Cyprus Unplugged: One Island, Two Worlds

Cyprus is a strange and seductive puzzle : part European beach playground, part ancient cradle of mythology, and part divided frontier where politics and passports collide. It also sits at a crossroad: Greek tavernas and Turkish bazaars rub shoulders with Levantine spices, Arabic echoes, and a constant whisper from the Middle East just over the sea. My journey ran from the foam-kissed shores of Ayia Napa to the green forests of Akamas, with detours through border controls, beach bars and so much more.

Ayia Napa: Saltwater Highs & Neon Nights

From Mumbai I took a Qatar Airways flight and landed in Larnarca via Doha. The trip began in Ayia Napa, a resort town that wears its reputation on its sleeve- unapologetic, hedonistic, a place where suntan lotion smells like freedom and nights dissolve into tequila shots.

The beaches are absurdly beautiful - Nissi Beach, with its shallow turquoise shallows, is as much a catwalk as it is a swimming spot. A boat ride took me out into the blinding blue, where the only thing to do was dive headfirst into the Mediterranean, salt water stinging, adrenaline rushing.

I checked into Cyprotel Florida, a decent-ish hotel a short stroll from the action. Think functional comfort, balconies catching sea breezes, and the kind of place you use as a launchpad for the chaos outside rather than a destination in itself.

But the real flex in Ayia Napa is a day cruise. Think catamarans with open decks, cocktails flowing before noon, and speakers humming lazy summer beats as you sail along sea caves and limestone cliffs. Most trips anchor in hidden coves where you can leap into sapphire water, snorkel with schools of fish, or just float with the sun on your back. On my cruise, lunch was grilled souvlaki and wine served at sea , half adventure, half floating party. It’s the kind of day that blurs into night, where you dock sunburnt and salt-crusted, only to find yourself stumbling toward the clubs again.

Come midnight, Ayia Napa turns into a neon carnival. Clubs pulse with EDM and Balkan beats, but when Mundiyan Toh Bachke dropped at one sweaty dance floor, the place exploded. Beach bars spill over with international crowds, the kind of nights where strangers become best friends and you forget your room number.

Panagia Church & The Other Side of Cyprus

After Ayia Napa’s chaos, I found calm in the Panagia Church, a whitewashed sanctuary of stillness, its icons glowing in the candlelight. From there, I made my way to Nicosia, the world’s last divided capital. Crossing into the Turkish Cypriot north at the Ledra Street checkpoint was surreal. One minute, euro cafés and Greek chatter; the next, Turkish coffee and minarets.

It’s here that Cyprus’ cultural cocktail becomes tangible. Greek and Ottoman histories layer over Venetian walls, while cafés sell both baklava and bourekas. You hear Greek folk songs, then the call to prayer; sip Cypriot coffee brewed in the sand, then a Lebanese arak poured with a smile.

You need your passport : a reminder that in Cyprus, politics is geography you can feel on foot. I wandered through Nebethane, a quarter where Ottoman echoes still hang in the air, and into bazaars where spices, leather, and Arabic perfumes mingle in the air.

Nikitari and Limassol

Heading west, I stopped in Nikitari, where the Church of Panagia Asinou hides frescoes so vivid they look freshly painted, a burst of Byzantium in the forest.

Limassol, by contrast, is swagger and cosmopolitan energy. The marina gleams with yachts, restaurants pour chilled rosé, and beach clubs hum with laid-back confidence. It’s a city where cultures collide in the glass and on the plate , mezze spreads of olives, hummus, grilled halloumi paired with French rosé, Italian pasta, or a Lebanese tabbouleh, depending on the night. I stayed at Hotel Paul, a simple boutique hideaway that trades ostentation for authenticity. Just a few streets back from the ocean, it’s a perfect crash pad before heading out again.

And when night fell, I found myself at Breeze Club, an open-air temple of sound right by the sea. It’s one of Cyprus’ best clubs beats under the stars, waves for a backdrop, the kind of place where the line between the ocean and the dance floor blurs.

Paphos & Agios Theodoros

In Paphos, Aphrodite is everywhere. Her rock, her legend, her lingering sense that love and lust are eternal currents washing through the island. The town balances archaeological gravitas with beach-town charm: Roman mosaics by day, cocktails by the sea come dusk.

A quieter detour led me to Agios Theodoros, a village with the scent of orange blossoms, where time seems to stall. Lunch was grilled halloumi, olive oil, and bread so simple yet so perfect it could’ve been blessed. Followed by a short detour west to Peyia revealed the iconic shipwreck, its skeletal hull resting in shallow turquoise water, perfect for a swim or a photo op. Sunlight slices through the waves, illuminating the rusted ribs of the vessel, a surreal reminder of the Mediterranean’s hidden stories.

Akamas Peninsula

The trip ended in Akamas Peninsula, a stark contrast to Ayia Napa’s neon. Here, wild forests tumble into hidden coves, trails lead to waterfalls, and the Blue Lagoon lives up to its name. I trekked through pine and carob trees, salt still crusting on my skin, and felt a rare calm. No Wi-Fi, no border crossings, no bass drops, just the island as it was meant to be.

Cyprus in a Line

Cyprus is a country of contradictions: Orthodox churches and open-air raves, passports and party stamps, Arabic coffee and Greek wine, turquoise seas and green forests. It’s where Europe brushes against the Middle East, where Ottoman bazaars sit a short drive from glossy marinas, where you can jump off a boat into the deep Mediterranean at noon, then stand at a checkpoint dividing worlds by 3 p.m. It’s messy, beautiful, unforgettable.

If Havana is stuck in the 1960s, Cyprus is split in two, half wild, half wired, wholly intoxicating, and forever caught between continents.

Getting to Cyprus from Mumbai or Delhi

Flying from Mumbai to Cyprus is easier than it sounds, though there are no direct flights, so plan for one stop.

Fastest Route – Middle East Connection

- Mumbai : Dubai / Doha / Abu Dhabi → Larnaca

- Airlines: Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad

- Total travel time: 10–12 hours including layover

Airports in Cyprus

- Larnaca International (LCA): Ideal for Ayia Napa, Limassol, Nicosia

- Paphos International (PFO): Best for western coast and Akamas Peninsula

Visa Tip

- Indian passport holders need a Cyprus visa.

- If you already have a valid multi-entry Schengen visa, you can enter Cyprus without extra paperwork.

- Otherwise, apply at the Cyprus High Commission in New Delhi well ahead of time.

Travel Note: Once you land, taxis, rented cars, or organized tours are your easiest ways to get around, especially if you want to hit Ayia Napa’s beaches, Nicosia’s checkpoints, and Akamas’ hidden coves.

What made this trip seamless was working with a solid travel partner- a must, since very few tourists from India actually venture to Cyprus. With the help of few days off holidays, they planned the journey end-to-end, and their accountability made every leg, from border crossings to beach bars, completely stress-free.