This post is part of another, broader one, about recommendations for things to do in Paphos (even without children).
Paphos is a city located in the Greek part of Cyprus. Even though it’s a city, it is suitable for relaxing as well as for those looking for trips to the mountains and magical villages. Paphos is a great destination for couples and families. There are attractions that are suitable for adults and excellent hotels. In this post you will find some attractions and cool things to do with the kids in Paphos, Cyprus.
Tips before flying to Paphos
SIM card
I personally recommend using an ESIM, which is an electronic SIM, and recommend Airalo. I was very satisfied with their user experience (simple tutorial videos for operating the SIM card) and everything worked without any special problems. I wrote more about them in an extended post on the subject of taking a SIM card abroad and also about other options such as buying a local SIM card.
Blog followers have a 15% discount code for the Airalo company to purchase an ESIM – to redeem the discount, click on this link. The discount code is already included in the link. See it at checkout.
The biggest drawback at the moment is that some devices do not support an electronic SIM. How can you know if your device supports the electronic card? Very simple: go to this link and you can see. Link to which devices support ESIM.
Where to sleep in Paphos
The hotel we personally like the most is the Olympic Lagoon. This is a 5-star all-inclusive resort and is perfect for a vacation with children. I also wrote a detailed post about recommended hotels and resorts in Paphos.
Car rental in Paphos
In Paphos and in general in Cyprus there is no convenient public transport. For those who only come for a backpacking vacation, the buses and taxis will provide a good enough answer, but if you also want to travel, I personally recommend renting a car. It is true that the journey here is in the opposite direction from standard traffic, but as someone who lives here, I can say that you get used to it quickly.
You can search for a car in the search engine Papam Papam. Personally, I really like to search through them because they save me time (instead of going to several websites) and they also have the option of filtering out non-recommended rental companies. I wrote an extended post on the whole subject of car rentals abroad and I recommend reading it especially if this is your first car rental.
Cruise to the Blue Lagoon with snorkels
We took a 6-hour cruise to the Blue Lagoon, which also includes snorkels, lunch, fruit and drinks, as well as transportation from the hotel for those who need it. A fun experience for children and adults. The cruise includes Coral Bay, the Sea Caves and St. George Island. There is one break where you can swim and snorkel.
The cruise is on a fun yacht with two floors (for those who suffer from nausea, it is better to be downstairs and not upstairs. I was pregnant during the cruise and it helped me the most to be downstairs in the middle of the yacht). You don’t need to bring anything except towels and swimwear and just enjoy the cruise.
Link to purchase tickets for a cruise to the lagoon – can be reserved free of charge in advance and can be canceled for free up to a day before.
There are also cheaper options for a cruise that’s a bit longer and doesn’t include food (but I have no recommendations from personal experience).
A visit to a magical castle
At the end of the harbor you will find a castle that was originally a Byzantine fortress built to protect the harbor. What survives today is the Ottoman reconstruction from 1592.
The main part of the castle is a large square tower that has an enclosed courtyard in the middle. The ground floor consists of a central hall with small rooms, which were used as prison cells during the Ottoman reign.
Maya (age 4) and Roman had a lot of fun exploring the cells from the outside and talking about them. What’s even nicer is that you can go up to the roof and there you have a beautiful view of the harbor and it’s another place for the kids to play.
Entry for children is free and adults 2.5 euros.
Directions to the castle at the end of the harbor
A visit to an animal protection organization
An organization called Animal Rescue Cyprus that rescues abandoned animals and takes care of them. The children can pet donkeys, dogs and cats there. You can also “adopt an animal” with a monetary donation and they will send you a certificate and a photo of it. They don’t really give it to you.
We visited with Maya and Sophie (one year old) and they both really enjoyed seeing and petting the animals. The donkeys roam freely and have a very large area to do so.
Entry is of course free. It is recommended to call before and find out if they are indeed open. And of course you can also donate any amount of money to help out.
Directions to Animal Rescue
Visiting the tombs of kings
Form part of the Archaeological Park of Kato Paphos (Paphos) – one of the most important archaeological sites of Cyprus included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 1980.
Despite its name, no kings were buried there, only members of the aristocracy, but the size and splendor of the tombs gave the place its name.
This is one of our favorite places in Paphos. It’s a huge place where the kids can run free, look for hiding places and play. The view is beautiful and you can visit all year round (in winter when it doesn’t rain).
A perfect place for children to run, crawl and play.
Entrance fee: children free and adults 2.5 euros
Directions to the Tombs of the Kings
A visit to the playground near the mall
A large Cosmic World kid’s entertainment playhouse with games for children and little ones.
There is also bowling, crashing cars and computer games. On weekends it can be very busy especially during the winter but it’s still a great place to spend time.
Entrance fee: 5 euros for children. Adults and babies free
Directions to Cosmic World
And if you are already there, you can visit the mall itself, where you will find brand stores, a Jumbo branch (a type of Maxstock only much bigger), restaurants and a children’s playground. Note that most shops close at 7pm.
Directions to the mall
Paphos Zoo
Quite a large and nice zoo for children. Personally, I’m less connected to zoos, but there are some cute activities for children, such as feeding fish, a 15-minute parrot and owl show (suitable for children who can sit without moving much because it’s not allowed). The owls fly over the crowd and you have to sit down so as not to scare them. You can feed the teachers (surcharge 5 euros per person) or feed a fillet rescued from Bangladesh (surcharge 50 euros for a group of up to 5 people).
Entrance fee:
17.5 euros per adult (12+)
9.5 per child (2-12)
Babies up to two years old are free
Link to purchase tickets to the zoo – you can reserve free of charge in advance and you can cancel for free up to a day before
Directions to the zoo
Aphrodite Paphos Water Park
A large and fun water park for children and adults. There are slides and water attractions that are also suitable for little ones, children and adults.
The park is usually open from the beginning of May until the middle of October / the end of November.
It is recommended to call and find out activity times or visit the website of the water park and check there. Sometimes there are discounts on the official website if you order before the season opens or you can also order a ticket for a few days, shuttles and other extras. It is important to note that the booking on the website of the water park is non-cancelable / non-refundable.
Link to purchase tickets to the Aphrodite Water Park – you can reserve free of charge in advance and you can cancel for free up to the day before
Directions to the Aphrodite Water Park
Bonus for blog followers
If you are planning to come to Cyprus and are looking for someone to plan an itinerary for you that you can do independently with a car (minimum for 3 days) or if you want to do a private trip with a driver (also suitable for large groups) then I recommend contacting Rony Schwartz. We met not long ago and I was very impressed by his knowledge of Cyprus (he has been living here for 5 years in Paphos) and beyond that he is really charming and has been planning trips for many years.
Link to Roni’s WhatsApp for contact
If you book a “private trip” for a family, or a small group, Roni will make for you a “detailed plan for a sightseeing day, with a culinary emphasis”, in Paphos, or Larnaca, or Limassol, including warm recommendations! Such a program costs 50 – 40 euros normally, but you will get it for free.
If you order a trip planning you will get one day at my expense, pay for three days planning and you will get four.
If you book a trip for a group of over 7 participants, you will receive a shuttle to the airport and back at an attractive price or a detailed culinary trip planning for an independent trip for free.
In conclusion, Paphos is an excellent city for a vacation and you can find all kinds of nice attractions for children. It is the most fun to be there in the summer months, because that way you can also enjoy the seasonal attractions such as water sports, pools, a water park and the sea, but even in the winter months you can find something to do.
Hope my post helped you. If so, I would very much like you to respond here in the comments, and if you have any more questions, then you are also welcome to ask them in the comments or write to me on the blog’s social networks: Facebook and Instagram. Looking for more information about Paphos? I have more posts about Paphos and posts about Cyprus on my blog.
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Paphos is a city located in the Greek part of Cyprus and though it is a city, it is suitable for relaxing on your stomach as well as for those looking for trips to the mountains and magical villages. There are also attractions suitable for adults and excellent hotels that go from all-inclusive hotels, hotels with a water park, cheap hotels, hotels suitable for families, and luxury hotels.
Tips before flying to Paphos
SIM card
I personally recommend using an ESIM, which is an electronic SIM, and recommend Airalo. I was very satisfied with their user experience (simple tutorial videos for operating the SIM card) and everything worked without any special problems. I wrote more about them in an extended post on the subject of taking a SIM card abroad and also about other options such as buying a local SIM card.
Blog followers have a 15% discount code for the Airalo company to purchase an ESIM – to redeem the discount, click on this link. The discount code is already included in the link. See it at checkout.
The biggest drawback at the moment is that some devices do not support an electronic SIM. How can you know if your device supports the electronic card? Very simple: go to this link and you can see. Link to which devices support ESIM.
Car rental in Paphos
In Paphos and in general in Cyprus there is no convenient public transport. For those who only come for a backpacking vacation, the buses and taxis will provide a good enough answer, but if you also want to travel, I personally recommend renting a car. It is true that the journey here is on the opposite side of traffic, but as someone who lives here, I can say that you get used to it quickly.
You can search for a car in the search engine Papam Papam. Personally, I really like to search through them because they save me time (instead of going to several websites) and they also have the option of filtering out non-recommended rental companies.
Attractions in Paphos
I wrote a detailed post with recommendations for things to do in Paphos.
You can get ideas for other cool things you can do on the various attraction sites and even order through them (sometimes at a discounted price). The first attraction Get your guide and the second is Viator.
All-inclusive resort perfect for families
5-star all-inclusive resort.
We really liked this resort and I think it provides a perfect solution for a vacation with children (and even babies). We were there in winter (January) but we had perfect weather of 20 degrees (Celsius). I saw people getting into the pool outside, but that was too extreme for us :). Outside there are pools for babies, a pool with a slide and a pool for adults. The resort is by the sea and at its exit there are lots of lawns and a promenade that reaches the port (about a 30-minute walk). There is no beach (everything there is rocks) but in a short walk you will also find sand.
There is a heated pool at the resort that we have been to several times with the girls (Sophie is a 14-month-old baby and Maya is 4 years old). There is a youth club, a children’s club and a club for babies without parents, where they stay with supervisors. The baby must be registered 24 hours in advance and can be left with a babysitter in the baby room for up to two hours. The children can be brought whenever they want during the activity hours. The parents receive a buzzer and if the baby cries or the child wants to leave, then the parent is buzzed. Maya really liked the kids club and went there every day for an hour or so. She did creations there, dressed up and she also had her face painted. We left Sophie twice for an hour and she enjoyed exploring the games. Maya sometimes entered the nursery and confirmed that Sophie was happy and did not cry.
The resort has an amazing buffet in the morning, lunch and dinner. We really liked the food. At lunch and in the evening there is a pasta station where you can have any pasta you want prepared on the spot (this was my favorite station), at all meals there is a crepe station and in the morning there are even smoothies. For lunch and dinner there is also a diner restaurant with excellent hamburgers. And there are two other adults-only restaurants that are not open in the winter. There is a snack restaurant that is open from morning until dinner and there are sandwiches, salads, desserts, pizzas, ice creams, yogurt and coffee. You can also grab anything for takeaway and eat around the hotel or outside. And of course that’s why it’s an all-inclusive hotel, so there’s free drinks all the time: light, hot and alcohol.
Every evening there is a mini disco and this was one of the activities that the girls liked the most and looked forward to every day. We booked a room there with a partition for a part with a double bed and a part with two single beds and a balcony with a sea view. It is important to note that in the winter the prices are much cheaper than in the summer.
