Luxury with substance: Culture, cuisine and R&R in Cyprus

Flying into Paphos, you can’t help but feel a flicker of excitement as you first glimpse a land of Greek mythology, flecked with churches, castles and monasteries, and surrounded by the bluest seas. Stepping off the plane, you’ll be embraced by a warm breeze – even in March – and in no time, your sun-drenched odyssey can begin. In my case: three days of wining, dining and soaking up the sights, courtesy of Indulgent Escapes by Jet2holidays (where the five-star hotels are hand-picked, and packages include return flights, 25kg baggage and private transfers.* They also give you a priority lane pass for your UK airport, plus a complimentary drink on the plane, each way.**)

Found in the far west of Cyprus, Paphos is a picturesque harbour and mythical birthplace of Aphrodite, the goddess of love; there are ancient sites everywhere you look. On my first night, I check into the Annabelle, a gorgeous hotel set in six acres of tropical gardens and located right on the seafront. Mixing serenity with a quiet gravitas, the 244-room hotel is replete with gleaming marble floors, art deco furnishings and stone pillars. A beautiful piano – played every evening – sits majestically in a glass-clad atrium overlooking the ocean.

Laidback luxury

Our gastronomic adventure begins at Amorosa, the hotel’s signature restaurant where gourmet dining comes as standard. Waited on by friendly, knowledgeable staff, I plump for the seared scallops to start, and the black angus beef in red wine sauce for main. Both are exquisite. Across the table from me, my friend opts for two delicious seafood dishes: first the bisque, then the pan-seared seabass. It all goes down very well indeed.

Upstairs, the following morning, I book myself a massage at the state-of-the-art wellness spa, which is called Ouranos, the Greek word meaning ‘sky’. The treatment menu is longer than War & Peace. My friend opts for an hour-long facial that leaves their skin glowing. Then, after a hearty breakfast that embraces the local produce – olive bread with halloumi and anari cheese slices – it’s time to explore.Fifteen minutes’ walk from the hotel, along the Kato Paphos waterfront – and right next to Paphos’s vibrant harbour – exists a sprawling, Mediterranean-facing tract crammed…