Summers Here!
It’s April, and it has to be one of my favourite months. The clocks went forward on Sunday, 29th March, which means the days are getting longer and summer is well and truly on its way. The fields are still beautifully green, blossom is everywhere, and the scents in the air are simply delightful. With forecasts predicting temperatures to soar past 30°C, that’s 90°F in English by mid-April, there’s only one thing for it … I’m heading to the beach for a swim and, of course, to top up my tan. That said, we’ve had loads of rain this winter, and to be honest, we really do need more, but that means it might not rain in April, and so we won’t see rain again ’til October …
Happy Bunnies
With Christian Easter falling on Sunday, 5th and Greek Orthodox Easter falling on Sunday, 12th April this year, the celebrations, as tradition dictates, began 49 days earlier on February 23rd with Green Monday. It is the most important event on the religious calendar in Cyprus. Not only does it coincide with the end of spring, but above all, it marks the celebration of the resurrection, Orthodox Easter across the island, so it’ll be busy the first two weeks, hmm, or all month … so, religiously, I’m off to the beach …
On the Med
While we’re on the subject of beaches, it’s worth mentioning that Ayia Napa and Protaras on the east coast boast two of the best beaches in Europe. We’re truly blessed with some of the clearest, warmest water I’ve ever had the pleasure of swimming in anywhere in the world. Last year, Cyprus was voted the best swimming waters in Europe. And it’s not just about lazy days by the sea. With licensing hours running until 2:30 am, followed by late bars and nightclubs that keep the party going right through to sunrise, there’s plenty of nightlife to balance out the beach life. Not ideal for ‘Topping up the Tan’, of course … unless you head straight to the sand after a good night out!
Pascha
In Greek, Easter is called Pascha, and it’s celebrated by the majority of Cypriots who belong to the Greek Orthodox Church. The holiday falls on a different date each year, varying by about 5 weeks, usually between late March and late April, depending on the lunar calendar, but this year Easter Sunday falls on Sunday, 12th April.
Busy, Busy
As there is only one week difference this year between Christian and Greek Orthodox Easter, you can guarantee one thing … we’re in for a busy one! From around the 1st of April right through to the end of April, all the coastal resorts will be buzzing. In fact, I’d say it’ll be lively for a good two weeks either side of Easter. Cypriots travel from far and wide to be home to celebrate properly, to be with family, and to embrace the traditions that make this island so special. And honestly, there’s no better time to experience Cyprus. The atmosphere, the culture, and the heritage are so vibrant, it’s authentic, and it’s absolutely fabulous! Whatever you do, don’t miss midnight mass Easter Saturday on 11th
Take Two
Another event I’d like to get to is the 24th Cyprus Film Days International Festival, from 17th ’til 25th April, at The Rialto Theatre in Limassol and Zena Palace, Nicosia. The event showcases films from all over the world and brings together filmmakers, actors, and film enthusiasts from Cyprus and beyond. The festival is a great opportunity to experience the cultural diversity of the island and to celebrate the art of filmmaking … Click here for the full Program.
Live on Stage
The live music scene is quickly picking up with Kendall Events bringing back the awesome tribute to The Bee Gees, with Bill Howard, from the 23rd to the 28th April at 5 venues … I gotta say, Karen is just amazing! and btw, I’m really looking forward to catching her UB40 tribute again this May … Meanwhile, Cyprus’ No. 1 music venue Savino Live in Larnaca launches the month on Friday 3rd April with the amazing Prospectus live on stage … And for Easter it’s the explosive Fuse. On the East Coast, there’s live rock bands every weekend at Koursaros Music Bar in Protaras, always the place to be for a bit of live, mostly Greek Rock, and a mature vibe! … While a bit more chilled, check out Paddy’s Bar in Ayia Napa who have live music every night, Irish Style.
Ready or Not
Driving around at the moment, you can feel it; there’s a real sense of anticipation in the air. Businesses are polishing up, setting out their terraces, and getting ready to welcome the Easter influx from all corners of the globe. And of course, our own nationals will be heading down from their villages, and of course, the capital, to the coast, slaughtering the lamb, firing up the barbecues and perhaps dipping a cautious toe into the sea. Haha… let’s be honest, most locals won’t properly swim until June! To be fair, the sea is at its coldest at the moment, around 15°C. It’s also great to see that several of our recommended eateries are unveiling brand-new menus for the season ahead. And for those ‘I really don’t want to cook today’ moments, many are still offering takeaway and delivery, so you can enjoy the flavours of Cyprus without lifting a finger.
On the Med
I’ll be expecting a few more boat cruises to launch this month, I’ve been chatting to them and it looks like we’ll see Wave Dancer busy up in Paphos and The Black Pearl, Ocean Queen, Yellow Submarine, Nemo Submarine, and Fantasy Boat Party in Napa and Medusa Cruises, St. Georgios Boat Cruise, Aphrodite Cruises I, and Dolphin Semi Submarine on the jetty over in Protaras.
Out & About
It’s a great time to go touring to discover the real Cyprus. A couple of recommended tours are with Jimmy’s Jeep Adventures on the west coast, Quad Bike Safari in Larnaca, and Trackers Excursions or John’s Tours over on the east coast, all coming into their element at this time of the year. On that note, do go and check out the new babies at Ocean Aquarium Park in Protaras, The Camel Park at Mazatos or Paphos Zoo, and make sure you catch the animals at dinner time for some jaw-dropping photos, it’s awesome!
Award Winning
We’re now in our 14th year as an online guide to Cyprus based on our original magazine launched in 1999, and the Network is growing daily. We’ve always said we’re the best guide to Cyprus and for the third year running, we’ve received yet another award, this time for ‘Best Online Leisure & Hospitality Guide 2025’, Cyprus from The Lux Life Restaurants & Bars Awards in London … to add to the previous two seasons from The Cyprus Prestige Arawds in Birmingham as the Best Tourist Platform in Southern Europe, ha! They don’t realise that many of our followers are locals and ex-pats based in Cyprus.
Website
Meanwhile, our responsive Website fits nicely onto your phone, tablet or PC and is one-word searchable. It’s over 2,000 articles and 30,000 photos and videos, and you might notice, I’m loving Cyprus, and my job, and btw, I’ve been here doing much the same thing for over 33 years, and I promise I’m gonna make sure this remains the best guide to Cyprus!
Let’s get Social
Check out our Facebook page, reaching around 20,000 views a day, for day-to-day events, interesting posts, shares of things I find that look cool and my ever-popular Live Facebook Videos. You can also follow us on Instagram, X, and Pinterest to keep up to date with What’s On Cyprus! And keep your eyes open for me and my camera … And click here if you wanna learn a bit of the Local Lingo
History
Remember this rock has a history dating back some 12,600 years, and of course, it’s the Island of our Goddess Aphrodite, where sun, sea, sex, and selfies are all part of the norm, well, what else would you expect? You don’t think that all those Greek Gods came here for nothing, do you?
Finally
So, to finish off as usual, if I can give you one tip, make sure you do something you’ve never done before! … At least once! …
Na da boumen
Tony Dynamou
Editor
Cover photo: Love Cyprus by Tony Dynamou