To book the Olympic Lagoon Resort and other opinions
By the way they have another resort in Ayia Napa Olympic Lagoon, Ayia Napa, which is really similar to this hotel. It’s not by the sea but it has a cool tubing course that we really liked.
A special golf resort in the mountains
A beautiful resort in the mountains of Paphos at about a 20-minute drive from the center of Paphos. You can get there by taxi, but if you also want to visit Paphos itself, then I think it’s best to rent a car. The resort is a 5-star one and is, in my opinion, suitable for couples or families looking for peace. We booked a suite there with two bedrooms (there are also suites with one bedroom and villas with 2-3 rooms). The suite had a garden, living room and kitchen.
The resort is on a breakfast basis and there is the hotel restaurant where you can have lunch and dinner (that’s what we did). There is a stunning outdoor infinity pool and there is also a huge adults-only spa area with a heated pool (this was a disadvantage for us because we couldn’t be in the heated pool with Maya and it was already quite cool for an outdoor pool – we were in early October).
And of course there are golf courses, so for golf enthusiasts or those who want to learn to play the sport, this is definitely the place to go. They offer golf lessons and the possibility to buy and rent golf equipment.
To book the Minthis Resort and other opinions
An all-inclusive hotels at an affordable budget
A 4-star hotel from the Louis hotel chain. This is our favorite chain in Cyprus and we have been to many of their hotels, the recommended ones are Royal Apollonia in Limassol and Louis Althea and Louis St. Elias in Protaras. All these hotels are all-inclusive hotels and I think they have high level food even for a 4-star and excellent entertainment teams for children.
When we stayed at the Breeze Hotel I was pregnant with Maya, so we got to experience the hotel as a couple without children, but for the other ones she was already born and we saw that they are also great for families. The hotel has a kids’ club and several outdoor pools. It is on the sea and has evening shows such as a fire show and a Greek dance show.
The hotel has two outdoors pools and a kid’s pool, a roofed pool, spa, gym, tennis court, ping pong table, Greek restaurant, a main restaurant with buffet meals, three bars and tanning beds across from the sea. You can stay at the hotel plus breakfast, or half board or with an all included package.
When I say “All included”, I mean that literally. The stay includes alcohol, drinks, amazing food all day long and the option of visiting the Greek restaurant if you’re over the buffet meals.
There are three meals a day, each with a never-ending variety of food. Especially great is the dessert area. Breakfast for example includes a variety of vegetables, jams, pastries, cakes, breads, salads, hams and cheeses (Including hard cheeses), cereals, oatmeal, different stews, pancakes, an egg station by order, fruits and more…
Dinner is varied, with a different theme every night – Such as local food, Italian or Mexican… The Greek restaurant has a set menu and you get to try everything. When we were there at first, we were served different appetizers, then sea food dishes, the chicken and meat, and a dessert.
Between meals there are also snacks, meaning there’s not a hungry moment between breakfast and midnight. Afternoon snacks included food at the pool like chips, hamburgers, cakes and nuggets. At night there were many snacks like vegetables, sandwiches, ice-cream, olives and depending on the night – Pizza, nuggets, pigs in a blanket, chips and more.
In terms of drinks, there is alcohol (Wine, beers, cocktails), water, coffee, non-alcoholic cocktails and sodas. Unfortunately, I couldn’t have cocktails, but Roman had a cocktail everyday and said the bloody Marry and Mojito were really nice. I had cold brew caffeine free coffee with soy milk three times a day, as it was great.
From what I could see, most of the hotel’s visitors were families. The hotel has a kid’s pool, a playground, a kid’s playroom and kid activities. There is also a babysitting service at the hotel.
The hotel is in a quiet area 10 minutes from the mall and about 15 minutes from the port. There are shuttles four times a day, for free, between the three locations. There’s no beach close by, so if you wish to reach Coral Bay (A popular beach in Paphos), it’s a 15-minute drive. You can get a cab there or ride the bus (The bus station is 10 minutes from the hotel).
There’s free parking at the hotel. Although they drive on the left side of the road, it’s nothing you won’t get used to in a few hours of driving. It’s recommended to take it slow and travel the entire area easily by car. Ideas for day trips out of Paphos.
To book Breeze Hotel and other opinions
A hotel located on the boardwalk in Paphos with an adjacent beach. The food is excellent and varied (including breakfast, lunch and dinner at the buffet, a snack bar (including pizzas, ice creams, hamburgers, yogurt and more…, soft and hot drinks and unlimited alcohol). Every evening the girls had a mini disco (the favorite attraction of both), during the day We were in the indoor pool (it was 28 degrees, a bit too cold for my taste, but Roman and the girls went in there) and at the beach (the weather was excellent at 27 degrees). We booked a room with a sliding door to separate it, and it was a great option, especially for the price we paid. The hotel has a baby pool, a pool normal and spa.
We booked the hotel a few months ago on Black Friday and paid half the price of the hotel today. It cost us 430 euros for 3 nights for the four of us all included for a large room with a partition.
To book Louis Ledra and for other reviews
An excellent all-inclusive hotel for families in the port area
A 4-star hotel that opened two years ago, its location is really good, because it is in the port area, where there are many restaurants, bars and cafes and it is also nice to walk along the boardwalk there. The hotel has a heated pool (relatively small), outdoor pools, a toddler pool, a small playground and a kids’ club.
The hotel is on an all-inclusive basis and the food there was fine. In the evening there were various shows that are also suitable for children, such as a fire show that Maya really enjoyed.
We booked a room which is actually two bedrooms.
We really like hotels that have the option of booking a room with a bedroom and living room or two bedrooms separated because it really improves the experience. Both this hotel and all the other hotels I have mentioned in the post have family rooms.
To book Sofiana Hotel and other opinions
An all-inclusive family resort with a water park
This is a hotel with a water park that is very popular among Israelis. I haven’t had the chance to stay there, but I know a lot of people like it because it has a lot of water slides outside and it keeps the kids busy, aside from being all-inclusive. From what I understand, the majority of the population there are Israelis and I have read controversial reviews about the quality of the food. So although I haven’t stayed there, I’m mentioning it as an option for those looking for an all-inclusive hotel with a water park.
To book the Leonardo Laura Resort and other opinions
Cheap hotel in the port area
Roman and I were at the Pyramos Hotel after finding a really cheap 5-euro per person flight to Paphos. We arrived in Paphos for 48 hours and chose this hotel because of its price and location. The hotel is really basic, with clean and simple rooms and a basic breakfast as well. For those who are looking for a hotel in the location of the port where there are many restaurants, bars and cafes, this is a great option.
To book Pyramos Hotel and other opinions
Adults-only hotels
The truth is that I haven’t had the chance to check out adult-only hotels because all our vacations so far have been with the girls. But if you are looking for hotels for adults only, I have read very good recommendations about The Ivi Mare and The King Jason Paphos hotels.
Bonus for blog followers
If you are planning to come to Cyprus and are looking for someone to plan an itinerary for you that you can do independently with a car (minimum for 3 days) or if you want to do a private trip with a driver (also suitable for large groups) then I recommend contacting Rony Schwartz. We met not long ago and I was very impressed by his knowledge of Cyprus (he has been living here for 5 years in Paphos) and beyond that he is really charming and has been planning trips for many years.
Link to Roni’s WhatsApp for contact
If you book a “private trip” for a family, or a small group, Roni will make for you a “detailed plan for a sightseeing day, with a culinary emphasis”, in Paphos, or Larnaca, or Limassol, including warm recommendations! Such a program costs 50 – 40 euros normally, but you will get it for free.
If you order a trip planning you will get one day at my expense, pay for three days planning and you will get four.
If you book a trip for a group of over 7 participants, you will receive a shuttle to the airport and back at an attractive price or a detailed culinary trip planning for an independent trip for free.
In conclusion, Paphos is an excellent city for a vacation, where you will find many hotels that will suit what you are looking for. It has many all-inclusive hotels, hotels for families, hotels for couples only, cheap hotels and luxury hotels.
Hope my post helped you. If so, I would very much like you to respond here in the comments, and if you have any more questions, then you are also welcome to ask them in the comments or on the blog’s social networks: Facebook and Instagram. Looking for more information about Paphos? Posts about Paphos and posts about Cyprus.
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In May 2021, we moved to Limassol, Cyprus and we got to go to a lot of hotels in Cyprus and in Limassol in particular.
In the city of Limassol there are many excellent hotels that go from cheap to very expensive price ranges. In general, this city is the most expensive in Cyprus and is about a 50-minute drive from Larnaca and 45 minutes from Paphos. It does not have an airport but it can be reached by taxi, rental car or bus from the airports in Larnaca and Paphos.
It is the most modern city in Cyprus and you can find good restaurants, beautiful beaches, the largest casino in Europe (in the City of Dreams hotel), various attractions for children, great breakfasts, cafes, shops, water sports, a beautiful promenade and, above all, a lot of relaxing.
A table for comparing the hotels in Limassol
| Hotel’s name | How many stars? | is it all inclusive ? | Is it has a kids club? | Is it has an indoor pool? | Is it has outdoor pools? | Is it close to the sea? | Price range |
| Parklane | 5 | No. can be half board | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Expensive |
| City of dreams resort with casino | 5 | No. can be half board | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Expensive |
| St raphael | 5 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Medium budget |
| Crowne Plaza | 4 | No. can be half board | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Medium budget |
| Royal apollonia | 5 | yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Expensive |
| Amara | 5 | No. can be half board | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Expensive |
| NYX | 4 | B&B | No | No | Rooftop pool | In front | Medium budget |
| Amathus | 5 | No. can be half board | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Expensive |
| S paul | 4 | B&B | No | No | No | No but close to it | Medium budget |
| Harmony bay | 3 | No. can be half board | No | No | Yes | Yes | Cheap |
| Atlantica Miramare | 4 | yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Cheap |
| Four seasons | 5 | No. can be half board | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Expensive |
Map of the recommended hotels in Limassol
Recommended hotels and resorts in Limassol to go to with children
For me, it is most convenient to be with the children in all-inclusive hotels, but there are some hotels in Limassol that are great with children even if they are not all-inclusive. Some of them have amazing children’s clubs and in some the convenience is the pool and the proximity to the beach along with the affordable prices.
Which hotels are all-inclusive in Limassol? St. Raphael Resort, Royal Apollonia Hotel and Atlantica Miramare Hotel.
Are there any hotels with a water park in Limassol? No. There are hotels with small slides in the toddler pool like in Parklane and Royal Apollonia, and there is a fairly large slide for children at the Four Seasons.
5-star hotels in Limassol
Parklane Resort
In my opinion, Parklane is one of the best resorts in Cyprus, it is a hotel that combines luxury and the possibility of an experience with the children. It is a 5-star resort and the service there is at the highest level and the rooms are very pampering (there are really comfortable beds). The food is excellent (we were there on a half-board basis and both breakfast and dinner were excellent). There is an indoor heated pool and a spa with a gym.
One of the things I liked about this hotel is their children’s club, which is actually a large complex with Omega facilities for children and even a toddler pool with several small slides. In addition there is an indoor area with games for babies and creative rooms and games for children. Children over the age of 3 can be left there under the supervision of the workers there and they contact the parents when the child wants to leave.
In my opinion, it is a perfect hotel for those who come with children while it is also a perfect hotel for couples because it has a luxurious and calm feeling.
It is important to know that the resort is located in the resort area of Limassol, which means that it is located on a beach strip that is relatively remote from the center and the old town.To get to the center of Limassol or the old town you will need to take a taxi (a 20-minute ride) or a bus (there is a bus stop outside the hotel and from there you will need to take line 30 – a ride of about half an hour). Of course, if you rent a car, then you can travel with it.
