There is a great deal packed into a small space on the island of Cyprus in the eastern Mediterranean. Not only does it abound with good beaches and holiday resorts, but its relatively tiny landmass is riddled with the relics of ancient history, from the beehive huts of primitive man to classical Greek and Roman ruins, and everything imaginable in-between.

A thousand years is but a blip in time in the long history of Cyprus, but it was that long ago that the city of Nicosia (also known as Lefkosia) became its capital. Today Nicosia is unique in Europe because it is divided by the 'green line' that bisects the whole island, dividing north from south. The line, which serves as a United Nations peacekeeping buffer, was drawn in 1974, when the Turks invaded and took over the north. Most of the tourism development since then has taken place in the southern Government-controlled sector, and the political divide, even in Nicosia itself, has not dampened the island's appeal as a major holiday destination.

The charms of Cyprus are many and varied. For a start the weather is sunny and dry for most of the year, and the encircling sea is blue, clear and enticing. There are modern luxury hotels in the coastal resort towns, historic restored city precincts to explore, tavernas and nightlife aplenty. Cyprus has remote picturesque mountain villages and monasteries, beautiful churches, Crusader castles and fascinating museums. The local people are extremely welcoming of tourists, happy to share with them their innate love of life and camaraderie. In Cyprus it is possible to mingle with crowds, or seek isolation off the beaten track as the mood takes, even in peak holiday season. For this reason the island is also a favoured destination for honeymooners, a reputation enhanced by the fact that legend has it that Cyprus was where Aphrodite, Greek goddess of love, rose from the sea.

Larnaca District Museum

Address: Kalogreon Square Larnaca

Admission: £0.75 Monday to Friday 7.30am to 2.30pm; Thursdays 3pm to 6pm (except July and August)

Telephone: 24 304 576

Ancient Kition

Address: Larnaca

Admission: £0.75 Monday to Friday 9am to 2:30pm; Thursdays 3pm to 5pm (except July and August).

Church of Ayios Lazaros

Address: Plateia Agiou Lazarou Larnaca

Admission: Free Open daily

Telephone: 24 652 498

Larnaca Medieval Museum

Address: Larnaca Fort Larnaca

Admission: EUR1,70 Monday to Friday 7:30am to 5pm, until 6pm on Thursdays.

Choirokoitia

Address: Larnaca

Admission: £0.75 Daily 9am to 5pm (1 September to 31 March); 9am to 7:30pm weekdays, closing at 5pm Saturdays and Sundays (1 April to 31 August).

Telephone: 24 322 710

Stavrovouni Monastery

Address: Larnaca

Admission: Daily 8am to 12pm and 2pm to 5pm (September to March); 8am to 12pm and 3pm to 6pm (April to August). Men only.

Telephone: 24 533 630

Lefkara

Address: Larnaca

Cyprus Archaeological Museum

Address: 1 Mouseiou Street, Old City Nicosia

Admission: EUR3.40 Tuesday to Friday 8am-4pm, closes 5pm Wednesday. Saturday 9am-4pm, Sunday 10am-1pm.

Telephone: 22 302 189

Byzantine Museum

Address: Plateia Archiepiskopou Kyprianou, Archbishopric Nicosia

Admission: £1 (adults); student discount available Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm, Saturday 9am to 1pm, closed Sundays.

Telephone: 22 430 008

Ethnographic Museum (former Folk Art Museum)

Address: Plateia Archiepiskopou Kyprianou, Archbishopric Nicosia

Admission: £1 Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm; Saturday 10am to 1pm

Telephone: 22 432 578

St John's Cathedral (Agios Ioannis)

Address: Archbishop Kyprianos Square, Archbishopric Nicosia

Admission: Free Monday to Friday 8am to 12pm and 2pm to 4pm; Saturday 8am to 12pm, and during mass.

Old City Walls

Address: Nicosia

Tamassos

Address: Politiko village Nicosia

Admission: £0.75 Tuesday to Friday 9am to 3pm; Saturday and Sunday 10am to 3pm

Telephone: 22 622 619

Tombs of the Kings

Address: 1 mile (2 km) north-west of Paphos harbour towards Coral Bay, Kato Paphos Paphos

Admission: £1.70 Daily. June to September, 8:30am to 7:30pm; October to May 8am to 5pm.

Telephone: 26 306 295

The Mosaics of Paphos

Address: Kyriakou Nikolaou Street Paphos

Admission: £2 Daily 8am to 5pm (September to May), 8am to 7:30pm (June to August)

Telephone: 26 306 217

Agia Solomoni Catacombs

Address: Agio Pavlou Street Paphos

Admission: Free

Acropolis

Address: Kato Paphos Paphos

Baths of Aphrodite

Address: Paphos

Folk Art Museum

Address: 253 Ayios Andreas Street Limassol

Admission: EUR1,70 Monday to Friday 8.30am to 1.30pm, and 3pm to 5.30pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday (June to September 4pm to 6.30pm)

Telephone: 25 362 303

Cyprus Medieval Museum

Address: Limassol Castle, Richard and Berengaria Street Limassol

Admission: EUR3,40 Tuesday to Saturday 9am to 5pm; Sunday 10am to 1pm.

Telephone: 25 305 419

Troodos Mountains

Address: Limassol

Pitsilia

Address: Limassol

Kourion

Address: Located nine miles (14 km) west of Limassol Limassol

Admission: EUR1.70 Open daily from 8am – 7.30pm (June–Aug); 8am – 6pm (May, Sept and Oct); 8am–5pm (November –to February)

Telephone: 259 34250

Limassol Zoo

Address: Bounded by Byron St, October St, Olympion St and Canning St. Limassol

Admission: Donations accepted Open daily 9am–4pm (9am–7pm in summer)

Telephone: 25 588345

Fasouri Water Mania

Address: Fasouri area (15 mins outside Limassol) Limassol

Admission: EUR29 (adults); EUR16 (children) Open daily from 10am – 5pm (April, May, September and October) and 10am – 6pm (June to August)

Telephone: 25 714 235

Mount Olympus skiing