Whatever your interests are, there are a range of activities, events and festivals to get involved in.
One of the main reasons why Cyprus is the perfect holiday destination, is that there’s something for everyone! No matter what your interests are, there are a range of activities, events and festivals to get involved in. And if you don’t have any particular interests yet, we’re sure the island of Cyprus will help you discover a new passion!
We’ve put together a list of events that we think should be added to your itinerary for your trip to Cyprus:
Limassol hosts the largest annual carnival on the island, which begins 50 days before Orthodox Easter and lasts 10 days. Celebrations take place across Cyprus, but Limassol’s are the biggest with a 10-day event that involves fancy dresses, parades, singing, dancing and games that are inspired by a variety of themes such as historical events and mythology! The carnival is a strong tradition that has been handed down through generations over the past 100 years and each year it just keeps getting better! If you like to party, you have got to attend the Limassol Carnival!
Cyprus is known for its wine and in fact, the Cypriot dessert wine ‘Commandaria’ is recognised as the world’s oldest wine label. The Limassol Wine Festival is all about celebrating the long Cypriot tradition of winemaking and usually takes place from the end of August to the beginning of September. There is a small entrance fee, but once you’re in, you can try the local wines for free and enjoy the traditional food of Cyprus. And to top it all off, there’s always a lot of exciting entertainment such as theatrical performances and folk dancing!
If you’re visiting Cyprus in September and you love Opera, the Paphos Aphrodite Opera Festival is perfect for you! It tends to attract older audiences but it’s good fun for anyone between the ages of 20 and 60! The festival takes place at an open-air venue on the square in front of the Paphos Medieval Castle and welcomes performers and opera productions by acknowledged theatres from around the world.
Cyprus is home to almost 2000 species of flowering plants and over 100 of them can’t be found anywhere else in the world. So, it’s only fitting that the island hosts annual celebrations of spring and rebirth every May! The Anthestiria Flower Festivals are inspired by the ancient festival held in Athens that honoured Dionysus, the God of wine and fertility. They typically feature exhibitions, flower markets and shows, including a flower parade with decorated floats!
A rallying competition that began in 1970 in Limassol and has been held every year since. The Cyprus Rally is perfect for car enthusiasts or anyone who's looking to add some excitement to their trip! It features a range of loud and fast cars racing through the winding roads of the Troodos mountain range and from 2000 to 2006, it was part of the FIA’s World Rally Championship.