Gay Cyprus: the complete travel guide for LGBTQ travelers

Whose genius idea was it to mix burgers with club life? No one does parties like the gays at Ithaki. Loud pop music. Sweet cocktails. Campy, sharp-tongued hosts. And delicious burgers delivered by their neighbour, Street Sins. It’s all part of what makes the Friday night event “Think Outside the Box’ at Ithaki so darn popular with the queer community in Nicosia. Other themed events throughout the week include RnB Saturday, which also attracts a young and international crowd.

Did you do a double-take with that club name? Us too. And just like the gel, this gay bar promises a fun, sexy night out, that’ll leave you dripping… with sweat. At Lube, they like to give pleasure to all the senses. Excellent dance music for your hearing. Neon lighting and hot bar staff for your vision. Every Friday is karaoke night, and Saturday night sees an awesome fun party with live DJs.

NOTE: Whilst Aruba Bar is still open, it is no longer a gay venue.

In Aruba Bar in the Ayia Napa party village, it’s all about community. Loyal patrons and friendly bar staff surround the bar every night of the week… but Saturday is when they have their official LGBTQ night. Camp dance music, hot guys from across the vicinity, and drink deals you can't refuse to make the night one to remember… or rather, one to forget (if you’re truly having a good time). Be sure to check out their Facebook page for details of the next gay night as the Ayia Napa scene is particularly alive during the summer months.

They love unique people so much, they put it in their name! In terms of music, Seby and I love an oldie just as much as we like the current radio stuff – so you can imagine our pure elation when songs from Madonna’s heyday were put on. Or Cyndi Lauper, followed by a Gaga song, then back to some good ole’ Pet Shop Boys. We were a bit clueless with what drink to get and rolled our eyes when the bar guy recommended their strawberry daiquiri… but, oh boy, is it to die for!

DownTown Live is known for having excellent live music, and now for adding a fabulous drag Queen to their line-up! In an effort to elevate Nicosia's nightlife, Greek drag Queen Doukissa has started hosting a drag night on the first Sunday of every month, along with a fellow drag queen. Together they deliver plenty of jokes, sass and glitter, all for just €10 a ticket. If you've been craving a really good drag show in Cyprus (and can handle being read for filth by these fierce queens) this will definitely tickle that itch!

Reawaken your zest for life! Whilst it’s not exclusively a gay bar, Zester adds a sprinkle of campness to its mostly hetero vibe, by having excellent dance music, fizzy cocktails, and a liberated mindset. The most popular spot is the beer garden, with rickety tables and chairs, surrounded by plants and trees. Cozy ambience for meeting with or making friends, especially in the summer months, when the air is cool and spirits are high!

Mousikos Taverna is an exquisite outdoor taverna with round archways, long tables, fine wine, and scrumptious island food. Could you forgive us for soaking up our Mamma Mia fantasy? And unlike Meryl Streep, we’ll be going back for a full sequel (sips tea). Mousikos is one of the most famous tavernas in all of Cyprus – and for good reason. Their meat meze is one of the best we’ve tried on the whole island, especially their halloumi – it’s famous! But it’s super popular as well, so you’ll need to call ahead to reserve a table, especially on a weekend evening. 

With the rushing sounds of the Mediterranean, the cool salty breeze, and the fresh, delicious seafood, it can only be a night at Kalamies. It has sat by the beach in Pernera since 1976, having been set up as a family business, and it’s still going strong. Their fish meze is our favorite of all tavernas we’ve tried in Cyprus. Most fish meze focus on fried kalamari. Here, there is far more variety of dishes included, some that we’ve never tried before. 100% recommended!

Go for the local Cypriot food. Stay for the wine! With exceptional views, cheerful waiting staff, and mouth-watering food, it’s no surprise Agios Epiktitos is as popular as it is. Their meat meze is one of the best in Limassol. To give you an idea – all meats are grilled on Cypriot carob wood, the lountza (Cypriot smoked ham) cooked in a yummy rich wine sauce. The other reason we love this place so much is because it’s super romantic and the views over Limassol are very impressive! 

