Why Cyprus?
Cyprus is the third-largest Mediterranean island and a destination that doesn't fit into a single superlative. On just 9,251 km² — smaller than the German state of Thuringia — the island combines an astonishing diversity:
- 340 sunny days a year — Cyprus is the sunniest place in Europe and therefore visitable year-round
- 10,000 years of history — from the oldest settlements in the world (Choirokoitia, UNESCO) to Greek temples, Roman mosaics, Crusader castles, Venetian fortresses, and Ottoman hammams
- Aphrodite's birthplace — the mythical rock Petra tou Romiou, where the goddess of love emerged from the sea foam, is located near Paphos
- Two cultures on one island — the Greek-Cypriot south (EU, Euro) and the Turkish-Cypriot north offer completely different experiences
- Troodos Mountains with 1,952 m height, UNESCO barn-roof churches, and vineyards right next to dream beaches
- A Meze culture like no other: 20–30 dishes per meal, plus Commandaria — the oldest named wine in the world
Cyprus has been part of the EU since 2004, and the currency in the south is the Euro. An ID card is sufficient for EU citizens. The flight time from Germany is just under 4 hours — yet the island feels like another world: oriental bazaars next to Greek Orthodox churches, British left-hand traffic relics next to modern beach resorts.
What makes Cyprus special: You can snorkel at a secluded beach on the Akamas Peninsula in the morning, enjoy trout with Commandaria wine in a Troodos mountain village at noon, admire 3,000-year-old mosaics in Paphos in the afternoon, and watch the sunset over the Mediterranean on the Limassol promenade in the evening. All within an hour's drive.