To book the Parklane Hotel and more opinions about it
St. Raphael Resort
St. Raphael Resort is a 5-star resort located in the Pygros area where Perklane Resort is located. The resort has several pools, one of which has a bar in the water. There are lawns, a spa (of a very high level), a good breakfast, a gym, an indoor pool, a children’s club (suitable for children aged 4-12), spacious rooms, and excellent service. It has an amazing Thai restaurant called Golden Monkey. You can stay at the hotel on a breakfast basis or all-inclusive.
The big advantage of this resort, in my opinion, is the price. Its price is relatively cheap compared to all the other 5-star resorts. If you are looking for a vacation at an affordable price then it can suit you.
I wrote an extended post about this resort
To book the St. Raphael Resort and other opinions
City of Dreams Resort
City of Dreams is a new luxury resort that opened in the summer and there is a lot of buzz around it because it has the biggest casino in Europe. This is a huge resort with several types of pools (such as one with sea sand) and a rope park. There is a big kids’ club there.
This is a 5-star resort but I have heard conflicting opinions about the level of service there. We haven’t had the chance to stay there yet, but it was important for me to write about it as an option because it has become one of the most sought-after hotels in Cyprus among Israelis.
The resort is located in the area of the mall in Limassol. It is relatively far from the old city, but by taxi or bus line 30 (which departs from the mall) you can reach the marina area and the old city. The resort is close to a strip of beaches called Lady’s Mile where there are restaurants on the beach with a very cool atmosphere.
To book the City of Dreams Resort and more opinions about it
Royal Apollonia Hotel
The Royal Apollonia Hotel was renovated a year ago. We happened to be there before the renovation and even then we had really liked it, but the renovation really upgraded it, however it also increased its price. So now it is among the most expensive hotels in Limassol. You can order it on a breakfast basis or all-inclusive.
The rooms there are pampering, there is a spa, an indoor pool, a gym, outdoor pools (a baby pool and one with a bar), three restaurants, a tennis court, and a kids’ club.
The hotel is in the area of the Harmony Bay and Atlantica Miramare hotels, so what I wrote about their location is also relevant to it.
To book the Royal Apollonia Hotel and other opinions
Amathus Beach Hotel
The Amathus Hotel is one of the most prestigious hotels in Limassol and in my opinion it is the competitor of Parklane; in both the service is of a very high level, both are very suitable to go with children because of a very worthwhile children’s club, delicious food and pampering rooms. There is a spa, gym, indoor pool and outdoor pools. The location of the Amathus Hotel is closer to the center of Limassol compared to Parklane but it is still quite remote so you need to get there by taxi or bus.
To book the Amathus Hotel and more opinions about it
Four Seasons Hotel
The Four Seasons Hotel is a prestigious 5-star hotel. It has a cafe that we really like, colors cafe, and it has two reputable chef restaurants. There is a beach next to it with beach games for children and a modern playground.
It has a children’s club for ages 3-8 and youth activities. It has a pool with a slide outside and babysitting services. Of course, it also has a spa, a gym, and an indoor pool. It has an adults-only pool and an ice room.
To book the Four Seasons Hotel and more opinions about it
Amara Hotel
The Amara Hotel is a 5-star hotel that opened in recent years and is extremely luxurious. Many celebrities choose to stay there. Its location is in Pygros, near Parklane and St. Raphael. Its design reminds me of a luxury hotel in Thailand. It is definitely something special and there is a reason why people are passionate about it. I felt that it is less suitable to go with small children and only for older ones because it feels too quiet and too luxurious for those who make noise and messes 🙂 But it has a children’s club for ages 4-12 and an afternoon club for ages one-and-a-half to 4. It has chef restaurants, an infinity pool, spa, gym, and indoor pool.
To book the Amara Hotel and more opinions about it
4-star hotels in Limassol
Crowne Plaza Hotel
The Crowne Plaza Hotel is a 4-star hotel in a great location in Limassol. Near the beach and close to the center of Limassol. The hotel is also near one of the most famous restaurants in Limassol, Columbia Beach, which is also suitable for evening entertainment.
The hotel does not have a children’s club or an entertainment team for children.
It has a spa (excellent massages), gym, indoor pool, saunas, outdoor pool and it has its own beach strip with a Mediterranean restaurant and an Asian restaurant. The breakfast there is relatively simple, but it has everything you need, including pancake and omelet stations. From there you can also get to the old city by bus line 30 or walk (about a 30-minute walk).
To book the Crowne Plaza Hotel and other opinions about it
Hotel Atlantica Miramare
Hotel Atlantica Miramare is a 4-star hotel. It is in a great location near the beach and near many restaurants and cafes. The hotel is relatively outdated in terms of the rooms, but the facilities are great. It has an adult pool, a baby pool and a pool for everyone with a swim-up bar. It has a spa, gym, saunas, indoor pool and restaurant.
You can order it on an all-inclusive basis or only with breakfast included. The beach next to it has water sports.
The hotel does not have a children’s club or an entertainment team for children.
The recommended restaurants near it are Hanoi Vietnamese Restaurant, La Caleta Restaurant and Garden Restaurant. And if you are looking for bars, it is close to the Rumors Bar and Guaba and Breeze clubs.
This hotel is also close to the bus station and with line 30 you can reach the old city.
When my older sister comes with her children (ages 10-20) they go to this hotel because of the affordable price and proximity to water sports.
To book the Atlantica Miramare Hotel and more opinions about it
3-star hotels in Limassol
Harmony Bay Hotel
The Harmony Bay Hotel is a 3-star hotel that is suitable for those looking for a cheap place with a pool by the sea. It has very spacious rooms that are suitable for those who come with children and it has a gym.
The hotel does not have a children’s club or an entertainment team for children.
Breakfast and dinner are both buffet and simple meals. There is a restaurant bar in the hotel with Mediterranean food. The hotel is close to Atlantica Miramare so all the restaurants and bars I mentioned above are also relevant to this hotel.
You can order it on a breakfast or half board basis.
To book the Harmony Bay Hotel and other opinions about it
Boutique hotels in Limassol
S Paul Hotel
The S Paul Hotel is located in the old city in a charming location that is close to many restaurants, bars, cafes and a fun atmosphere in the evening. The hotel itself is a relatively new hotel with a restaurant bar and pleasant rooms (comfortable beds). They have indulgent breakfasts and I wrote about their breakfast in a post about worthwhile breakfasts in Limassol.
The hotel is mainly suitable for couples.
To book the S Paul Hotel and more opinions about it
NYX Hotel
The NYX Hotel is a new and beautiful 4-star hotel with a cool and fun design. Located in an excellent site in the old city near the marina (close to the S Paul Hotel I mentioned above). The hotel has a stunning pool on the roof (suitable for summer) and note that the pool is relatively small and without many seats. The hotel has a gym, an Asian restaurant, and a Mediterranean restaurant. The breakfast there (buffet) is really good. It is a high-class Israeli-style breakfast with a large selection of salads, eggs such as shakshuka, pies, pastries, fresh fruit and more.
To book a NYX Hotel and other opinions
Bonus for blog followers
If you are planning to come to Cyprus and are looking for someone to plan an itinerary for you that you can do independently with a car (minimum for 3 days) or if you want to do a private trip with a driver (also suitable for large groups) then I recommend contacting Rony Schwartz. We met not long ago and I was very impressed by his knowledge of Cyprus (he has been living here for 5 years in Paphos) and beyond that he is really charming and has been planning trips for many years.
Link to Roni’s WhatsApp for contact
If you book a “private trip” for a family, or a small group, Roni will make for you a “detailed plan for a sightseeing day, with a culinary emphasis”, in Paphos, or Larnaca, or Limassol, including warm recommendations! Such a program costs 50 – 40 euros normally, but you will get it for free.
If you order a trip planning you will get one day at my expense, pay for three days planning and you will get four.
If you book a trip for a group of over 7 participants, you will receive a shuttle to the airport and back at an attractive price or a detailed culinary trip planning for an independent trip for free.
In conclusion, there are many recommended hotels in Limassol. There are all-inclusive hotels, luxury hotels, resorts and recommended hotels with children, as well as charming boutique hotels. Limassol is suitable for a backpacking vacation as well as a star destination for a trip to all of Cyprus because it is between Larnaca and Paphos and also an hour’s drive to the Troodos Mountains.
In August 2023 we decided to take a cruise with our two daughters, Maya (3.5 years old) and Sophie (10 months old).
We did the cruise through Royal Caribbean and booked the cruise directly from the website.
In June 2017, we did a cruise with NCL as a couple and we really liked the concept, so we decided to do a family cruise this time.
Brief summary about the cruise
When: end of August 2023
Who: a couple + a baby and a girl
Company: Royal Caribbean
Ship type: Rhapsody of the seas
How long: 8 days (7 nights)
Where did the cruise depart from: we started the cruise in Limassol, Cyprus, but it had departed from Israel
Cruise route: Haifa (Israel) – Limassol (Cyprus) – Rhodes (Greece) – Mykonos (Greece) – Santorini (Greece) – Athens (Greece) – Haifa (Israel)
Room type: mini suite
Cost for the whole family: 5000$ + tips
We did the cruise at the end of August so you have to take into account that the prices are higher because it is the peak of the season.
Although the ship was fully booked, we did not feel crowded and apart from waiting once for five minutes for breakfast, we did not wait at all.
Why is a cruise an ideal family vacation?
Since the girls were born, we’ve discovered that we really connect with the concept of an all-inclusive hotel. Because what could be more convenient than food available all the time, activities for children and resting as much as possible? So this time we decided to upgrade the all-inclusive vacation and go on a cruise, which is basically the same concept, only bigger and more special.
The ship has everything you could want for you and the children.
High-quality food at any hour and in all kinds of styles. Activities for children including shows, competitions, dances, a children’s club, a babies’ club, arcade and more.
Pools, Jacuzzis and special attractions (depending on the type of ship, we also had a climbing wall).
Bars, casino and chef restaurants (for an additional fee).
In addition to the ship, which is like its own city, every day the tour stops at a different destination, which is a really fun thing in my opinion.
Every day there is a new view and you can leave the ship and explore each destination independently or on an organized tour (you can order tours from the ship or find them yourself and book in advance).
The cruise allows you to go on a light vacation without planning things too much and to enjoy the facilities. To top it all, if you also want to explore new destinations then you can leave the ship when it is docked and go walk around for a few hours every day at a different location.
Details about the Royal Caribbean cruise departing from Israel
1. We took a cruise with Royal Caribbean. I booked one that does an 8-day circuit trip from Limassol back to Limassol. When we boarded the ship it turned out that the cruise had started the day before in Haifa from Israel. This means that the absolute majority on the ship were Israelis, there were signs in Hebrew and even occasionally songs in Hebrew (you decide for yourself if it’s okay or not).
2. There are several types of rooms: an interior room without a window, a room with a window, a room with a balcony, a mini suite, and a suite.
3. We booked the mini suite and paid 5000 dollars for 4 people. In retrospect it was not worth the price and we had to take the room with the balcony which cost around 3800 dollars. Much more value for the money.
4. There are activities all day, every day. Shows, competitions, games, dances, workshops. The activities can be for children, families, adults and young people.
5. The food was of a high standard and really tasty, there was great variety in the buffet.
6. The destinations we stopped at were: Santorini, Mykonos, Rhodes, and Athens. We didn’t take tours of any destination, we preferred to wander alone with the girls and really enjoyed exploring each place on our own.
