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.

Arrival instructions.

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.

Book tickets to waterpark

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.

Book tickets to the museum

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

1. Playgrounds – the recommended ones are: Dasoudi Beach (directions), Petite Plage (directions), Molos (directions), the Municipal Garden (directions).
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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).
5. Limassol National Park (directions)
6. 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

1. Playlounge Agora – suitable mainly for babies, toddlers and children up to 5 years old
2. 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
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.

About a month ago we moved to Zikhron Ya’akov and we have already managed to try a lot of cafes (this actually is not very surprising because I really like them).

Happily, we discovered that there are a lot of good options here and that was another thing that made me realize that we made the right choice in moving here. LOL

Also on trips abroad one of the things that always made me fall in love with a new destination was when we would find good cafes in the area, so it was important for me to live in a place like this. I was a bit disappointed to leave Tel Aviv because it has great cafes, but I was surprised to discover that there are also many great options here and we live close to the pedestrian zone, so most of them are at a really short distance from our house.

The best coffee – Nichaoch Cafe

When I found out that the best coffee shop is a minute from my house I got really excited and after tasting it I was thrilled. Nichaoch Cafe is a small and simple cafe (with seating inside and out) and as soon as you pass by it you will smell the excellent aroma of roasting coffee beans and you will want to enter it right away.

So, yes, in this cafe the coffee is roasted and there is also the option to buy the coffee to prepare it at home. Plus there are pastries, cakes, and cookies (I really like the little bourekas they make and the chocolate balls). There are also savory pastries and toasts.

A little tip: if you live in the area, there is an option to purchase a ticket for 10 coffees and then get 2 free, which is really worth it 🙂

Address: Hameyasdim 61
Kosher place, not open on Saturday

Feel like in nature – Mataim Cafe in Ramat Hanadiv

Now with the situation of the corona, most of us prefer to sit in spacious places and outside, so when we went to Mataim I realized that it is a great choice these days, and the truth is that it is a great option in general because it’s really beautiful there and they offer great food and coffee.

Mataim is located in Ramat Hanadiv (a 10-minute drive from the pedestrian zone). You will find a variety of breakfasts there, as well as food like pastas, sandwiches, and salads.

I went there with my sisters for breakfast and we ordered the vegan breakfast (the vegan omelet was delicious), a quinoa salad with cauliflower (highly recommended), and the Sabich focaccia, which was also excellent.

On another occasion I went there with Roman for coffee and dessert (we ordered the Pavlova, which was light and tasty, but I’m not really a fan of Pavlovas :)).

Outside there are lawns, so it has both a beautiful view and allows children to be entertained, for those who come with their family. There is also the option to sit there on mats on the grass and eat, for those who want to feel like they’re at a picnic.

Address: Ramat Hanadiv
Kosher place, not open on Saturday

Instagram design and great desserts – Cafe Tamar

Kosher cafe and patisserie – Cafe Tamar, which opened a few days ago in one of the alleys of the pedestrian zone, is completely on the list of recommended cafes in Zikhron Ya’akov. At first you will want to take photos and upload them to Instagram because its design at the entrance is beautiful and colorful, and after you order coffee and dessert there you will fall further in love with it.

We ordered a cold coffee and a plum cake that really surprised me. It was an apple crumble-style cake, only it was with plums and it was excellent. We also tried the macaroons, which were delicious. Highly recommended.

Address: Hameyasdim 52 Leitner Yard
Kosher, closed on Shabbat

Great view – cafe restaurant Hotel Maimon

I really like to drink coffee in front of a beautiful view (well, who doesn’t like that?), and when my friend sent me pictures from there, I just knew we had to hop in for coffee, and the truth is now I want to go back every day. Why? There is a beautiful terrace with stunning sea views. Another advantage is that the place is open on Friday evenings and Saturdays (now with the corona situation and the care that there will not be many people, you should call beforehand and find out if it is possible to reach the hotel if you are not a guest as well).

We ordered a cold coffee there, which was fine, on Saturdays there is no espresso machine so the coffee was instant coffee. We will try to go in the middle of the week and check how the coffee is from the machine. There is also breakfast at the buffet and we plan to go there soon to check out how it is.

Address: Zahal 4
Open on Saturday

Combined with art – Anecdota Cafe

In the heart of the pedestrian zone there is a charming art shop that is also open on Fridays and Saturdays, which is called Anecdota. It has a cute coffee stand with some chairs outside. There is great coffee and there are also chocolates in different flavors. We ordered cold takeaway coffee and chocolate toffee, which was delicious, and we went to sit on the bench opposite and felt like we were abroad. The store itself has really beautiful things (gifts, applied art, home decor items, Judaica, and jewelry) so it’s well worth going there for shopping and coffee 🙂

Address Hameyasdim 52
Open on Saturday

Feel like in Paris – Boulangerie Cafe

In a side alley of the pedestrian zone you will find the Boulangerie Cafe. There is a charming patio and a variety of cakes, cookies, pastries, and a Knafe dish made in a stone oven.

