When planning our recent trip to Cyprus, we were a bit hesitant about traveling in winter

WINTER IN CYPRUS - BEST THINGS TO DO:

Explore its capital city, Nicosia

Nicosia (Lefkosia) is known as the last divided capital city of the world as its southern half belongs to the Republic of Cyprus (with an internationally acknowledged government) and the other half is still occupied by the Turkish army today. The Green Line divides these two halves but you can cross from one side to the other easily via the Ledra Street pedestrianized crossing (remember to bring your passport!) The southern half is such an intriguing city with a mishmash of Greek orthodox churches and Muslim mosques, taverns and tea houses, markets and baths.

Retrace history at the Kourion Archaeological Site

Digging into the island's past is one of the most interesting things to do in Cyprus. There are plenty of archaeological sites on Cyprus, but the most spectacular one (in my opinion) is the Kourion Archaeological Site. Originally built in the 2nd century B.C., it's been immaculately preserved. Famed for its magnificent amphitheatre, Kourion is also home to beautiful mosaic tiles, colonnades and baths. We found it comparable to the magnificent ancient sites in Greece and Turkey, and highly recommend a visit for any history buff.

Go hiking in the Troodos Mountains

Away from the touristically developed beach towns, Cyprus brims with empty hiking trails and challenging biking paths further inland. The Troodos Mountains are one of the best regions to pull your hiking boots on. We chose to hike the Kaledonia Nature Trail, an easy 3-km gradual uphill hike through pine forests, running streams and ending at the Kaledonia waterfalls. There are many other hiking trails to choose from in this area, with many recommending the Asinou-Agios Theodoros trail. It begins at the Byzantine-frescoed Panagia Forviotissa church.