Top 5 Famagusta Day Trips: Unveiling Cyprus’ Charms

Planning a visit to Famagusta and wondering what cool stuff you can see around it? Well, Famagusta, it’s a place on the eastern coast of Cyprus, and it’s more or less the base for a lot of terrific day trips. Its setting makes getting to tons of cool places in Cyprus fairly easy. From ancient ruins and sandy stretches to villages which are almost too lovely for words, this corner of the island really has a lot on tap. I’ve put together my own top 5 day trips for anyone planning a visit – adventures that will leave you in awe of this superb place.

1. Salamis Ancient City: A Glimpse into the Past

So, let’s kick this off with Salamis. It’s close to Famagusta, just a short drive up the coast. And let me say, this place is pretty breathtaking, what with the remains of this big ancient city laid bare for you. Walking through it is almost like travelling back to ancient times! The gymnasium is amazing, and you can still make out pretty neat mosaic floors which give you some concept of the kind of people who used to live here a very long while ago. And get this, there’s even a theatre where gladiators were going at each other once; I have found it really does help visualise history as something alive and almost personal when seeing such a place!

Actually, pack a hat and suncream with you because, it can get pretty hot there, with little cover from the sun, and maybe a bottle of water, too, so you won’t have to keep on the look out for some spot selling drinks; you’ll certainly want to allow yourself enough time to see it at a nice, casual tempo. Actually, I usually budget a minimum of half a day if I have any interest whatsoever in any ancient buildings/structures.

2. Varosha: The Ghost Town

Varosha is such a surreal kind of place that is close to Famagusta and basically has you contemplating quite a bit. It’s sort of a abandoned tourist district which, so, I am thinking was vacated back in the 70s and it hasn’t yet been inhabited once again! To see hotels just stand desolate does make an impression on a person, too it’s almost like getting transported back to a bygone time. Varosha shows off the consequences of conflict so dramatically; it is almost eerie.

I think you may be able to do a guided trip around the district these days, but still confirm this. If possible, that may be one of the things most worth paying the money for: you’ll pick up loads of info and hear the story right from someone local, so it really could enhance the experience a whole lot. Either way it remains somewhere, I’d argue, that’s worthy of time.

3. Karpaz Peninsula: Wild Beauty and Golden Beaches

Let me share a great place that is located somewhat outside of Famagusta, on Cyprus’ northeastern tip, so getting there means a little bit of driving; though I have been very glad on both occasions when I did drive. This particular bit of Cyprus is actually super, as it’s where, like your natural world meets superb shores: think untamed terrain with wild donkeys roaming freely! It feels completely a million miles away here.

You should be heading to Golden Beach if lying about is what grabs you. Well, it’s famous here for the very reasons which you’d expect given its name! What I will say is that swimming right here and generally unwinding could just be just what one’s calling for! Getting here could really mean it’ll take more or less a full day out but it could be an awesome choice, especially should you like nature’s stuff but desire to step outside the norm.

4. St. Barnabas Monastery and Icon Museum: Spiritual and Cultural Richness

For anyone needing something more culturally engaging, St Barnabas Monastery could actually fit the bill perfectly. Right close to Salamis lies that old monastery – in modern times, a museum, displaying countless religious artworks along with artifacts. Well, the architecture looks good in itself. but its serene environment gets you meditating; there, in the chapel, that’s full of all the old icons.

Something really neat and almost unknown? The tomb to Saint Barnabas – basically right on the grounds. Actually, getting to know its story then could actually provide an even clearer comprehension of just how Christianity evolved right over at Cyprus – really something amazing! You are basically able to see this, probably including a tour of the monastery itself, inside several hours, which actually causes it to be useful, and yet is not the place where people stay on their tours. Should the opportunity come, I suggest grabbing it; actually; history geeks, pay heed here.

5. Kyrenia: Harbor Charm and Mountain Views

Fancy taking in a somewhat long, slightly further-flung, trip? Get yourself heading into Kyrenia – a town to the north side of Cyprus. Getting yourself facing Kyrenia almost resembles stepping to get into an extremely vintage kind of image, due to its captivating harborfront that, as a matter of fact, it’s complete with really stunning mountains just serving as a setting! Very delightful, this is definitely a locale best looked over leisurely – wandering through lanes alongside exploring shops.

The town’s Fortress – actually it does goes back literally hundreds of years, in addition; I would say if this opportunity exists, that going there is completely important just so people fully enjoy Kyrenia’s deep legacy: actually one of them’s main things to check out. Also there may happen to be a maritime museum within these bounds but make time enough, should such an interest happen to reside!