CyprusVista

If you’re looking for a relaxing holiday in Cyprus this year, leave the hustle and tour coaches from Larnaca and Limassol behind you, and head west.

Western Cyprus is a world apart that’s within easy reach of Paphos airport, and as you driver through the hills towards to town of Polis, you can feel the troubles of the world simply drifting away! As you leave the hills behind, the wide sweep of Chrysocou Bay appears, as wide as the smiles on the Cyprus faces that welcome you to this quieter, more laid back part of the island.

Polis may not be a very pretty town, but it’s a great place to potter around. Simply park in the free car park under the olive trees, and walk up the side streets behind the market hall. Here you’ll discover the town’s pedestrian centre, lined with pretty cafes and surprisingly good jewellery shops. Just off the main road to the north, the Archeological Museum is small but well-stocked, since Polis itself was built on the ruins of the ancient Greek port of Marion. This calm and cool museum is a joy to wander around, as you’ll often have the rooms to yourself, and the exhibits are interesting without being overwhelming.

From Polis, you can drive back into Cyprus’ more recent past along the impressive E704, the coastal road that hugs the edge of Chrysocou Bay. Here, the beaches may be small, but park the car and chances are, they’ll be yours alone all day long. Better still, admire the views and then head beyond Pomos to Pachyammos.  The modern church at Pachyammos is a blaze of colour, decorated with modern frescoes that gleam with gold. Afterwards, admire the stunning views over the sea from its back terraces under the shade of the trees, a picture-perfect spot.

Further up the road is the isolated Turkish Cypriot enclave of Kokkina (Erenkoy), guarded by Argentinean UN forces. The road has to head inland into the foothills of the Troodos Mountains to circle round this tiny part of North Cyprus marooned inside the Republic of Cyprus. Ironically, this road has amazing vistas, but don’t be tempted to take photos of this military area, it’s illegal.

Continue on and you’ll discover Kato Pyrgos, a small seaside resort where the Greek Cypriots go to escape from the tourists! It’s an ideal place to have a spot of lunch by the sea, and maybe a quick snooze in the shade…

Time to turn the car around and head back to the coastal road,and head out to Pomos Point for a breath of sea air, followed by afternoon coffee and baklava in a local cafe. Or if you’ve spent longer on the beach (and why not, you’re on holiday), stop for a romantic dinner at a pretty coastal restaurant, watching the sun set over the Mediterranean Sea. After all, Polis is less than 30 minutes’ drive away, one of the many delights of a holiday in this relaxed and easy-to-drive part of Cyprus.

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