Where is the best holiday in Cyprus or Greece? What to choose for your holiday: Cyprus or Greece? Greece or Cyprus which is better?

Russian tourists have been attracted to Cyprus and Greece for a long time. Reasonable prices, clean beaches, luxury hotels - this is what attracts our tourists. But which holiday should you choose?

Cyprus

This is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, it is located near Turkey, Syria and Egypt, and is often referred to as Asia. The climate here is subtropical Mediterranean, winters are warm and mild, the average temperature is +10, summers are hot, August is the warmest month, the average temperature is +30, sometimes reaching +40.

Greece

It is located in the southern part of Europe, but at the same time has almost 1,500 islands scattered in the Mediterranean Sea. The most famous holiday destinations are Crete, Santorini, and Rhodes. Small islands are also suitable for recreation, but their infrastructure is poorly developed. Holidays here are ideal from April to October; on the southernmost islands the temperature in winter is +18, and in summer up to +42. But there is often a light wind from the sea.

Note! There are a lot of tourists in both places during peak season, so tickets and accommodation need to be booked in advance.

In general, the islands of Greece and Cyprus are very similar in geography and climate; holidays in these places are equally good. But which is better – Greece or Cyprus?

Greece on the world map

Holidays in Cyprus and Greece: what is the difference

Although these two countries are similar, they still have several differences.

• Greece is part of the Schengen zone, so for a holiday you need to apply for a Schengen visa.
• In this ancient country you can find an extensive excursion program, because the history of the state goes deep into the past. In Cyprus, although there are historical monuments, they are not as beautiful as here.
• In terms of prices, these resorts are approximately the same. Holidays on the island have long ceased to be cheaper, and hotels in Greece are now, on the contrary, reducing prices for their services.

The duration of the swimming season on the islands of Greece and Cyprus begins at approximately the same time - at the end of May, and ends in early or mid-October.

Cyprus on the world map

September is a velvet summer on the beaches here and there, tourists are slowly leaving, prices are dropping a little, but the water is not cooling down. Prices for tours are also approximately equal:

• Greece in September from 30,000 rubles* per person.
• Cyprus in September from 28,000 rubles.

An independent tourist can get to these two points without any problems, because now the network of low-cost airlines is expanding, and charters to these destinations are also appearing.

Note! Young tourists should choose Cyprus, because there are noisy parties in the city of Ai-Napa, and on the Greek islands there is often peace and quiet, with the exception of Corfu, where the fun never ends, and the best places are Gouvia, Kavos and Ipsos.

Where to vacation is cheaper

Cyprus or Greece? Many people decide this issue based on prices.

You can see the average prices for holidays in these countries:

• The cost of tours to the island is cheaper than to Greece, but during the discount period you can catch a very advantageous offer for a holiday in the country.
• Hotels have approximately the same cost. You can find accommodation options for 1000 rubles per day in both places, but you need to book in advance. But the all-inclusive service is more popular in Greece.
• The cost of a visa to the country is from 35 euros, a Cyprus visa can be obtained online for free, so Cyprus has an advantage here.

Note! You can fly to the island with an open Schengen visa and apply for a visa right at the airport.

A budget holiday can be called at the following resorts:

• Kos Island.
• Crete.
• Rhodes.
• Milos.

Among Greek resorts, Santarini and Corfu are considered expensive.

Cyprus is smaller in size, there are fewer resort options, so prices are approximately the same in all cities.

Crete

Holidays with a child

Quiet family holidays can be found at various resorts in Hellas and the famous island.

Typically, the summer months of June, July and August are chosen for holidays with children, although the high season in September and October is also suitable for holidays. Any Greek knows that Crete is best suited for families with children, which is why locals often vacation here. Here you can find water parks, clean beaches and special play areas for children. Many hotels adapt to visitors with children, providing special children's meals and entertainment programs. A vacationing mother or father can easily leave their child with the animators for a few hours.

In Cyprus, ideal places for families with children are Protaras, Limassol, Larnaca. The state attracts tourists with its clean beaches; by the way, absolutely anyone can relax on any beach, even a private one, which is why there are few hotels with their own beaches. For children, the resorts have playgrounds, water slides, and parties.

The downside of traveling with children is that you need to obtain a separate passport and visa for the child.

