By Rihanna Stylianou
Your Instagram feed might be serving you postcard after postcard from the Amalfi Coast, Mykonos, or some remote Japanese island that suddenly everyone seems to have discovered.
But you? You’re here. In Cyprus. In the office. On your couch. Deep in the sweltering Cypriot summer.
And no, you’re not alone.
Maybe it all happened this summer: a new family, more expenses, tighter deadlines, higher prices, vacation leave that never got approved. Or maybe you just can’t be bothered to deal with airports, suitcase drama, and 15 open browser tabs trying to hunt down the “perfect deal.”
And you know what? That’s perfectly fine.
Because with a little imagination, a splash of water, and a sprinkle of creativity, you can still have a great time. Your weekend can be full—and anything but boring.
Small Escapes That Make a Big Difference
One-night getaway to Polis Chrysochous or Agioi Anargyri
Escape for just one night. No need to book a five-star resort. A small guesthouse will do the trick, or better yet, hop in the car with friends, a playlist made for the road, and iced coffees in hand. Swim, eat something simple, and take a sunset walk. Perfection.
Morning dip before work
Possibly the most underrated summer flex in Cyprus: a 7:00 a.m. swim, at your desk by 9:00. If you pull it off, you’ll start the day refreshed by a wave, not glued to a screen.
Traditional villages = slow travel without the plane ticket
Spend the day in Kakopetria, Lefkara or Vouni. Order kleftiko, sip local wine, sit in the courtyard of a village café and stare at the mountains for a bit. It’s practically therapy.
And while you’re at it, your visit is more than just a breather, it’s a small act of support for the villages hit hard by recent wildfires. That meal, that coffee, that overnight stay? It matters. Local slow travel isn’t just a nice option, it’s a conscious choice to give back.
Finding Beauty in the City
Cine nights + friendship
Head to an open-air cinema, or make your own. A white sheet, a borrowed projector, popcorn, and a few friends are all you need for low-budget summer magic.
Home spa, Instagram style
Get some bath salts, light a few candles, play French jazz or ‘90s R’n’B, and give yourself a detox night. Who says luxury needs a passport?
Brunch, Cocktails & Little Urban Pleasures
Try a new café every weekend
Make it a mission: every Saturday morning, try a different café in town. Go for the iced matcha, the avocado toast, or that one thing you’d never cook for yourself. You’ll be in the same city, but seeing it through new eyes.
Cocktail night at home, dress code: vacation
Invite your friends over, play a YouTube video of palm trees swaying in the breeze, and make frozen margaritas. You might not be in Cuba, but if you’ve got good company, you’re already there in spirit.
So really...who said escape has to mean departure?
Cyprus in the summer has something you can’t quite explain: a soul-soothing warmth, an almost otherworldly stillness in the villages, a salty breeze that clings to your skin, and a quiet reminder that maybe… just maybe… you don’t need to go anywhere at all to feel good.
Sometimes, the magic is already at home.
*This article was translated from its Greek original
