Cyprus or Turkey: which is the best choice for a vacation in 2021?

We decide the question - Cyprus or Turkey? What is the difference between rest in countries, and which one wins (or loses)?

I'll tell you what inspired this text. My aunt, who has rested in Antalya 10 times already, thought about an alternative. To be sure to the Mediterranean Sea, beaches with sand, fly close, visa-free and more civilized than in Turkey.

The idea with Cyprus was thrown to her, but to explain in more detail, Turkey or Cyprus - where is it better to go? - I got it. Therefore, this article came out, and, by the way, my aunt found the answer for herself. Will you find? 🙂 Write in the comments!

And according to the tradition of our heading "comparison of countries" - a couple of facts:

• 🇹🇷 7 million Russians visited Turkey in 2019,
• 🇨🇾 and Cyprus - just over 850 thousand compatriot tourists.

Where to look for a tour yourself?

Not everyone is happy with the prospect of paying for a flight from the provinces to Moscow in addition to the tour. And if you can go to Turkey from almost anywhere, then Cyprus is more "problematic".

You can find out if there are tours departing from your city, or if you have to get to the nearest major one, on the online aggregators:

• Travelata
• Level.Travel
• Onlinetours

Here you can find current prices for tours directly from tour operators, a convenient calendar (to catch last minute deals) and real reviews of tourists about hotels. In general, all three are real helpers in organizing recreation. I can't even count how many times we have used them.

Visa differences

Almost absent. Why almost?

Turkey Is a visa-free country. The border is crossed only with a passport valid for at least another 4 months from the date of entry.

On the Cyprus you will have to apply for a FREE pro-visa. It is done within 1-2 days (on the website of the consulate), arrives at the post office, printed out and presented at the airport. But with one condition: you fly from Russia and without transfers. In all other cases, an open and valid Schengen (multi) will help.

So, Cyprus or Turkey in 2021 are still equivalent in terms of accessibility for Russians.

On the right is a convenient promenade in the city of Side and a sandy beach

Flight and distance to resorts

🇹🇷 The flight from Moscow to Turkey - both the Mediterranean and the Aegean Sea - takes 3.5-4 hours,

🇨🇾 The flight to Cyprus takes 4 hours.

As for the onward transfer to the resorts, the amount of time spent on the bus is also similar. The only thing is that Turkey has two coasts, and charters fly to 3 airports - Antalya, Dalaman and Bodrum.

Long hours can be avoided with the “private transfer” service. This option (a car only for your company) is loved by vacationers with children, and to be honest: both in Turkey and in Cyprus, a transfer from KiwiTaxi is more profitable than from any tour operator.

Beautiful promenade along the Mediterranean Sea in Cyprus (Limassol Molos)

Where is the best place to relax in summer and spring? Seasons in countries

Cyprus or Turkey - which is better for the weather? And again ... the same. It is difficult to find countries that are more similar in temperature.

Two points:

1) Cyprus is an island, which means it is blown by the winds.

2) The climate in the Aegean part of Turkey is different - there is lower humidity and weaker heat. Ideal for relaxing in July and August.

So, the season in Cyprus and Turkey begins in the spring, from mid-May, and continues until November... But our tourists arrive since April (when it is very good for excursions) and dive into the sea on May holidays (when, objectively, it is “frosty”, + 19 ° C).

It is possible to swim, so that without goose bumps, from June - the water warms up from + 22 ° C to + 26 ° C. Well, from July to August, there will be high prices for tours, clouds of holidaymakers, an unrefreshing sea and sultry days. I swore to rest in Turkey in the summer just after such a hellishly hot trip.

From mid-September in both countries starts the Velvet season, which lasts until the end of October: pleasantly warm both in the water and on the street, the schoolchildren and their parents have left. In winter, the weather in Turkey and Cyprus is cold. Not like in Russia, of course, but still: the air temperature does not rise above + 15 ° C and it rains.

Monthly weather

Where is it warmer - in Turkey or Cyprus?
Average air and water temperatures, ° C

I took into account the Antalya coast of Turkey (from Kemer to Alanya). The Aegean is cooler and the season runs from June to mid-October.

Tour cost - where is it cheaper to have a rest?

Our excursion to Alanya (we walk next to the famous red tower)

Which is cheaper - Turkey or Cyprus? Since most of the readers of this article are considering vacation packages only, this is an important aspect to compare.

The cheapest tour in high season 2021 for 7 nights:

• Turkey - from 43,000 rubles for two (either a terrible "four" for all, or "three rubles" for breakfasts),
• Cyprus - from 47,000 rubles for two (average 2-3 stars without meals).