Note! The Greek visa is a standard Schengen visa, and the Cypriot visa is a national visa; you cannot enter Europe with it, although you can get to the island itself with a Schengen visa.

You can choose a resort only according to your personal taste. You can spend several years of your life on individual islands of Greece, because there are a lot of them, and each is unique.

When visiting these countries, experienced tourists recommend:

• Each Greek island is worth staying at least 3 days, so you shouldn't plan to visit many islands in one trip.
• It is better to exchange currency in Russia or at local banks; the exchange rate at the airport or train station is unfavorable.
• Take care of your visa in advance; even an electronic visa to Cyprus can be obtained within a few days.
• Hot tours to these destinations usually appear at the end of the season, but it all depends on many reasons; cheap offers can also appear in winter.
• You can relax in a good hotel if you book it in advance, so the cost may be lower.

The Cyprus island is a pleasant place to relax, but recently Russians have been coming here; in this regard, Greece has become less popular; there are still many Russians on Crete or Corfu, but now there are practically none on the less famous islands.

Landscapes of Cyprus

Both of these countries are excellent holiday destinations. Both Greece and Cyprus offer active beach, underwater and sightseeing tourism, so the two countries are somewhat similar. Unique nature, clear water and mild climate - this is what awaits tourists at these resorts.

The only advantage of Cyprus is a visa, which is easy to apply for via a computer, and Greece still requires a Schengen visa, but recently the Greeks have begun to issue multi-visas more often for several years, so that tourists come to them again. If you have to choose between these countries, then you need to focus on the personal preferences of the tourist.

*Prices are approximate and current as of August 2018.

Cyprus and Crete are very similar. These are islands with a similar name, quite large, and both are located in the Mediterranean Sea. You can also have a good rest in Cyprus and Crete, which tourists from all over the world enjoy. But, naturally, each island has its own characteristics.

Finding Cyprus and Crete on the map is very easy. They are located close to each other, in the Mediterranean Sea. From the airport of the Cypriot resort of Larnaca to the airport of Heraklion on Crete, the plane flies for about an hour and a half, covering about 800 km. This proximity determined the similarity of these two geographical objects:

Cyprus and Crete: how are they different?

We will find the most important difference if we look at the world map again, only politically. The island of Crete has a very interesting history. It experienced both the flourishing of civilization and conquests, for example, by the Ottoman Empire, was autonomous, and finally joined Greece in 1913. But Cyprus has an even more interesting, complicated and tragic history. He also experienced different periods, including wars of conquest and liberation. In 1960, Cyprus became an independent state. However, after this, the conflict between the Turks and the Greeks (the main people groups in Cyprus) did not go away. And now the island is de jure one state - the Republic of Cyprus, and de facto - its northern part (about 40% of the territory) belongs to the unrecognized state of Northern Cyprus.


Tourists need to understand that all these political events do not affect their vacation. In both Greece and the Republic of Cyprus, tourism has become one of the budget revenue items. Therefore, government agencies simplify the visa regime as much as possible and attract tourists in every possible way. So most travelers can visit both countries, naturally, if they have the financial means.

Greece or Cyprus, which is better for tourists and what other differences they have:

• Visa regime. Cyprus allows Russians into the country with a national visa. It is easier to obtain than the Schengen visa required for tourists in Greece. However, experienced travelers know that becoming the owner of a “Greek Schengen” is easy, the percentage of refusals is minimal.
• In Cyprus, traffic is on the left, and in Crete, as throughout Greece, it is on the right. Naturally, most of the world's tourists in Cyprus will need some time to get used to if they want to rent a car.
• Beaches and hotels. There are more pebble beaches in Crete, and sandy ones in Cyprus. This is especially important for parents with children. And the service in hotels in Cyprus is better. For some reason, in Crete hotels there is a discrepancy between the level of services provided and the declared stars. But holidays here are cheaper.
• Differences in cuisines. You will taste a lot of delicious food in taverns in both countries. But in Cyprus it would be a crime not to taste local wines, and in Crete it would be a crime not to taste honey. By the way, you should buy them as a souvenir for yourself and your loved ones.

Cyprus or Crete: which is better?