7. The price for the cruise includes all activities and food, but there are 2 paid restaurants and the price does not include alcohol and drinks such as cappuccinos, espressos, etc. There are snacks all day such as pizzas, fruits, American ice cream, cookies and more.
8. The service on the ship is amazing. Everyone is very kind and smiling all the time.
9. Our room was cleaned twice a day, but I don’t know if it’s like that for all the types of room or if it’s because we booked the mini suite.
10. We booked the cruise four months in advance directly from the company’s website.
11. The ship has: a casino, a playroom for babies, a playroom for children with supervisors (without parents), a cafe, bars, a pool, a Jacuzzi, a spa, a gym, an area for adults only, shops, two buffet dining rooms, a Japanese restaurant for a fee, a paid chef restaurant, restaurant for kosher keepers.
12. On each day we arrived at a new destination and docked directly at a port, with the exception of when we reached Santorini, where the ship docked close to the port and we arrived at the port by boat from the ship. When arriving at any destination, there is public transportation such as taxis and buses with which you can go wherever you want.
13. On the ship every person has a magnetic card and every time you want to buy something you hand over the card and only at the end of the cruise do you pay for all the extra things you purchased.
14. There is always water and soft drinks available for free as well as black coffee.
The route of the cruise departing from Israel
The destinations we stopped at on the cruise were really nice with kids. We personally didn’t book tours and preferred to explore each destination on our own at our own pace.
Limassol
As I wrote at the beginning, we started the cruise from Limassol because we live in Cyprus, but the cruise parted from Israel. If you are looking for recommendations about Limassol, you can find many posts here on the blog.
Rhodes
The ship docks right next to the port of Rhodes, which means that you can easily get off the ship and reach the old town on foot. There aren’t too many things to do with children in the old town of Rhodes, but because we were with a baby and we didn’t want to bother her too much, we preferred to just wander around the old city, have lunch there, and then continue to the aquarium (the aquarium is really small and nothing special, but Maya had a great time there).
There is a water park in Rhodes that I have been to twice before and it is great for both adults and children, so if you are looking for an attraction that is a little more fun with the kids while stopping in Rhodes, I do recommend it.
Mykonos
On the previous cruise we did, we also stopped in Mykonos. When we docked with the NCL ship we were close to the old city but the Royal Caribbean stops at a slightly further location, so there are several options to get from the ship to the old city. The cheapest options are the bus that comes frequently or a bus ferry that has a stop right next to where the ship docks. I thought it was possible to reach the old city by foot, but after 15 minutes of walking with Maya on the road and with the wind, we gave up and I ordered a taxi. The taxi was expensive and there was a lot of traffic at the entrance to the old city so it probably wasn’t the best option :).
Mykonos is stunning and I personally can walk for hours among the alleys and take pictures there. Last time we also hadn’t done too much, just a tour of the city and went to a small beach there, where we ate ice cream at the seaside and had lunch.
Santorini
The truth is that I originally was a little afraid to travel in Santorini with the girls because there are a lot of stairs and it’s difficult to get up there by foot. It’s possible to get there on the cable car, but there usually is a very long line for it.
However, we had learned from last time what to do and in the end the visit to Santorini was really successful with the girls. Last time we had left the ship early in the morning but everyone else also chooses this option and what happens is that then there is a crazy line for the cable car (over an hour) or you have to go up on foot (or on donkeys, which I am against this option) and it is a difficult and exhausting ascent of at least half an hour that’s even worse with the August heat.
This time we decided to leave the ship at noon because the stop in Santorini was until the night. And this decision ended up being excellent because we were the only ones out at that hour, and we were the only ones on the cable car, which meant that we got on without waiting a minute in line. One mistake we did make, however, was that we took a stroller with us and you can’t walk around Santorini with one. So we decided to go around only with a baby carrier (we left the stroller on the side close to the cable car and it was stolen – no doubt we were too naive when we thought no one would take it). Anyway we walked around with Sophie in the carrier and with Maya on foot and we had a really nice time.
We eventually decided to sit down to eat something small and drink wine at a stunning place called Franco’s bar, which was pleasant.
In short, a tour of a few hours with children in Santorini can be extremely enjoyable, especially when you are there at sunset with a glass of wine.
Athens
We were in Athens in December 2017 for a week and we loved this city, as it’s a fun and interesting place, filled with many bars, cafes, taverns, markets and entertaining tours. Here’s a post I wrote about recommendations for Athens.
The Royal Caribbean docks at the port and to get to the city center you can take a train, which is really convenient and fast because then there are stations in central places throughout. Otherwise, you can take a bus or taxi from the port to arrive there.
In Athens we also just walked around the city. We started the day with coffee at a cafe in a cool hostel called Athens Hub Hostel, which is a place with a youthful atmosphere and fresh juices and delicious coffee.
Then we went for a walk around the Monastiraki flea market and had lunch close to the market at a Greek food restaurant.
Important things to know before booking a cruise
1. For those traveling with a baby or toddler, it is important for me to point out that it is not allowed to put them in the pool on a cruise if they still wear diapers for fear of bacteria from the urine or feces. It’s like that in all the American cruise companies, like Royal and Norwegian, and we weren’t aware of this before. There are ships that have a special pool for babies, but the one from Israel and Cyprus does not.
2. There is an obligation to tip (on all cruises in all companies there is an obligation to pay tips) which costs $16 per person per day (it cost us around $450 extra for 4 people).
I’ve received messages from different people who claim that they went to the reception and asked not to pay the tips and pay the room cleaner themselves, and that they were approved with no more issues.
I personally haven’t done it that way, and we just paid for the tips.
3. The ship that departs from Israel and Cyprus is the Rhapsody of the Seas. It is a relatively old ship and does not have attractions such as slides or the kinds of other facilities that are available on newer ships.
Our lessons for the next cruise
1. Next time we will book the room with the balcony; it is more affordable than the mini suite, which is only a little bigger and has a coffee machine and bathrobes but costs 30% more.
2. We’ll fly to another destination in order to take a cruise on a newer ship with more attractions.
In conclusion
We really enjoyed the cruise and so did the girls, but we definitely learned lessons for next time and there is no doubt that the day is not far off when we will do another whole-family cruise because it was a great vacation and especially when Sophie grows up a little more it will be amazing. If you are an all-inclusive hotel kind of person, then you will certainly enjoy a cruise as well. If you are a person who likes nature, peace, and boutique hotels more, then probably a less high-end cruise will also suit you.
I would love to hear what your experiences have been like if you’ve taken a cruise before.
My favorite meal of the day is breakfast or brunch ? because we usually get to eat late breakfasts. We’ve had the chance to eat a lot of similar breakfasts here in Limassol, and I decided to write a detailed post so you know where you should try your next one.
You will find the best breakfasts in Limassol, recommended cafes, restaurants, and hotels with our favourite meals in this post.
La Caleta Restaurant
La Caleta Restaurant opened in December 2021. Beyond the fact that the food is great, this is a restaurant with the most beautiful view in Limassol (in my opinion). The place is located on the 8th floor of a new luxury building in the city, and has a stunning terrace with a pool and a view of the town and sea.
We ordered eggs in the nest (a special dish), pear Benedict, and potato salad with salmon. We wanted to order dessert, but we were too full. The service there is high-end and in general the atmosphere there is luxurious.
The restaurant also has business lunches and dinners. We love their burger and tarter in the business lunch.
Mixology by Punin bar restaurant
A restaurant that is open from morning until night and has excellent breakfasts. What we especially like there is the design, the service, the food and that the breakfasts include a glass of mimosa and a glass of filter coffee.
The prices of the meals range from 10-30 euros per person. The average is 20 euros per meal per person including the mimosa and coffee.
Roman really likes the rustic breakfast and I like the pear benedict. The Mixology restaurant is located right next to their wine shop Punin.
Samo restaurant
Samo Restaurant is a luxury restaurant that offers delicious breakfasts in a restaurant that is also a designer store by the sea.
We tried several dishes there and all the dishes were excellent: salmon, poached eggs and avocado spread on bread, oatmeal porridge with caramelized bananas, croissant with prosciutto and poached eggs. Breakfasts are served all day.
Columbia pier
A cafe that opened about a year ago in a great location – the center of Limassol on the sea!
It has become one of the most popular places here and many times there is a queue for it.
It has a number of breakfasts such as eggs benedict, chia pudding, croissant with omelet and more… and it offers cakes, salads and sandwiches. It is suitable for those looking for something to eat for breakfast or a snack with a good coffee.
Cafe Du Sol
Cafe Du Sol is a coffee shop is constantly being updated and has become one of my favorite cafes. The food there is delicious, the prices are cheap, the staff work lovely and there is a pleasant and light atmosphere.
I really like their acai bowl and the bagel with the guacamole and egg. They also have delicious Nutella Pancakes.
Cafe Jam Limassol
We got to know the Jam Limassol cafe thanks to our local friends and the truth is that we really liked it. The breakfasts are very tasty and the sitting outside in a fun atmosphere was excellent.
The cafe is located right next to the Old Port Hotel, a boutique hotel. The dishes we really liked are the dish with avocado and poached eggs and a Greek breakfast with yogurt, chili and eggs.
CookHouse
CookHouse Cafe is one of the most famous in the city and is known for its good breakfasts. It is advisable to book a place, especially on weekends, because it is usually loaded. The yard there is lovely, and there are various meals that I would like to try soon. We ordered toast with avocado, tarragon, chili, and lemon with a scrambled egg and a dish of Florentine poached eggs with the addition of smoked salmon on the side. We shared the food, and both dishes were excellent.
Cafe The Shopkeeper & Co
Cafe The Shopkeeper (directions) is an excellent cafe and shop. We found it while we were walking down the street. It has only a few tables outside. I already am hoping you get a place when you arrive. There are small dishes for a snack, desserts, and excellent coffee. We ordered sandwiches with avocado, a poached egg, and banana bread. Both were tasty.
Columbia Beach restaurant
The Columbia Beach bar is located on the beach, and you can get out of it to sunbathe. In the courtyard of the restaurant, there are lawns and a pool. The restaurant is considered one of the most well-known places in Limassol that everyone comes to for breakfast or evening entertainment.
We have had the chance to be there a few times, and the dish they offer that I love is the mango tapioca bowl with berries and coconut. The bruschetta with avocado and cheese is also excellent.
Malindi Restaurant
The Malindi Restaurant is a beachfront fish place in the resort area with excellent brunches, lunches, and dinners. We ordered a sirniki dish. It’s Russian cheese pancakes and focaccia green with avocado, rocket, sherry, and poached eggs. The plates were delicious, and I liked sitting there because it was right in front of the sea.
Bakery Kafeneio
Bakery Kafeneio is a cafe that I like because it has special open toasts and varied healthy bowls. My favorite dish so far (because I order it every time) is an open toast with feta, avocado, pomegranate seeds, and honey (as you can probably notice, I am addicted to avocados). When I was there with my friend, she ordered an open toast with chickpeas, an egg, and a salad with lentils, and she said they were great.
Sir Paul Boutique Hotel
We got to sleep in the Sir Paul Hotel and went there a few times for their breakfasts. The pear Benedict dish there is tasty, as well as the dish of scrambled egg and pancakes (which we ordered for novelty when he had a birthday).
The hotel is in the old town and has a lovely courtyard and a light atmosphere.
Milk bar Cafe
The Milk bar (directions) is in the center of Limassol and is a modern cafe open from morning to night. It has indoor and outdoor seating. I liked their bagel with the salmon and avocado.