Further, the price of the vouchers is distributed approximately as follows (July, for a week, two people, departure from Moscow):

Yes, a beach vacation in Cyprus with a tour, or rather, its non-budgetary nature, cannot be justified by anything. But it's worth mentioning the following:

1) There are fewer hotels here. For example, 5 * on all inclusive, from the last row in the table, there are only 16. And in Turkey there are more than 250 of them! Weak competition. Including in the “all inclusive” concept - it is just developing.

2) There are no under-star hotels. Well, you know, these Turkish economy and premium fours. Hotels in Cyprus are firmly in line with their rating. Moreover, it's not even scary to spend the night in local 1-2 stars 🙂

3) People often travel to the island on their own. Because tickets are inexpensive and the choice of apartments / guesthouses is wider.

Resorts where it is cheaper:

• 🇹🇷 Kemer, Alanya, Marmaris
• 🇨🇾 Larnaca and Paphos

What about the last minute tours? Turkey is full of offers like - 6 nights for 27 thousand for two, departure the day after tomorrow. We ourselves flew for 43 thousand from Kazan for 10 days (found on Travelata). In Cyprus, this is less common mountain-a-azdo. In order not to waste time searching, you can subscribe to our telegram channel Howtrip Lowcost, where we drop off tours and tickets that cannot be missed 🙂

Independent vacation in Cyprus

What to choose - a voucher or a personal reservation of everything and everyone? For myself, I realized: the decision rests on 1) the cost (it is necessary to compare), 2) saving time (the tour wins), 3) the type of rest (active or lying).

Let's analyze the "independent" Cyprus into parts (7 days in July, for two, to Larnaca):

• Air tickets - 33,000 rubles (Victory with baggage) from Moscow OR 40,000 rubles by Azur Air charter.

• Transfer from the airport and back - 6 euros (bus # 425) ≈ 450 rubles.
• Insurance (I take it on Cherehapa) - 700 rubles for two people.
• Accommodation - I recommend Airbnb here, a private rental service. For 20,000 rubles a season you can find a nice apartment, especially in Larnaca. And with a discount of up to 4000 rubles for the first booking, it is even cheaper. But if you are for hotels, look up on RoomGuru.
• Car rental (Myrentacar) - 80 euros (20 euros per day) ≈ 5850 rubles, and 40 euros for gasoline ≈ 2950 rubles.

Total: 54 thousand for filling as on a tour and 63 thousand with car rental. The cheapest ticket for these dates is 53,000 rubles.

Food prices

Breakfasts (all inclusive) in one of the hotels in Turkey

🇹🇷 If a tourist travels to Turkey on all inclusive, and spending for the sake of the stomach is a maximum of two trips to a local cafe and a strawberry stand in the market, then in Cyprus the gastronomic situation is different.

🇨🇾 The tour will most likely be breakfast (bb), half board (hb), or no meals at all. Usually at the hotel you can buy any meal:

• Breakfasts ≈ 10 euros per person
• Lunch or dinner ≈ 20 euros
• Drinks for dinner (on hb and fb they are paid): a bottle of water ≈ 2.5 euros, a glass of tea ≈ 2 euros.

Prices for food and products in Turkey and Cyprus - 2021:
1 lira = 10.5 rubles, 1 euro = 89 rubles

Where is the best food? And there, and there it is familiar and understandable, the basis is made up of meat, vegetables, dough / bread. But if in the first - everything "its" oriental, then the Cypriot cuisine is a mixture of Greek and Turkish. It is noteworthy that in Cyprus in cafe-restaurants pork and chicken are more often served, in Turkey - beef and lamb.

Excursions and attractions

Our trip to Alanya (view from the fortress) / For 1 day we went on an excursion
to the Legend water park in Belek

Turkey.

• Excursions from a tour operator ≈ 50-55 dollars

In Turkey - a little bit of everything. And historical sights, and natural, and entertainment in the form of water parks, spa and rafting. If you choose a good hotel, then you don't have to go beyond it. Animation for both adults and children is Turkey's strong point.

Here are the prices for the most popular excursions for the Antalya coast (from street agencies):

• Pamukkale - white salt cascades - $ 40-45
• Cappadocia by bus - $ 40-60
• Hamam - $ 10-15
• The Land of Legends Waterpark - $ 53-60
• Antalya city tour - $ 20-25
• Shrine in Demre, antique Myra and Kekova - $ 30
• Rafting - $ 15-20
• Pirate boat cruise (for children) - $ 15-17

Ruins in Cyprus

Cyprus.