Knowing the features of these islands, their similarities and differences, each tourist will be able to choose where to spend their vacation. Those who value a high level of service and a comfortable stay will buy a trip to Cyprus. Families with children also often choose this island because of its sandy beaches. Those who want to relax cheaper are more likely to go to Greek Crete. And the money saved will be spent on excursions.

The nature of the resorts in these countries is almost entirely determined by their geographical features. Their neighbors, Greece and Cyprus, have a lot in common - one sea, one latitude, one national composition - the Greeks! However, there is something that makes them very different from each other.Read our article and choose a resort according to your preferences!

On the territory of Greece and Cyprus there is only 20% of the entire cultural heritage of antiquity (the remaining 80% is in Turkey ). In fact, there are many attractions here, but visiting the favorite places of Zeus, Athena, Artemis and other representatives of mythology can quickly get boring. Therefore, the best vacation is 2-3 short excursions during your vacation, independent travel to unique beaches and walks around the city where you are staying (by the way, walks are a free activity).

Cyprus is washed by the waters of the Mediterranean Sea, but Greece is washed by 8 seas at once. The warmest of them is Libyan, the cleanest is Ionian, and the coldest and windiest is Aegean (ideal for kiters and windsurfers). Accordingly, there are many beaches - mostly sand, but there are also pebbles. The climate is subtropical. In July-August, the air temperature warms up to 35 degrees Celsius, the water temperature to 28.

All-inclusive systems in hotels are rare. By purchasing a trip with breakfast or half board, you provide yourself with a unique opportunity to experience the culture and get to know the local people better. Both Greeks and Cypriots are distinguished by incredible cordiality and hospitality, which is especially noticeable among the latter - the territory is small.

Read also: Top 10 countries where All Inclusive is popular

Legally, Cyprus is a separate independent republic. However, the southern part of the island is inhabited by Greeks, and the northern part by Turks. Moreover, the Turks (or Greeks) do not recognize the not completely successful annexation of Cyprus by the Greeks (or Turks) and are very sensitive to this topic. Who is right and who is wrong is unknown to this day. But still, under no circumstances take the I Love Turkey T-shirt with you to Cyprus. Well, you know, you never know...

The most popular resort in Cyprus -Ayia Napa . In the summer months, the city turns into one big youth party, which can be heard not only in the center, but sometimes also on the coast. Since the beaches here are the best on the island, it is better to enjoy the beauty of Ayia Napa in proud and tranquil solitude in October-November or April. The most popular beach is Nissi Beach with azure water and white sand. Other resorts have gray sand and pebbles.

Nissi beach in the video starts at 1:16 minutes:

Read also: Which beaches are the cleanest?

In a large and dynamic port cityLimassolthere are a lot of Russians thanks to the good infrastructure and entertainment for children: there is a water park, amusement park and a zoo. However, the journey from the airport will take about an hour.Larnaca Also suitable for children thanks to sandy beaches with small pebbles and convenient access to the sea, besides, holidays here are the most economical. But especially anxious tourists may not like the planes that take off over the beach every half hour during the summer season.

In a fashionable Paphos There are not many Russian tourists in the area, and the city itself is quiet. But there are many attractions. The beaches are rocky, with difficult entry into the sea, but very picturesque.

There are quite a lot of excursions in Cyprus. The most popular and rich, as we mentioned in the last newsletter, is for donkeys. But still, unlike Greece, bus service on the island is rather scarce. It is best to rent a car and explore the island on your own (the length is only 100 km from south to north). The island inherited left-hand traffic from the British occupiers.

You will not need All Inclusive in Cyprus. A delicious meze in a local tavern - an assortment of many dishes, designed for one person (in fact, enough for two well-fed eaters) costs no more than 20 €.

The ideal holiday in Cyprus is to splash around in the sea during the day, and after a siesta go to the city, taste the divine local Commandaria wine, snack on small wrinkled olives, which taste much more refined than large Greek ones, stroll through the city market and make friends with the locals. In any city you can also find a disco with dancing until the morning.

Greece

Greece, Mykonos island

Greece, compared to Cyprus, is simply a huge country. The number of bays, coves, beaches and beaches, islands of different sizes simply cannot be counted. And each resort is special. To choose a suitable climate, imagine a map: it will be cooler on the peninsula, hotter in Rhodes and Crete. The further south the island is, the more sparse its nature is.

