Cyprus at its best – in pictures

The pebble beach at Petra tou Romiou is where, according to legend, Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love first rose from the sea. Legend also has it that for each time you swim anticlockwise around the sea stack here, you turn the clock back by one year – so flex those muscles.
Photograph: Kanteva Photography/Getty Images/Flickr Open

There’s no better way to spend a hot Cypriot afternoon than with a long meze lunch. First come the salads – tangy leaves and tasty tomatoes – then the bread, hummus, tzatziki, and, finally, dish after dish of fresh seafood and tender meats. Typical dishes include squid, battered cuttlefish and garlic prawns. Finish it all with a strong Cypriot coffee – and perhaps a lie down. Photograph: Stijn Nieuwendijk (stijnnieuwendijk.com)/Getty Images/Flickr RF

The Troodos mountains in the interior of the island offer superlative hiking, with routes for all abilities – from short strolls to waterfalls and loops through the woodland to hikes along ridges and up the various peaks, including the island’s highest point, Mount Olympos. Take in the fresh, pine-scented air and keep your eyes fixed on the sky to see if you can spot birds of prey circling overhead. Photograph: LH Images /Alamy

The Aphrodite trail, which runs through the unspoilt Akamas nature reserve park, is one of the island’s best walks. Take in the view from the 370-metre-high Moutis tis Sotiras, back over the rugged, mostly uninhabited coastline, before descending to the Baths of Aphrodite, a natural pool grotto. This is a fairly strenuous hike, but one that rewards those who make the effort. Photograph: Juergen Richter/Alamy

Cyprus is not widely known for its wine – but it should be. Thanks to years of rule by the French Crusaders, the island has a long history of winemaking and produces some cracking commandaria dessert wines. Try the local maratheftiko red too – Ezousa winery makes a particularly good one. Photograph: Juergen Richter/Alamy

The monastery of Panagia tou Kykkou, or “Kykkos”, is the island’s most famous and should not be missed. See the icon of the Virgin Mary, said to have been painted by the Apostle Luke while she was still alive, marvel at the opulent Greek Orthodox monastery church and visit the tomb of Archbishop Makarios II, first president of the Cypriot Republic. Photograph: Monica Gumm/Alamy

The Tombs of the Kings, near Pafos, is one of the island’s most atmospheric sites, a vast necropolis used to bury distinguished citizens and their families from the third century BC to the fourth century AD. Walk through the eight large complexes carved into the rock, each one with an underground atrium surrounded by columns and with tombs dug into the walls, and wonder at the grandeur of it all. Photograph: Nicholas Pitt/Ocean/Corbis

Seven wine routes weave their way around Cyprus, taking in wineries and vineyards from the Troodos mountains to the Akamas peninsula. Find out why the xynisteri grape grows so well here and why its wines are so highly regarded by visiting remote villages and hidden tavernas, sampling their wares as you go. Just remember to buy a few bottles to bring home – Cypriot wine is not widely available in the UK. Photograph: Kreder Katja/Alamy

The beaches of Ayia Napa are known for their golden sands and calm, clear waters. One of the best is Fig Tree Bay, a few miles out of town south of Protaras, where you’ll find some of the finest sand and clearest water on the island – not to mention boardwalks out over the sea and jetskis for hire. Photograph: Stefano Gerardi

With its mild climate and rugged landscape, Cyprus is ideal for cycling. Take to two wheels to explore the island and you can set your own pace, visiting remote coves and rural villages and climbing through the hills around Pafos for gorgeous views out over the island and the Mediterranean beyond. Photograph: Supplied