PlusSea Restaurant
The PlusSea restaurant is on the beach, and we went out to eat a Benedict pear dish with spinach, which was delicious. The brunch is not served every day, so you should call and find out when it’s available.
Nero cafe
They have two branches. One is near Dsudi Beach (directions) and the other is by the sea in Molus (directions). It’s an excellent option for a light breakfast and coffee. I usually eat the feta pastry there, which is a Greek pastry like borekas but much tastier (in my opinion) and has the same thing with spinach and cheeses. There is a large selection of desserts (I love the cheese and chocolate brownies) and sandwiches and salads.
Parklane Resort
Parklane is a luxury, five-star resort, and it is the place with the best breakfast we have eaten in Limassol. They have a buffet with everything you can dream of and more. There are hard cheeses, smoked fish, specialty pastries, yogurts, pancakes, Belgian waffles, lots of fruit, salads, etc.
The price for an adult is 35 euros and for a child over the age of 3, 17.5 euros.
The Royal Apollonia Hotel
My mother stayed at The Royal Apollonia, a charming five-star hotel by the sea. We came twice to have breakfast there, which is buffet-style, varied and good. I liked this breakfast because its price was 17 euros for an adult and 9 euros for a child (from 2 to 12-years-old). The meal also includes a hot drink, and there is also sparkling wine.
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Bonus for blog followers
If you are planning to come to Cyprus and are looking for someone to plan an itinerary for you that you can do independently with a car (minimum for 3 days) or if you want to do a private trip with a driver (also suitable for large groups) then I recommend contacting Rony Schwartz. We met not long ago and I was very impressed by his knowledge of Cyprus (he has been living here for 5 years in Paphos) and beyond that he is really charming and has been planning trips for many years.
Link to Roni’s WhatsApp for contact
If you book a “private trip” for a family, or a small group, Roni will make for you a “detailed plan for a sightseeing day, with a culinary emphasis”, in Paphos, or Larnaca, or Limassol, including warm recommendations! Such a program costs 50 – 40 euros normally, but you will get it for free.
If you order a trip planning you will get one day at my expense, pay for three days planning and you will get four.
If you book a trip for a group of over 7 participants, you will receive a shuttle to the airport and back at an attractive price or a detailed culinary trip planning for an independent trip for free.
In conclusion, in Limassol you can find good places to enjoy breakfast and brunch, and I am sure I will find many more new ones to add to the list. Lucky, we moved here; that way, I have time to explore all the good places 🙂
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I had been planning to write this post for a long time. Since we moved to Limassol (May 2021), we have travelled a lot in the area. Each time we travelled, I wrote a post about a specific place. This one combines all the places we have been to in Limassol and, in general, in Cyprus.
So, the time has come to write a post with friendly and easy trips to do in Limassol and the surrounding area, including recommendations for villages we like within up to half an hour’s drive from Limassol (some of them are in the Larnaca district, but the distance from Limassol is short). Here, you will also find recommendations for good restaurants and taverns in the places where you stop by.
Let’s start with the villages and trips in Limassol
Recommendations for villages in Limassol and the surrounding area
Fasoula village
A village located at a 15-minute drive from the Limassol district. The village is small, so there is not much to do, but it is still adorable to walk around. There is also a beautiful church and an excellent tavern that we liked, so I think it is worth getting to—the name of the taverna is Stoa Aristotelous Directions. The taverna has only one Cypriot Meze meal, but it is excellent. The atmosphere in the yard is enjoyable, with music and lovely waiters.
Tochni village
The village of Tukhni is located in the Larnaca province but it is just a 25-minute drive from Limassol. This village is very different from the other ones we have seen. Its architecture is not as colorful as Balfacra and Calabasos but more reminiscent of a medieval-style, with mostly brown tones and occasionally a bit of azure which is why we got excited about it. It has many narrow alleys and stunning views. There is also a coffee cart and a tavern that looks like a postcard because of its design and its view. You can also find some accommodations in this village. We plan to spend the night there at some time, so I will update you when that happens.
The recommended tavern is Tochni village Taverna. We ate a handmade chicken suflaki and ravioli dish with spinach and ricotta, and both were excellent—arrival instructions.
Another tavern that we really loved is Nostos Restaurant. Located in the heart of the city near the church, this cozy, family-run tavern offers an excellent meat meze. The service was very good, and the family that runs the restaurant was incredibly charming. Definitely a recommended spot for anyone looking for an authentic local culinary experience.
Zygi village
This village is also in the province of Larnaca, though it is just a 25-minute drive from Limassol. The village of Zygi is a fishing village located by the sea. The village is famous for the fish taverns and the fresh goods that come from the fishers in the area. Because of the taverns, the village has become more touristy in recent years. It’s lovely to walk around along the promenade and its various alleys. In addition, there is also a beach and a strawberry farm where you can pick and buy strawberries and some other locally-made products.
We also really liked a cafe there which is a coffee truck with grass and places to sit- Grizo Cafe
Recommendations in the village: Q gardens Shaelos plants, a huge place with lots of pots, trees, flowers and spices. Even if you don’t plan to buy anything, the nursery is really an attraction in itself. Maya felt like she was in a maze of plants and really enjoyed walking around there and in addition there is an animal corner with peacocks, geese and ponies and next to it there is a small playground.
Highly recommended fish tavern: KARAOLISea
We ate a Meze there, which is a Cypriot meal where many salads and many fish dishes are served and it was really successful. Highly recommend her.
Kalavasos village
This one is a village we were excited about because of the colorful architecture. We slept in a boutique hotel with a light breakfast, a magical courtyard, and an excellent tavern. There is a stunning B&B / apartment, Kalavasos View Traditional Apartments, with seating areas facing the view. It has a comfortable bed and magical rustic design.
We had breakfast at The Library Hotel Wellness Retreat. A basic buffet breakfast costs 8 euros, but the courtyard of the hotel is simply wonderful and the meal also includes a hot and light drink so I really recommend going there even just for an afternoon coffee.
There are 3 taverns in the village and we decided to eat at the George restaurant taverna. We saw good recommendations about the place and we were not disappointed. Sitting outside in the square with trees and in front of the beautiful umbrellas hanging outside.
A picturesque village in Cyprus: Kalavasos
Recommendations for trips to Limassol and the surrounding area
Germasogeia Dam
The dam was built in 1968 and is an ideal destination for a picnic, hike, or swimming in the water. We have gone there a few times. We loved the stunning view revealed from the dam and how calm and peaceful it was there.
We took a short walk there on a hiking trail that reached the water. We were the only ones there. I recommend driving around the dam, and then on the way you will see both stopping places for observation and markings for walking routes and short routes with a drop into the water. I recommend bringing snacks and water with you because there is no place to buy food and drinks—arrival instructions.
The White Cliffs Limassol
We came to this place by chance and were fascinated by it. This is an area of natural white cliffs with small bays from which you can enter the water. In addition, nearby, there is a large tavern called Agios Georgios Alamanou Fish Tavern. It is suitable for families and groups because there are large platters of meats and fish and a great variety of dishes, and there is an area with trampolines and some games for children.
The white cliffs have become a famous place for photography, especially for bride and groom photos. When we were there, I saw two couples who went for filming. We also saw a couple who brought folding chairs and sat on them on one of the cliffs to watch the sunset. There is no doubt that sunset is the recommended time to be there—arrival instructions.
Prastio waterfall
A waterfall that is half an hour’s drive from the center of Limassol towards Paphos. I think this is the closest waterfall to Limassol. The others are about an hour’s drive away in the Troodos Mountains.
The waterfall itself is not very big but it is in a really beautiful area and we really enjoyed walking around there with Maya. There is water in the waterfall only after a few rainy days, so if you go there in a non-rainy period, chances are the waterfall will be dry.
When there is water at the waterfall, there is usually also a sandwich van in the parking lot of the waterfall with a really delicious meat sandwich and an ice cream van.
Polemidia National Forest Park
A charming forest with an area with picnic tables, a small playground, and a nice cafe. You can see a beautiful view of the whole city and the sea. We loved hanging out there with Maya. For anyone looking for a place to have a picnic, this is definitely a recommended place. Arrival instructions
Limassol Promenade
The Limassol Promenade stretches for 15 km of fun paths by the sea and consists mostly of bike paths. There are stunning restaurants, cafes, and beaches along the way. We like to bike ride along the promenade and get as far as the marina area, which is also very nice to walk at. You can also cross the road and stroll in the old city from the marina. There are bike rental stations along the entire promenade at a few euros. It is an excellent trip for those who like to pedal or walk.
The Molos area is near the marina with juice stalls, large playgrounds, and a large area to walk around. Arrival instructions.
Bonus for blog followers
If you are planning to come to Cyprus and are looking for someone to plan an itinerary for you that you can do independently with a car (minimum for 3 days) or if you want to do a private trip with a driver (also suitable for large groups) then I recommend contacting Rony Schwartz. We met not long ago and I was very impressed by his knowledge of Cyprus (he has been living here for 5 years in Paphos) and beyond that he is really charming and has been planning trips for many years.
Link to Roni’s WhatsApp for contact
If you book a “private trip” for a family, or a small group, Roni will make for you a “detailed plan for a sightseeing day, with a culinary emphasis”, in Paphos, or Larnaca, or Limassol, including warm recommendations! Such a program costs 50 – 40 euros normally, but you will get it for free.
If you order a trip planning you will get one day at my expense, pay for three days planning and you will get four.
If you book a trip for a group of over 7 participants, you will receive a shuttle to the airport and back at an attractive price or a detailed culinary trip planning for an independent trip for free.
In conclusion, the Limassol area in Cyprus is full of villages and beautiful places. I will continue to
update recommended locations in my blog.
We moved to Limassol Cyprus in early May 2021 and since then I have managed to explore the city a lot and have found cool activities and things to do with our daughters Maya (4 years old) and Sophie (1 year old).
You will find in this post a list of the things that are most worthwhile for you to do in Limassol with children (most of them are suitable for babies and toddlers as well as older children).
If you are looking for nature trips and to visit special villages with the children, then I wrote a detailed post about trips and villages in Limassol and the surrounding area.
Tips before flying to Limassol
SIM card
I personally recommend Esim, which is an electronic SIM. I like Airalo. I was very satisfied with their user experience (simple tutorial videos for operating the SIM card) and everything worked without any special problems.
Blog followers have a 15% discount code for the Airalo company to purchase an ESIM – to redeem the discount, click on this link. The discount code is already included in the link. See it at checkout.
The biggest drawback at the moment is that some devices do not support an electronic SIM. How will you know that your device supports eSIM ? Very simply go to this link and you will know.
Where to sleep in Limassol?
I wrote a detailed post with all the recommended hotels in Limassol.
To search hotels in Limassol
Car rental in Limassol
Limassol and Cyprus in general don’t have convenient public transportation. If you want to explore Limassol it’s better for you to rent a car (Cypriots drive on the left-hand side of the road and overtake on the right). You can search for a car in the search engine Papam Papam. Personally, I really like to search through it because it saves me time (instead of going to several websites) and it also has the option of filtering out non-recommended rental companies.
Attractions in Limassol
There are more things to do in Limassol that I did not do and do not appear on the list. You can get ideas for other cool things you can do on the various attraction sites and even order through them (sometimes at a discounted price). The first attraction site is called Get Your Guide , the second is the Viator.
Fasouri Watermenia Water Park
Roman and I love water parks. Even before Maya joined our lives, we used to go to various water parks when we traveled the world. Of course when we found out there was one in Limassol we decided to go there with Maya and see what it would be like to go there with her.
