in a two-bedroom apartment will be at least 220,000 euros.

On the other hand, there is also the strongest population here, so you can rent apartments at high prices and get a good return.

Recommended neighborhoods for investment in the city of Larnaca

Phenicodes

Mackenzie Mackenzie

Lividia

And even at about a 10-minute walk towards the city from Pinikouds towards the American Academy.

Recommended neighborhoods for investment in the city of Paphos 

Kato Kato

Tombs of the Kings

Universal

And recently there is a great revival in Geroskipou as well.

Of course there is Peyia, mainly for private homes.

What are the disadvantages of investing in Cyprus?

Cyprus is a developing country and you have to get used to that. We are not coming to a European country like Madrid, Athens or Brussels.

“Siga Siga” – everything works slowly and what can be postponed until tomorrow, is postponed for another two days. The pace in Cyprus works differently and this is why many people love it – there are no great mental pressures…

Reduction of options – as everywhere, there is a window of opportunity where you can invest and earn money, but the window in Cyprus is getting smaller every day.

Bank guarantee – since the crisis in 2013, contractors prefer not to take loans from the bank and therefore there are no bank guarantees. So, what are we doing? The lawyer deposits the contract in the land registry as a warning note in the register in your name and you pay in installments. The lawyer performs all the comprehensive checks to make sure that the contractor is stable.

Contractors – there are contractors who advertise themselves in all kinds of different channels, but it is important to get to know the contractor in depth and not just from the angle of the broker or investor lender. It is important to hear about past cases and make sure that the contractor will deliver the property on time, in good quality, and with a clear wording.

Relocation through the purchase of a property in Cyprus

Buying a property for 300,000 euros + VAT allows you to obtain PR (permanent residency) in Cyprus.

The conditions for obtaining a PR when purchasing a property in Cyprus

• Purchase of a new property over 300 thousand euros
• VAT must be paid
• Proof of income
• It is not possible to work in Cyprus
• Proof of clean criminal record
• Must come to Cyprus at least once every two years.

Why should I apply for Permanent Residence?

You get a residence permit in Cyprus – you can stay more than 90 days in Cyprus and you don’t have to resubmit the application every year.

You can use the state health services of Cyprus – GESY

You can apply for citizenship after five consecutive years – as of today*

The process of purchasing a property in Cyprus – accompanied by Winest Group

• Introductory call
• Information about the areas
• Understanding the laws of Cyprus – there is no bank guarantee
• Potential asset sharing
• A tour of Cyprus to get to know the cities and villages, and see properties
• Meeting with professionals

Once we have found a property:

• Memorandum of understanding
• Signing the contract
• Payment according to the rate of construction progress
• Receiving a key
• Taboo wording

The advantages of buying a property in Cyprus

• Proximity to the sea
• Excellent yield
• Development all over Cyprus
• Encouraging foreign investors following taxation
• High-tech development
• Permanent residency status
• Full registration in Tabu
• Quality of life

The forecast for the next five years in the real estate market in Cyprus

I was at a real estate fair on July 3-4, 2024 in Limassol called the REALTY on EXPO.

During the fair there were several lectures and I went to a question panel in which five participants from the real estate sector would participate who talked about the forecast for the next five years in said market in Cyprus. I briefly summarized what was said.

Will uncertainties like the state of the war with Israel affect the market negatively here in Cyprus?

According to history, you can actually see that these situations have caused the market to develop here.

As happened in the war of Lebanon, as happened in the war of Russia-Ukraine

At first there is shock for a month or two, but then people recalculate their route and realize that they need a plan B for living and Cyprus is a very inviting and accepting island so they find refuge here.

Can something have a negative effect on the real estate market in the next five years?

I see no reason for anything to change in the coming years and I think the market will continue to develop as it is now. You have to be focused and keep doing what you are doing now. The demand is increasing and the PR program is also increasing the demand. Every year there are 4000 new apartments for sale on the island, so yes, we meet the demand.

Is there a decrease this year compared to last year?

There are those who say that there has been a decrease this year in the demand for apartment purchases, but this is not true, it is a good and normal year. Last year was crazy and unrealistic. Entrepreneurs have not kept up with the demand. It is actually encouraging that this year was a normal year and it is going to be like this for the next five years. There will continue to be a normal, steady increase every year.

What about the local market?

We are constantly looking at the foreign market, but the most sales (not investment amounts) were made by the locals, so we should not neglect the local market.

Which cities are the most worth investing in?

According to the opinion of one of the presenters on the panel, Limassol and Ranka have the most potential in the further development of real estate here. Paphos is a bit different because it attracts more retired people.

What is important to do for the continued development of real estate here?

What is most important is to continue to develop and maintain economic stability and not do this only in terms of real estate, because eventually the wars will end and what is important is to have solidity here. The education will advance very much to an international level. The university here in Nicosia is very advanced.

In order to continue growing in real estate, there must be a strategy and smart planning on the part of the real estate entrepreneurship here. There is very rapid growth here, but this causes a lack of time to invest in planning and strategy. The coronavirus was difficult but, on the other hand, it gave entrepreneurs time to stop and plan ahead, building a smart plan. Now there is accelerated growth and this can create a disadvantage in the lack of time for a correct strategy. Better infrastructures are needed and they are working on it, but we need to think about the future, and not just for the next five years, but beyond that.

What are the main challenges that developers have to face?

The changes in the construction laws on behalf of the government

The biggest bottleneck right now is the number of people in construction

There are not enough people and this causes postponements and prevents entrepreneurs from starting more projects

We are in the process of approving bringing in more foreigners for construction; if things don’t change, it will continue to be a bottleneck and we won’t be able to grow in construction.

WhatsApp group for real estate investments and relocation in Cyprus

I opened a WhatsApp group for real estate investments in Cyprus, and me and Erez will manage the group. There are short contents related to the real estate sector and relocation to Cyprus, interesting projects for investment, second-hand apartments that Roman and I are going to see at low market prices, webinars on the topic of real estate and relocation that will be done later, and more… If this is an area that interests you, you are welcome to join the group and share it with friends.

Link to WhatsApp group for real estate investments and relocation in Cyprus

In conclusion, Cyprus offers many investment opportunities and, through tax benefits and great prices, it encourages foreigners to invest in the country. Real estate prices in Cyprus have climbed in recent years and continue to climb thanks to the great demand. There are many proposals for investments throughout Cyprus, but it is important to understand what the property’s potential is and not just what the property’s price is, so what will you do with a property that costs 100,000 euros and you cannot rent it? In my opinion, location is the name of the game and it’s worth investing a little more and knowing that we can rent out the property. As well as believing in the potential for an increase in value, the island is under a lot of development. The process for buying a property in Cyprus can be very confusing, with all the different advertisements on the networks, but the process can also be very simple when you choose the right people around you.

If you are interested in investing in real estate in Cyprus and are looking for a company that will accompany you throughout the process, you are welcome to leave your details in the form and Winest Group will get back to you (free consultation).

We live in Cyprus in the city of Limassol and we really like to go on vacation just here on the island especially because we have little girls and because you can find places here at great prices if you book in advance. We’ve been in hotels in Paphos, Limassol, Protaras and Ayia Napa. You can find detailed posts with recommendations for hotels in Paphos and recommendations for hotels in Limassol. This post is dedicated to hotel recommendations in Protaras and Ayia Napa.

Protaras is a relaxed resort town that is suitable for both families and couples.

Ayia Napa is a lively resort town that is suitable for young people because of the parties, bars and fun atmosphere, but it can also be suitable for families because it has many attractions.

A post with information about things to do in Protaras and Ayia Napa with children.

All my recommendations are for all-inclusive hotels because I think this is the ideal kind of vacation to go on with children. No need to bother with food at all. At any given moment there is something to eat and there is a huge selection to choose from. In addition, the children can take whatever drink they want and the adults can enjoy it while drinking coffee and alcohol.

We really like to vacation in both places – both in Protaras and in Ayia Napa and the distance between them is only 20 minutes by car, so those who come by car will find it very convenient to enjoy both destinations.

Ayia Napa and Protaras are easy to get to from the Larnaca Airport and the most convenient way to get there is by taxi or car. Ayia Napa can also be reached by one direct bus, while Protaras requires two (with a change in the center of Larnaca) and I would not recommend it.

If you decide to rent a car, in my opinion it is better to search for one in the search engine Paapm Paapm. Personally, I really like to search through them because they save me time (instead of having to go to several websites) and they have the option of filtering out non-recommended rental companies. I wrote an extended post on the whole subject of car rentals abroad and I recommend reading it especially if this is your first car rental.

A special benefit for blog followers: I recommend renting a car from Cosmos and I received a 10% discount coupon from the owner for ordering online. To order a rental car directly from Cosmos (don’t forget the paid coupon code: trvbox). For complete information on car rentals in Cyprus.

In addition to my recommendations, at the end of the post you will also find recommendations on three hotels from the followers of the blog. I asked for recommendations for hotels that people really liked and I received excellent feedback.

Louis Althea Beach Hotel Protaras – 4-star all-inclusive in Protaras

We have been to the Louis Althea Hotel three times and I think it is one of the most fun hotels to visit with small children.

It is near the beach and promenade of Protaras. It has excellent rooms for families: studio, bedroom and living room and two bedrooms and living room. It has two large outdoor pools and a baby pool with a tiny slide.

It has the most charming entertainment team I have ever seen. Always keeps the kids active in the pool, in the kids’ club, and in the evening at the mini disco. The hotel is built in the style of a holiday village: there are many lawns, two-story buildings with the rooms and a main building that has the reception and other rooms.

The food there is delicious and varied. Every evening there is a different concept for the food and it is fresh. There is also a snack stand at the bar in the pool with pizzas, nuggets, Belgian waffles, fruit, and more. There are small ice creams for children all day.

The hotel is on an all-inclusive basis, so it includes non-stop food and drinks, including alcohol.

The beach is really cute and it is in a small cove. There is also a beach massage station near the hotel for those who want a massage for 20-30 minutes at an affordable price. Beyond the beach there is also a lovely promenade that is very nice to walk on with a stroller and for children on a scooter.

The only drawback is that the rooms are a bit outdated, but on the other hand, everything is clean and well maintained.

To book the hotel and other reviews

St. Louis Hotel Elias Waterpark – 4-star all-inclusive hotel in Protaras

Louis Elias Hotel is also a chain of Louis hotels that we really liked. Unfortunately, this hotel is not on the beach, but on the bright side, it is within walking distance of the amusement park in Protaras which is a great amusement park for small children.

This hotel is also all-inclusive, with excellent food. Family rooms and lovely entertainment staff.

The advantage of this hotel is that it has a small water park with several slides, for those looking for a hotel with a water park it can be suitable. It has activities throughout the day and there is a children’s club where children over the age of four can be supervised.

I think the two hotels, both Louis Althea and Louis Elias, are excellent for families. Each has its own advantages.

However, the price of Louis Elias is a little higher.

To book the hotel and other reviews

Olympic Lagoon Hotel, Ayia Napa – 5-star all-inclusive hotel

The Olympic Lagoon Hotel is our favorite hotel so far in Cyprus. It combines the good life with an excellent experience for children. This is a 5-star all-inclusive hotel. It has a main buffet for breakfast, lunch, and dinner but also a hamburger diner which is included in the all-inclusive package and there is also a restaurant for adults only. The burgers there are really great and so are the meats.

The hotel is at the entrance to Ayia Napa and within driving distance from the beach and it has a tubing track, which is really cool. The children’s pool also has a ship with small slides.

The level of the food is extremely high and you can really feel that you are in a 5-star hotel both in terms of the selection as well as the quality. The buffet has a stand adapted for children. At noon and in the evening there is a pasta station where the chef prepares pasta according to your request (I’m addicted to this station haha). In the morning there are natural smoothies and healthy food stands.

At noon and in the evening there is a stand where crepes are made on the spot with whatever toppings you want. There are bars and an ice cream shop in the pool area.

Another advantage of the hotel is the possibility to book a room with a separation between the two parts and then there is an area with a double bed and an area with two single beds. There are rooms with an adjacent garden and access to the pool area.