The beaches in Greece are municipal, which means you have to fork out for a sunbed and an umbrella. But almost all of them are sandy; on some islands, for example, Santorini or Kos, there is healing, mineralized sand - pink, gold, white and black.

Crete – a large island with developed infrastructure, the climate is very similar to Cyprus. The island is the most popular because it offers very wide opportunities for recreation - from economical to luxurious. Lots of attractions and vibrant nightlife. Nearby is the uninhabited island of Elafonisi - with pink sand, lots of shells and dense tropical forest. Moreover, you can wade to it from the southwestern part of Crete along a warm lagoon.

Santorini - a charming hilly island of volcanic origin, all strewn with white and blue houses. Here, a European-style holiday is romantic; many beautiful yachts moor on the shore. On the islandCorfu rich nature and unique landscapes, thickets of citrus and olive trees. The resort itself is considered elite. IslandRhodes suitable for young people - there are many bars and wonderful beaches (especially in the southeast of the island). 30 km from the capital of the island there is a cozy national park with lakes and waterfalls, where thousands of butterflies flock from May to September for the mating season.

The video shows a stunning bird's-eye view of the island in the bright colors of the sunset.

When traveling with children, it is better to prefer the mainland of Greece, where the infrastructure is well developed and there is animation on large beaches (not often found in hotels).

Peninsula Halkidiki has the shape of a trident. It is very green, planted with dense pine forests with healing air, but the sea here is cool. But there are up to 50 fabulously beautiful bays!Athens - a modern city with an incredibly high concentration of antiquities per square meter. Some metro stations (convenient and understandable) are monuments in themselves. The best beach is Lagonissi, located half an hour from Athens. Visiting the capital of Greece is a must do! Get acquainted with the cultural heritage, and after sunset, sip wine under the golden light of the evening Parthenon.

In Greece, it is important to choose the right hotel in a wide variety - there are quiet hotels for Europeans, spa and boutique hotels, options for family holidays, equipped with a water park and a children's room. There are both cheap and elite ones. In addition, in October the water is still at 20-22, so you can relax cheaper and not in such drying heat as in summer.

If you want to save money on your vacation, carefully study the geography of the beaches of Greece, choose the optimal location of the hotel nearby so that you can get to all places by bus or ferry.

Both on the mainland and on the islands you will be offered many excursions to historical monuments or walks on the water. It would be a good idea to brush up on the Myths of Ancient Greece to make listening to the guide even more interesting.

What is a must-do in Greece?

Try a real Greek salad with homemade feta, wash down freshly caught red mullet with Ouzo aniseed vodka (but only in a local tavern, not in a tourist restaurant) and dance sirtaki to your heart's content.

The time has come for a question as important as it is sensitive. If we take completely approximate figures, then Cyprus will be more expensive than the popular Crete. And the service is better for the same price. But still, there are too many parameters in each individual hotel by which you need to evaluate the quality of services and their cost.

Turkey and Egypt have long been mastered by our compatriots, and now the time has come to open new holiday destinations. Southern Europe attracts with its high level of service, safety, and the opportunity to see a lot of interesting places on your own. Let's compare two European countries and decide which is better. Greece or Cyprus, of course, is up to you to decide, based on your own preferences and concepts of quality and complete rest.

Entry issue

The lucky owners do not need to think about how to get to Greece. But those who do not have it need to go through all the circles of hell, consular departments. Getting a Schengen card is a troublesome and expensive task. In order to fly to the Republic of Cyprus, you only need so-called provisions, and in the northern part of this island, occupied by Turkey, an entry permit stamp for Russians is pasted into their passports upon arrival. So if you assume that you have little chance of getting a Schengen visa or do not have time to open one, then the question of whether Cyprus or Greece will become a holiday destination is not before you. What is there to think? Cyprus is definitely your destination.

Prices

On the other hand, the island republic has established itself as a party and fashionable place. Noisy Western European youth, who cannot afford Spanish Ibiza, relax here, as well as other categories of tourists: families with small children, pensioners craving a relaxing beach holiday. If you only want sun, sea and clean air and will not regret foreign currency savings, the “Cyprus or Greece” scales tip towards the first option. If you are planning a budget holiday, plus you want to see more sights, then you should choose the cradle of European civilization, that is, Greece.