The water park opened on June 10th and we have gone to it several times already and really enjoy it. In the park you will find water attractions that are suitable for both the little ones and the big ones.
There are several restaurants for full meals, a cafe, an ice cream stand, a Cinnabon stand (delicious dessert), a mini donut stand, and more…
The cost of food and drinks is reasonable and in addition to this there are plenty of seats, some normal pools, and also a wave pool. Our favorite attraction is the Lazy River which is a route of about 20 minutes sitting in a large tube and just sailing slowly with the water.
What we really liked about the park is that it is not crowded at all and there are no queues for the facilities; because of the COVID this is even more noticeable but even before that (from what I have heard from locals) the park was not too crowded up and can be enjoyed without waiting hours for any facility.
Opening hours change every month so it is worth checking them on the park’s website. The price for the park is around 30 euros but there is a discount now because of the Coronavirus period and the price is more towards 25 euros.
Greenland park
You won’t believe what a place they opened here in Limassol!!
A half hour drive from the center of Limassol up the mountain (a drive with an amazing view) reveals a perfect place for children and adults. It has a lot of inflatables and facilities for children, picnic tables, a barbecue area, a fish pond where you can fish, a restaurant with Russian cuisine with excellent food and a green view, there is also a cafe with some snacks and beyond all this there is also glamping, a pool and a hammam.
The place is called
Greenland
And it is open from Wednesday to Sunday. There are two types of glamping.
Those who sleep there also receive breakfast and entry to the pool.
Entrance to the children’s area costs 10 euros per child and 5 euros per adult. Admission for babies up to two years old is free.
Directions.
Toy confectionery cafe
A really cool cafe that recently opened (January 2024) in Limassol. A combination of stunning design, special and delicious desserts, a children’s playroom and a showcase from which you can see how the desserts are prepared. Maya and Sophie really enjoyed drawing there, playing a wall game of balls and also watching the desserts being made. Note that the cafe is quite small and on weekends may be too busy. Directions. suitable especially for toddlers.
A new restaurant with an indoor playground
In May 2024, a new restaurant opened in front of the Four seasons hotel – Baloo restaurant . The restaurant serves high quality food and there is a small but well-maintained indoor playground with a slide, a ball pool, some games for children (mainly for toddlers) and on weekends there is also a supervisor.
We ordered a dish from the breakfast there, wine, coffee, a tagliatelle pasta dish with lemon and shrimp (which the girls really liked) and a seabass fish dish. The bill was 63 euros. Keep in mind that the service there was very slow, hopefully it’s just because the restaurant is new and that it will improve. This is a great option to spend half an hour – an hour with the kids and them to eat delicious food, especially on days when you are looking for an indoor activity in Limassol.
Paradox Museum
A museum of illusions located in the marina area. A fun museum suitable for young and old children. We were there with Maya who was 3 years old and she really enjoyed herself. It would be nice if it was bigger, אםbut you can spend an hour or two there with the kids.
Agora Playlounge Playground an indoor playground and an indoor Market
The Agora Playlounge Playground is an amazing playground for the little ones. It is indoors and relatively new and I really like going there with Maya. There is a huge ball pool, small slides, a trampoline, an area with lots of games on the way, small cars, and more. The design is really charming and everything is clean and tidy.
There is a nice seating area for parents and you can sit there and be entertained while the little ones have fun too (for those who do not have to look after their toddler all the time like it happens to me with Maya lol).
In addition to this, the advantage of this playground is that it is located in the AGORA indoor market, so you can go out and buy food to bring with you to the seating area or eat in the complex and then return to its playground. Currently the cost there is 8 euros for two hours per child (adults do not pay). It is mandatory to bring socks (but if you forget then you can buy ones there for 1.5 euros).
Lego World Bricks4Kidz – indoor activity
I discovered Bricks4Kidz recently and have already been there with Maya four times already because it’s a really fun place and the owner is very charming.
This is an entire complex around a Lego theme. Downstairs you will find lots and lots of Lego games (parts that are suitable for both smaller kids and the older ones). There is a music room with a TV and you can dance there. There is a small climbing wall and a craft table.
Upstairs there is a cute restaurant where some of the food is in the shape of a… Lego ? Lego hamburger bun (the color of the bun isn’t a food color but natural) and the truth is that it is very tasty. There are also nuggets and chips, ice cream, and coffee. Outside there is a large trampoline in the shape of a castle.
Although Maya is a bit too small (19-months-old) and the recommendation is for ages 3+, she really enjoys it and I find things to do with her every time. The price there is really worth it. For a child under the age of three the cost is 3 euros and for a child over that age it is 6 euros. Adults do not pay.
Yard 4 All
Update from January 2024: The place is closed
A dining area with a nice playground outside. There you will find a pizzeria, a hamburger place (which also has salads), sushi, a cafe, and a bar.
When the weather is not too hot, it is a great option to spend time with the children. You can be in the playground and also eat, the food there is delicious and inexpensive. Arrival instructions.
Dasoudi Beach
A perfect beach for families. There is a large playground and fenced area, games, two restaurants and a bar, and of course a tidy beach with sunbeds and umbrellas (bed costs 2.5 euros and parasol 2.5 euros).
One of the restaurants is a beach restaurant with cheap prices like French fries at 3.5 euros and ice cream at 1.5 euros. And there is a restaurant with seafood and a varied menu.
There is organized parking, which is free near the beach (so far it hasn’t happened that I couldn’t find parking there). Arrival instructions.
Promenade of the Molos Area
The promenade of Limassol is long and stretches over 15 km. Throughout most of it you will also find a bike path which is really nice because you can rent a bike (there are rental stations along the route) and ride there.
The whole boardwalk is nice but the Molos area (directions) in my opinion is the most fun. It has a lot of cafes and a very wide section of sidewalk and lawns. It also has beautiful sculptures and a playground. There’s parking next to it, which you need to pay for in the parking machines (on Sundays and holidays it is free).
My recommendation is to put the Red Cafe Limassol in Waze and enjoy the area. Arrival instructions. By the way, in Red Cafe there are very tasty pastas and great cocktails and close to it is the Nero Cafe, a cafe that we really like.
Limassol National Forest Park
We discovered this park not long ago and were really excited about it. It is located on the outskirts of Limassol in the mountainous part and therefore has a beautiful view of the city and the sea. The park is very large with lots of picnic tables, a lawn, a small playground, and there is also a cafeteria with fresh juices, coffee, and food.
Water Sports
When my nephews (ages 13 and 14) came to visit, one of the things they enjoyed the most was water sports. They did an hour sap (cost 10 euros per person) and Crazy Sofa, which is like a banana but lying down (cost 15 euros per person). I joined them for the Crazy Sofa and it was really fun. Along the coast there are many places for water sports and from what I have seen they have the same prices.
We did the water sports near the Atlantica Miramare Hotel where they also stayed. Water sports are suitable for older children but if you come with the little ones there are also speed boats or pedals that you can do with them.
Zoo and Municipal Park
The municipal park is a great place to spend time with the children. It is large and fenced with a playground and lawns as well as a small grocery store where you can also buy coffee. It is in front of the promenade so you can continue from there to a restaurant or cafe on the promenade.
In addition to this there is the Limassol Zoo, which is a relatively small zoo but with many types of animals and it also has an aquarium and reptile area. We enjoyed hanging out there with Maya and she was very enthusiastic about the animals.
The price is very attractive: adult 5 euros, children ages five to fifteen 2 euros, and children under five are free. Regarding opening hours, it is recommended that you check the website of the Limassol Municipality.
Bubble Park – An indoor playground
Large indoor playground with slides, an area of colliding cars and motorcycles, a restaurant, and outside there are lots of trampolines and inflatables. The place is a bit crowded if you arrive in the rush of August but is usually very nice and the place is suitable for both smaller and older children.
Cafes with Playgrounds
In Limassol you will find all kinds of restaurants and cafes with playgrounds, which is a great option for those looking for a way to keep the kids busy and also enjoy food and something to drink ? I go a lot with Maya to the Clock Cafe (directions) in the Germasogeia area because it is close to us. But there are many more places where you can find games like Pizza Hut, KFC, and more…
Jumbo Store
Before we moved here I didn’t understand the enthusiasm people had over the Jumbo Store, but after I was there for the first time, I understood ?
This is a huge store with really cheap prices and you can find every possible game there as well as household items, writing equipment, things for the sea, clothing, and more…
You can spend a couple of hours there just looking at what they have and of course filling the whole cart with everything you see (and of course one cart will not be enough). The kids can hang out there for fun (even if they want to run away they won’t succeed because this place is like a maze with only one exit :)). In short for those who come to do some shopping for the kids on the trip, this is the place to go.
Free things to do in Limassol with kids
- Playgrounds – the recommended ones are: Dasoudi Beach (directions), Petite Plage (directions), Molos (directions), the Municipal Garden (directions).
- Beaches – there is nothing that children love more than playing in the sand, it can keep them busy for hours. Recommended beaches with children: Dasoudi Beach (directions) a beach with a playground and restaurants, Vouppa Beach (directions) a beach that also has sand games for children, Panagies Beach (directions) a beach with sandy sand and no stones.
- Limassol promenade – a promenade that stretches for 15 km and is very fun to ride along it on a bicycle. In addition, in the Molos area there is a wide area of the boardwalk and the children can ride there on scooters.
- Castles – although it is not free, but the entrance is a few euros and can interest the children – there is a castle in the old city (directions) and a fortress in the Colossi area (directions).
- Limassol National Park (directions)
- Prastio waterfall – recommended mainly during the rainy season otherwise there will be no water there but even if there is no water in the waterfall it is nice to walk there in nature (directions).
Restaurants with trampolines and playgrounds
We really like going to Melina merkouri cafe in the Mesa Gitonia area. It is a cafe restaurant with outdoor seating, it has lawns and some games for children and in addition there is a playground and a small forest to walk around. The Cypriot pizza is recommended there for both adults and children.
Pedron caffe Cafe-restaurant that has two large inflatables and a small playground. An excellent place with small children because it is fenced, but keep in mind that the service there is not great. It is recommended to come in the middle of the week because on weekends there are usually birthdays there and then it can be too busy.
And another place is Lanitio, a large playground with a small cafe. What’s nice there is that there are picnic tables and also a small Omega for children.
Indoor playgrounds – indoor activities
I mentioned some of these games above, but I’m writing everything here in a centralized way
- Playlounge Agora – suitable mainly for babies, toddlers and children up to 5 years old
- Hunnies and Bunnies playground – a new playground located in the mall area (a little after it) and there are wooden games, games for babies and toddlers and role-playing games, there is also a nice cafe and a yard with a playground
- Bubble park playground – a playground that is suitable for children aged 3-8 because there are also trampolines outside, colliding cars, motorcycles and a rope maze.
- Bricks4kids Lego playground is a pure Lego playground with lots of Lego parts from the smallest to the really big, there is also a trampoline, a creative area, a small climbing wall and a dance room. There is also a fast food restaurant in the shape of Lego. Suitable mainly for toddlers up to the age of 10.
- Masterland playground – a playhouse with a trampoline and a play maze, there are outside role play rooms such as firemen, babies and more. The playground is open to the public only on weekends and is usually busy because of birthdays, so it is recommended to come in the afternoon because then there are no birthdays. between 13:00 and 16:00.
