Three hours and you're in Cyprus
Direct flights from Moscow (SVO, DME) to Larnaca (LCA) and Paphos (PFO). Aeroflot, S7, Rossiya. Also flights from Saint Petersburg, Kazan, Yekaterinburg.
Not just a beach. Island of Aphrodite.
Best fares
Hotels in Cyprus, from Limassol to Paphos
Ultra-luxury beachfront in Limassol, historic villas in Paphos and boutique hotels of Ayia Napa at Europe's most celebrated beach.
Cities and resorts of Cyprus
When to go to Cyprus
The sea — April to November. Best balance — May and October: warm, sea is warm, prices 30% below peak.
Ready-made tours to Cyprus
What you need to know before you go
Cyprus visa
Russians require a Cyprus visa. Apply online via the official portal, from $70, processing 3–5 business days. Holders of valid Schengen, US or UK visas enter without a Cyprus visa.
Money
Cyprus is EU, currency EUR. Russian Visa/Mastercard cards do not work. Use UnionPay or cash euros. ATMs everywhere, withdrawal fee €3–5.
Transport
Left-hand traffic — British legacy. Car rental from €20/day — best way to explore the island. Taxi Larnaca–Limassol €45–55, Larnaca–Ayia Napa €30–40. Buses exist but slow.
Connectivity
Sales.Travel eSIM — from 4 € per week, QR activation. Current plans on the eSIM page. 4G coverage across the island, including Troodos mountains and remote beaches.
Must-try experiences
Half a day in water — clarity 10+ m, you see the seabed from a boat. Rent an umbrella (400 ₽). Arrive by 8:30 — from 11:00 it's packed. Beachside snack — souvlaki for €4.
Recognised as one of Europe's finest beaches. Nissi Beach stuns with water clarity — you see the bottom at 10 metres. Mornings are quiet and beautiful, by noon it fills up, so arrive early and claim your umbrella spot.
Petra tou Romiou — rock in the sea where, by legend, the goddess of love was born. Sunset here — one of the finest in Cyprus. 15 minutes from the highway, free parking.
Greek mythology places Aphrodite's birth from sea foam here. The rock stands right at the water, sunset behind it paints the sea gold — one of the most photogenic views on the island.
Villa Dionysios — floor mosaics from the 1st–4th centuries AD. Scenes from Greek mythology the size of a hall. UNESCO site. Ticket €5. Nearby: Tombs of the Kings and the castle.
The floor mosaics of Villa Dionysios are one of the world's finest collections. Hunting scenes, banquets of gods and mythological subjects created over 1,800 years ago and preserved almost perfectly.
20 dishes to the table: octopus, halloumi, tarama, sheftalia, keftedes, loukanika. Local restaurant in the fishing quarter of Limassol or Larnaca — €18–25 per person.
Cypriot meze is not a starter but the entire meal: 20+ dishes brought one after another. Octopus in red wine, halloumi with mint, sheftalia, pickled vegetables. Usually €18–25 per person, and you'll leave full.
Limestone arches and sea caves 10 km from Ayia Napa. Snorkelling in transparent grottoes. Cliff-edge trail — 5 km. Sunset from the cape — spectacular.
Nature park with sea caves and limestone arches over the Mediterranean. Snorkelling in grottoes, 5 km walking trail along the cliff edge and sunsets people drive from Limassol to see.
The world's oldest wine with a history from 800 BC. Tasting at the producer in Keos or Zoopigi cooperative in the Troodos mountains. Bottle — €8–15.
Commandaria is mentioned in texts by Hesiod (800 BC) and was Richard the Lionheart's favourite wine. Sweet dessert wine from sun-dried grapes — tasting directly at the producer in Troodos villages.
Cyprus's largest monastery, founded in the 11th century. Golden iconostases, mosaic courtyards. Free entry, dress code. On the way — Caledonia waterfall.
Founded in the 11th century, it houses an icon of the Virgin Mary believed to be painted by Saint Luke. Golden iconostases, mosaic courtyards with peacocks and mountain air 1,200 m above sea level.
Yachts, waterside restaurants, sunsets from the pier. Evening walk along Molos — 3 km pedestrian promenade by the sea. Dinner with a view of the lights — perfect day finale.
Limassol Marina — the island's finest spot for evening dinner. Yachts, restaurants right on the water, fresh sea air. The Molos promenade — 3 km boulevard with fountains, playgrounds and open-air cafés.
Cypriot cheese that doesn't melt. Eaten with watermelon (yes!) or with mint. Best — in a village taverna. Take home in vacuum pack — sold everywhere.
Halloumi is the only cheese with EU protected designation of origin. Doesn't melt over fire, juicy inside and crispy outside. With watermelon for breakfast — classic. With meze for lunch — mandatory.