Climate

Let's say you are tempted by Which is better: Cyprus? Greece? The map shows that the island republic is located further south, in the Mediterranean Sea, which is warmer and calmer than the stormy Aegean. The swimming season in Cyprus lasts longer - from mid-April to early November. But in Greece, especially on the mainland, summers are hotter. In addition, the shallow ones warm up very quickly, so you can swim there comfortably in early May. If you are planning to go there, it is best to go to the Greek islands - Crete, Kos, Rhodes, Corfu. The sea breeze of the Aegean and Ionian seas softens the heat. But reviews from experienced tourists say that you will not find more beautiful beaches than in Cyprus. Although the coasts of Santorini, Kos and Crete also have their fans. Therefore, in terms of beaches, the choice of “Cyprus or Greece” is quite difficult.

Excursions and entertainment

In terms of developed tourism infrastructure, both countries occupy equal positions. In the island republic there are places for youth hangouts, but you can easily find pastoral paradises where it’s not difficult to be Adam and Eve in Eden. Greece also has all this, but on a much larger scale. Take a look at the map. Which country is larger, Cyprus or Greece? If you want to see as many ancient or medieval sights as possible, choose a holiday destination near Loutraki. From this city you can take excursions to Athens, Olympia, Delphi, Sparta and even Meteora. If you want to combine the beach and fur coat tours, choose Thessaloniki.

Two legendary lands that gave birth to the great Olympic gods are doomed to rivalry by the will of tourist spirits. Greece or Cyprus? Cyprus or Greece? This topic regularly comes up on travel forums. Who should you go to visit - the Greeks or the Cypriots?

Since you most likely do not have the ability to be in two places at once, you will have to choose a place for your future vacation, like the pet of the philosopher Buridan. But the donkey had a choice between two armfuls of hay, and you are faced with a much more complex and multifactorial choice between countries that are exceptionally rich in impressions and tourist pleasures.

Visa regime

Both Greece and Cyprus are members of the European Union. However, only Greece is included in the Schengen area. For this reason, it is easier for tourists to get to Cyprus, since they can apply for a one-time entry via the Internet for up to 90 days.

To visit Greece you will have to apply for a full-fledged Schengen visa.

Climate

Cyprus is located in the south-east of the Mediterranean, just 380 km from Egypt, so the climate here is warmer than in Greece. The swimming season begins and lasts until the end of October (depending on the weather, it is often comfortable to swim in November).

In Greece, swimming begins in May. The beach season lasts until the middle, and on the southern islands until the end of October.

Summer in both Greece and Cyprus is dry and humidity is low. The heat is softened by sea breezes. hot: from +30ºС to +35ºС, sea up to +28ºС. In Greece, the thermometer in the summer months also often exceeds the thirty-degree mark, but in general it is less hot there than in Cyprus, especially in the northern part of the country.

The velvet season in both Greece and Cyprus is autumn:
delightfully warm, but not sultry. and many tourists consider it the best time to relax. In Cyprus, located further south, the velvet season lasts longer, while in many resorts in Greece it ends in mid-October.

Cyprus has an amazing winter. Often stormy seas, regular but short-lived rains and blossoming nature: real spring for residents of central Russia!

Mountains and rocky coastlines are a common feature of Greece and Cyprus. It’s pointless to argue about which landscapes are more picturesque: it’s like comparing two great poets or brilliant artists.

Lovers of natural beauty will find caves, underwater lakes, waterfalls, lagoons, gorges in Greece... In terms of the number of natural attractions, Greece surpasses Cyprus, since its territory is much larger.

It’s just a pity that you won’t be able to see everything during your vacation: you’ll have to limit yourself to the landscapes adjacent to the resort. And they are very diverse: on the territory of mainland Greece and the islands there are several dozen geological and ecological microzones.

However, you won’t be able to explore the whole of Cyprus during a week-long vacation or even a month - its nature is so rich, so numerous are the romantic bays surrounded by rocks, mountain paths, mysterious caves...

Cypresses, oaks, Aleppo pines and Cypriot cedars rustle in the mountains, vineyards grow along the foothills, and tamarisks and oleanders provide coolness in the flowering valleys. Perhaps while walking in the mountains you will see a mouflon.