• Excursions from the tour operator ≈ 60 euros

In Cyprus - either admire the mountains, capes, cliffs, bays, waterfalls, or revere the monasteries. Here, the excursion boom is not felt so much, because independent movement around local beauties is much more in demand - you rent a car, and go wherever the "Wishlist" tells you. Moreover, the island itself is compact.

Imagine that now I wink and ask: did you know that Turkey = Northern Cyprus? Yes, slightly less than half of the island is Turkish territory. There is also an excursion from Turkey to Cyprus by ferry. The ship departs from Alanya, goes to Girne (port city) within 3.5 hours and costs 240-275 liras one way (2500-2900 rubles).

What to see on excursions? Although as an excursion - you still go to Northern Cyprus on your own:

• The ancient city of Girne. As soon as you get off the ferry, you find yourself in a postcard: on one side of the town there are mountains, and on the other - the sea. Photos will turn out what you need from anywhere! Visit Kyrenia Castle, where the main exhibit is an old merchant ship. Here you can see the path of development of culture in Cyprus: art objects, icons, wine amphorae.
• Ruins of Salamis. They say that the city was destroyed immediately after the Trojan War. One of the largest antique amphitheaters, statues and columns - the grandeur is felt even now, but what happened in the heyday of the era of ancient Greece?

So, for those travelers who could not decide where it is better to go: to Turkey or Cyprus, there is an opportunity to visit both countries.

Holidays with children - Cyprus or Turkey?

Definitely, Turkey is more suitable for the first trip with a child - or for a vacation with a child of the age from “can walk” to “in the fall in the first grade”. Children's service is very developed here: in hotels for small holidaymakers there is a menu, babysitting services, game rooms, water parks, children's discos. In Cyprus, such a set of services for children is far from everywhere (remember, there are only 16 "fives" for an all?).

But Turkey or Cyprus with older children is a more complicated question. On the one hand, the nature in Cyprus is incomparable with Turkey. Plus, pristine golden beaches and a year-round fruit harvest. On the other hand, the Cypriot minus is the prevalence of the breakfast / dinner type of food and the prohibitively expensive all inclusive. With a child, you are unlikely to be able to often dine outside the hotel, which is why the 24-hour buffet system is very welcome.

The best resorts and hotels for kids:

• 🇹🇷 Side, Belek, Alania.
  By hotels:

✓ 5 * Ali Bey Park (Side)
✓ 5 * Sueno Hotels Beach Side (Side)
✓ 5 * Papillon Belvil Hotel (Belek)
✓ 5 * Labranda Alantur (Alanya)

• 🇨🇾 Ayia Napa, Protaras, Limassol.
  By hotels:

✓ 4 * Marismare Callisto Holiday Village
✓ 4 * Atlantica Miramare Beach
✓ 4 * Tsokkos Paradise Village

Or maybe not Turkey or Cyprus, but Greece will be the best option to spend a vacation with children? Read our detailed text here! * and do not forget about the consent to leave from the parents if the child goes on vacation without them!

Beach in Cyprus

Where is vacation safer?

It is quite safe to fly to Turkey. The only thing you can run into is 1) the calculation of an inattentive tourist by a waiter or a driver in a dolmus; 2) for a terrible sunburn in the absence of spf. So, by the way, our compatriots are calculated at any resort in the world. Do not be like Basil crayfish, brushing off the tubes intrusively offered by your wife, use sunscreen. It - the sun - has been baking since May.

Well, if you are afraid of Turkey's proximity to Syria, then, alas, there is nothing to console you - Cyprus is also a neighbor of the latter. There will be even fewer kilometers between them. The island is calm, and the Cypriots themselves are honest, good-natured, do not seek to cash in on a foreigner.

In general, we have an article about the safest countries for tourists, where they are compared in terms of crime, sanitation and the threat of natural disasters. I don't know if it's worth looking there, because Turkey is an obvious outsider. And with Cyprus, everything is much better, close to the top ten.

Beach vacation and the sea

The main differences between the beaches - sand in Cyprus more golden color... In Turkey, it is darkish, with a touch of gray.

In addition, if in Turkey the coastline belongs to hotels, and every self-respecting complex offers free sun loungers to its guests, then in Cyprus the beaches are public, with rare exceptions. Therefore, for a chaise longue (without an umbrella), a tourist, please pay 2-3 euros. Or lie on a towel.

Cyprus.

