Cyprus,
coast to coast.

Two stops on the way out of the airport, then keep driving east. Larnaca doesn't need a day of its own.

• Larnaca Salt Lake 7 min from airport

  Straight out of arrivals. Dry and white in August — the flamingos are a winter thing.

• Saint Lazarus Church 8 min on

  In the old town, easy to pair with a walk and a coffee before the drive east.

• Mackenzie Beach nearby

  Mediocre beach next to the flight path. Only if you're killing time.

Everything sits within fifteen minutes of the hotel along one stretch of coast, so drive it as a single loop rather than returning between stops.

• Love Bridge 5 min

  Quick photo stop, already on the road out to Cape Greco.

• Cape Greco 15 min

  White rock, sheer drops, open sea. The best thing on this coast — go early or late for the light.

• Sea Caves 10 min

  Cliffs and caves cut into the shoreline. Same road as Cape Greco, so chain them.

• Blue Lagoon 12 min

  Clear blue water on the Ayia Napa side. Good, though the Latchi version is the one to hold out for.

• Makronissos Beach 9 min

  The nicest sand around here. Save it for the end of the loop and stay for the swim.

• Sculpture Park 5 min

  Not a must-see. Skip unless a stop happens to fall right beside it.

Boats from Ayia Napa Harbour. Blue Lagoon trips run about €35; bigger boats and packages go €55–80 depending on what's included.

Aphrodite's Rock falls on the drive in, so take it on the way rather than doubling back. Keep Akamas and Latchi together on their own day.

• Aphrodite's Rock on the road in

  Petra tou Romiou — rocks, sand and clear water in one place, right on the Limassol–Paphos road.

• Coral Bay 20 min from Paphos

  Proper sandy beach. The easy afternoon of the trip.

• Edro III Shipwreck near Peyia

  Rusting hull metres from the rocks. Five-minute photo stop on the way back from Coral Bay.

• Latchi Harbour 1 hr from Paphos

  Where the good Blue Lagoon boats leave from. Get there for a morning departure.

• Blue Lagoon, by boat from Latchi

  The headline stop — bright, clear, swimmable. Only properly reachable from the water.

• Akamas Peninsula around Latchi

  Unpaved and unspoiled. Hike it, book a jeep tour, or drive in — but not in a low rental car.

Both harbours sell a Blue Lagoon trip. Latchi is cheaper and drops you on the Akamas coast, which you want to see anyway.

1. Land and drive east. Salt Lake and Saint Lazarus out of the airport, then on to Ayia Napa before dark.
2. The Ayia Napa loop. Love Bridge, Cape Greco, Sea Caves, Blue Lagoon, finishing on Makronissos Beach.
3. Cross to Paphos. Aphrodite's Rock on the way, then Coral Bay and the Edro III in the afternoon.
4. Latchi and Akamas. Morning boat to the Blue Lagoon, afternoon in the peninsula. The best day of the trip — don't split it.