The hotel has a children’s club that also allows babies over six months to be left with close supervision, and there is also a youth club. The only drawback is that parents are not allowed to stay with the children there, so it is only suitable for children who are willing to stay under supervision. The parents get a buzzer that beeps as soon as the child wants to leave. Maya enjoyed being there because they had creative activities, costumes and face painting. She usually stayed for an hour every day.

Every evening there is a mini disco in the club room which is really nicely decorated. There are also shows for adults in different areas of the hotel.

I think it’s an amazing hotel for families, but you have to take into account that at the peak of the season they require a reservation of a minimum of five nights and the hotel is usually full.

To book the hotel and other reviews

NissiBlu Hotel, Ayia Napa – 5-star all-inclusive hotel

Hotel Nissiblu opened two years ago and is located near the promenade of Ayia Napa and a few minutes’ walk from the famous Nissi Beach. The design of the hotel is really beautiful and already in the reception area we were impressed by it. Upon arrival we received a glass of sparkling wine.

The hotel has two outdoor swimming pools, a large one and one that’s for the little ones, and there is also an indoor pool, gym, spa, three restaurants, and bars (you can order hookah at the main bar near the lobby). The hotel has a children’s club where you can stay with the children or leave those older than three-years-old with supervision. It has regular rooms and suites with a bedroom and a living room.

The hotel is really clean and excellently maintained and the food was delicious and varied.
The downsides for me were that there were not enough activities for the children throughout the day with the entertainment team. The service was also a bit lacking in the restaurants.

To book the hotel and other reviews

Recommendations from blog followers

Sunrise Oasis Waterpark Hotel – 4-star all-inclusive hotel, Protaras

Recommends: Elisheva Asher

We spent five nights in Portaras at the Sunrise Oasis Hotel.

This is an all-inclusive hotel with very nice food, a bit repetitive, but we always found something to eat. There is a large selection, and it’s delicious.

What makes the hotel recommended for families is the small water park it has. Equal slides suitable for all ages. We are a couple plus three girls. The 14-year-old enjoyed the slides and the sunbeds by the pool. The 10-year-old middle one and the 5-year-old youngest really enjoyed the pool and slides. There is a pool for the little ones, a pool only for adults, and a pool for everyone. There is a pampering bar and buffet in the pool with a full selection and everything is included; you don’t need to pay extra and there is also free ice cream all day.

The feeling is that everything is in the hotel, and you don’t have to leave it. The children’s club is also lovely – my little one really enjoyed it, made a lot of creations. In addition there is a small gymboree. What helped us was that I could stay with her (I realized that there are hotels that don’t let parents stay). She doesn’t speak English, so they let me stay with her every time; once we even stayed for three hours in a kids club.

What’s even better is the location of the hotel – next to the LIDL supermarket, and really close to the amusement park. It is also close to the main street with all the shops and restaurants and relatively close to the sea – a 10-minute walk.

Another lovely place that the girls loved: the candy store Han’s and Gretel, which is near the hotel.

To book the hotel and other reviews

Maya Feder also recommended the Sunrise Oasis Hotel and this is what she wrote:

The hotel is perfect for families. Large and spacious rooms with a kitchenette. Three pools (main one, one for toddlers and one for adults), a water park with a variety of slides, golf course, children’s playground, varied activities throughout the day, and abundant and very varied food, all including alcohol. Those who stay for more than a week are given the opportunity to choose three different restaurants from the variety of restaurants of the hotel chain.

The location of the hotel is 5 minutes from the boardwalk and 10 minutes from the sea and there is a Super Lidl near the hotel if you want to buy something and a small amusement park.

Capo Bay Hotel – 5-star hotel, Protaras

Recommends: Natalie Ben Aaron

We were at the Capo Bay Hotel twice as a couple.

This is not an all-inclusive hotel. You can book on a half board basis.

I liked that you are assigned a sunbed that is yours throughout the entire vacation. You don’t have to run and catch one every morning. The bed and umbrella are registered in your name. There is an amazing beach. There is an excellent sushi restaurant. Great breakfast. The rooms are super pampering. The pools are not particularly impressive. The sea is rare. But the beach is urban, so the beds are well paid for.

To book the hotel and other reviews

Aeneas Hotel – 5-star hotel, Ayia Napa

Recommends: Hadas Zentler

A couple of parents and two children (10, 14) arrived at Aeneas hotel in June 2024. We stayed at the Aeneas Hotel for about four days. The hotel is located in the hotels area of Ayia Napa, next to the famous and beautiful Nissi Beach (the beach is just across the road a few steps away).

Nissi Beach is best suited for children – a lagoon with clear and shallow water. From three o’clock every day there is a noisy beach party for young people (surprisingly, the noise is not noticeable at the hotel at all). In the vicinity of the hotel there are several convenience stores and a nice ice cream parlor although there is really no need with everything the hotel has to offer.

We originally booked a family room of the type “FAMILY ROOM SLIDING DOORS POOL VIEW” but to our luck and joy, when we arrived there were apparently no rooms of this type left and we were upgraded to a family suite with a view of the lagoon of Nisi Beach and the pools : FAMILY ONE BEDROOM SUITE POOL VIEW.

The hotel is made up of rooms in the main five-story building, and rooms in two-story buildings where many rooms have direct access to the pools and garden from the room. We were in the main building. The only downside to this building is that you have to wait for the elevator when the hotel is full.

About the hotel: First of all, the level of service. This is above and beyond what we have encountered so far, the staff does everything in its power to make the stay pleasant in every little thing. For example, my partner forgot his sunglasses in the dining room and the next day he came to look for them and they had kept them aside for him.

Hotel facilities:

The hotel offers a variety of gym activities, squash, tennis courts, a spa, and a small water park for the little ones. This is one of the hotels with the most pools I’ve seen. Although the hotel was full, the pools were not crowded and we always found chairs to sit, even though it was not always in the main pool, but that didn’t bother us.

The hotel is very clean and you feel that the staff does everything to maintain the cleanliness everywhere throughout the place. The food was delicious and varied: every evening there was food from a different country, Italian, Asian, etc. There is a food stand adapted to the little ones both in terms of the height and in terms of the food, which is varied and friendly.

Activities at the hotel:

There are several types of bars: A live music bar, a quiet one on the roof of the pool, and alcoholic drinks at very reasonable prices compared to Israel for those who do not take an all-inclusive package, which in our opinion was not worth it. A club with interactive sessions for the whole family combined with live shows with local artists.

To book the hotel and other opinions

In summary, in Ayia Napa and Protaras you can find excellent hotels, all-inclusive hotels, 5-star hotels, 4-star hotels, and hotels that are suitable for children, families, and couples. If you are looking for a fun vacation with a lot of belly and fun attractions, you can definitely find it in Ayia Napa and Protaras.

Looking for more information about Cyprus? I have more posts about Cyprus on my blog.

Pin below to save on Pinterest

I flew to Lisbon alone during the COVID-19 period and the experience had advantages as well as disadvantages. On the one hand, there were no queues anywhere that is usually very touristy. On the other hand, the city felt very “asleep” without many people on the streets, so I didn’t get to experience Lisbon properly but I still had an amazing trip.

Tips before travelling to Lisbon

SIM card

I personally recommend using an ESIM, which is an electronic SIM, and recommend Airalo. I was very satisfied with their user experience (simple tutorial videos for operating the SIM card) and everything worked without any special problems. I wrote more about them in an extended post on the subject of taking a SIM card abroad and also about other options such as buying a local SIM card.

Blog followers have a 15% discount code for the Airalo company to purchase an ESIM – to redeem the discount, click on this link. The discount code is already included in the link. See it at checkout.

The biggest drawback at the moment is that some devices do not support an electronic SIM. How can you know if your device supports the electronic card? Very simple: go to this link and you can see. Link to which devices support ESIM.

Attractions in Lisbon

You can get ideas for other cool things you can do on the various attraction sites and even order through them (sometimes at a discounted price). The first attraction tiqets the second is Viator and the third is Get your guide.

How do you get from the airport to the hotel?

I arranged with a driver named Paolo (+702 427 966 351) – the most charming driver I have ever met!! -, who later drove me both to the Ministry of the Interior and for a COVID-19 test. He is super nice and super professional and I highly recommend him. He charges very fair prices and the cost of traveling from the airport to the hotel was 15 euros.

A recommended hotel in Lisbon

I booked the Alegria Boutique Hotel – a centrally-located place in the old part of Lisbon. The hotel is colorful, with an excellent a la carte breakfast (from the menu) and insanely luxurious and spacious rooms, with an extremely courteous service. The cost of the hotel was very cheap, about 350 euro for 5 nights. But from what I understood, these were very cheap prices because of the coronavirus, and in a normal situation the cost should be more expensive. Search for more hotels in Lisbon.

How do you get around in Lisbon?

Getting around in Lisbon is very convenient. There is a variety of public transportation – metro, buses and trams (Lisbon’s iconic train), train and taxis. I received the Lisboa card from the Ministry of Tourism, which allows free travel on public transport (including a train to Sintra), free entry to some sites, and a discount on some sites. This is a great option for those who come for a few days and want to explore Lisbon. There is a ticket for 24 hours or 48 or 72.

A food tour

I really like to do food tours in new destinations and the truth is that this was the only thing I had already decided on from Israel. I did the tour with Felipa from Taste of Lisboa. I met her with Roman at a tourism conference in Israel and she invited us to join her on a food tour when we arrive in Lisbon. So although I didn’t arrive with something new, I wanted to take advantage of Felipe’s invitation and go on a tour with her. Again, because of the situation, I was the only one there, but it didn’t detract from the fun of the tour.

Felipa is really cute and explains everything in a very clear and simple way. She told me a lot of stories about Lisbon and took me to the most local and familiar places available. We tasted a lot of delicious things during the tour (I don’t want to tell you what exactly so that you will have a surprise if you go with her). The tour I did is called Lisbon Routes and it is in the lower part of the city. Of course the whole excursion was also accompanied by alcohol and I really enjoyed it. The time of the tour is approximately 3 and a half – 4 hours and it is recommended to go with comfortable shoes.

Felipa’s phone number +908 601 915 351

Amazing viewpoints

One thing that is both an advantage and disadvantage in Lisbon is that there are many hills and valleys – so you have to be in shape and walk around with comfortable shoes. But the good thing about these elevations is that there are amazing vantage points in the city. I had the chance to visit several viewpoints and really liked Portas do sol (directions) and the highest viewpoint in the city Miradouro da Senhora do Monte (directions).

The ancient Roman Theater

It is an ancient theater from the Roman period that could hold up to 4000 people. Today there is a small part of it left but it has an impressive museum. One thing I really liked is that if you go straight down the path and turn left to the door, you’ll see there is a special observation point that looks very picturesque (directions).

The ancient cathedral of Lisbon Sé de Lisboa

A cathedral that has both a museum and small balconies with a view of the river and Lisbon. Entrance there costs 3 euros. It is forbidden to take pictures inside the museum, but you can take pictures of the cathedral and the view as well 😊 (directions).

A tuktuk tour

I discovered the places I mentioned above with a tuktuk driver (or rather an open car). I found him by chance because I only asked him to drive me to the castle and he then told me he could give me a tour of some historical sites and lookouts, as well. He ended up providing a one-hour tour. The vehicle has room for 6 people and usually he does the tour for groups at a cost of 70 euros. But because of the coronavirus, there were almost no tourists in general, and I was the only one on his tour, so he offered to do it for 30 euros and of course I agreed.

The driver’s name is Vinicius and he is from the company Your Face Tour. He was really nice and took pictures of me and told me about the historical background of a place we visited. Warmly recommended.

Belem area

The day before my flight back home, I considered resting in a hotel because I felt exhausted from all the rounds in the city but then when I was in a cafe I asked the waitress for tips and she said I had to visit the Belem area. She showed me where I should go and of course instead of a day of rest I ended up having a day full of activities.