There is also food like lasagna, quiches, and pizzas.

Address: Hameyasdim 51
Kosher place, not open on Saturday

Tourist atmosphere – Gotcha Cafe

At the beginning of the sidewalk in an abroad-like atmosphere you will find the Gotcha Cafe. I think it is a great place to go to for coffee or a glass of wine when you come to Zikhron Ya’akov on the weekend.

A little tip: the prices for takeaway are half the price of the restaurant, so there is an option to go there for coffee and then take takeaway to go to the Tiyul Garden, which is a two-minute walk away, and have a picnic on the grass 🙂 I really liked their salmon salad.

Address: Hameyasdim 59
Open on Saturday

As you can see, there is a broad selection of great cafes in Zikhron Ya’akov and I am sure that in time I will discover even more and will be able to update this post 🙂

Many times on Saturday we want to sit in a nice and special place to enjoy delicious food and good coffee. We have several cafes that are open on Saturdays near our house in Zikhron Ya’akov, but we decided that from time to time we would go and explore other areas close by.

We discovered some places we really liked and I decided to share them with you because I believe everyone is looking for good places to eat and drink on Saturday. Of course I will update this post every time I discover a new worthwhile place, but in the meantime here are the cafes we’ve loved.

Cafe Bagolf in Caesarea

Have you ever dreamed of being rich and having a subscription to a golf club and sitting down to drink coffee there? Lol. Well, maybe not everyone has dreamed of it, but it seems cool to me. I have never been to a golf course (only in mini golf, which is a completely different world :)). In short, when I googled a place that is open on Saturday not far from us, I found Cafe Bagolf, a cafe located inside the golf course in Caesarea, so of course I wanted to try it.

We went there without booking a place and discovered it was a mistake because the place was blown up. Luckily there was a place close to the terrace so we could see the view from inside, but the whole situation means it is very important to book a spot in advance and if it’s not too hot, then I highly recommend to request a place on the terrace.

Roman had eaten before we went there and was upset because there was a rich variety of breakfasts that sounded really good. He ordered coffee and an almond croissant and I ordered the worker’s breakfast, which included a bagel, herring, market vegetables, Labaneh with eggplant, an egg, and a hot or cold drink.

The meal was very tasty and we loved the location, so we’ll surely be going back again in the future.

Zipora Cafe Agala – in Moshav Aviel

Sometimes I really want to drink coffee in nature, in a relaxed place, and do nothing, and that is exactly what Zipora Coffee is for. It’s a very cool cafe because it is actually a coffee cart in front of Aviel pond, with a lovely view.

There is shaded seating and they serve not just coffee, but also really tasty sandwiches, I ate a sandwich with beets and cheese, which was excellent, and they have some delicious cookies. It is simply mandatory to take the peanut butter cookie, which is addictive, so see you have been warned.

Many get there on the way because there are hiking and biking trails in the area, but we went there specifically (a 15-minute drive from home) and just sat there and enjoyed the chill atmosphere that matched exactly with what I was looking for.

Schwartzman Dairy in Bat Shlomo

Let’s start with the fact that Bat Shlomo is a charming moshav with a stunning view and bike paths (which we have not been able to try yet, but it will happen) and it also has the Schwartzman Dairy.

A dairy that is open all days of the week, that has a variety of dishes, and in fact you can also enjoy delicious food, wine, and desserts. We’ve visited several times and once we bought takeaway cheeses and took them to a B&B. We really liked their laffa (taboon bread) stuffed with old-fashioned goat cheeses.

They also have an excellent knafeh dessert, great wine, full meals of cheeses with vegetables, olives, and more that can suit a couple and family. The seating is outside, the atmosphere in the place is very pleasant, and when we were there on Saturday, there was a performer playing the violin.

I like to live in flat areas because in winter it is less cold and there are no strong winds. Plus, it’s easier to explore the place with Maya’s stroller without finding yourself in the middle of a tough climb up a mountain. But Zikhron Ya’akov is unusual in my eyes, because it is so beautiful here that I decided that despite its location on a mountain, I want to live in it (maybe in the winter I will regret this decision –lol-, but in the meantime I feel that way).

