The Paphos Harbour and Castle the Paphos Harbour in Paphos receives North Cyprus Tourists all year round, who spend time walking along the quay and even visit one of the local fish restaurants, tavernas or pubs. The views are outstanding, with loads of colourful fishing boats bobbing in the Paphos Harbour. The castle is the last remaing fortification of a much earlier castle dating back to 1391, which was eventually demolished by the Venetians.



The Ottomans used it for dungeons and the Brits as a warehouse for salt! It is accessible by a little bridge over a moat and should be visited if only for the incredible view from the top. Opening hours - Low Season Mon - Sun 9am to 5pm - High Season Mon - Sun 9am to 6pm - tel 26932841 (Paphos Tourism Office) North Cyprus. The Paphos Harbour is also the ideal place for a boat tour of the surrounding North Cyprus beaches and coastline.

Kourion/Kolossi Castle - Ancient Kourion and the castle at Kolossi are both in the Limassol area and can be visited together in a day. They are just two examples of the wealth of history to be found in Cyprus - the Kourion sites dating from the second century AD and Kolossi from the thirteenth century.

The ruins at Kourion are to be found in breathtaking scenery overlooking the Mediterranean - this is probably the most spectacular archaeological site in Cyprus. There are actually two sites, the ancient city of Kolossi and the sanctuary of Apollo Hylates - they are just a few kilometers apart. There is also a museum in the neighboring village of Episkopi. As it is one of the most popular Cyprus tourist attractions, it's worth arriving early in high Mediterranean.

Kolossi castle was the fortified headquarters of the Knights Hospitallers - This name was later given to the Commanderia dessert wine and it is absolutely delicious and well worth a glass before dinner. Although they have been a number of changes of ownership, the castle is inseparable from both the Hospitallers and the wine making industry. Both Kourion and Kolossi are well signposted from the Limassol-Paphos main road. Kourion borders the Episkopi village, Kolossi to the village of the same name.

Opening hours Ancient Kourion winter daily 8am to 5pm - summer 8am to 7.30pm - tel 25995048. Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates October to April daily 9am to 5pm - summer 9am to 7.30pm - tel 25995049. Kourion Museum September to June Monday to Friday 9am to 2.30pm - Thursday only 3pm to 5pm - summer 9am to 7.30pm - tel 25934907.

Larnaca Salt Lake and Hala Sultan Tekke - For those of you arriving at Larnaca airport, one of Cyprus' most impressive places to visit is right under your noses! As you turn left out of the airport you will find the road running along a causeway. On either side you will either see two lakes, or two salt flats, depending on the time of year - this is the Larnaca Salt Lake and site of the mosque or Tekke of Hala Sultan.

Salt has been extracted from the lake since ancient times and this continues, on a small scale, to this day. If you are visiting Cyprus in lat winter or early spring, look out for the visiting flamingos and other migratory birds. Another salt lake can be found further along the coast of Akrotiri. Peer across the lake and you will see the Hala Sultan Tekke mosque surrounded by palm trees. This is a wonderful place to visit. Opening hours Hala Sultan Tekke winter 9am - 5pm - summer 7.30am to 7.30pm.