Be sure to visit the green Mediterranean turtle reserve on the Akamas Peninsula - this is a local endemic, one of the very rare species. If you are into diving, don't forget to plan a trip to the pirate caves in the bay or a dive to the modern Titanic - the sunken Greek ferry Zenobia.

Orthodox pilgrims will find many ancient Christian shrines in both Greece and Cyprus. This topic deserves a separate story.

Hotels, service

One of the topics that causes regular debate on tourism forums is the dispute about the quality of Greek and Cypriot hotels. It is very difficult for the parties to come to an agreement due to the subjectivity of the assessments, as well as the fact that hotels in Cyprus are compared with hotels from different regions of Greece.

The quality of hotel service in Greece is very heterogeneous. Where hoteliers target the British, the quality of services is high. But in middle-class resorts, the quality of service has dropped sharply in recent years. This is partly due to problems in the Greek economy.

It is not necessary to book a table in posh places in the center of the tourist area. A small restaurant in the mountains or on the coast is the best place to get acquainted with local culinary traditions.

By the way, Greek and Cypriot cuisine are far from the same thing. Undoubtedly, they have a lot in common: this is a love for olive oil, and an abundance of fresh vegetables, traditional olives and olives, feta (Cypriots, by the way, claim that they started making this cheese earlier, although the trade name in the EU is assigned to Greek cheese production).

But there are also important differences. The cuisine of Cyprus is more meat-based. They cook a lot of pork and lamb here, and rabbit is often served for dinner. In Greece you can often find fish and seafood.

A feast meal, when a variety of dishes are served on the table in small portions, is popular in both Greece and Cyprus. But in Cyprus they have a special reverence for meze! Up to thirty bowls of cold and hot appetizers can be served for dinner!

Another difference between Cypriot cuisine is the influence of oriental cultures. Spices, garlic, parsley, yogurt, honey sweets. Connoisseurs will also find Italian traditions in the island's cuisine: in the notes of mint, basil, arugula, cinnamon, coriander that complement the taste of dishes...

When it comes to entertainment, Cyprus is considered a more “party” holiday destination than Greece. There are especially many bars and discos in Ayia Napa. In Greece, Mykonos, Ios, and Kallithea are considered youth resorts.

Shopping, souvenirs

Fur coats are not produced in Cyprus, although they are actively sold. For fur coats - this, of course, goes to Greece. For cheap branded clothes, go somewhere to the Canary Islands or the UAE, to the duty-free zone. Of course, prices will not stop a true shopping lover, but in general, Cyprus is not the place where people go to fill their suitcases in boutiques and shopping centers. Just like Greece - apart from fur coats, there is hardly anything worth buying from industrial goods.

Another thing is souvenirs. There are many wonderful things you can take back from Greece and Cyprus.

From Greece, be sure to bring the famous Metaxa, Ouzo aniseed vodka, real feta, and high-quality olive oil. The choice of souvenirs is closely related to the region of the country: in Crete you need to buy local leather shoes, in Ioannina and Athens - gold jewelry, in Zakynthos - wood products covered with carvings. Many islands in Greece make wonderful leather goods and offer traditional Greek embroidery.

In Cyprus, buy lefkaritika lace embroidery, porcelain, pottery, carved wood, and wickerwork. Alcohol includes zivania (local grape vodka), sweet and quite strong wine, as well as Filfar orange liqueur and Five Kings brandy.

Perhaps it is worth recommending other products from local jewelers. In Cyprus, this fishery has a preferential tax system, so prices for 925-carat silver and 18-carat gold (analogous to 750-carat) are not high. Not otherwise Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, advised the local authorities to such an inspiring tax policy!

Excursions

It is useless to list all the excursions offered by Greece and Cyprus. Even resting for a whole month, it is difficult to see everything that is among the nearby natural and historical monuments. But you will probably also be offered something like mountain trails or sea fishing (even for sharks). Therefore, you don’t have to worry about choosing: this year, see half a dozen attractions in one place, next year – in another.

There are many resorts in Greece and Cyprus, you can come every year and discover something new, but we made our choice a long time ago, which is why this site is dedicated to Cyprus, where the Greeks live!

Photo: Ioanna Markidou, Alena Doronina