With several weeks to go in the school summer holidays, it’s not too late to change your mind about rounding up the kids and indulging in a well-earned break.
Why not consider Cyprus – the third largest island in the Mediterranean, which attracts more than two million tourists annually?
This destination is a top choice for British families thanks to its year-round climate, delicious food, fantastic Blue Flag beaches and legendary hospitality and Greek culture. The island is packed with a huge range of different activities to suit everyone’s interests.
With the help of the Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO), we’ve rounded up the top things to do with your kids to ensure a fun-filled trip.
For Water Babies
With several Blue Flag beaches, Cyprus is a brilliant destination for ocean-loving families. Paphos has 12 Blue Flag beaches, Limassol has over 10 clean and child-friendly beaches and Larnaca’s CTO beach in Pyla is great for families. There’s a range of water sports centres where you can try out waterskiing, para sailing, wake boarding, banana boat rides and more: Central Watersports, Larnaca, Nick’s Watersports Centre in Paphos and XS Watersports in Protaras.
The Yellow Submarine glass-bottomed boat runs trips from Ayia Napa or join your own pirate quest on the Black Pearl pirate ship with daily cruises departing from Ayia Napa harbour which include lunch, entertainment and swimming stops.
As well as its spectacular beaches, the kids will love Cyprus’ waterparks: the Watermania waterpark, Limassol, offers fish pedicures and temporary tattoos as well as the usual waterslides and wave pools; WaterWorld in Ayia Napa – Europe’s largest themed waterpark – has a wave pool, obstacle course, lazy river, water playground and go-karting; and Aphrodite waterpark, Paphos, is open year-round.
For Thrill-Seekers
There are endless options for kids with an adventurous streak: paintball at Paintball Z in Limassol; Sparti Park, Limassol – Cyprus’ first rope adventure forest park; go karting just outside Nicosia with Daytona Go Karting; racing, quad biking and archery at Sayious Adventure Park in Limassol; biking adventures with Bikin’ Cyprus; go-karting, amusement arcades and a roller coaster at the Lucky Star Park in Larnaca; ice skating, paintballing, archery, rock climbing and orienteering at Adventure Mountain Park; bouncy castles, obstacles courses and a climbing wall at the Wow Action Park in Larnaca.
For a Breath of Fresh Air
With its year-round climate, Cyprus is a great place for the kids to get outside and into the fresh air: enjoy the mountain air and hike the 3km Caledonia Falls Trail, Troodos, which ends with an impressive waterfall; encourage the kids to take part in a range of outdoor activities at the Kids Adventure Camp by One Step Further; play mini golf at the 19-hole course at Star Leisure Mini Golf in Protaras; soak up the peaceful atmosphere at the Athalassa National Park; go cycling, hiking or fishing in Kalopanayiotis Village; or climbing, biking, trekking or kayaking with Zephyros Adventure Sports.
For Culture Vultures
Cyprus is packed with museums and cultural activities too: The Thalassa museum in Ayia-Napa which features the replica of the 4th century Kyrenia shipwreck where kids can try ‘excavating’ some of the wreck; the Leventis Gallery in Nicosia hosts special art workshops for children and families; the Palaeontology Museum in Larnaca; take an informative trip on George’s fun bus and teach the kids all about Cyprus as you travel around the island; or enjoy panoramic views at the Ledra Museum Observatory on the 11th floor of the Shacolas Tower.
For more information, visit: www.visitcyprus.com