The Belem area is an excellent zone for families because there is a stunning promenade, a bike path and a large park. In addition, there are many restaurants and food and drink stalls.

Places you must visit in Belem

The promenade itself is magical, with many food and drink stalls along it and restaurants. What’s nice about the stalls is that they also put tables and chairs so you can sit there and watch the river and the fishermen and enjoy food and drinks while doing so.

The Belem Tower is a stunning tower – it looks like a castle and you can climb it to the top for an observation point, but because of the coronavirus, the entrance was closed, so I didn’t have the chance to check it out.

Buy tickets online to Belem tower

memorial statue Padrão dos Descobrimentos

At a 10-minute walk from the tower, however, there is the memorial statue Padrão dos Descobrimentos, where there is also an observation point that was open. Normally there is a long line, but luckily when I arrived, there was no one else. The entrance costs 6 euros for an adult and it is definitely worth going up because the view from there is amazing.

In front of the statue there is a stunning Jerónimos Monastery with beautiful gardens.

Buy tickets online to Jerónimos Monastery

Close to the monastery there is a CCB museum that the waitress recommended but I didn’t have time to see it.

And, in addition, there is a large park with many restaurants next to it and a bakery known for the national pastry Pastéis de Belém. Usually there is a queue of hours there but luckily there was only a really short one when I arrived.

A Thai massage

The journey to Lisbon was long because there were no direct flights so I had to go through France. The good thing was that Air France has Wi-Fi on the plane. 

Because my whole body ached from the 15-hour journey, the first thing I did on the plane was to send an email to a Thai massage place to book an appointment for a massage for the same day. I ordered a traditional one at Siam Thai massage and was blown away!!! It was among the best Thai massages I’ve had (and I was in Thailand for three months). If you are into Thai massages, this is the place to go. Clean, quiet and with a massage of the highest quality.

An ancient elevator to an observation point

Unfortunately, I couldn’t take the elevator because it was closed (due to the coronavirus, as mentioned), but it looked really cool to me and I saw a recommendation for it in several places. The lift is called Santa Justa lift (directions).

Tram ride

I’m sure you’ve seen pictures of the tram in Lisbon, it’s considered an icon in the city that’s been operating for 150 years so of course you can’t go there without riding it. Although the ride itself is no different from any other electric train, it is so beautiful and special, you must experience it.

Shopping

I usually don’t go shopping abroad because since I started the blog I got used to flying a lot and usually with a small trolley, so I’ve found less time and space for shopping. However, this time I only travelled with a trolley but since I hadn’t flown for a year-and-a-half, I felt like buying clothes, especially when I saw that there are lots of shops there that I like. My best surprise was the Springfield store in the Amoreiras Mall (a luxury mall that reminds of the TLV Mall for those who like the concept) but the Springfield store has great prices with a lot of deals and I really liked their style.

In addition, there is a whole boulevard of brand stores such as Mango and Zara Rua da Prata and in general there are many areas of clothing stores in Lisbon.

Botanical gardens

I have been to many botanical gardens in the world. It always feels like an escape from the big city to me. The ones in Lisbon were not among the most impressive I’ve been to, but they are beautiful and reminded me of a relaxed walking trail in nature. If you are in the area, I think it can definitely be a great place to visit, especially if you come with children because there is a large space where they can run. Entrance costs 3 euros per adult and the gardens are open from 10 am (directions).

A small food market and a cute garden

I came to this place by chance while walking to the botanical gardens. It is a three-minute walk from the gardens and on Thursdays and Fridays there are several food and souvenir stalls as well as a really beautiful garden with a coffee stand. It is definitely worth combining the gardens with this area on Thursdays or Fridays. Jardim Franca Borges (directions).

A town from the legends – Sintra

Fourty minutes from Lisbon by train there is a town that should not be missed – Sintra. It is a very famous town because of its crazy castles. Unfortunately, though at the same time happily, due to the coronavirus there were almost no people there, therefore there were no queues for the castles, so I was able to take a picture without people in the background. Normally there are supposed to be thousands of people per day, so I recommend getting there early. The truth is that I think it’s worth going there for two or three days because you can’t do everything in a single day. I managed to go to two castles, Catsel o dos Mourus, an amazing castle with a crazy view, the entrance there costs 8 euros per person, and the second place was a palace from the legends – Pena Pena Palace; words cannot describe its beauty, so look at some pictures, and the cost to get there is 14 euros.

I got around there on the hop and off bus that runs every half hour and costs 7 euros for the whole day to these two castles and the historic area of ​​the town. After the two castles I continued with the bus to the historical area for lunch and sangria in a restaurant and then returned by train to Lisbon.

Link to a detailed post about Sintra

Eat pastel de nata

I’m not a big fan of pastries but by chance when I went on my first night in Lisbon I decided to try a small pastry that I thought would be nice. I didn’t expect it to be the flagship bakery of Lisbon and that it would be so delicious!!! It’s crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside and it’s not too sweet. From that moment I was addicted to it and found three great places to buy it.

The first is the famous bakery in Belem that I wrote about in the previous section and the other two places are Nataria Nacional (directions) and the second is Manteigaria (directions). Both are great bakeries to buy Pastel de Nata.

Recommended cafes

I love cafes and every time I’m abroad, I look for good cafes. This time I found three great places that you shouldn’t miss. All three are modern, with good food and good coffee.

Zenith Cafe

A chic and modern cafe with lots of seating inside and a varied menu of healthy, light and decadent foods.

I went there for a light lunch because that day I also had a food tour and I didn’t want to get too full.I chose a berry yogurt bowl with fresh fruit and granola and a cappuccino to finish.

Nicolau café

On the second day in Lisbon I wanted to go to a cafe and was debating where, then, out of nowhere, one of my followers on Instagram sent me a message with a recommendation for a cafe that she really liked. So of course I immediately went there and was enthusiastic about the recommendation. It’s a cafe with an excellent atmosphere and outdoor and indoor seating. I ordered a carrot cake with cream and strawberries and cappuccino, and I really liked both the cake and the place.

Frutaria café

A cafe I came to when nearly closing after my day trip in Sintra. I really wanted coffee and something tasty with it so I chose an iced coffee and caramelized banana cake. The cafe is designed in a really cool way and the waiters there are super nice. The waitress was the one that recommended me the Belem area and even though they were about to close, she was extremely patient and gave me lots of recommendations for about fifteen minutes. 😊 In short, both great service and great food and drinks.

Recommended restaurants

When I travel with Roman, the restaurant side of our trips is very strong because we really like to share food and try many dishes in different restaurants. This time, because I was traveling alone, I felt less like sitting in restaurants, but I got to do so in two restaurants that are highly recommended. 

One is a local Portuguese restaurant with seafood and meats that was recommended to me by the tuktuk driver I was traveling with. The restaurant is called Maria Catita and I had an excellent octopus dish and had a refreshing drink called Porto Tonic (I recommend you try it, you won’t regret it).

The other place I tried is an excellent Asian restaurant!! I was really upset that Roman was not with me so we could share many dishes. I decided to only order a Pad Thai dish, which was amazing. The restaurant is called Boa Bao. Its dishes are not cheap but at reasonable prices and the level there is very high.

Another place I really liked that I didn’t sit in, but did order a dish from as a takeaway is Hawaii Poke-In. If you’re looking for a light, tasty, satisfying meal at a great price (about 8 euros) then you really should come to this place. It was close to my hotel and I really enjoyed the salmon dish (mixed with mango) and you can choose any toppings you want.

In conclusion, Lisbon is an amazing and fun city. It has everything from everything. Super nice people and delicious food and fine wine. I’m already waiting for the next time I travel there.

Pin below to save on Pinterest 

Athens, the capital of Greece, is a really fun city. We were once there for a week, then visited again during a cruise to Greece from Cyprus, and we are already waiting for the next time we get to go.

We got to stay in two hotels: one was a luxurious boutique hotel and the other was a simple one in an excellent location near the market.

I decided to contact some bloggers from all over the world and see their recommendations for hotels in Athens from their personal experience and so this post was created with recommendations for six hotels in Athens.

Coco-Mat Hotel, Kolonaki – A 5-star boutique hotel

Coco Mat Hotel is located in the Kolonaki area. In a 15-20 minute walk from the hotel you reach the Plaka area (the central area).

I really liked this area. It is full of modern cafes, boutique shops, and classy restaurants. The prices of the restaurants and cafes are a little more expensive, though not by much, because the area is considered one of the most sought-after and prestigious shopping streets in Athens. Its atmosphere is romantic and magical, and the hotel fits exactly that tone.

The entrance to the hotel is actually to the Coco Mat store, which is a chain of beds of the highest quality, and these are the beds that are in the hotel’s rooms.

The reception is on the floor below the store and when we arrived at 12:00 our room was already ready. The reception is also next to the dining room, which is also the lobby. The design is extremely relaxing and gives a homely feeling. Another really nice thing that the hotel offers is pillows of a really high quality, and there is even a pillow menu where you can change to another option if you want.

The breakfast selection is not too big, but that’s how things are in boutique hotels. There is a more limited selection but at a higher level. On the last floor of the hotel there is a lovely balcony.

For more reviews and booking the hotel

P.S. For those looking for a boutique hotel with a pool, Coco Mat has another hotel in Athens called Coco-mat BC, which also has a pool.

Athens Square Hotel – A 3-star hotel in a central location

The second hotel we stayed in was the Athens Square Hotel, a centrally-located hotel in the Psiri area, adjacent to a local food market.

The hotel has a roof terrace with sunbeds and tables with chairs. We went up to the balcony at sunset with coffee and enjoyed the view of the Acropolis. While we were doing that, some local photographers came to take pictures of the sunset from the balcony, because it’s really beautiful there.

Breakfast is a varied buffet with a selection of cheeses, sausages, breads, pastries, desserts, fruits and more. There is an area of gluten-free food that includes breads and crackers, and there is a coffee machine.

For those looking for a hotel at a good price and in a central location, this one will be suitable.

For more reviews and booking the hotel

Green Suites Boutique Hotel – A 5-star boutique hotel 

Recommended by Tamara Williams at My Elated Odyssey

If you’re looking for an excellent boutique hotel in Athens, book a stay at Green Suites Boutique Hotel! This 5-star hotel offers the perfect blend of luxury and an eco-friendly environment.

Green Suites Boutique Hotel is in the Ano Patisia neighborhood. The best way to reach the hotel by public transportation is using the metro, as it’s close to the Agios Eleftherios station. 

If you have a rental car, the hotel offers paid parking. However, the parking garage is cramped and narrow, so you must be cautious. You can also reach and travel from the hotel by taxi and order them with the Uber or FreeNow apps.

This hotel is an excellent choice in Athens for travelers traveling solo, with family, or with friends. If traveling with children, those under 12 are not permitted.

One of the hotel’s best features is its rooftop area, which has an outdoor pool, bar, and a panoramic view of the Acropolis. When you arrive, they will treat you with a welcome drink at the rooftop bar. 

Other amenities include a spa, sauna, and small gym. A delicious, complimentary breakfast buffet features Greek and other international cuisine and is available daily.

For more reviews and booking the hotel

Wyndham Athens Residence – A 5-star hotel 

Recommended by Ossama Alnuwaiser At Awesome Travelers

Wyndham Athens Residence is suitable for family retreat. It offers some luxurious and comfortable accommodation. What I like about it is that the hotel is very convenient because it is close to many eateries and attractions. You can enjoy some espresso at the rooftop bar and eat at nearby restaurants. 

There are many legendary attractions that are at a walking distance from the hotel, such as Parthenon, Acropolis, and National Archaeological Museum. Once it gets dark, you can also enjoy the night life as it is close to Athens downtown, which is filled with bars, restaurants, and theaters. 

Located in the central of the historic city, the Wyndham Grand Athens Residence is near the Metaxourgio Metro station, so you can get to it by taking a bus from any part of Athens, and then walk to the hotel. The hotel is also close to Athens International Airport (ATH), so you can easily rent a car or take a taxi to the hotel.

