My trip to Cyprus – visiting Kolossi Castle, Kourion and more

In July of 2019 I visited Cyprus for five days with my best friend. We wanted somewhere we could relax in the sun at an all-inclusive hotel, whilst also being able to go and see the sites of the island.

We arrived in Cyprus on a Wednesday, having had a relatively straight forward, if not slightly delayed, flight with Easy Jet. We stepped off the plane to 30-degree heat, which we were more than happy about, just get us to the pool! One air-conditioned taxi ride later and we were at our gorgeous home for the rest of the week, Atlantica Bay Hotel. This hotel had everything we needed, an amazing pool, air-conditioned rooms and lots of food!

We went for adults only so we could secure the peace and quiet we so desperately craved. I read a book a day on the days we had by the pool, so I suppose it worked! I so appreciated the lack of responsibility and just being able to relax and enjoy having time to myself.

Books completed whilst away:

• The Memory Thief, Lauren Mansy

• Daisy Jones and The Six, Taylor Jenkins Reid

• Half of Memoirs of a Geisha, Arthur Golden

We were more than happy to have drinks on tap along with ice cream, popcorn and other savoury treats. I think my favourite day was our first one by the poolside. We didn’t move much I have to say, but that was perfect for me. I enjoyed my Cinderella drink (pictured below, non-alcoholic cocktail), alongside my book and the view.

On the Friday of our stay, we went on an excursion around the island. This involved stopping at a grand amphitheatre that was made around the ruins of a city, crumbled in an earthquake. This area was called Kourion, we were given an hour to explore it and meet some of the stray cats that inhabit it. I love learning about the history of places, this town dated back to BC years!

As well as visiting this ruin, we also went to Kolossi Castle that had a superb view over some of Cyprus. If you picture a stereotypical castle in your head, you should be thinking of this one. The spiral staircase was quite a challenge, but I’m glad I made it to the top for this view.

Our final stop was to an old town that I can’t remember the name of. Where we visited a monastery and enjoyed some traditional Cyprus food in a local restaurant. The food was delicious, they certainly like their halloumi in Cyprus! I have to say, I definitely felt quite full after this holiday!

On Saturday we were back to our relaxing by the poolside again, trying to soak up the rest of the sun before our flight home on Sunday. It was a fleeting visit to this beautiful island, but I really enjoyed my time there. It was exactly the holiday I needed and I’d definitely recommend it for anyone looking for a relaxing break, with enough sites to see to keep entertained.