Though the island can be explored throughout the year, April to June and September to October are the best months to visit Cyprus. The flowers bloom in April and May, and the countryside is lush. Cypriots celebrate Anthestiria, or the flower festival, in May, featuring floats made of flowers. Popular festival venues include Limassol and Paphos. The days are pleasantly warm in September and October, too, and early-to-mid fall is a good time for swimming and sunbathing at Konnos Beach on the edge of Cape Greco National Park and Coral Bay, just a few kilometers north of Paphos. July and August are the hottest time of the year and the best for adding shoreline water activities to your personalized tour of Cyprus. Escape Beach near Kyrenia and Fig Tree Bay in Protaras is ideal for water sports like parasailing, wakeboarding, and water skiing.

Depending on your time and budget, you can easily spend 5 to 10 days discovering Cyprus. On a five-day customized tour to Cyprus, visit Larnaca, home to ancient ruins and the elegant Agios Lazaros church. In the capital, Nicosia, stroll around the Turkish quarter and see the Cyprus Museum, which has artifacts from the Neolithic Age to the Early Byzantine Era. If you have a week to spare, you can also cover the port city of Kyrenia (Girne), known for its striking Venetian castle, and see the stunning 1,800-year-old mosaics and necropolis from the 4th century BC in Paphos. However, for a more thorough exploration of this enigmatic country, we recommend a 10-day custom Cyprus tour. Besides the destinations and experiences listed above, you can visit the 11th-century Kykkos Monastery and admire its mosaics, take a boat trip to the sea caves of Cape Greko, and explore the wreck of the Zenobia, one of the best dive sites in Europe.

• Karpaz Peninsula: Visit the Apostolos Andreas monastery, one of Cyprus’s most important pilgrimage sites, and look out for wild donkeys that roam free at the easternmost end of the peninsula. Also, check out the ruins of the 12th-century Ayios Philon Orthodox church near Dipkarpaz and visit Kantara Castle, known for its Gothic architecture and views.
• Omodos: The beautiful village of Omodos in the Troodos Mountains is in the wine-growing region of Cyprus. Discover the 500-year-old wine press and stroll around the cute cobbled streets of the town. The village is also home to the majestic Monastery of the Holy Cross. Legend has it that a church built in the 4th century AD once stood at this site.
• Ayia Napa: The uncrowned party capital of Cyprus, Ayia Napa has a quieter side too. Stroll around the Blue Lagoon, relax at the dreamy Nissi Beach, and scout for sea caves along the coast. Head to the Cape Greco National Forest Park for lovely views.
• Protaras: One of the larger towns of Eastern Cyprus, Protaras offers plenty of snorkeling and scuba diving opportunities. You can also climb up the stone steps of the Church of St. Elias for panoramic views of the town. The picturesque Fig Tree Bay is ideal for long walks during Cyprus customized tours.