The fact that Zikhron is on the mountain is a big advantage in terms of the landscapes it has and what I liked to discover is that there are lots of stunning viewpoints. I am constantly discovering new observation points, so I will probably update the post many more times here, but in the meantime I have collected some impressive viewpoints for you.

My recommendation is to take a takeaway coffee or a fruit smoothie, a good book or a camera, a cell phone with headphones, or just go there with nothing and sit on a bench to enjoy the view ?

A viewpoint on Tzahal Street – Gan Rivka and Dov Litner

I discovered this place after we returned on foot from the Beit Maimon Hotel. The hotel is right next to this garden and the view from there is one of the most beautiful in my opinion. It is a view of the sea, combined with flowers and palm trees. To the right of the garden is an area of ​​stunning sunflowers. And it’s also worth walking around Tzahal Street because it also has very beautiful houses.

Arrival instructions

A viewpoint from Kibbutz Maayan Zvi – Mitzpe Sagi

Mitzpe Sagi, where the navigator Sagi Reches from Kibbutz Maayan Zvi and the pilot Yair Rachmilevitch, who fell in a plane crash, are commemorated. I was recommended this viewpoint by a follower from Instagram.

Arriving at the observation point – park the car by the pool and on the right you will see a checkpoint with a sign for the observatory. There is a walk of a few minutes in a natural forest and then you reach a bench from which the beautiful view is seen. We decided to have a little picnic there towards sunset and brought cherries, cheeses, and coffee with us.

Directions to the pool.

Observation points Mitzpe Yehuda Zimroni

This is an observation point located in front of the Eden Inn Hotel. I got to see it many times from the car so one day I decided to stop there and was really excited about it. There are a few benches and the place is clean and well maintained (unfortunately there are some viewpoints which are dirty, especially because of cigarette butts). There is a beautiful view of the fields and mountains.

Arrival instructions

An observation point near the monument to Yaakov Marvitsa

I discovered this place on the way to a meal at Naama’s house . Turning from Wine Street to Hameginim Street will suddenly reveal this stunning view that in a moment makes you feel like you are abroad. There is one bench there but it is enough.

Arrival instructions

Jabotinsky Street viewpoint

Sometimes in the afternoon Roman and I go out to get some fresh air with Maya in the cart. One of the places we like to go to is Jabotinsky Street. Both because it is relatively close to our house and because there is a really beautiful view from there, as well as an observation point that is fun to sit in.

Arrival instructions

An observation point in Givat Eden

We have been to Givat Eden several times already because there is Agra who cooks Ethiopian food in the yard of the house every Friday. Any way in the direction of Givat Eden, there is Ben Gurion Boulevard. Along the entire road there is a sidewalk with benches overlooking the sea and the fishing pools. I recommend getting there to do a challenging walk uphill (or downhill) and on the way stopping for a scenic break ?

Arrival instructions

In conclusion, in Zikhron Ya’akov there are many monuments and viewpoints with benches that allow you to enjoy the views. Of course I will continue to update the post with more beautiful viewpoints as I discover them.

Half a year after we started the blog we started traveling every month to a different destination around the world (we have been following this habit for almost three years), but recently I’ve become 32 weeks pregnant and it was time to take time off from going abroad and basically take a break from flying for a time. I hope with the baby we can go back and fly and travel a lot, but for now we have decided that this break is good too and it will allow us to travel more in our country Israel.

This time we decided to take a trip to Acre, which is one of my favorite cities in the country. I grew up in Kiryat Bialik (10 minutes drive from Acre) and so I visited Acre a lot, but the truth was that I always did the same things and didn’t really research it.

So, before we went there this time, I did some preliminary research on what to do and was honestly surprised by how many things to do there are in the old town. We were there for two days and it left us with a taste of more.

We took the trip in the beginning of October 2019.

Trip duration: Two days.

Tips before traveling to Acre

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 Acre

We came to Acre by car and parked for free near the lighthouse. 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.

Attractions in Acre

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 Acre

We slept at the Zidan Sari suite. Scroll down to read more about our stay there. You can search for places to stay in Acre via Booking.

A bit about Acre (Akko)

The ancient city of Acre lies on the Mediterranean Sea in northern Israel (Between the Krayot and Naharia), it’s a magical mix of tiled streets which have seen Byzantine, crusader, Muslim and Ottoman rulers. It has a vibrant Arabic market; Amazing boutique hotels; renowned hummus restaurants and even better fish restaurants.

Where to stay when visiting Acre

It’s the first time we spent the night in Acre and it was truly an incredible experience. I found us the Zidan Sarai suite which I booked through AirBnB (Search for additional accommodations ), notice that the payment through the website doesn’t include tax, like most Israeli websites. The suite itself is in the alleys of the old town, giving a homey and local feeling. From outside there’s nothing to let on the beauty of the suite, but upon entering it the first word is simply “wow!!!”.