For more reviews and booking the hotel

Brown Acropol (member of Brown hotels) – A 4-star hotel

Recommended by Lizet Wesselman at A wander food world

I randomly stumbled upon the Brown Hotel and booked it before I even knew all the details. As a solo traveller, a hotel already wins when it offers decently priced solo rooms! I knew it has a wellness and a rooftop with jaccuzi’s with an Acropolis view, but I didn’t realize it’s all free. Making it the best € 80 I ever spent on a hotel room.

I only had one night and made the most of it. You can pre-book the wellness to have a sauna and steam room to yourself for a full hour. Afterwards, I settled on the rooftop terrace with a (bit pricey) glass of wine and a good book. After enjoying the sunset over the Akropolis, the staff kindly offered me a reading light so I could continue my book. The staff took this hotel to the next level, with small details like this.

The rooms are great, modern but with a 70’s vibe. It’s centrally located, only one minute away from the subway station Omonia, where you can take two subway lines. It’s two minutes to the city centre and Akropolis or a 15-minute walk. The area also offers plenty of restaurants and shops, mostly more local and unique than you’d find in the centre.

For more reviews and booking the hotel

Plaka Hotel – A 3-star hotel in a central location  

Recommended by Dr Charlotte Russell at The Travel Psychologist

Hotel Plaka is a 3-star hotel located in central Athens, in the historical Plaka district, and counts with an amazing choice of restaurants, cobblestone streets, and shops. The real ‘icing on the cake’ with this hotel is the incredible view of the Acropolis from the rooftop terrace.

This hotel is always my first choice in Athens due to its close proximity to Monastiraki Square, around 200 meters away. Not only is this a bustling place to visit, the square has a metro station with direct lines both to the airport and Piraeus port, making the Plaka Hotel super convenient for waking up in the early hours and boarding a ferry to one of your favorite places in Greece.

I’ve stayed several times and it has always been a comfortable and quiet stay, despite being in a busy area. I’ve found the buffet breakfast to be very good, with a wide selection and nice quality food and coffee.

For more reviews and booking the hotel

Adams Hotel – A budget-friendly hotel

Recommended by Aimee at Snap Happy Travel

Adams Hotel is a fantastic budget-friendly choice for travelers to Athens and the best thing about it is that the shared rooftop terrace (and some rooms) offer spectacular views of the Acropolis.

This 2-star hotel has a 24-hour front desk and on-site snack bar. And the rooms are comfortable and spacious – as I said, some offer views out to the Acropolis. It’s also conveniently located just a two minute walk from Hadrian’s Arch. 

I stayed here for 4 nights during my 6 week tour of Greece and I was delighted to be upgraded to their terrace room, which boasts a huge terrace.

I would recommend this hotel to couples or solo travelers. Families may not enjoy it as much, due to the lack of facilities such as a swimming pool or on-site restaurant.

In saying that, Adams Hotel is close to many excellent restaurants including Electra Roof Garden and 7 Food Sins.

For more reviews and booking the hotel

Downtown Athens Lofts – The Acropolis Observatory

Recommended by Michelle Jensen at Travel herstory

Downtown Athens Lofts is less than a mile away from the famous Acropolis of Athens, hence its nickname, The Acropolis Observatory. This aparthotel is great for friends and families as its rooms are spacious enough for multiple people to spread out and relax. Those with mobility issues will also appreciate the elevator at this accommodation.

With seven rooms available, each equipped with a sofa, work desk, kitchen, washing machine, TV, luggage storage, and dining area, Downtown Athens Lofts offers a comfortable and convenient stay. What truly sets this hotel apart is its proximity to Athens’ main attractions and the breathtaking view of the Acropolis from its rooftop terrace and some loft rooms. 

To get to Downtown Athens Lofts, the closest bus stop is Klavthmonos, which is a 10-minute walk. It is also a 5-minute walk to the Thisseio metro stop.

While the ground-level loft we initially stayed in wasn’t as soundproof as they claimed, the staff were quick to address our concerns and moved us to a loft higher up, where the noise was significantly reduced. This proactive approach to guest comfort, coupled with the comfy beds, clean rooms, and pleasant staff, made our overall experience positive.

For more reviews and booking the hotel

Hope my post helped you. If so, I would very much like you to respond here in the comments, and if you have any more questions, you are also welcome to ask them there or write to me on the blog’s social networks: Facebook and Instagram.

Looking for more information about Athens? I have more posts about Athens and more posts about Greece on my blog.

Pin below to save on Pinterest

Protaras is one of the most popular beach holiday destinations in Cyprus, located on the country’s south east coast. About a quarter of an hour drive from Ayia Napa and an hour drive from the airport in Larnaca. In its central street you will find many bars, restaurants, cafes and shops. It is considered a family resort and is located near one of the best beaches on the island, Fig Tree.

In the post I wrote recommendations for things to do in Protaras with kids as well as in Ayia Napa ( a short drive between them).

Attractions in Protaras: Promenade, a street of bars and restaurants, sailing with mermaids, an amusement park, a church inside a mountain, a beach and a fountain show.

Attractions in Ayia Napa: Amusement park, Cape Greco nature reserve, yellow submarine cruise and water park.

How do you get to Protaras?

There is no airport in Protaras. The best option is to land at the Larnaca Airport and from there take a taxi or rent a car. I personally recommend renting a car. Even if you want to go just for a belly vacation, there are many things to do in the area and the most convenient and cheapest option is to get around by car.

There is no direct bus from the Larnaca Airport to Protaras, so if you decide to travel by bus, you will have to change lines in the city of Larnaca and from there take another one; this whole journey will take you about 3 hours, but it is also the cheapest option.

You can search for a car in the search engine Paapm Paapm. I really like to search through them because they save me time (instead of having to go to several websites) and they have the option of filtering out non-recommended rental companies.

A special benefit for blog followers: I recommend renting a car from the company Cosmos. I got a 10% discount coupon for ordering online for my followers. To order a rental car for Cosmos (don’t forget the paid coupon code: trvbox). Complete information on car rentals in Cyprus.

Where to stay in Protaras

We have been on vacation four times in Protaras.
On three of those times we stayed at the Louis Althea Hotel, and one time at the Louis St. Elias Hotel. Both are 4-star all-inclusive hotels and we liked them both very much. Hotel Luis Altea is located near the beach. The daily routine in Louis Elias is that there are water slides for children in the pool. Both hotels are excellent and the entertainment teams are complete with the cost for the whole day and in the evening there is a mini disco for children. There are large bedrooms and living rooms that make these hotels very good options for families.

The main street in Protaras

The truth is that I was really surprised by the main street. I think it rivals the Ayia Napa area in terms of the nightlife there. Full of restaurants, cafes and a really lively atmosphere.

If you want to go out for fun in Protaras, I’m sure you won’t be disappointed with its street. If you are going by car you will have to find parking right next to the fountain there (Directions).

Cruise with mermaids to the Blue Lagoon

A 3-decker yacht cruise departing from Protaras and arriving at the Blue Lagoon in Ayia Napa. The cruise starts with a story time with a fairy and a pirate and when you reach the blue lagoon you meet two mermaids. You swim with them in the water and after that you can talk to them, take pictures with them and hug them on the deck of the yacht. There is also face painting and a mini disco. The cruise’s Facebook page. Cost is 30 euros for an adult and 20 euros for a child.

The promenade in Protaras

There are restaurants and bars along the boardwalk and it is generally recommended to take a walk during sunset because it is simply magical and really calm. The promenade is very calm and there are not many people compared to the main street.

Louis Althea leads straight to the beach and the boardwalk and along the boardwalk there are many hotels.

St. Nicholas Church

A famous convention in Protaras and when you see in the picture what it looks like, you will understand why it has its fame. The small church of Saint Nicholas (Agios Nikolaos) is located on Loma Beach, right next to the picturesque fishing port of Protaras. It maintains the traditional Greek colors, white and blue, with a sea background (Directions).

Fig Tree Beach

It was ranked as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world and is surely one of the most stunning in Cyprus. If you are in Protaras it’s really worth going there.

Agioi Saranta Cave Church in Protaras

It was featured in MailOnline UK’s Travel News section as one of the strangest churches to visit in the world. Arrival instructions. We went there together with Maya and Sophie and we really enjoyed the place. It’s a really quiet place at about a ten-minute drive from the hotel. There is a short climb up the stairs to the church. Maya really enjoyed exploring the church inside the mountain and the view there was lovely. There is a bench outside the cave that is just nice to sit on and enjoy the peace and beauty that can be seen from it. After that we liked taking a little walk outside the cave. I think this is a nice activity for children and adults.

Dancing fountains in Protaras

Fountain show with lights and music at 21:00 in Protaras. The show also combines a laser and fire show.
If the day is windy, it is recommended not to sit with small children in rows 1-3 because the water may splash on you. You should arrive about half an hour before the start of the show.

Buying tickets for the dancing fountains in Protaras

Luna Park in Protaras

This Luna Park is really cute and though it is smaller than the amusement park in Ayia Napa, I think it has enough facilities for the children. If you have children aged 2-7, then it is completely enough to just go to the amusement park in Protaras and you don’t need to go to Ayia Napa. But for ages 7+, Ayia Napa is better.

The amusement park has a giant wheel, roller coasters for children and adults, a horse carousel, a trampoline for high jumping, and more. Each facility costs between 2-4 tokens. 12 tokens cost 10 euros. We spent an average of 30 euros on the two girls (Maya four-and-a-half-years-old and Sophie almost two). There are several food and drink stalls there. Directions.

A restaurant in Protaras that is suitable for children

The truth is that this is a section where I have almost no recommendations because we have always stayed at all-inclusive hotels that have excellent food, so we’ve only wanted to eat at the hotel. The only restaurant we have been to is the Doma restaurant, which was a three-minute drive from Louis Elias Hotel and it turned out to be an excellent choice.

I’ll start with the fact that there is a small playground there, which is already excellent for those who come to the restaurant with children. In addition to this, the service was one of the best we’ve received in Cyprus. A fast and kind service and Maya was given a free ice cream and watermelon dessert.

We ordered a mussel dish and an avocado shrimp salad, which were really delicious. In short, a restaurant with good food and great service, so I definitely recommend it warmly.

Yellow Submarine Ayia Napa – A cruise to the blue lagoon

A cool attraction an hour-and-a-half away from the port in Ayia Napa. Goes out every day three times during the season at 10:30, 12:30, 14:30.

Getting to the port from Protaras is about 25 minutes by car. There is parking very close to the port at a cost of 3 euros (payment only in cash).

It is recommended to call and reserve a place because there is a limit to the number of people. After the start of the cruise, you go down for a 10-minute show of fish feeding by a diver. It is an area with transparent windows and you can see everything that happens under the sea level.

After about 20 minutes you reach the sea caves in Ayia Napa in the Blue Lagoon and then you can dive into the water (there is a jump at the top) or slide into the water (there is a cool slide) or simply enter the water by going down the ladder. The stop is for about an hour, which is enough to enjoy the water. You can also swim to the sea caves and explore the area there.

It is possible to buy snacks or ice creams and beer on the cruise. The cost is 15 euros for an adult and 5 euros for a child (free for children under two-years-old). Link to the main website.

Luna Park Ayia Napa Parko Paliatso

We have been many times to a Luna Park in Ayia Napa and we really like it.

The amusement park is open from 6 pm to midnight during the tourist season. The entrance is free and you can pay for each facility separately, a ticket for most facilities, or a ticket for all of them. We always prefer to pay for each facility separately because the girls can’t do around half of the facilities yet because they are too young. Aside from the facilities there are also drink and food stalls and there is also a cafeteria and all kinds of stalls for competitions to win prizes. The facilities there are mostly suitable for ages three and up, but there are also 3-4 that are suitable for two-year-olds.

There is a huge free parking lot next to the Luna Park.

Cape Greco Nature Reserve Ayia Napa

This is a stunning nature reserve that we have been to several times, which has hiking trails, picnic tables, a view of the sea (there are also many party and tour yachts there because the waters are amazing in a clear turquoise color). There is the famous bridge, the love bridge, which you may have had the chance to see pictures of in the past because you come there for photos.

