Water Sports
Very few countries in the world are blessed with such favourable climate conditions, which provide ample diversity in sea-sports enjoyments.

Cyprus is the ideal spot where a full range of water sports services are available throughout the year. Sea-sports centres in all coastal towns and resorts as well as the major hotels, provide facilities for water-skiing, wind-surfing, sailing, canoeing, pedaloing, parasceding, yatching and much, much more!

Skiing
Skiing can be enjoyed in the Troodos Mountains from January to March (if weather permits), a rather short period indeed, but then short can be beautiful especially in the uninterrupted scenery of the Troodos Mountains.

The facilities available and provided by the Cyprus Ski Federation, have steadily improved, to the point where many enthusiasts can and have a thoroughly satisfying time on the three slops available. The federation owns four ski lifts, provides professional instructors for beginners and it can supply one with all the necessary ski equipment.

The Cyprus Skiing Federation also organises Championships every year where one can come and compete against international and local proffessional and amateur skiers. (www.cyprusski.com)

Hiking
Cyprus is an ideal place for hiking fans, as the island has much to offer from all points of view. Hiking fans can enjoy still untouched and isolated areas, unspoiled regions, where one can get in touch with nature at its best, as well as delightful spots of wild and unique, rare flowers and vegetation, and abundant idyllic beaches.

Hiking may be the most sensational way to discover the fascinating secrets of this island. Nature trails can be found at Troodos mountains, at Cape Greco in the Famagusta area, at the Akamas Peninsula, Polis Chrysochous in the Paphos area and Stavros tis Psokas in the Paphos Forest.

Football
Football is a national passion on the island and not just for young boys and men who enjoy playing the game but for their legion of fans who crowd stadiums throughout Cyprus.

The Cyprus football federation is the governing body for the top four divisions which include 90 teams. During the season there are around 60 games played week all over Cyprus.

Cyprus also has four teams which compete on an international basis. Due to the island’s mild winters many football teams of northern and central European countries use the football grounds in Cyprus for their winter training.

Cycling
Discover the island on a bike! A most exciting way to enjoy the benefits of cycling with the pleasures of admiring, and exploring the vicinity. Facilities for renting classic bicycles are available in all towns and resorts. Cyprus is also ideal for mountain cycling due to its excellent and numerous forest roads.

Car Rallies
The Cyprus Rally, organised by the Cyprus Automobile Association (www.cyprusaa.org), takes place every year during the last weekend of September. Due to its high standard of organisation and its tough routes, the Cyprus Rally is classified with a coefficient 20 in the European Championship, which is the highest coefficient, and is included among the top 15 car rallies in the world. Some world famous rallists who participated in previous events are: the Swedish Bjorn Waldegaard and Kenneth Ericsson and the Italians Favizio Tavaton and Alessandro Fioro.

Smaller but still very exciting rallies, i.e. the Antique Car Rally, take place during the year, in various parts of the island.

Amateur Fishing
Fishing is another popular activity. For salt-water fishing, no license is required. Inland, thirteen reservoirs are stocked with trout, perch, bream, catfish and other fresh-water fish; those over 12 must apply for a license at the District Fishing Department.

Wine Routes

Viticulture is still important today and is favoured by the climatic and edaphological conditions of the island. Today 23.500 hectares of vines are under cultivation, with an annual production of 200 million kilogrammes of grapes. These vine grapes are grown on hilly and semi-hilly areas of the southern and western slopes of the Troodos Mountains. A variety of wines are made from various grapes, from dry white and red wines to medium dry and sweet sherries, brandies and the famous Commadaria. This sweet wine, famous in Cyprus, is the wine with the oldest tradition in the world, as far as the method of production and the appellation of origin are concerned.

There are numerous numbers of wineries in various towns of Cyprus to be visited and enjoyed as well as wine tours which take you through various villages and wineries and give visitors the opportunity to not only see how the wine is made and its locations but taste and potentially purchase these divine products.

Handicraft Centers
At the Handicraft Centre in Lefkosia visitors can see the artisans weaving, basket-making, wood-carving, producing leather articles, pottery and traditional copper items. A large variety of hand-produced items are on sale at the Centre's shop. The Cyprus Handicraft Service has similar shops in Lemesos, Larnaka and Paphos towns.

The artistic heritage of Cyprus is a reflection of the island’s history and traditions that have endured for centuries. It comes through proudly in lacework and embroidery, pottery and woodwork, and jewellery. The government has actively strived to preserve local craftworks since 1975, with the establishment of the Cyprus Handicraft Service. There is a large Cyprus Handicraft Centre in Lefkosia and official crafts shops as well as folk art museums in Lefkosia, Lemesos, Larnaka and Paphos

Cypriot lacework is prized for its quality and artistry. The village of Lefkara is particularly well-known for its embroidery, called Lefkaritika. Embroidered lace, worked on off-white linen or cotton, makes for highly decorative tablecloths, curtains, doilies, placemats and dresser sets. A speciality of Paphos district is Foitiotika, fabric embroidered with geometric designs. Lefkonitziatika features bright stripes, while Alatjia, also striped, is more finely woven with a silky sheen.

Pottery

Pottery has been made in Cyprus continuously for thousands of years. Attractive pots come in all shapes and sizes. Terra cotta pieces with white decorations, copies of museum pieces, are popular gifts, as are copper wares, hand painted gourds and handmade baskets, and jewellery with motifs from antiquity. Pine dowry chests, or sendoukia, are decorated with religious and nature symbols, and can be special ordered at official crafts shops.

Geology
The geological formation of Cyprus which took place millions of years ago is an open challenge to both scientists and amateurs. The mountain range of Troodos, also known as the Troodos Ophiolite Complex, is a worldwide unique example for the study of the geological structure of our planet and is considered as one of the great geological field sites.