Cyprus is considered mainly as a place of comfortable rest by the sea. But this does not mean that tourists do not bring anything from the island – any corner of Cyprus has something to surprise its guests. Therefore, when going on vacation, take a large suitcase for shopping, and we will tell you what to bring from Cyprus for yourself and as a gift.
Clothing and accessories
There are products of popular European brands on the island, but it is much more profitable to buy locally produced goods there.
European brands
For serious shopping, it is best to go to Nicosia in Northern Cyprus-there, in the Mall of Cyprus, My Mall, Nicosia Mall and The Mall of Engomi, the richest range of products of well-known brands in Europe in Cyprus. Men’s bomber jacket from Prada can be purchased for 1000 €, Celio shorts for men – for 15€, linen jumper from Massimo Dutty – for 25 €. Branded products in Nicosia can also be found at more attractive prices, for example, in shops on Makarios Avenue or Ledra Street.
In popular tourist Paphos, there are good boutiques in the Kings Avenue Mall shopping center.
In Ayia Napa and Larnaca, there are no classic shopping centers at all, and a few well-known brand stores are scattered throughout the city.
Important! The biggest sales in Cyprus are held twice a year: closer to August and after Christmas. There are also “discount” periods that are timed to coincide with major holidays. Usually, the price of all products in the store is reduced by 50-70%.
Locally produced textiles
From Cyprus, you should bring light summer cotton products made directly on the island. In Paphos, we recommend buying textiles at the Aquarium shopping center, while in Ayia Napa, you should go to the Incredible Universe. Although local clothing in Cyprus is also sold in souvenir shops – the prices are the same, provided that the store is not located on the embankment.
Take a closer look at the local Zako chain, which specializes in such items as underwear, hosiery, swimwear and other beach goods. In this network, a one-piece swimsuit can be taken for 70€, a pareo for 45 €.
Leather and fur items
The largest selection of shoes produced in America and Europe is presented in Nicosia (Pablosky store) and Limassol (Kickers and Birkenstock stores). Women’s boots from Timberland can be picked up for 250€, slates for 5€, and men’s shoes in a classic style from Ecco will cost 180 €.
For fur coats, you can go to Nicosia and Paphos, but the real center for selling fur products is Limassol. In branded chain stores and small boutiques, you can buy factory-made Greek and Italian products at quite competitive prices.
A tip! By the end of the tourist season, fur prices usually fall, so we recommend that you wait until then to buy.
And what to bring from Cyprus as a gift from leather items? Of course, products made by hand. Belts, wallets, bags, purses – all this is of excellent quality and costs relatively little. Such “leather” shopping is possible in different resorts of the island, but the widest range is offered by workshops in Ledra Square in Nicosia and Covered Market in Paphos. Women’s handbags cost from 60€, suitcases – from 17 €.
Lefkari lace
We recommend that you take a closer look at the products with lefkarite-this is the name of the finest linen lace, which is created by craftsmen from the mountain village of Lefkara.
Products with Lefkari lace are considered the most expensive and valuable souvenirs from Cyprus. Light summer items (skirts, dresses, blouses, umbrellas), as well as napkins, tablecloths, bedspreads can cost several thousand euros! For reference: a small napkin for a cup costs about 20 €, a large one-from 50 €.
Silver jewelry
Lefkara is also famous for its handmade silver jewelry, which is as light and delicate as lace. Earrings, rings, bracelets, and pendants created in the filigree technique are real works of art. You can buy these items not only in Lefkara-in the jewelry centers of Paphos, Ayia Napa and Limassol there are special showcases of Lefcara Silver.
Lefkara silver is relatively inexpensive: voluminous bracelets-from 100€, thin bracelets – from 45 €, pendants – from 30 €, rings and earrings – from 35 €.
You can also bring factory-made silver jewelry as a gift from Cyprus. They are not so elegant, but cheaper, you can pick up a gift even for 10 €.
This is interesting! In Cyprus, the pomegranate is considered a symbol of love, fertility and prosperity. Garnet ornaments are very popular on the island, and they are often bought as gifts for girls and women.
Cosmetics
A good solution is to bring cosmetics with natural ingredients as a gift: donkey milk, various spices, as well as olive, rose or citrus oils.
In Cyprus, there are original high-quality cosmetics of the Greek brands Apivita, Mea Nature, Korres. It is advisable to purchase these products in pharmacies or boutiques of a particular brand. In Limassol and Paphos, good” cosmetic ” shopping is possible in Papantonio supermarkets, in Ayia Napa, you can go to the Incredible Universe for cosmetics. But I must say that such products can also be taken in souvenir shops – there they are also original and of excellent quality.
If you need to bring a lot of cosmetic gifts, it makes sense to go on an excursion to the village of Agros. There are factories specializing in the production of water from rose petals, followed by the production of cosmetic products based on it.
Estimated prices for cosmetic products:
- soap with olive oil is offered from 1.5 €;
- donkey milk soap is available from 5 €;
- anti-aging cream brand Apivita costs from 103 €.
Religious paraphernalia
Cyprus is a major Christian center, where thousands of pilgrims come every year. All monasteries have church shops that sell handwritten and printed icons, crosses, candlesticks, candlesticks, and other paraphernalia. The largest number of icons is offered in the Kykkos Orthodox Monastery, which you can visit during the Troodos sightseeing tour.
The price of wooden icons starts from 4 €. Silver-framed icons start at €100.
A tip! To allow the icon to be removed from Cyprus customs, you must request a receipt when purchasing it.