Ayia Napa Water Park

There are three water parks in Cyprus. One of them is in Ayia Napa. This is a fun water park that is suitable for both children and adults. You can buy tickets at a discount through the forms website of the water park. You will find slides for all ages, various facilities for the little ones, a wave pool and more. There are food, ice cream and drink stands. They don’t allow outside food.

Buying tickets for the water park in Ayia Napa.

In conclusion, Protaras is an excellent destination for a family vacation, as well as for couples. It is beautiful and calm, with stunning beaches and good hotels. And it is just a short drive from the livelier Ayia Napa, so those who want a little more action can easily combine the two destinations.

Hope my post helped you. If so, I would very much like you to respond here in the comments, and if you have any more questions, you are also welcome to ask them there or write to me on the blog’s social networks: Facebook and Instagram.

Looking for more information about Cyprus? I have more posts about Cyprus on my blog.

Pin below to save on Pinterest

When we were on vacation in the Golden Sands, we visited the city of Varna twice. Varna is a really cute city that is stomach-friendly and has a broad offer of restaurants, cafes, shops and various attractions.

If you are looking for all-inclusive resorts or family hotels, then it would be better for you to stay in the Golden Sands area, which is about half an hour’s drive from Orna. Later in the post I will also provide details about hotels in the Golden Sands, but if you are actually looking for boutique hotels and more of an urban experience, then the accommodations in the city of Varna will suit you better.

Another advantage of staying in Varna itself is that you can visit it all year round, in contrast to the Golden Sands, which is an area that is only suitable from May to September.

I wrote a post with recommendations for things to do in Varna (in the post you will also get ideas for day trips outside of Varna) in addition to recommended restaurants there.

I decided to write you a post about the recommended hotels in Varna and the Golden Sands based on research I did from guest reviews and recommendations from friends.

Graphite Gallery Design Hotel – 5-star hotel

The Graphite Gallery Hotel is a modern 5-star hotel located 400 m from the beach.
There you will find an indoor pool with panoramic windows, a gym and a sauna.

It has a restaurant that serves Bulgarian and international cuisine as well as a cafe (where in the evening you can sit and enjoy alcohol as well).

Outside the hotel there is a bus stop from where you can take a bus directly to the Golden Sands.

To book the hotel and more details

Rosslyn Dimyat Hotel Varna – 4-star hotel

Rosslyn Hotel is a 4-star hotel located 1 km from the center of Varna and about 500 m from the beach.

There you will find a spa center with a heated indoor pool in the summer, a sauna, a gym and a relaxation area. There is a restaurant with a changing international menu. The advantage of this hotel is that it has underground parking. So those who rent a car will be comfortable staying in this hotel.

To book the hotel and more details

Panorama Hotel – 4-star hotel

The Panorama Hotel is a 4-star hotel located near the beach in the center of the popular Primorsky Boulevard.

There you will find a bar, a spa and a sauna. In a 3-minute walk you will reach the main shopping street.

The central location of the hotel makes it especially attractive for both couples and families. In addition, there is a parking lot for charging electric cars, which is excellent for those who plan to rent one of these.

Right outside the hotel there is a bus stop with a direct bus to the Varna Airport.

To book the hotel and more details

Bizarre Boutique Hotel

Bizarre Boutique Hotel is in a central location and a kilometer away from Varna Beach. A new and modern hotel that is mainly suitable for couples. Parking is available for an additional fee.

According to the reviews, they have a charming and kind staff and large rooms with comfortable beds. The hotel is within walking distance of the central train station in Varna.

To book the hotel and more details

Reverence Boutique Hotel

Reverence Boutique Hotel is located in the center of Varna, 400 m from the beach.

A modern hotel and some of the rooms have a balcony. In addition, the hotel has a spa area with a sauna and Jacuzzi. Outside the hotel there is a bus stop with a direct line to the airport and the Golden Sands.

According to the reviews, the place is really nicely decorated, the staff is lovely, and the rooms are comfortable and very clean.

To book the hotel and more details

Modus Hotel

Modus Boutique Hotel is a modern and contemporary-style hotel. It is 200 m from the beach and offers free bicycles to its guests. It is a minute’s walk from restaurants, cafes and shops. The hotel provides a very high-end experience with bathrobes in the rooms and a Nespresso machine and goose down blankets in the suites.

In the hotel you will also find a gym and a sauna. And it has an underground parking garage. Outside the hotel there is a bus stop with a direct bus to the airport and to the Golden Sands.

This establishment has a very high score in the guest reviews and everyone says that it is in a great location with a great staff and a special design.

To book the hotel and more details

Recommended hotels in the Golden Sands

If you are looking for an area with all-inclusive resorts, a boardwalk full of attractions for children and adults, and restaurants and bars, then the Golden Sands area will suit you perfectly. I wrote an extended post about things to do in the Golden Sands.

HVD Viva club all-inclusive hotel

Viva Club Hotel is the hotel Roman and I stayed at. A 4-star hotel with a free shuttle to the hotel’s beach. The hotel has an outdoor and indoor pool.

You can book the hotel on an all-inclusive basis, which includes three meals a day, snacks in between, and free drinks, including alcohol. The hotel also has two restaurants for dinner for an additional fee (not included in the price): an Italian restaurant and a barbeque one.

The hotel has a gym (small and not ventilated so we went to work out in a gym on the boardwalk).

The staff is very kind and helpful. The hotel has an excellent entertainment team. During the day there are many sessions for children and adults and every evening there is something different. While we were there, they had a bingo night, an Oktoberfest night, and there are more themed events.

I wrote an extended post about the hotel and our opinion.

To book the hotel and more details

International Hotel Casino & Tower Suites – 5-star hotel

The International Casino Hotel, as its name suggests, is a hotel that also has a casino with live games, poker tables, and slot machines. Its location is excellent, right on the boardwalk in the center of Golden Sands. 

It features a Skyfall infinity pool, with bar 21 open from June to September, as well as two à la carte restaurants serving fine cuisine, one open all year round and one seasonal.

It has a new kosher restaurant called “Tahina”.In the hotel you will find a spa center with an indoor pool, sauna, Jacuzzi and gym. It has covered parking and a shopping area within the hotel itself.

To book the hotel and more details

Melia Grand Hermitage 5-star all-inclusive hotel

The Malia Hotel is a 5-star all-inclusive hotel located on a small hill 100 meters from the beach.

It is considered a luxury hotel with a spa area spanning two floors with an indoor and outdoor pool. Turkish bath and gym. Jacuzzi and sauna.

The hotel has a private beach and a view of the pool and the sea from the rooms. It boasts a total of 5 restaurants and 5 pools.

According to the reviews, the service at the hotel is excellent, the rooms are comfortable, and it is very suitable for those visiting with children.

To book the hotel and more details

GRIFID Vistamar Hotel – 4-star all-inclusive

GRIFID Hotel is a 4-star all-inclusive hotel with a private beach.

It has an infinity pool and is just a few minutes’ walk to the private beach.

The view from the rooms is to the sea or to the park. There is a spa center with a gym and sauna. The hotel has additional restaurants beyond the all-inclusive buffet that is open for those staying at the hotel for more than four nights.

Guests can also enjoy free access to GRIFID Aqua Park.

There is an entertainment team that does activities throughout the day for both children and adults. The establishment has a very high score among guest reviews.

To book the hotel and more details

In conclusion, in Varna you can find excellent hotels, though these are mainly boutique ones. The accommodation in Varna is mostly suitable for those who are looking for an urban experience combined with a backpack, for those who are looking to explore the area and make trips, and for those who plan to visit during the off-season, in the months of October-April.

I hope my post helped you. If so, I would very much like you to respond here in the comments, and if you have any more questions, you are also welcome to ask them in the comments or write to me on the blog’s social networks: Facebook and Instagram.

Looking for more information about Bulgaria? I have more posts about Bulgaria on my blog.

I arrived in Milan with my siblings after a four-day trip to Lake Maggiore. We had had an amazing time on a quiet trip in a small village by the lake and suddenly we arrived in a big and busy city and it felt a little strange at first. Just an hour passed before I realized that I fell in love with the Milan and it’s a shame that we only got to be there for two days. I am sure I will visit again and explore more. I decided to write a post with my recommendations for things to do in Milan. In this post you won’t find the usual recommendations you’ll find elsewhere, but special things you can do in Milan. I would appreciate it if you responded to me at the end of the post if you liked the recommendations 🙂

Summary of our trip in Milan

Who? Four adults
When? End of May, beginning of June 2024
How long? Two days
Where did we stay? MagVille Boutique Hotel. A lovely boutique hotel in a quiet location but close to decent cafes and good restaurants.
Mobility? We rented an electric car through Hertz from the Malpensa Airport. Equivalent prices can be found through Papam Papam, the search engine for car rentals. There is no need for a car in the city itself, but because we had also gone to Lake Maggiore, we already had one we had rented at the airport. In the city we parked in the parking lot next to the hotel at a cost of 18 euros per day.

Secrets of Milan Tour

I will actually start with something I did on my second day in Milan, because in my opinion it is a really special tour. On this day, which was the last day of the whole trip, my siblings had to leave in the morning for their flight and I had a few hours alone in the city. Because I really like tours, I booked one to hidden places in Milan the day before through the Airbnb experiences website. Link to the tour.

There were five people on the tour (me and two other couples) and our guide’s name was Daniel. He and his partner are tourism journalists and they travel all over the world when they are not in Milan (about five months a year). They conduct these tours for fun and the truth is that I fell for Daniel. He is funny and full of interesting stories and aside from that, he really knows special places in Milan and gave us a lot of worthwhile tips. During the tour we visited a church that had been closed since World War II and was only reopened in 2017.

What is special about this church is that there is an entire area behind it that was only intended for nuns and is now also open to the general public. One of the artists who painted there did not think that these paintings would ever be revealed to anyone other than the nuns, so he felt free to also paint strange things, for example in the painting of Noah’s Ark, he added unicorns:) And there are also three dogs instead of two because one of the dogs is actually the dog that belonged to him. Daniel told many more funny and witty stories in this church.

After that, Daniel took us to the oldest coffee shop in the world, which it turns out the Ferda company bought a few years ago but left it as it is. We had a coffee there called Marocino, which is a cappuccino with some foamed milk and cocoa powder on top.

We also went to a statue that, when you see it, it’s hard not to smile and wonder how there is such a statue in Milan. It’s a sculpture of a triangular finger built by the Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan 11 years ago during the design and art week in Milan. The statue was built in front of the stock exchange and the artist created it as a symbol against fascism.

Of course, we went to other places and there were many more stories, so I really recommend joining their tour if it is available when you visit Milan.

The tour lasted about two hours, suitable even for those who are not in good shape because they don’t walk much.
The cost of the tour was 35 euros per person.
The tour starts at 11 am.

The coolest street there is

I only discovered this street thanks to the guide, Daniel, on the walking tour I recommended above. When he showed pictures of this street, I knew I had to take a taxi to it immediately after the tour.

The art on the houses was painted by the artist Maurizio Cattelan, who also built the statue of the triangular finger in front of the stock exchange. (Arrival instructions).

On this street is the Toilet Paper Magazine store, where you can buy magazines created by Cattelan.

Unfortunately, I was alone on the street and without a tripod, so the photos didn’t turn out well enough, but this is definitely an excellent spot for worthwhile Instagram photos. I also didn’t have time to enter the store itself, which I’m sure is really cool. I only got to jump to this street very briefly because I had to make it to my flight, but I’m sure I’ll return to it for a return visit.

Thai spa that is especially worth it

I’ve been to a lot of Thai massage places, but I’ve never been to a spa with such a design that really feels like a Thai palace. This spa is called One Season. Arrival instructions.

In addition to the fact that the design of the place is amazing, there were a few other advantages:

• We were four people who arrived with an hour’s notice and they had a spot for us.
• The place is huge and each one of us had their own massage room.
• The prices were really reasonable, about 60 euros for an hour of massage or 35 euros for half an hour.
• The massage was amazing! We all left satisfied.
• The service was great and it was fun to sit down for tea at the end of the massage.