I’ll start from the beginning and explain about the suite. It belongs to the Zidan family, run by the Arabesque hotel. The advantage to that is that the hotel’s reception allows you to check in and leave your bags there if you arrive early and want to go out into the city (You can do the same thing upon check-out). You can also eat at the hotel for another 100 shekels for a couple. I personally recommend the breakfast. The price is definitely worth what you’re getting (Salads served to your table, breads, eggs per order, eggplant in Tahini, cheeses and orange juice).

Additionally, the hotel has a rooftop balcony you can go up to with some coffee and baklawas (Also included in the breakfast) and enjoy the sea view. You can also stay at the Arabesque hotel (We didn’t get to see the rooms there, but I’ve seen its great reviews).

The Zidan Sarai suite

Anyhow, after walking around town, Moein came to take us to the suite. The suite is huge! About 80 square meters, belonging to a family. It was used as a carpentry by the family before they decided to set up a guest suite there. They built it in 4 years, with attention put into every detail. There’s a kitchen, living room, Turkish Hamam (Unique experience of this suite), bedroom and huge shower with two showerheads (So as a couple, each of you can have his own showerhead :))

Where to eat in Acre? Restaurant recommendations

Uri Buri

This is one of the most recommended and well-known restaurants in town and for good reason. We ate there a few years ago and remembered the meal as very good, so we decided to come back. The restaurant is located across from the sea and it’s recommended to book there in advance. We went during dinner.

There’s a varied menu of fish and seafood, as well as vegan and vegetarian options. You can go for a tastings menu, which is what we went with. The concept of the tastings menu is that you tell the waitress if you have any food allergies or preferences (I let her know I was pregnant) and the chef accommodates you accordingly. Different dishes keep coming out without you knowing what they are, and as soon as you’re full – you ask them to stop sending them out.

We were there for about three hours. The meal was amazing, and despite us being full by the end- we still wanted to try more. For guests of the arabesque hotel and the suite there’s a 10% discount there, which is nice.
The meal cost us around 500 shekels including a glass of wine, tea, dessert and a tip. Map

Romin restaurant

An Arabic restaurant in the middle of the market. You’ll find fish, meats, seafood, salads and hummus there. Roman had two lamb skewers with chips and many salads (For 95 shekels) and I had a vegetable and chickpea salad. Service was good and the salads were tasty. Roman said the skewers were really good.
In conclusion, a great option for those who want to have a meal with different salads and meat or fish.

Sambousek and pita with Zaatar stand

This stand is also in the market and you’ll find different sambousek there made on the spot, zaatar pita, Druze pita and whole wheat pita. The sambousek with Bulgarian cheese and zaatar was amazing (15 shekels). It was so good we decided to take a few home, we also bought whole wheat pitas which were really great.

Hummus places – Sa’id and Sohilla

This time we didn’t get to eat at any hummus restaurants, as its not recommended during pregnancy, but there are two places you should know. The famous Sa’id hummus (Map) is in the heart of the market and there’s always a line, and Sohilla hummus (Map) is on the street before the entrance to the market, and to be frank I’ve been having hummus there since I was young and I think it’s really successful.

Things to do in Acre (Akko)

I was surprised to discover how many things you can do in the old town. We purchased a combined ticket from the Arabesque hotel for 60 shekels per person (Cheaper than over the counter), which includes entrance into all the museums and the templar’s cave, so if you’re planning on visiting them it’s highly recommended. The old town is really small (500 square meters), so you can reach everything by a short walk and get a lot done in one day. Opening hours for all the attractions in ancient Acre.

Acre’s central market

This is one of the city’s main attractions and I personally love this market. You can find spices, souvenirs, coffee, clothes, desserts, restaurants, natural juice stalls and many smells of just about everything. While the fish smell isn’t the best thing in the world (In my opinion at least :)) but it’s part of the experience and you can find many treasures there, like natural olive oil soap, great olives, quality olive oil and more. The market is open every day, with opening hours changing during the holidays.

Turkish bazaar

Built during the 18th century and abandoned in 1948 when the old town was conquered by the IDF. The market was clothed for many years, and recently the municipality decided to re-open it after restoration. Today you can find art galleries, cafés and restaurants there. Many young chefs opened their restaurants there and beyond that, the place itself is beautiful and photography fans will surely enjoy the market – as it’s very photogenic.

The market is open every day from morning till afternoon.