Bonus for blog followers
If you are planning to come to Cyprus and are looking for someone to plan an itinerary for you that you can do independently with a car (minimum for 3 days) or if you want to do a private trip with a driver (also suitable for large groups) then I recommend contacting Rony Schwartz. We met not long ago and I was very impressed by his knowledge of Cyprus (he has been living here for 5 years in Paphos) and beyond that he is really charming and has been planning trips for many years.
Link to Roni’s WhatsApp for contact
If you book a “private trip” for a family, or a small group, Roni will make for you a “detailed plan for a sightseeing day, with a culinary emphasis”, in Paphos, or Larnaca, or Limassol, including warm recommendations! Such a program costs 50 – 40 euros normally, but you will get it for free.
If you order a trip planning you will get one day at my expense, pay for three days planning and you will get four.
If you book a trip for a group of over 7 participants, you will receive a shuttle to the airport and back at an attractive price or a detailed culinary trip planning for an independent trip for free.
In conclusion, in Limassol you will find great things to do with the kids and at a low cost. Some of the activities are also enjoyable in winter, so you can do great things with them every day of the year ?
I hope my post helped you. If so, I would very much like you to respond here in the comments, and if you have any more questions, then you are also welcome to ask them in the comments or on the blog’s social networks: Facebook and Instagram. Looking for more information about Limassol ? I have in the blog more posts about Limassol and posts about Cyprus.
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At the end of April 2021 I flew to Lisbon for five days and had a day trip to Sintra.
The truth is I flew to Lisbon to get my Portuguese passport and when I did so, there was no entrance for Israelis, so Roman and Maya couldn’t join me and I had to go alone. I was only able to enter because I had an appointment for the passport.
To my delight and sadness because of the coronavirus there were almost no tourists in Lisbon when I traveled and when I went to Sintra there were very few people there, as well.
In regular times, Sintra is considered as a very touristic place and there are thousands of people there every day.
This made the visit to Sintra more fun for me because I could be photographed and take pictures without people in the background. And there were no queues anywhere, and that is of course more convenient.
Tips before traveling to Sintra
SIM card
I personally recommend using an ESIM, which is an electronic SIM, and recommend Airalo. I was very satisfied with their user experience (simple tutorial videos for operating the SIM card) and everything worked without any special problems. I wrote more about them in an extended post on the subject of taking a SIM card abroad and also about other options such as buying a local SIM card.
Blog followers have a 15% discount code for the Airalo company to purchase an ESIM – to redeem the discount, click on this link. The discount code is already included in the link. See it at checkout.
The biggest drawback at the moment is that some devices do not support an electronic SIM. How can you know if your device supports the electronic card? Very simple: go to this link and you can see. Link to which devices support ESIM.
Car rental in Sintra
I think this is the most convenient and fun way to travel. Car prices are low and the roads are easy to drive.
You can search for a car in the search engine Papam Papam. Personally, I really like to search through them because they save me time (instead of going to several websites) and they also have the option of filtering out non-recommended rental companies.
How to get to Sintra from Lisbon
The truth is that at first I thought of joining a tour out of Lisbon to meet people on the way (because I was traveling alone) but then I explored the options and realized that it would be best for me to travel there on my own and not be depending on tour times.
I knew it was a town I would like to photograph a lot and I do not like to be under the pressure of a group in such situations. lol
In any case, the options to get there are: take a taxi, take an organized tour from Lisbon, or get there by train.
**It is not recommended to get there by private car as there are some very limited parking spaces in Sintra and the castles have no private car entries and there are steep ascents.
I took a train. The cost of the train was really cheap and was about 2.25 euros for an adult.
Directions to the train station in the old area of Lisbon Rossio train station
The train ride was about 40 minutes on a line called Rossio-Sintra. There is another line that takes about 50 minutes to Oriente-Sintra. Because I was traveling during the coronavirus pandemic, it was really calm at the train station and there were not many people, but from what I heard, there are rush hours that are very busy there, so it is advisable to arrive as early as possible in the morning.
Attractions in Sintra
You can get ideas for other cool things you can do on the various attraction sites and even order through them (sometimes at a discounted price). The first attractions site is tiqets the second is Get your guide and Viator.
Where to stay in Sintra
You can search for places to stay in Sintra via Booking.
Get to know Sintra
Sintra is a town that is around 35 km from Lisbon. It is a magical place with castles and palaces and a stunning historic town center. It has crazy views and also special beaches. UNESCO declared the cultural landscape of Sintra a World Heritage Site in 1995.
I think it’s worth dedicating two or three days to Sintra and not just one. There is a lot to see and in every site you will spend a few hours for sure, so it is impossible to get everything done in just one day. On my next opportunity I will definitely go there for a few days.
*Tip: note that the entrance to each castle and palace costs money. There are machines for purchasing tickets at the entrance to each site and the payment at the machine is by credit only, so it is recommended to arrive with credit (there are also cash registers, but the queue can be very long).
How to get around Sintra
The castles and palaces are up in the mountains and it is very difficult to access them by foot unless you are there for a few days and love a sporting challenge. You can easily get there by bus.
There are buses with a one-time fee for free daily. One line costs 7 euros and travels to three places, line 434, which passes through Dos Mouros Castle, Pena Palace, and the historic town center. The frequency of the bus is every half hour.
There’s a second line that makes a more comprehensive route and costs 15 euros per day.
I took the 7 euro bus because in one day I think it’s hard to get to more than three destinations, especially if you take a lot of pictures and stay for a few hours in each location.
In addition to the buses, there are tuk-tuk drivers (though I do not know what price they charge). Anyway, I took the bus. There is a bus stop close to the train station.
What to do in Sintra
First of all,
drink coffee. ?
The first thing I did when I got to Sintra was go for coffee. There was a cafe that looked nice near the train station, but it was crowded so I went to a calmer one. It was a nice cafe with desserts and drinks and you can sit outside or inside – Garagem cafe (directions). There is a bus stop close to it so from there you can start exploring Sintra.
Dos Mouros Castle – Teachers Castle
The first stop of line 434 is the crazy castle Dos Mouros. The castle was built by the mores in the eighth and ninth centuries. The castle was built on the mountain and was once a defense of the entire area.
Admission costs 8 euros.
The road to the castle is impressive and special but when you enter it and walk into the area of the walls and defense towers, then you are truly amazed. The medieval walls (and the view from them) give the feeling of being inside a movie.
I really recommend going to this castle and not missing out on it.
Pena Palace is located about 400 meters further up from the castle. You can continue by bus first to the palace and then get off on foot to the castle. Either start at the castle and then walk to the palace or wait for the bus to take you there.
Tip: I started at the castle, but it is better to start at the palace and then go down to the castle because the palace is more touristy and the queues there can be very long.
Pena Palace – Park and National Palace of Pena
WOW! It really is the most beautiful palace I have ever seen and the truth is I think anyone who has visited it will agree with me. This palace looks like it was taken from a legend and is so colorful and special that you can’t believe that it really exists. This palace is known as the jewel in the crown of the Sintra Mountains.
The palace demonstrates the architectural style of the 19th century. Around the palace there are wooded areas, continuing the design ideals of the palace’s romance, with hidden routes, mystical ornaments, and stunning views.
Entrance to the palace costs 14 euros.
It is advisable to get there as early as possible because it is considered the busiest place in Sintra.
The historic town center of Sintra
When I got there I was already starving and exhausted from walking in the palace and castle so I did not get to walk around too much and it’s a shame because it seems like a fun place to explore.
I sat there in a cool restaurant outside whose highlight for me was their excellent and refreshing sangria that cost 3.5 euros – Tasca Saloia Restaurant (directions).
I ordered a portion of shrimp in olive oil and chips which were very tasty and, in short, I was very pleased with the choice.
Next to the restaurant there is another palace that I have not been able to enter yet and it is supposed to be very beautiful from inside – the Sintra National Palace.
Notes about Sintra
- You will walk a lot while you’re there, so come with comfortable shoes.
- Sintra is colder than Lisbon, so bring a jacket (after 5 in the evening it gets even colder).
- It is advisable to visit as early as possible in the morning both to get as much time as possible and also to avoid queues that are too long.
- Charge your camera and the cell phone before you visit because you won’t stop taking pictures while you’re there.
- If you are in Lisbon for a few days, then do not miss out on visiting Sintra. It’s really close and it’s definitely worth it!
This past weekend (mid-June 2021) we got to stay at the St Raphael Resort, a 5-star resort in the upscale area of Limassol. We were invited to stay for three nights on a bed and breakfast basis.
Because we live in Limassol, at a 10-minute drive from the resort, we were able to combine a couple’s vacation with a family one. During the day, Maya was in the nursery, so that way we could enjoy some couple’s time, and in the afternoon she would join the vacation, and on Saturday she was with us all day.
A little about the resort
This is a very high-end resort that extends over a huge area and is located right next to the St Raphael Marina.
The resort has two bars, six restaurants, four pools (one for the little ones!), a kids’ club, a spa, a gym, a playground, lawns, and a stunning beach.
Our room
We got a room with a view to the sea. I think it was a room with one of the most beautiful views we’ve had. The view was to both the sea and the marina, as well as the lawns and the resort’s pool. The room itself was very large and we asked for a sofa bed for Maya (actually Mayush and I slept in the luxurious double bed and Roman slept on the sofa bed LOL).
The room also has an armchair with a table, dresser, closet (with a mini fridge, coffee stand, and a safe), bathroom with a bathtub and two really nice bathrobes, which is one of my favorite things in hotels 🙂
And it had a terrace with a stunning view.
The pools at the resort
The resort has several pools. One for the little ones, another indoors in the spa complex, and two other large pools, one of which also has a water slide for children. Next to the pools there are sun beds and in one of the pools there is a bar and in the other there is a restaurant open for lunch – Splash restaurant.
Breakfast
Breakfast at the hotel is a very varied buffet and you can sit inside or outside on the terrace overlooking the pool.
For those who suffer from food allergies, next to each item you have detailed which allergens it contains. And there is also food that is suitable for vegans and at the cornflakes stand there is also a stand with soy milk, coconut, and almonds.
The restaurants
There are six restaurants in the resort and we ate at five of them (one of them for breakfast and the other by the pool). There is also a Meze restaurant that we did not eat at because it is only open on Wednesdays and Fridays and there was no place when we wanted to order. 🙁 I recommend ordering in advance because from what we saw it looks good and there isn’t much seating.
Anyway, one of the two restaurants we loved the most was Seashells, a high-level vegan restaurant by the sea. We are not vegan but really like vegan food and this restaurant was very good.
Roman ordered pasta in a creamy sauce with pesto and I ordered a “noodles” salad and of course white wine as well. The dishes were excellent.
Cyprus does not have many vegan restaurants and certainly not at such a level, so it is good to know that there is such an option for vegans.
The other restaurant was the Sailor’s Rest Lounge Bar Restaurant, an upscale restaurant of which I saw really good reviews even before we got to the hotel. First of all, the design of the restaurant is amazing and elegant and the location by the sea is perfect for a date. The food was so delicious! We ordered fish carpaccio, salmon sashimi, black mussels, and two sushi rolls (I highly recommend the rolls we took: Red dragon and Sailors crispy). And of course we also ordered local white wine. In short, this restaurant is highly recommended.
Of course the resort also has room service, which is something we always like to do while on holidays and we ordered a pizza one day.
I think it is most profitable to stay in the resort on a half board or all-inclusive basis.
The bars
The resort has two fun bars. One is the pool bar where, what’s fun about it is that its seating is in the water, so it’s really nice to sit there and have a cocktail.