View of the beach of Protaras, Cyprus

• Sandy beaches - in Ayia Napa, Protaras, Limassol (but gray volcanic here). Many are marked with a Blue Flag (assigned to cleaner ones). The most famous and beautiful: Nissi Beach (Ayia Napa), Makronisos (Ayia Napa), Landa Beach (Ayia Napa), Fig Tree Bay (Protaras) and Mackenzie Beach (Larnaca), where the planes are landing.
• Pebble beaches - in Paphos and in some places in Larnaca.

Turkey.

And this is already a sandy beach in the city of Side, where we rested in 2019

• Behind the sandy beaches - in Side, Belek, Alanya, Antalya. There is only one sandy beach in Kemer, but it is public and without hotels - Moonlight Beach.
• Pebbles - it is in Kemer (large), Marmaris (smaller), Bodrum. Fine, almost like sand, in Fethiye.

Transport and infrastructure

Everyone loves tables. Therefore - here is another comparative one:

In Turkey it is easier and cheaper to take a car from a street agency. There are not so many of them, because car rental is not very popular, but anyway - choose a decent looking one, not a tent, which may disappear the next day 🙂

In Cyprus without four wheels as without hands. After all, the very idea of ​​resting on the island is active and watchful. Rentals are on every corner, but during the season I advise you to rent them in advance from Myrentacar - the service works with local car rental companies.

Have you decided to take a car at the reception at the hotel? Then the minimum 20 euros will turn into 30. Do not forget about the deposit, this is practiced by online services, agencies, and in the hotel.

Hotels: where is the best all-inclusive system?

All inclusive breakfasts above pictured from this hotel - Side Royal Luxury

Unconditionally, all inclusive better in turkey... In Cyprus, a few years ago, they didn't even know what all inclusive was and what to serve it with. And now they interpret the concept at will.

• A hotel on an all in Cyprus does not mean there will be a private beach. Most likely it will be public and with paid sun loungers.
• Animation and huge green areas at the hotel are not the island's strong point.
• But what unites Turkey and Cyprus is that in cheap hotels, Wi-Fi only catches at the reception or in a restaurant 🙂

Recommendations for hotels in Turkey.

More expensive, so as not to be disappointed:

• 5 * Alva Donna World Palace (Kemer) - from 130,000 rubles per week for two
• 5 * Granada Luxury Resort & SPA (Alanya) - from 120,000 rubles
• 5 * Sentido Orka Lotus Beach (Marmaris) - from 130,000 rubles
• 5 * Adalya Elite Lara Hotel (Antalya) - from 145,000 rubles
• 5 * Acanthus & Cennet Barut Collection (Side) - from 200,000 rubles, rested there in person, review - follow the link

Average by price:

• 5 * Utopia World (Alania) - from 115,000 rubles
• 5 * Queens Park Goynuk (Kemer) - from 95,000 rubles
• 5 * Numa Bay (Alania) - from 100,000 rubles
• 4 * Flamingo Hotel (Alanya) - from 90,000 rubles

Budget vacation (all - from our trips and friends):

• 4 * Side Town by Zhotels (Side) - from 60,000 rubles
• 4 * Havana (Kemer) - from 70,000 rubles
• 4 * Numa Konaktepe Hotel (Alanya) - from 70,000 rubles
• 4 * Artemis Princess (Alania) - from 65,000 rubles

Maybe you will be interested in new hotels in Turkey, opened in 2018-2019?

Hotels in Cyprus.

Those who have been to Cyprus from my friends advise hotels in Larnaca - 3 * Sveltos and 3 * Boronia apartments.

Soon I will make a list of Cyprus right here, but for now I propose to explore the popular hotels in this >> and this >> articles - in the "Selection of good hotels" sections.

Which one to choose - Turkey or Cyprus? Outcomes

View from the hill to Protaras and climb the stairs to the church / Cable car and view of Cleopatra beach in Alanya

If you haven't been anywhere, start with Turkey. Take a look around, go on excursions (or even rent a car :)), you will see if you like a hotel vacation. Well, then ...

To Turkey if:

• You rest with a child / children who climb everywhere, jump and are not able to sit still for at least half an hour.
• Tight budget limits, and you need a cheaper one.
• Have fun, hang out.
• The main requirements are a sandy beach with sun loungers, a comfortable hotel and not a hint of the question "where are we having dinner today?"

To Cyprus, if:

• You love to immerse yourself in local life - cafes, car rental, "wild" non-tourist corners of nature.
• The priority is the beautiful sea and golden beaches.
• Have been and miss Greece.
• Do not like the eastern "chaos" and the desire to please the tourist and prefer European service and regularity.

Pros of Cyprus and Turkey

Cons of Cyprus and Turkey