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Unspoiled beaches backed by millennia-old ruined forts, culturally-charged cities criss-crossed by cobbled streets that seem to have come out straight of a storybook cover, and of course, all that fresh seafood and rich homegrown wine…

There’s just no beating a good old Mediterranean summer.

That being said, we’re sure it’s places like the French Riviera, or Italy’s Instagrammable Amalfi Coast that instantly come to mind when the Ancient Sea is mentioned—but in reality, they’re not the ones leading with year-on-year growth right now:

Cyprus For The Win!

The lesser-known island country of Cyprus, in the Eastern Mediterranean, is a ‘standout performer‘ in 2025, with a 15.4 percent rise in arrivals.

That could be a surprise for some, especially across the pond, as most Americans aren’t even aware Cyprus exists, or may only have heard of it vaguely, but it is a tried-and-true summer paradise for vacationing Brits, Germans, and other Northern Europeans in general.

According to their own projections, they will be hosting 4.25 million tourists by year’s end, up from an already personal record-breaking 4 million last year, and if you’re not impressed, remember:

This is a small island roughly the size of Puerto Rico, with a population of 1.3 million—so no, it’s not Greece’s level of popularity, but it’s huge within its own ranks.

What’s So Special About Cyprus?

That being said, you may be wondering why tourism there keeps growing year after year.

This is a Mediterranean country, so even if this is your first time being introduced to Cyprus, you can probably guess what some of the biggest draws here are.

The ancient culture, particularly considering Cyprus’ standing in the wider Hellenic world—in case you aren’t aware, most of the locals are either ethnically Greek or Turkish, and Greek is the majority language spoken—the warm weather, and a scenic coastline.

A big plus for Cyprus, however, is that unlike many of these Mediterranean getaways, and here we’re thinking Croatia, Italy’s Amalfi Coast, and parts of the French Riviera, pebbly beaches are not all it has to offer.

Though there are rocky beaches, in places like Protaras and Ayia Napa, to the southeast, you’ll find beautiful stretches of white or golden sand lapped by turquoise seas, as if it were the Caribbean.

Even in the largely unexplored north, controlled by a breakaway Turkish republic (more on that shortly), there are endless miles of honey-colored, unruffled sands to lounge on, particularly in the Karpass Peninsula.

Cyprus Is An Affordable Alternative To Italy & France

Yet another big plus for Cyprus is how affordable it can be in comparison to its Western Mediterranean counterparts, especially Italy and France.

In Ayia Napa, perhaps the busiest resort destination on the island, the average room rate in 3-star hotels per night is a very reasonable $75, based on 51 properties, according to Budget Your Trip data.

Over in Larnaka, a fortified port city serviced by Larnaka International Airport, it’s an even-cheaper $54-a-night, while prices in Limassol sit at around $67, and Paphos, out west, is slightly more expensive, averaging $68.

When it comes to food, you should budget around €10–20 (a median of $17.27) for a simple, sit-down meal in a local tavern, and €40–80 ($69) for a multi-course, fine-dining experience in one of those fancy harbor-side, sunset-view restaurants.

Getting around the island is incredibly cheap, also: there are no trains in Cyprus, but the island’s main tourist destinations are well connected by an extensive system of buses, and tickets between towns cost between €4–15 depending on route.

Even entrance to tourist attractions and museums are on the cheaper end of the range: a ticket to the Paphos Archaeological Park costs only €4.50, and it includes a visit to the UNESCO-listed Tombs of the Kings, one of the oldest necropolises of the Greek World.

A large Greek-era ruin featuring a well-preserved ancient theater and Mediterranean views, Kourion costs a similar €4 to explore, and the Cyprus Medieval Museum, housed in the imposing Limassol Castle, is, again, €4.50.

On The Turkish Republic Of Northern Cyprus

Now, we must address the ‘issue’ of Cyprus’s Turkish-controlled North.

Don’t worry, though, we’ll keep it uncomplicated and very straightforward. Basically, all you need to know is that, as a nation, Cyprus’s ethnic makeup comprises numerous Mediterranean populations.

Though the Greeks form of majority of around 77%, there are also Turks, Maronites, and Latins, with Turks coming second with an 18% share of the genetic pool.

Actual History is always more complicated than summaries like this will ever let on, but in the 70s, in order to impede Cyprus from becoming a full part of Greece, Turkish forces invaded the north and occupied it.

So here’s the status quo today: the ‘south’, or 59% of the territory, chiefly referring to the areas south of the UN Buffer Zone, is controlled by the internationally-recognized Republic of Cyprus.

36% of the landmass, or the ‘north’, is administered by the unrecognized Turkish Republic of North Cyprus—as for the remaining 5%, well, those are British Sovereign Base Areas under U.K. jurisdiction.

Yep, we told you it was a complex matter. Nevertheless, all you need to know is that, despite the ongoing south-north divide, there is no war on the island of Cyprus, and commuting is possible between both parts if you do so legally.

That means you must first enter Cyprus through an authorized point of entry, controlled by the Republic of Cyprus: the Larnaca and Paphos airports, and the Limassol port, if you’re arriving by cruise ship, are part of that restricted list.

Additionally, you should know there are significant differences between the Greek-majority south, and the Turkish-majority north: for starters, in the south, they largely speak Greek and exclusively use the euro, while in the north, Turkish is the primary language, and the Turkish lira is in widespread usage.

If you plan on visiting Nicosia, the last divided capital of Europe, and cross into the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, we strongly recommend you prepare in advance by reading this accompanying, well-rounded article.

All in all, Cyprus is a fascinating, (mostly) inexpensive, and awe-inspiring destination, and it’s no wonder it’s been gaining this much traction as of late.

Vinicius Costa

Vini, our senior lead writer at Travel Off Path, has over 60+ countries under his belt (and currently weaving tales from Paris!), and a knack for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative stories that will have you packing your bags.

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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com

Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.

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