The island of Cyprus is visited by almost one million British visitors each year. Incredible scenery, delicious cuisine, 326 days of sunshine a year and just a four hour flight from the UK are just some of the things that attract British tourists on their holiday packages to visit Cyprus. Other attractions include the Paphos mosaics, considered to be the best mosaics in the eastern Mediterranean, and ten UNESCO-listed churches. There are many events that take place on the island; the following are just a few not to be missed.

Annual Cyprus Marathon

This event takes place every March in Paphos. The varied terrain and mild climate attract athletes and sportsmen who use the island as a training base, even Team GB have been using the island for their training since the 2004 Athens Olympics. This event is made up of three different distances: the marathon, half marathon and a 10K road race and is open to professional and non-professional athletes from around the world. The race begins at Petra tou Rominou, believed to be the birthplace of Aphrodite, and continues along Paphos’ rugged coastline and seafront.

Easter

The Holy Week celebrations begin at the end of March and continue for two weeks. With highs around 18°C ​​and a rich cultural heritage, this is a great time to visit the island. During these two weeks, all of Cyprus celebrates both the old and the new with ancient ceremonies dominating the celebrations. Celebrations include exciting ceremonies, flower processions, and surprisingly delicious parties on religious days. Food served at these festivals includes delicious roast lamb, traditional cheesecake and a variety of different breads.

Kataklymos

Celebrated in June every year, Kataklymos (the Water Festival) marks the beginning of the summer season. Celebrated 50 days after Orthodox Easter, Kataklymos takes place on ‘Holy Spirit Day’. All the towns along the coast from Larnaca to Paphos celebrate with traditional chatista contests (witty improvised rhyming songs in Cypriot dialect), performances by Cypriot and Greek singers and dancers, boat races, swimming contests and most importantly everything, throwing water at each other.

Shakespeare Festival

Organized by Performing Arts for Cyprus Charities, the annual Shakespeare Festival takes place at the amazing Kourion Theatre. Daily performances take place on this impressive stage that has a spectacular backdrop of the Mediterranean Sea.

Limassol Wine Festival

This year’s annual Limassol Wine Festival, which has been held for over 50 years, runs from August 30 to September 9. Wine has been produced on the island for more than 5,000 years, hence this celebration. Neighbors and visitors come together to carry out wine tastings, participate in the traditional stomping of the grape, concerts and theatrical performances. This is also a great opportunity to try the local cuisine, especially fasolia yiahni, which is broad beans in a delicious tomato and onion sauce, accompanied by fresh homemade bread to soak up all the tasty juices.

Ayia Napa International Festival

This annual festival takes place every September in Plateia Seferi (monastery square), which is located right in the heart of the city. This community gathering includes many different concerts, traditional music and dance, and art exhibits from Greek legends, mythology, and archaeology.

Are you looking for an exciting destination for your family vacation? There is something for everyone on the beautiful island of Cyprus, including family-friendly resorts, warm crystal clear waters for diving and water sports, marinas, award-winning golf courses, spas, food and wine trails, and incredible hiking opportunities.