And the other bar is one that opens in the afternoon and unfortunately we did not get to drink there because we were with Maya. But we sat on the terrace of the bar because you can also sit there during the day and I went into the bar to photograph it just as it opened and it is really beautiful from the inside.
What to do with children at the resort
There are the pools, of course (one pool with really shallow water for the little ones), there is a water slide in one of the pools, a playground, kids’ club, beach with water sports like a pedal boat, jet ski, and more… And occasionally there are activities for kids like different games or dancing.
Serenity Spa
Because we were guests of the resort, they let me experience their flag massage at the Serenity Spa. The massage is called Serenity Holistic Journey and is a very relaxing massage that works on all the senses. The spa is of a very high standard, with a pampering waiting room and the treatment room as well. The massage bed was super comfortable and had an excellent sound system. The massage itself was very special, with a combination of warm oil, warm towels, a kind of back peeling (or something like that); in short, it was a relaxing and pampering experience.
The spa complex also has a gym, indoor pool, hairdresser (and sauna and jacuzzi that were out of service because of the coronavirus).
The area of the resort
The resort is located in an area called Pyrgos. This is a luxury area in Limassol with some very high-class hotels and luxurious restaurants. There is a great beach and marina and also some simple and delicious restaurants. This is a great area to go on a vacation and those planning on exploring the area are advised to rent a car (there is free parking for resort guests).
In conclusion, our holiday at the St Raphael Resort was exactly what we needed. After almost two years during which we did not get to go on vacations, this resort came to us right on time :). The service there is excellent, and the atmosphere is really relaxed and suitable for both couples and families. We really enjoyed both being alone and with Maya and the truth is we did not want to leave.
When we moved to Zikhron Ya’akov, it was clear to me that I had a very important task, to check the restaurants and write a detailed post about the recommended restaurants in Zikhron Ya’akov for you.
We have not checked all the restaurants yet, but have already gone to enough so that I can write the post, and of course will also update it as I go. I must point out that there are not a lot of restaurants (compared to what we were used to in Tel Aviv) but it is not always the quantity that determines the place, but the quality, and here we’ve found some good quality and very tasty restaurants.
Tishbi Winery – Restaurant, meats, and bakery
On the border of Zikhron Ya’akov and Binyamina there is an amazing culinary empire called Tishbi Winery.
We went there two days in a row. Why? Because there is a lot to do in the complex and we did not get to try everything on Thursday, so we went back on Friday (and some things are only open on Fridays, anyway).
What will you find in the winery complex?
- Dairy restaurant with a special atmosphere under the vines, where you can have breakfast or enjoy a chef’s lunch (the menu has starters, fish dishes, pastas, pizzas, and salads)
- A bakery with a unique wood oven, there you will find sourdough breads, croissants, and brioche bread (the bakery is open all week)
- Wine and Chocolate Store – The store sells the famous Valrhona chocolate, as well as wines, brandies, olive oil, and jams that they produce. It is possible to take a winery tour that includes a visit with wine and chocolate tastings at a cost of 55 NIS per person. On Fridays there are tastings without a tour
- On Fridays there is a compound outside with a smokehouse and a hamburger place
We were invited to lunch and for starters we chose Carpaccio Dennis and a beer pastry with Camembert cheese, for the main course a sea bass fillet and Khachapuri. Each dish was insanely delicious!! We could not decide which one was the winning dish because everything was too delicious. For dessert we took a cheesecake with white chocolate and berries and coffee (highly recommended).
When we finished the meal we went on a tour of the winery in a group with three other people and there we learned about the winery itself, the wine production process, and then at the store we did a wine tasting with chocolate. It was the first time I got to be at a wine tasting with chocolate and the truth is it was a great combination.
On Friday we returned to the winery to enjoy the meats. We debated between a smoked meat sandwich and a hamburger, and in the end we ordered a rib sandwich, which was amazing.
I recommend you to go for a few hours and if possible then for two days ?
Address: Road 652 between Binyamina and Zikhron Ya’akov
The place is kosher
Baalachin – A home-style restaurant for Ethiopian food
We really like Ethiopian food and long before we moved to Zikhron, I remembered that a friend of mine told me we must come try Agra’s food. We had planned to come to try it but somehow in the end we didn’t make it, so as soon as we moved here, the first place we went to was Balachin, and ever since then we have wanted to go every Friday.
The meal is in the yard of Agra’s house and from the second we arrived we knew we would never want to leave because the yard is stunning, well maintained, and really fun to sit there. Agra was a lovely and kind hostess and brought us a blanket to put on the grass so baby Maya could play on it.
After the food arrived we got even more excited because it was excellent! We got injera (gluten-free Ethiopian bread) with a variety of dishes on it, as well as a cheese on the side that she made. The meal was very satisfying (we could not finish everything) and very healthy and tasty. At the end of the meal Agra served us Ethiopian coffee and special bread for dessert. Oh, and the cost of such a meal for a couple costs 70 NIS so it is also a great price.
It is possible to make a closed meal for a large group, so if you are looking for an idea for a special meal for a group of friends or family, this is a great option. The place is only open on Fridays (preferably call before)
Address: HaNarciss 7
For reservations and inquiries 050-8995638
Naama’s House in Zikhron Ya’akov
A friend of mine recommended me Naama’s House in Zikhron Ya’akov and of course I immediately wanted to check it out. Naama invited us over, so I went there with baby Maya. Roman had to work and could not join.
Naama’s House is a stunning house from 1882 with its original brick walls and ceiling. She hosts vegan / vegetarian private meals (of course even those who are not vegan or vegetarian like me, will love the food). The way the food was served was really nice and the taste even more.
I will not give you details of what we ate because Naama prepares different things each time, but I will say that each dish was insanely delicious and really special. The meal includes several entrees in the middle of the table, a main course for a person, and two desserts.
We tasted two vegan desserts that were so delicious we finished them straight away and the truth is that Mayush was primarily responsible for this ?
In short, for those who are looking for a vegan / vegetarian meal at an amazing house, Naama’s House is highly recommended!
Phone for reservations 058-7039171
Nachman BBQ and Batya sandwich
A week after we moved to Zikhon Ya’akov, Roman had a craving for smoked meat. It made me laugh because I did not understand where he would find a smoked meat restaurant now and suddenly after a few minutes of searching he found the Nachman BBQ restaurant, which is located just a few minutes’ walk from our house. The restaurant is located in the pedestrian zone. You can sit there and order food or take a takeaway sandwich of smoked meat from Batya Sandwich. We decided we wanted to take a sandwich and go for a picnic in the Yuyul garden next to the pedestrian area.
I did not have high expectations of the sandwich but as soon as we ate it we were amazed. We took the brisket meat which is non-fat and comes out excellent due to its slow cooking. The sandwich was in a soft, fresh bread with tahini and every bite was a delight. If you like meat then just go there and I’m sure you will fly for it too.
In addition, we ate at the restaurant twice and loved the meats they offer!! We ate brisket, chorizo, and asado and everything was amazing.
They also have hummus, vegetable patties, eggplant, salads, crispy potatoes, and more. So even those who do not eat meat will be able to find things to eat there. The restaurant has a lovely courtyard and it is possible to do events there as well.
Oh, and they also have really delicious desserts (there is a tasting plate of excellent little desserts). In short, definitely a great meal option for those who come to Zikhron Ya’akov
The restaurant is open Monday – Thursday
Phone for sandwiches 054-554-4760
Address: Hameyasdim 37
Adma Restaurant
We did not get to eat yet at Adma Restaurant due to the second lockdown that has not yet ended, but we did get to get two very tasty picnic baskets from them and enjoy them in nature on a double date with my sister and husband.
There are three types of baskets in price ranges of 110 NIS -320 NIS. The classic basket is especially suitable when staying in a B&B in the area and the other two baskets are suitable for a more pampering picnic.
Followers of the blog will be given a special benefit of a free bottle of orange juice for a classic breakfast
And a free addition of salmon for a stylish breakfast
* Please note that you came through the blog traveling outside the box
*You can order the baskets throughout the week (also Friday-Saturday)
* There is also a vegan-option
Address: Ma’ale Harishonim 8
Uma Bar Restaurant – Sushi restaurant
I got many recommendations about Uma Bar Restaurant, so we had been waiting to see if it really is that good. And now I can tell you, “yes” 🙂 There is excellent service, a good atmosphere, and delicious food.
The truth is that all the dishes on the menu sounded good and I’m sure we’ll go there many more times to try something different each time. In the meanwhile we tried the Ceviche Dennis (highly recommended), Hanoi Salad (was very tasty but did not remind me of Vietnamese flavors), Ban Asado in slow cooking (yummy-yum), and Sushi Marciano (I like it again). There are all types of special rolls and we took the Marciano because that is what the waitress recommended and it was very tasty.
In the middle of the week there is a business menu of 15% on the entire menu so for those who live in the area it is worth coming on weekdays.
Address: Hanadiv 29
Unfortunately on Friday they are closed and on Saturday they only open in the evening.
Shuli’s hummus
On Friday noon the well-known Hobbit Bar in Zikhron has Shuli’s hummus. Fun atmosphere of the bar during the day with good music.
There are hummus, falafel, French fries, and salads. I took the Nofar salad (I had to choose it because it’s my name :)). It is a vegetable salad with egg and chickpeas, and Roman had a Masabacha and falafel. We both loved the dishes and agreed that they have delicious hummus that we would recommend for hummus lovers.
Address: Hameyasdim 44
Shuli 050-9011900
Tishbi Restaurant
Tishbi Winery has a restaurant in the pedestrian area and a restaurant in the winery itself (which I mentioned at the beginning of the post). We went to the restaurant in the pedestrian zone for breakfast. The double breakfast is very worthwhile because it includes both dishes, two glasses of wine, and two glasses of a hot beverage. We took the smoked salmon breakfast, which included bread, eggs (we had poached eggs), a cherry tomato salad, smoked salmon, and cream. We had two glasses of white wine, which was excellent, and finally took a cold coffee.
Closed on Saturday
Hameyasdim 16 – Tabun Restaurant
In the first lockdown of the corona we had gone to look for an apartment in Zikhron Ya’akov. It was forbidden to sit in the restaurants so we ordered takeaway from the Hameyasdim Restaurant 16.
I remember it well because we sat down to eat the burgers and fries in the parking lot next to it, which didn’t sound like something great, but baby Maya fell asleep for an hour and a half so we had a quiet picnic and we really enjoyed ourselves. It was good both because Maya was sleeping and also because the burgers were really good. The second time we requested a delivery from there to a hotel we were in and it was great.
If you fancy a burger, I highly recommend this restaurant, but they also have many more types of meats as well as vegan dishes.
Address: Hameyasdim 16
Zikhron falafel
It is considered the best falafel in Zikhron Ya’akov. I must confess and say I do not like falafels, but Roman does and he said they were really tasty.
Address: Hameyasdim 60
Closed on Saturday
Cafe Restaurant Mataim
I also recommended Mataim in a post about recommended cafes in Zikhron Ya’akov because it is also a café, but I also will mention it here because it is a great option for a restaurant in the middle of the week or on Friday for those looking for something in the open air, delicious, kosher, and dairy.
Address: Ramat Hanadiv Zikhron
In conclusion, in Zikhron Ya’akov you will find great restaurants and a good atmosphere. The vast majority are closed on Saturday so I recommend arriving in the middle of the week or Friday. We enjoy exploring the culinary side of Zikhon Ya’akov and the truth is that we plan on exploring the area as well because we have heard that in Binyamina and Pardes Hanna Karkur there are many more great options. Of course I will update on this in more blog posts.