One of the best restaurants in Nicosia according to TripAdvisor, Piatsa Gourounaki sure knows how to take care of its customers. We rarely go back to a place more than once on our travels but for this place, we had to make an exception. On our second round, the staff remembered us by name – that’s how much they love their guests. The food itself is so affordable, given how delicious and filling each dish is. Both Seby and I (shamefully) had to undo a belt buckle at the end of our meals…

Cyprus has some of the best beaches in Europe – maybe even in the world, but being part-Cypriot myself, I am totally biased! The waters are the kind of crystal clear, Mediterranean blue that people dream about when going on holiday. The best beaches of Cyprus are mainly located on the east side of the island near Ayia Napa like Nissi Beach, Konnos Bay and Fig Tree Bay. If you get really lucky you can even spot a few turtles out in the beaches of Malama, Cavo Maris and Green Bay.

Ok, so we’ve gushed about the beaches, food, and wine. Now it’s time to strap on a pair of hiking boots and get moving! You didn’t think we were going to let you off that easy, did you? There are many gorgeous villages across the Troodos Mountains where you can base yourself in like Platres, Vasa, and Vouni. Head out on a clear day to capture the magnificent views from the summit. More importantly, bring a camera, so you can immortalise the sights in your memory forever!

No Nomadic Boys Mediterranean holiday would be complete without a wine-tasting experience! One of the best things to do in Cyprus is head to one of the wine villages (like Omodos, Platres, Lofou, or Pachna), either by yourself or on a tour, and check out the local vineyards. This Cyprus wine tour experience takes you around the stone-built village of Omodos, located on the border of Paphos Forest. Along the way, look out for medieval Venetian landmarks and Byzantian Churches, then enjoy some exquisite wine tastings in the wineries.

Nicosia is the last divided capital of Europe… and visiting it is very much like returning to the Cold War days. On the southern side, you’ll find a thriving, modern city that is full of high street stores and places like Starbucks. But just across the border on Ledra Street to the Northern occupied side (you’ll need your passport!) it feels like you’ve gone back 50 years. We recommend seeing the Shacolas Tower. At the top are extraordinary views of the city and it also has a small but fascinating museum about Nicosia. 

Up for a dive? Whether you love swimming with sea turtles or discovering shipwrecks, there are plenty of excellent snorkeling and diving spots along the Cypriot coast. One of the most popular dive sites is the Zenobia shipwreck in Larnaca. It’s a cargo ship that sank 138 feet (42m) beneath the surface after getting into some technical difficulty whilst trying to dock. For a fun snorkeling experience, head down to the eastern beaches where there is an abundance of turtles, particularly around Cavo Maris and Green Bay Beach.

Take a gander around Limassol’s historic center, known for having one of the oldest fishing ports in the city. We loved taking in the colonial-style buildings, meandering cobblestone paths, and famous medieval castle. The square outside the castle is a bustling marketplace, full of tea shops and coffeehouses where you could lose yourself for hours. Also, check out the busy shopping streets and pick up some local goods, like wine, olive oil, honey, and leather. 

Believed to be the burial sites of many Paphitic aristocrats and high officials before the 3^rd century, the UNESCO-listed Tomb of the Kings is a must-see for history lovers. We’re total geeks for Ancient Classical stuff, so we loved getting the chance to explore the stony sites and imagining what kind of people could be resting there. Sadly, very little is known about who is buried there – some reports indicate grave robbers were responsible for robbing bodies of any identifying goods. 

A beautiful national park on the south-eastern tip of the island – Cape Greco is the ideal spot for swimming or sunset watching. Right beside one of our favorite beaches, Konnos Bay, there is so much to marvel at. From the sea caves to the Lover’s Bridge (a nature-made archway), we spent a whole afternoon here exploring the area on foot and drinking in the stunning views. There is also an excellent hiking trail through the area with many impressive dramatic coastline views along the way.

They weren’t kidding when they called it “blue” – as it is the bluest blue to ever blue! It’s the largest bay in the Akamas district as well as an optimal spot for swimmers, largely because of how warm the water is here. It’s quite a tricky spot to get to though. The safest way to reach it is to pass through the village of Neo Chorio. From there, you head towards Fontana Amoroza until you eventually reach the Blue Lagoon. Alternatively, you can simply join a day trip so someone else can drive you and you just get to enjoy yourself!

Just off the shore along the road to Limassol, you’ll find Aphrodite’s Rock – the fabled birthplace of the ancient goddess herself. Its dramatic beauty and choppy waters are what make the attraction so popular. According to legend, if you swim around the rock 3 times, it will bring you luck for true love, fertility, eternal youth, and beauty. Not that you need it, of course, but it can never hurt to get more! It’s a handy stopover if you’re driving from Limassol to Paphos, or you could book this ATV safari to the rock for something totally different!