In short, if you are looking for a treat after all the walking in Italy, this is the place I recommend for a massage.

Matching tattoo

After years of planning between me and my siblings, the idea for a joint tattoo finally came to fruition. This is an idea that my sister came up with five years ago and on our previous trips we hadn’t managed to do it, but this time it finally happened. Two weeks before our arrival, I looked for a tattoo parlor for us to coordinate our date. I found the institute IL CIRCO NERO TATTOO Milano (their Instagram). I contacted them on Instagram and there was a quick and professional response. We decided to arrive at 4 o’clock and they prepared the sketches we requested in advance. The place was sterile and the girl there gave us one tattoo after another, quickly and professionally. The cost of the tattoo was 120 euros per person.

If you are taking a trip as a couple or as a family and you want to do something a little crazy, then here is an idea that will leave you with a lifetime souvenir 🙂

A perfect cafe

Wow, wow, what an excellent cafe. A must-visit if you are in Milan. This is a cafe with such delicious pastries and such good coffee that you simply cannot miss it. We went there twice and if I had stayed in Milan for a few more days, there is no doubt that every day I would have gone there again. Cafe Loste directions. This cafe has fresh pastries that are baked on the premises and excellent coffee. We tried the chocolate pastry, the cinnamon pastry, bread pudding, and a cherry tomato savory pastry and everything was great. Keep in mind that there is a queue on Saturday morning.

An unforgettable restaurant

For our last evening of the trip we wanted a special restaurant that would have Italian food but something more modern and lighter, and my brother found us the Remulass restaurant just for this. Directions. It’s a modern bistro with a limited and precise menu. We booked a place for four people for half past seven in the evening. The menu had four starters, four first courses, three main courses, and two desserts. 

How many dishes do you think we ordered? We ordered the whole menu, so I can tell you for sure that everything there is delicious. Every dish was flavorful and surprising. There were special combinations of different raw materials and the wine was also great. 

In short, if you are looking for a good restaurant, this is definitely the recommendation for you. In addition, the prices were not too expensive and we ended up with a bill of 170 euros for four people for the whole menu including a glass of wine per person. 

It is recommended to reserve a place in advance because there are not many tables and the restaurant is in demand. Link to book a place.

Both the restaurant and the Loste cafe were a few minutes’ walk from the hotel where the MagVille boutique hotel was located.

Questions and answers about Milan

How do you get from the Malpensa Airport to the city?

There are several options either to rent a car or take a taxi (around 120 euros for a taxi to the city center) or a train. If you are going as a group, then the taxi or car option is excellent; if you are just a couple or alone, then the train option is definitely the most convenient. 

On the way back, I returned alone, so I chose to return by train. I took a taxi from the hotel to the central train station for 15 euros and from there I took a train to the airport (get off at a five-minute walk to terminal 1 or 2 – check in advance which terminal you need). Make sure to check which airport you need. I needed to go to the Malpensa Airport. You can purchase tickets in advance online or at a machine at a train station or at the ticket office of the train company. The cost of a one-way trip is 13 euros per person. Buying tickets online for the train to the Malpensa Airport.

How are taxis in Milan?

From what we got to experience, there is not a high availability of taxis in Milan, so you have to take into account that it may take a little longer to get from one place to another. We used the Uber app several times, and in central places there are taxi signs. Even if there is no taxi at those locations, go stand there and a taxi will arrive relatively quickly. Taxis are required to accept credit cards, but it is recommended to say in advance if you want to pay with this method.

Where is it recommended to stay in Milan?

The central area of ​​Milan is the area of the ​​Milan Cathedral (Directions). This is a lively area of ​​bars, restaurants and shops. We stayed at the MagVille boutique hotel in a quieter but charming area at a 35-minutes’ walk from the central area (you can also get there by metro, bus and taxi). There is a beautiful park a quarter of an hour’s walk away. A delicious breakfast is served in the hotel itself and if you happen to have nice weather, it is recommended to sit and have breakfast outside. The rooms are spacious and clean, with a comfortable bed and a coffee machine.

Where is it recommended to shop in Milan?

If you are into luxury brands, you can find all the brand stores such as Freda, Chanel, Versace and more, on Via Sant’Andrea MI street.

If you are looking for brand stores at more popular prices, then close to the cathedral you will find Zara, Bershka, H&M and more… Directions

In addition there is an impressive children’s play store called Hamleys ? Directions

How do you know if the ice cream is of high quality in an ice cream parlor in Milan?

Our guide on the trip explained that there are two ways to see that the ice cream is of high quality 🙂

According to the color of the pistachio flavor, if it is green, it means that it is not a good ice cream; the color of pistachio ice cream should be more of a brown tone.

If the ice cream looks like a high hill, it is also a bad sign. This shows that the ice cream has chemicals and is not of high quality; good ice cream should be concave and low.

Other recommended attractions in Milan

The guide for the tour I was on strongly recommended going up to the roof of the Duomo di Milano cathedral and watching the view there

Buying tickets to the roof of the cathedral without entering the cathedral itself

Buying tickets for a guided tour of the cathedral and going up to the roof of the cathedral

A hop-on-off bus is an excellent way to explore a big city for 24/48/72 hours

Buying tickets for a hop-on-off bus

Additional walking tours

Buying tickets for a two-hour evening walking tour
Buying tickets for a walking tour of the city including the cathedral
Buying tickets for a city tour on an electric bike

In conclusion, Milan is a city of fashion, architecture, excellent restaurants, shopping, nightlife and a lot of beauty, and in addition to all this, it can be a combination of a trip between an urban experience and an experience in nature by combining it with lakes such as Lake Como or Lake Maggiore.

Hope my post helped you. If so, I would very much like you to respond here in the comments, and if you have any more questions, you are also welcome to ask them there or write to me on the blog’s social networks: Facebook and Instagram.

Looking for more information about Italy? I have more posts about Italy on my blog.

Pin below to save on Pinterest

From time to time I am asked about recommended car rental companies in Cyprus. Although I live here and do not rent a car regularly, I have had the chance to do so several times while here (for both long and short periods) and I also receive updates from my readers about their experiences, so I decided to write a specific guide to renting a car in Cyprus.

Do you need to rent a car in Cyprus?

Public transportation is relatively limited and I will detail it later in the post for those who are interested.

If you land in Paphos and intend to only stay in the city, you can probably forego a rental car. This is also true for those who land in Larnaca and do not intend to leave it, or for those who plan to stay for the entire vacation in and around the hotel and not travel around.

If you only plan to go on guided tours with a local guide, you can arrange transportation as part of the service. If you plan individual trips to relatively close places, you can take a taxi or bus.

But, if you arrive in the mood to explore Cyprus or travel at your own pace and stop at points spontaneously, a rental car is the way to go.

Most travelers who come with children on a trip to Cyprus like to take a rental car straight from the airport and get around with it. In general, you can find parking everywhere, even in Limassol or Nicosia, although it is better to choose accommodation that includes parking. I will detail parking options later.

If you plan to go to the villages in the Troodos Mountains, or move between several destinations during your trip, then you must have a rental car, and in my opinion, getting around with one is much easier, especially with children. You can leave the equipment in the car and not have to carry it from place to place.

Even if you are short on time for your vacation and want maximum flexibility, renting a car or using taxis will be the most effective.

Also keep in mind that taxi prices are expensive. A trip from Larnaca to Limassol costs around 60 euros by taxi one way. Even within the city, each trip is at least 10 euros and usually ranges between 10-20 euros for distances of 10-20 minutes.

A recommendation for the summer of 2024 and a benefit for blog followers

Local and recommended Cypriot car rental company

Cosmos Car Rental (to order a rental car directly from Cosmos don’t forget the 10% coupon code: trvbox) is a company that provides rental cars all over Cyprus.

What I like about them is that they provide a delivery service for a nominal fee to almost any destination in Cyprus, so you can start or end the rental from any hotel and not have to pick up the car and return it at that point.

They have a main office in Larnaca, so if you are nearby you can come and pick up or return the car from there at no extra cost, but you really don’t have to do even that – they provide a free delivery service to any hotel or other point in Larnaca, which is really convenient if you don’t take the car. You can just choose a pick-up point called Larnaca City and then you adjust exactly where they should deliver the car to you.

They have really good customer service and they don’t try to insist you into buying all kinds of insurance.

Car insurance at Cosmos

When renting from them, you can add such extended insurance that will reduce your participation fee by at least half (40% to be exact compared to their normal participation fee). For example, for a sum of about 100 euros for small family vehicles instead of 250 euros or for 350 euros for a van with 8/9 seats (instead of 900 euros). You will see the details during the order after choosing the vehicle and you can choose then.

It is also possible to additionally or only purchase windshield and tire insurance at a lower price of about five euros per day so that you do not pay at all for any damage caused to these items.

If you don’t want to upgrade to their insurance (for example if you take out external insurance) then the deductibles are generally fair and you can ask for the refund from the external insurance you took out, for example in the travel insurance abroad or through another insurance for a car rented abroad as I detailed in the post about renting a car abroad.

In terms of payment and deposit – they allow payment in cash so if you don’t have approx. Credit can still be rented from them and leave a deposit in cash.

A safety seat

If you are traveling with children, they provide you with baby and child car seats for free!

Crossing Turkish Cyprus with a rented car

Crossing Turkish Cyprus/Northern Cyprus with a rental car – most companies do not allow this, and the guys at Cosmos would also prefer that you not cross with the car, but if you need to, you can coordinate it with them. In general, they warn that they will not be able to provide you with road services or help in North Cyprus and you will have to deal with breakdowns on your own and bring the vehicle back to the border with Cyprus yourself and at your own expense. In addition, you must pay at the border crossing for a special insurance that will allow you to pass with the vehicle to Northern Cyprus. You can talk to them in advance and find out these details – and write to me where you are going to North Cyprus because, to be honest, I haven’t had the chance to travel there and I don’t know the area.

The bottom line is they really try to provide good service and I recommend them, and I would love to hear in the comments or if you write to me how it was for you.

Ordering the vehicle through the Cosmos company and a discount coupon

The most worthwhile part – you can order a car from them in two ways:

Order online with prepayment that gives a 10% discount on the price. But keep in mind that you can’t cancel with this option.

Order online with no advance payment at all and free cancellation.

And I received from the owner a 10% discount coupon for ordering online without prepayment so that you actually earn both an order without prepayment on the credit card and free cancellation as well as the discounted price.

To order a rental car directly from Cosmos (don’t forget the 10% coupon code: trvbox)

To compare prices from all rental companies in Cyprus

Which rental companies are recommended?

All in all, all the companies that operate in Cyprus are usually fair and do not try to charge you for all kinds of damages or unfair payments. In several of my rentals, even when I didn’t take extended insurance from the rental company, I didn’t feel like I was being “searched” when returning the car like they have done to me in other destinations in Europe.

All companies, even the small ones, have the option of giving you car seats for babies or boosters for older children at affordable prices. You can also buy a small jumbo booster without a back for 8 euros.

In the big cities there are quite a few local rental companies that operate mainly in the season; some are not even active outside the summer so the supply is small then. On the other hand, so is the demand, so it’s fine.

My recommendation is to also check reviews of the branch through Google Maps – where customers will usually share their experience.

If you compare prices in the Papam Papam search engine, you will be able to filter and see only offers from recommended rental companies according to the score they have on Google Maps. The rental prices in Cyprus are also very cheap. If you take a manual car, it will of course be cheaper in most cases. In the off-season you can rent a small manual car for less than 25 euros per day.

Driving in Cyprus and driver’s license

Driving license when renting a car in Cyprus

To rent a car in Cyprus you need a valid driver’s license and all companies ask that you at least hold this license for about a year.

If your license is issued outside Europe, there will be rental companies that will also request an international IDP license.
The reports based on actual tourists in Cyprus show that there is no need for an international driver’s license (PaapmPaapm also checked the laws in Cyprus and confirm that Cypriot law allows non-Europeans to drive without the need for an international license) so you can skip it and drive with your home country license alone. Here is what they published about drivers’ licenses in Cyprus.