Traditional souvenirs and gifts
What else you can bring from Cyprus as a gift and for yourself, so it’s ceramic products. Figurines, painted dishes, vases, pots, jugs, mugs – many different products of modern potters are sold in souvenir shops all over the island. But we still recommend buying ceramics at the Cyprus Crafts Center in Nicosia or at the Kivotos Gallery boutique in Paphos. Estimated cost of hand-made ceramic products: figurines from 5€, small plate from 10 €, large dish from 37 €.
All other traditional souvenirs that you want to bring from the resort of Cyprus should be found in shops as far away from the embankment as possible. In ancient Larnaca, a good selection of souvenirs is offered at Ermou and Zenon Kiteos outlets, while in Nicosia, such purchases are best made from merchants on Ledra and Laiki Geitonia streets. The most expensive souvenirs in Limassol, although there can be a good shopping experience – for this you need to go to the Limassol Sunday Market, which is open on Sundays.
Souvenirs that we recommend to bring from the island:
- Aphrodite figurines, postcards and T-shirts with the image of the goddess.
- Cat, donkey and mouflon – in each shop there are products with the image of these animals, which are considered symbols of the island.
- Standard souvenir-magnets with Cyprus attractions worth 2.5-3 €.
- Ceramic or glass figurines depicting the Pomos idol.
- Pythagorean cup or “cup of greed” with a measuring column in the middle.
- Natural sea sponge.
Edible gifts
It is a good idea to bring gastronomic delicacies from Cyprus.
Halloumi-cheese made from cow’s, goat’s and sheep’s milk, is considered a national product in Cyprus. It is advisable to buy cheese in vacuum packaging, in supermarkets it costs from 10 € per kilogram. A fresh home-made product is more expensive, and the market sells it for 20 € per kilogram.
By the way, we will tell you about the traditional cuisine of Cyprus and what to try on the island here.
Olives and olive oil
Islanders claim that olives are the key to their longevity. The most popular variety is small Koroneiki olives. They are sold both fresh and canned. The price of vacuum packaging starts from 12 €.
It is recommended to purchase olive oil during harvesting and processing (from October to March-April) in small oil mills, which are available in most villages. Oil poured in a 750 ml iron container costs 8-10 €.
When buying oil in stores and supermarkets, we recommend choosing products of the following brands: Virgin olive oil, Pure olive oil, Olive-pomace oil, Exstra-virgin olive. Also keep in mind that the simple label “olive oil” indicates ordinary refined oil that has lost many useful properties during processing. A really high-quality product is obtained when processing olives by mechanical means and by cold pressing.
Spices
Spices are another purchase that is brought from Cyprus both for themselves and as a gift. It is most profitable to buy them by weight in the bazaars. Prices vary depending on the type of seasoning. So, 50 g of basil, sage or oregano are sold for at least 3 €, and for cinnamon or vanilla they ask from 4 €.
Honey
It is a good idea to bring a few jars of honey from Cyprus – you can take small 100-gram ones for a price of 1.5-2 €as a gift.
Among many varieties, we recommend choosing orange (with citrus fruits), lavender, thyme, eucalyptus and incredibly fragrant mountain Paphos.
Jam and other sweets
The range of jams in Cyprus is diverse and even non-standard. Prepare jam olive, carrot, eggplant with nuts, bergamot, damask rose petals. Such an original sweet will be quite an unusual gift. By the way, the largest selection of jams at reasonable prices is seen in a trade shop near the Kikk monastery.
What other Cyprus sweets are recommended to bring as a souvenir to friends and relatives:
- Baklava. The most delicious baklava in Cyprus is sold individually in the confectionery departments of supermarkets and in shops with oriental sweets. Prices start from 4.5 €.
- Turkish delight. Delicious lukum is produced in the village of Geroskipu. It is sold all over Cyprus for 1.5-2 € per pack.
- Kidonopasto. This sweetness resembles jelly: quince, boiled with sugar and lemon juice.
- Pastille. There are different tastes, estimated prices are 1-5 €.
- Sujukos. Cypriot version of churchkhela, but more soft and juicy. We recommend buying soujukos made from carob syrup – this is only available in Cyprus.
Carob products
If you want to bring the perfect gift to those who care about health, take a closer look at carob products. They are recommended even for allergy sufferers and diabetics. It is better to shop in supermarkets, as there are higher prices in duty-free and souvenir shops. What to choose:
- Syrup. Increases immunity, it can be taken as a dietary supplement. It is also added to dough and yoghurts, poured over ice cream, cottage cheese, pancakes. The price of a 300 ml bottle is 3-4 €.
- A powder that can also be used in cooking.
- A drink that tastes similar to cocoa.
- Chocolate, known as “carbolate”. For 2 € you can buy a 100-gram tile.
This is interesting! In ancient times, carob fruits were used as a measure of weight. The weight of one grain is 200 mg – like a carat, a unit of measurement in jewelry.
Alcoholic beverages
As a souvenir, most often buy dessert wine “Commandaria”. It is available in every supermarket, and local residents are advised to choose bottles with black labels Commandaria St. John. And the best wine and at the best prices is sold at the Kikki monastery – a bottle costs 8 €.
A good gift will be other varietal wines, for example, “Snt Panleymon”, “Marateftiko”, “Mavro”, “Othello”, “Aphrodite”.
From stronger alcoholic beverages, you can bring grape vodka “Zivaniya”. The strength of this drink is 45-49%, it is prepared only from local grape varieties “Mavro ” and”Xinisteri”. A 0.5 L bottle will cost 10 €.
Other good alcoholic souvenirs: Filfar orange liqueur, Five Kings brandy for 15-16 € per bottle 0.5, and Jim Beam whiskey for 15-30 € per bottle.
We hope we helped you decide what to bring from Cyprus. Gifts and souvenirs on the island can be purchased anywhere from large supermarkets to tiny shops in the villages.
