PLATRES
Area: Cyprus


Location:
W-central Cyprus, 20 miles NW of Limassol. Larnaca airport 40 miles E.

Telephone code from UK:
357 25

Position:
3,700 feet above sea level and 20 miles from the coast. Surrounded by mountains and forest, it is built on a steep slope and terraced at three different levels.

Description:
A small, rather isolated inland resort, Platres is built into a hillside, overlooking a valley. It has a pleasant, sleepy, low-key, almost village-like atmosphere, and a compact centre formed of fairly nondescript low-rise buildings in a mixture of modern and traditional styles. A couple of small roads pass through. The climate tends to be a few degrees cooler than at the coastal regions, and some limited skiing is available in winter in nearby Troodos.

Suitability:
Middlemarket, young and old. Bird-watchers; walking groups.

Accommodation:
Seven hotels and one guesthouse, ranging from modern to traditional. Situated in and above the village.

Shopping:
Fifteen souvenir shops, two banks and two supermarkets.

Entertainments:
Daytime: hiking and strolling. Use of hotel pools for a fee. Nightlife: three bars and two discos in village.

Eating:
About 15 restaurants and tavernas, some serving fresh locally farmed trout.

Public-transport:
Limited. A workers' bus to Nicosia leaves from outside tourist office very early in the morning and returns at about 11am. There is no other bus service. Service Taxi for Limassol leaves at 7am but quickly turns around arriving back in Platres at 11:30am. Taxis can be hired from hotel receptions. Car hire is recommended.

Local-excursions:
Variety of organised walks to mountain range of Troodos and surrounding villages. Kalidonia Waterfalls 2 miles. Pottery museum at Phini; traditional wineries at Omodhos; lace at Kilani. Horse riding in Troodos. Trout farm serving barbecued trout, 1 mile.