The driving experience in Cyprus

There are highways between Larnaca and Paphos that are very convenient and the roads to the mountains are generally pleasant and have wide margins. There are many gas stations along the way (the price of gas as in other European countries) and convenient stopping points. It is important to know that driving is done on the left side of the road (like in England), but you get used to it quite quickly in my opinion and from what other travelers have written to me.

Parking in Cyprus

In terms of parking, there is absolutely no reason to fear that you won’t find parking. In most places there is no problem finding a spot and all the big hotels have private parking lots. If you go to the more touristic areas such as the old town in Limassol, or the marina area in Larnaca and Paphos, you will find many parking lots that cost 2-3 euros for two to three hours. Please note that two yellow stripes on the side of the road mean that you are not allowed to park there even if the curb of the sidewalk is gray.

Public transport in Cyprus

For two years we lived in Limassol in an apartment close to the boardwalk where line 30 passes, the main line that runs from the remote part of the resorts like Parklane and Amara and reaches the other side where the mall is. The line runs frequently and is usually not busy. I traveled by bus a lot with Sophie when she was a baby (she didn’t like being in the car and I preferred to travel with her by bus when I could). But if I had to go to places where the bus does not go, I would take a taxi or drive my car. The buses in Limassol and in general in all of Cyprus do not reach the more distant places and taxis are not that easily available.

There are two apps through which you can order taxis, but keep in mind that many times you won’t find one through them and it would be better to coordinate with a driver in advance or call a taxi company: the Bolt app and the CABCY app.

Each city has its own bus company and they also make intercity trips.

Website for information on all bus lines in Cyprus

In Paphos you can find the official website of the local bus company Osypa where you’ll have information about all the lines in English, including timetables and a detailed map of the route. There are dedicated lines to attraction points such as line 622 to the Aphrodite baths and of course a bus from the Paphos Airport to the city center. There is also an interactive map where you can click on stations and see when the nearest bus arrives and where each bus goes in real time.

Children up to the age of five travel for free. A single ride costs €2 and a daily free ticket €6.50. For prices on the website.

Personally, I find it most convenient to use the Moovit app to find the line I need wherever I am in Cyprus. For the most part, the application is quite accurate.

Larnaca and Ayia Napa also have buses that travel along the promenade.

In conclusion, if you are coming to Cyprus for a short backpacking vacation, you do not have to rent a car, but if you want to travel around the villages or go to several destinations, I definitely recommend renting a car. Taxi prices are expensive in Cyprus and they are not always available, and the bus lines run almost only in the tourist areas and can be busy in the summer.

Pin below to save on Pinterest

At the end of May, the trip that my siblings and I had been waiting for, for a long time, finally came. I live in Cyprus, my two sisters in Israel, and my brother in the United States. Five years ago we started the tradition of a trip with siblings and so far we have been together in Madrid and Vienna, and now it was time for our trip to the north of Italy. We all landed in Milan at the Malpensa Airport and from there we continued to Lake Maggiore, which is north of Milan.

Because we traveled at the end of May, which is not the peak of the season, places weren’t crowded anywhere. Maybe in July and August it feels different.

Before I continue to tell about this trip, I will remind you that a few years ago I took a trip with Roman to Lake Como, which is also in the area. So if you’re looking for recommendations there, it’s worth going through the posts I wrote about Lake Como.

General information about the trip we made to Lake Maggiore

Who? Four adults

When? End of May 2024
How long? 4 days
Weather? Between 18 -24 degrees a day and there were two days with some rain
Where did we stay? In the town of Agra I rented a villa through Airbnb
Rented a car? We rented an electric car through Hertz at the Malpensa Airport. Equivalent prices can be found through Papam Papam, the search engine for car rentals.
Flights? My sisters flew from Israel with Wizzair and had a four-hour flight. I arrived from Cyprus with EasyJet.

How do you get to Lake Maggiore?

We arrived at the lake with a car we rented from Hertz. We picked up the car from the Malpensa Airport in Milan.
The process of receiving the car was easy and pleasant. The Hertz counter is in Terminal 1, where our flights also landed.

The representative offered us to purchase additional insurance to cancel the deductible, but we politely refused and settled for the basic insurance we had with the reservation.

It was approximately an hour-and-a-half drive to the town of Agra, where we stayed.
To search for a car, you can use the search engine for comparing car prices, Papam Papam.

At first we were worried about the electric vehicle because we didn’t know how far we could drive it before the battery ran out, and we weren’t sure where we could charge it either. 

In practice, there are many charging points along the way and in the villages. In the town of Agra, through Google Maps, we found the charging point next to the villa and when we went to Dumenza for dinner, we directed Google Maps to the charging point in the center; that’s how we also earned free parking while charging. To find the charging points we simply searched on Google “EV charging” and it showed us where there are such points. To charge you have to download an app called “Be Charge” and you can create an account or register as a temporary guest.

The lake can also be reached by train from the central station in Milan.

The villa we stayed in at Lake Maggiore

We stayed in the town of Agra, which is located up the mountain (about a quarter-of-an-hour round trip in the mountains) and we had a special villa designed by the architect Carlo Molino (a well-known architect in Italy). The main advantage of the villa was the crazy view from it. Just a feeling of living openly. The location of the villa is in a relatively isolated location, but by walking for about fifteen minutes you can reach the center of the town, which has two restaurants and a grocery store.

Those who love peace and quiet will surely love the villa.

The downside of the villa was that it is not maintained well enough. Everything was clean and the bedrooms were great but in the living room the furniture was old.

The villa had three rooms, a shower room, and a kitchen and living room. There were two more bedrooms also in the lower part of the villa but there was a very suffocated feeling and I would not recommend sleeping there.

My sister is a Pilates trainer so in the morning she gave us a Pilates workout in the garden and with the view of the lake we felt like we were at a retreat. We would prepare the breakfasts in the villa with ingredients we bought in the market and supermarket in the town of Luino and really enjoyed the experience

In short, we really liked the villa especially because of the view, but in the pictures on the Airbnb Villa website, the rooms and living room seemed of a higher level than they really were.

Link to the villa

Where to sleep in Lake Maggiore?

In Lake Maggiore there are many towns and in general I think it’s nice to stay in all of them. We stayed in a small town called Agra, which is above the town of Luino. If you prefer to stay close to the lake, then I think the town of Luino is a great option because you can get to other towns from it by ferry or by car and it has a nice selection of cafes, restaurants, shops and supermarkets.

A hotel located on the lake Relais Villa Porta – link to the hotel

A hotel with a view of the lake Camin Hotel Luino – link to the hotel

Agra 

The town where the villa we stayed in is located. It is a very small town with only two restaurants and one grocery store. If our villa wasn’t there then I wouldn’t have particularly visited this place. But if you stay in this town or close to it, there is a nice restaurant that is open until late called Ristorante – Pizzeria Tio Pepe di Valentini Paolo & C. From the villa it takes about fifteen minutes to walk to the restaurant.

Luino 

A town near the lake. We went several times because it was on the way to our town.

It’s a pretty touristy town and if you rent an apartment on the lake like we did then there are some big supermarkets. We also bought wine there at a store called Enetoca 25 12.

We had dinner there but the restaurant was not of our liking, so I will not recommend it. However, the alley where the restaurant was located was really beautiful, so I am attaching directions for you to go to this alley.

Cafes Coffee in the town of Luino

A nice cafe with delicious pastries but no view of the lake: Caffe Teatroi.

And Cafe Clerici, a cafe located by the lake, where the coffee is just reasonable but the view is lovely and if the weather is nice then it’s totally worth sitting there.

Local market on Wednesdays

Every Wednesday there is a local market in the town. The market is touristy and I would not define it as a mandatory recommendation but if you are already nearby, it is nice to walk around there, especially in the food area. We bought bread for our villa and some cheeses and sausages both for the villa and to take back home with us.

The market has all kinds of things: clothes, bags, games, shoes and also local produce of cheeses, sausages, fruits, vegetables and more…

The Mercato di Luino market is open every Wednesday from 08:00-17:00. Arrival instructions.

Ferry to other towns on the lake

From Luino you can take ferries to other towns around Lake Maggiore.

We took a ferry from there to the town of Canobbio (located on the Italian side). We got to the ferry exactly two minutes before it left and bought tickets from the box office at the entrance.

Directions to the ferry.

Canobbio 

How do you get to the town of Canobbio?

A magical town that we arrived at by ferry from Luino – we paid 32 euros for 4 people for a round trip ticket. The cruise was about 25 minutes. Canobbio can also be reached by car or taxi from Luino, but it’s about an hour’s drive.

Wander around the town

This town is so beautiful that you can spend hours there just walking around and going into different shops. There are nice boutiques as well as various brand shops like the Swiss “On” shoes.

A cafe in Canobbio

We sat there in a cute cafe called Forno Zaccheo that had good coffee, pastries, and desserts.

My siblings ordered a tiramisu and said it was delicious and I opted for an apricot jam cookie. There are all kinds of cookies, pastries and cakes.

Take a dip in the lake

It wasn’t hot enough to get into the lake but there was a stunning spot with a descent to the lake where we just laid there on the grass and talked – directions. If you were to go in hot weather, I recommend bringing a bathing suit because it looks really fun to get into the lake. Arrival instructions.

Ice cream

The truth is that I’m not much of an ice cream fan, but my siblings had ice cream at an ice cream parlor – Gelateria il bacio di Tonsi Nadir and said it was great 

Orrido of Saint Anna gorge

Unfortunately, due to lack of time we didn’t get to this place but it looks amazing! This is a gorge with crazy views. The problem is that walking there from the center of Canobbio is 40 minutes and we couldn’t get a taxi. If you are arriving by car, this seems to be a place that is definitely worth going to. Arrival instructions.

Locarno 

At first we thought of going to Lugano but then my sister, Usherat, found a spa of heated natural salt water pools with an amazing view in Locarno so we changed our minds and went there, and it was an excellent decision!

How do you get to Locarno?

We drove with our car for about 50 minutes (from the town of Agra). It is a flat ride around the lake and no traffic jams so it was a great ride.

Hot salt water spa Termali Salini & Spa Locarno

One of the highlights of our trip. That day the weather was gloomy and a little rainy and this place is perfect for such weather.

You can order tickets online but we paid at the entrance. The payment is in Swiss francs but you can also pay in euros. The cost of entry to the baths only is 38 euros. If you also want a towel, then it is another 7 euros.

If you also want to enter the sauna, there is an additional fee (note that the entrance to the saunas is fully nude only). Spa treatments can also be ordered. My brother took a 20 minute massage and felt it was unnecessary.

From the moment you enter you feel like you’re in a relaxing dream. The spa is located right in front of the lake.

There are changing rooms with lockers where you can leave all your things. It is forbidden to take pictures or use a cell phone there! (So unfortunately I don’t have any photos from the place). At the entrance you get a bracelet with which you can open and close the locker as well as buy food and drinks in the restaurant inside (you pay at the end before leaving).

There is a heated pool inside with natural salt water and Jacuzzis but the highlight is the natural salt water pool outside. You can go out to it from the pool inside and enjoy the perfect view. When we were in the pool it was raining and it was an amazing experience to be in the water at a temperature of 34 degrees while it was raining on us.

At one point we went to a restaurant and ordered fruit smoothies and sat on the sunbeds inside and read a book.

We were there for about five hours and there is no doubt that we could have stayed there for a whole day if we didn’t want to get a few more things done. Link to the spa’s official website.

Arrival instructions

A cafe shop with perfect coffee

My brother found a small cafe that only serves coffee! The place looks like a small office with two benches, a coffee machine, and coffee-related products. The place is run by a lovely couple (the woman is from Bolivia and the man is from Switzerland) and they specialize in coffee from Bolivia. I had two cappuccinos because the coffee was so good and they have different flavors of coffee beans. I tried the two types they offered and was really impressed. If you are a fan of good coffee, this is definitely a recommendation you shouldn’t miss. Muyu Cafe. Open only in the months of March – September between the hours of 09:00 and 16:00.

