Go for handicraft such as lace and ceramics if you want to shop in Cyprus. Naturally, you can buy from shops and markets in the towns, but anyone who visits to the villages, where much of Cyprus’ handicrafts are made, also has the chance to familiarise themselves with Cyprus’ original handicraft culture—and with villagers who are happy to show their work. In many villages, and in the island’s cultural areas, handiwork is also sold at better prices than in the towns. Other items which can be worth going for are spectacles, shoes, leather, suitcases and gold, which are cheaper than in most European cities. In tourist resorts such as Ayia Napa, the shops stay open all day during the week, but in towns such as Nicosia and Larnaca—which offer a wide range of shopping—the shops close in the middle of the day. In Larnaca, the shopping street is along the beach promenade Beachfront. In Paphos, the shops are in Kato Paphos.

There are many excellent value products to be bought in Cyprus and all the main towns offer busy shopping centres and bustling markets. There are also Cyprus Handicraft Centres in all the major towns, offering a wide selection of locally produced items. Shops are closed all day Sunday and on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons. However, in the tourist areas, shops usually stay open late in the evenings and all day Sunday. In particular, Cyprus is noted for its leather goods, especially jackets, handbags and shoes; for handmade lace, and for high quality jewelry. Spectacles are very good value, often being offered at substantially lower prices than in Europe. Visitors to the mountain village of Lefkara will be able to see the villagers hard at work making their traditional lace and filigree silver products. In the other mountain villages good buys include homemade honey and sweets such as sujouko and palouze, which are made from grapes.