Cyprus

The promise of Cyprus is one of dazzling beaches, shimmering blue seas, endless summers and tables groaning under platters of meze and bottles of sweet, chilled wine.

Birthplace of Aphrodite and the crossroads of three continents, Cyprus has been seducing and inspiring travellers for thousands of years. The south-west coast is a great place to base yourself, with no shortage of high-end hotels to choose from around Limassol, Pissouri and Paphos in particular. Beyond them, to the north, rise the forested mountains of the Troodos Massif, dotted with traditional villages, picturesque churches and monasteries hiding icons from the very first days of Christianity. To the west, jutting almost defiantly into the Mediterranean, is the Akamas Peninsula, a pristine environment of valleys, gorges and wide sandy bays, where green and loggerhead turtles still come to nest in summer.

Thanks to its small size and excellent road network, you can get to virtually anywhere in Cyprus in a day, allowing for some wonderfully varied holidays. Where else in the Med can you visit mountain vineyards, explore ancient tombs, snorkel turquoise waters, and in winter, even ski?