Acre port

When I was a kid, I loved to jump between the rocks in the port itself and to watch the fishermen. There’s also the possibility to take a cruise on a speedboat or a ship (We didn’t do it this time, but I remember enjoying it in the past).

Around the port, many cafés, galleries and restaurants opened over the years and there’s a beautiful view of the sea.

Watching the swallows at sunset from the hotel rooftop

One of our favorite things on this trip was the swallow experience at night. I don’t know why, but towards sunset (When we were there it was around six twenty), suddenly many swallows appear, flying in the sky and cats on the rooftops try to catch them (And sometimes even succeed). Moein recommended we go up to the hotel balcony to watch this phenomenon and it was a great recommendation. We made ourselves coffee at the hotel entrance and went up to the balcony. Even if you’re not guests of the hotel and you ask to go up, they’ll likely agree as they are really nice there.

The Templars’ Tunnel

The Templars’ Tunnel is an underground tunnel under the Acre streets. The height of the tunnel is about two meters and at some points even less than a meter and a half. Let’s say that for Roman, who’s almost 2 meters tall, it’s a challenge – and with the pregnancy, crouching wasn’t the simplest for me. So, keep that in mind, but it’s definitely a nice experience and the section with the low ceiling doesn’t last long. It’s open all day long.

Roaming the alleyways

The old town is filled with alleys and we enjoyed just walking them with no special purpose. We discovered something new every time, a unique shop or a pretty photography spot. The people there are really nice and helpful and if you get a bit lost, you can always open google maps and save a marker such as your hotel.

Unique shops

Another thing we discovered while wandering in Acre’s alleys are special shops, like 192ART (Map), a handmade item shop by Galilee women. There are dishes, decorations and more, and everything is really colorful and pretty. If you’re looking for a nice gift for someone you love or just something for yourselves, this is a great place to visit.
By this shop you’ll find a jewelry shop from old coins, Meran Shavit. You have to enter this one, as it’s amazing how creative people can be. They made ring like jewelry from old coins and the prices aren’t too high either.

Chipping and stone sculpting workshops in Almadrasa

During our wandering in the Old City, we came across a structure with a sign for stonework and sculpting workshops on it. We decided to go inside and found an impressive workshop with lots of statues of stone and a lovely guy named Amar who is a craftsman and the owner. He explained to us a little about what he does and said he also gives private lessons to groups that book in advance.

The cost of an hour-and-a-half workshop is about NIS 120 per person, working with marble. Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to do the workshop, but it looked really nice and I’m sure we will try it in the future. Even if you don’t plan on taking the workshop, you should check out his art as it’s really beautiful.

Museums in old Acre

Treasures in the walls museum

This museum is in the heart of the eastern wall of ancient Acre. Its purpose is to conserve the historic legacy of the city and recreate authentic visages from the past. What I liked about this museum is the exhibit of craftsmen from the city’s past. You can see how the shops and their owners looking, such as the shoemaker, the dentist and more… You can also see professions that no longer exist such as hatters and leatherworker. It’s worth a visit.

Turkish Hamam museum – Hamam Al Basha

The Hamam Al Basha museum is a combination of visual, static and dynamic elements and a soundtrack that combines the Hamam vibe into Acre’s stories. About every quarter hour begins a show which allows you to learn about the period when the Hamam was built, who built it and to what end. The Hamam is built from several rooms, each with its own unique story.

It’s an experience fit for children and adults alike and we enjoyed it a lot.
At the entrance you get an electronic player for the duration of the visit. You can choose between Hebrew, English, Arabic, French, Russia, German, Spanish and Italian.

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The knights’ kingdom

An electronic player can be obtained at the entrance to the Knights Museum as well (this is included in the entry price and it is highly recommended to take it, as it is an important part of the museum experience). The place is suitable for both adults and children and includes stories and explanations.

The player is automatic and plays the appropriate part based on the location you are in, so you do not need to touch it or type numbers like some museums. You just walk through the huge fortress and every time the story of where you are is played.

A bit about the museum, beneath the fortress building built by the Ottoman ruler are the remains of a Crusader Hospitaller Citadel. Archaeologists have exposed the Crusader fortress over the decades.

The halls that were unearthed underground are also called the Knights’ Halls and thus allow a glimpse into the lives of the Crusader knights who lived here centuries ago.

By the way, outside the old town are the Bahai gardens which I’ve visited in the past, however we didn’t get around to them on this trip.

In conclusion, Acre is one of Israel’s unique cities. It has a fascinating history, magical alleyways, local markets, great restaurants and it’s on the shoreline. I recommend visiting it for at least a day trip, and I possible then overnight, since that allows for a different experience and there are many worthwhile boutique hotels and suites there.