Japanese tea up the mountain

My brother found another recommendation and this time it was for Japanese tea in a special place. We decided we had to try it. This recommendation is less mandatory for me since the tea and the place did not live up to my expectations, but if you have some free time, you can definitely try it.

This is a place that looks like a Japanese botanical garden and is very beautiful to walk around. Inside there is a tea shop and a place to have Japanese-style tea. You can order any type of tea you want and wait for it to be served. It might be worth making a reservation in advance because when we arrived there were relatively many people. My brother ordered matcha, I ordered ginger tea and my sisters jasmine tea and chai tea. The tea was nice, nothing special. The atmosphere was more special than the tea. The place is called Casa del Te.

Street food festival

Coincidentally the day we arrived we found out there was a street food festival by the lake just outside the spa we were at. The festival is three-days-long days and is held once a year. You can check on their Facebook page when the next festival will be.

The festival was very nice, with over 45 food stalls from all over the world. What’s more, because this is the Swiss region, the prices are according. The prices of the dishes were between 7 euros and 13 euros for small dishes and 13 to 18 euros for medium ones.

Facebook page Streetfood Festival Locarno.

Macagno 

How do you get to the town?

We got there by car, through an about 10-minute drive from Luino but you can also take a ferry. The ferry to Canobbio stops first in Macagno.

What do you do in Macagno?

It’s another charming town that’s fun to wander around and in addition there is an area of grass with trees so there is shade and there is also a playground and a café. In addition to this, in the summer there are water sports and you can get into the lake. Arrival instructions. We didn’t get to walk around the town much because just as we arrived, it started to rain. But if the weather is pleasant or warm then of course the town is worth a visit.

The best restaurant we’ve been to in Lake Maggiore

On our second evening in Lake Maggiore we went to a restaurant in the town of Dumenza, at about a 5-minute drive from Agra where we were staying at, and the truth is that the restaurant was amazing. We loved everything, from the food, the wine, and the view from the restaurant. If the weather is nice, I recommend booking a place to sit outside because the view is lovely.

We parked at a quarter-of-an-hour’s walk from the restaurant because we left the car to charge at the electric car charging station (directions) and the road to the restaurant was really beautiful.

We ordered quite a few dishes and each one was tasty and a success with us. We ordered several starters, minestrone soup, a rabbit dish with polenta, pasta with truffle mushrooms, ravioli, and for desserts we ordered cake and cream borla. Everything was really flavorful and the service was great. The menus are only in Italian so we used Google Translate to translate it into English (this is what we had to do in most restaurants because the menu was only in Italian).

Ristorante Smeraldo.

Things to do in Lake Maggiore with children

Although we weren’t at the lake with children, it was just the four of us, I saw some great recommendations for the lake for those who come with children, so I’m adding the ones I think that are worth checking out.

The Wonderwood ropes and climbing park is suitable for all ages with different degrees of difficulty. Free entry up to the age of three. The park has rope and climbing routes, swimming pools, and various attractions such as children’s vehicles.

Link to purchase tickets to Wonderwood

Spa with a waterpark. Splash e Spa Tamaro can be reached by train to the Rivera-Bironico station or by car. This is a spa that also has pools and slides. link to website

Ropes park. The Adventure Park Monte Tamaro ropes park is close to Splash e Spa. You can visit both places in the same day or in two days. This one is a rope park with ropes, a roller coaster, a cable car, and a playground. link to website

Additional attractions in Lake Maggiore

We didn’t get to try the following attractions but they look like something worth checking out

Hop-on Hop-off tourist ferry to three islands in Lake Maggiore – link to purchase tickets
Visit to the winery and wine tasting in Lake Maggiore – link to purchase tickets
Cooking class at Lake Maggiore – link to purchase tickets

Hope my post helped you. If so, I would very much like you to respond here in the comments, and if you have any more questions, you are also welcome to ask them in the comments or write to me on the blog’s social networks: Facebook and Instagram.

Looking for more information about Italy? I have more posts about Italy on my blog.

Pin below to save on Pinterest

I’ve been in the United States several times but up until this last trip, I had only traveled to New York, Las Vegas, and Florida. So, when we had the opportunity to fly to the California area, we were immediately excited.

We went for a 16-day trip that started with 6 days in Los Angeles then went to San Diego for 3 days and after that to the town of Loreto, in Mexico, for 6 days.

Information about Los Angeles

Los Angeles is considered the entertainment capital of the world and is a paradise of idyllic weather. It is an international center for business, commerce, entertainment, culture, media, fashion, science, technology and education. It is a very fascinating city with plenty of things to do.

How do I get there?

We arrived on a United Airlines flight with a stop in San Francisco. The first flight was 15 hours to San Francisco and then another 2-hour flight to Los Angeles. It was a long journey but well worth the effort.

Disneyland

Well, it’s no secret that one of the most famous attractions in the city is Disneyland. When I was a child, I visited Disney World in Orlando, so I was really excited to go back to another version in Los Angeles. This is an attraction suitable for both children and adults. We were a couple without children and we really enjoyed ourselves. There are many types of facilities there, and if you buy a ticket with the option to skip queues, in some facilities you can go straight on without waiting in line. There are facilities for children, for the whole family and extreme ones. This is an attraction for a whole-day trip or even for two days in order to have time to do all the facilities.

Tip: There is a check at the entrance and you are not allowed to bring in selfie sticks or GoPro sticks, so if you planned to do so, keep in mind that they’re not allowed.

In addition, from the parking lot there is a train that takes you to the entrance of the park itself. It is recommended to come with comfortable walking shoes since it is a large park and you have to walk a lot from facility to facility and also time spent waiting in lines (standing). It is recommended to arrive as early as possible in order to have time to make installations without much waiting time, and it’s best to go on days that are not too hot.

Book tickets to Disneyland

Universal Studios

Another place that is an attraction where you can spend the whole day and, like Disneyland, it is a place that makes you feel like you are in a movie. There are fewer facilities than Disneyland, but there are also all kinds of shows that we really, really liked. In addition, the setting is very impressive. My impression was that Universal Studios is more suitable for youths and adults and less for small children, if compared to Disneyland, where there are many facilities that are also suitable for babies and small children. At Universal Studios, most of the facilities are more challenging, involving lots of roller coasters.

Book tickets to Universal studios

A tour of the homes of the famous

This was one of the tours I was most excited about. There are tours from the Star of the Stars that depart every day several times a day, which are for 10 people, in a large, open vehicle. The driver is also the guide and with the help of headphones you can hear his explanations throughout the trip. Our driver/guide was super funny and told us lots of stories about the celebrities and their homes. You don’t see too much of the houses themselves, except for Leonardo DiCaprio’s Doge’s house, where we only saw a gate because there are guards who don’t allow you to go any further, but I really liked hearing the stories about them. In addition, the guide put on music according to the movies he was talking about, which created a fun and light atmosphere for the tour.

The tour was about two hours and we did it through the Starline company.

Buy Tickets to Hollywood Sightseeing and Celebrity Homes Tour by Open Bus tours

Farmers Market and Grove

This is a very nice area that has both a shopping complex and a market with many food stalls with cuisines from all around the world. The shopping complex itself is very beautiful and includes a movie theatre . This is an area that is not too busy and has a pleasant atmosphere, so you can also just walk around without even doing any shopping. Directions.

Beaches in Malibu

One day it was decided that we would go to El Matador beach in Malibu. The trip was about an hour long and was really fun because it is along the sea, so you see both that and vacation homes with interesting architectures all along the way. From the right side there were views of mountains and blossoms, so we also stopped on the way to enjoy the view.

There are several beaches in Malibu but our host, Christian, recommended El Matador, which is considered one of the most beautiful and special in the area. To get to the beach you have to park on the side of the road and walk a few minutes on a marked path, and from there you go down to the beach. The descent is not difficult, but it is not very recommended for people with disabilities.

The beach itself is full of rocks and cliffs and even small caves and it is undoubtedly a really beautiful beach that is worth going to if you are a beach lover.

Santa Monica Pier

The Santa Monica Pier is considered one of the most famous places in the city and has been a filming location for many scenes in movies and series. At the pier you will find street performances, several stalls, an amusement park with a giant wheel, an aquarium, and a video arcade. There is also a beach there and it is very nice to come and watch the sunset from there. Directions.

Griffith Park viewpoint

Griffith Park is one of the largest urban parks in North America. It has many hiking trails and you can go for a picnic, a walk or just to enjoy nature. Unfortunately we didn’t get to roam around in it since we had a lot of other activities, but we did get to watch the sunset from its observatory. This is a very popular place to come to watch the sunset and take photographs since it offers a view of the entire park and the city of Los Angeles. In addition, it is one of the best vantage points to view the Hollywood sign.

From the parking lot to the observatory there is an uphill walk of a few minutes but it is worth it. There are many lawns and you can come with a sheet or a mat and sit there for a nice picnic and watch the sunset and the beautiful view. Directions.

The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens

It is a collection-based educational and research institution founded by Henry A. Huntington (1850-1927). This is one of the most magical and relaxing places we got to visit during our stay in Los Angeles. It is a huge place! I recommend arriving at opening hours, at 10 in the morning because the place closes at 5 and even so, it is most likely that you won’t be able to see everything there, anyway. 

The thing I liked the most was the wide variety of botanical gardens: Japanese, Chinese, rose gardens and more. You can walk there for hours and just enjoy the special beauty of each and every garden. The place is very well thought out and clean, and it is not crowded with people, either. The museums were also particularly interesting. In the museum about the works in Europe, you also get audio and so you can learn about the different paintings displayed there. We were very surprised by the place and did not expect something so beautiful and special. I highly recommend it for garden and art lovers.

Tip: This is a very photogenic place for Instagram so it’s worth investing in nice clothes and accessories 🙂 But of course come with comfortable shoes since the place is very big and you’ll have a lot to walk there. In addition, there are various restaurants scattered among the gardens and at the entrance. The Japanese restaurant in the Japanese gardens is recommended as well as the main restaurant at the entrance, which has a delightful Mexican stand. official website.

Rodeo Drive

One of the most famous streets in the world and also one of the most expensive in the world, with more than 100 world-renowned shops and luxury hotels. Chances are you’ll get there and you won’t even be able to buy a pen, but still the street itself is beautiful and it’s easy to get lost in its charm and splendor. It is recommended to visit the Four Seasons Hotel there. This is a very famous hotel that has been home to many iconic personalities, including Warren Beatty, John Lennon and Elvis Presley. Today, it is affectionately known as the “Pretty Woman Hotel” because it provided the backdrop for some of the scenes from the classic film “Pretty Woman”. In addition, it is recommended to visit the shopping center located right in front of the hotel, where you will find luxury stores such as Versace, Jimmy Choo, Lanvin and Tiffany & Co. as well as the Urasawa sushi restaurant, which is considered one of the most expensive sushi restaurants in the United States.

Hollywood Star Walk

Apart from doing the tour of the houses of the celebrities in Hollywood, of course, before that, you have to go through the Hollywood Walk of Fame and see the stars of your favorite celebrities. You will also find all kinds of people dressed as movie characters who will offer you to take a picture with them in exchange for a tip. There is no doubt that this is a super touristic attraction and it is a must for anyone visiting Los Angeles for the first time.

Since we only had 6 days to be in the city and 2 of them were in Disneyland and Universal Studios, we only got to see a small part of the city, but for a first time there, I felt that we saw a lot of the famous places that are generally recommended for a first experience. Los Angeles is huge and you need much more than a few days to explore it, and it left us with a desire for more. The advantage of being with Christian, the host on the trip, was that he knew where to go, where to park and recommended the things we should see the most.

Recommendations for things worth doing in Los Angeles for those visiting there for the first time. We were in the city for 6 days as part of a private trip through an American company. Every day we did a different activity and we got to do familiar tourist attractions like Disneyland and Universal Studios and visit special places like El Matador Beach in Malibu and an observation point in the city of Los Angeles.