While looking for places to stay during your trip to Cyprus don’t forget to sample the local culture and all it has to offer. Several hotels and vacation rentals throughout this small country are in close proximity to restaurants. When you dine in Cyprus be sure to eat the usual Mediterranean meal staples, including the wonderful breads, seafood, olive oil and cheeses.

Halloumi

Perhaps the best-known Cypriot delicacy is halloumi, a delicious cheese made from the milk of goats and sheep. Due to its high melting point, halloumi is often eaten fried or grilled. Exclusive to Cyprus, halloumi can be enjoyed on its own or as part of a salad or meat dish. Some Cypriot chefs use halloumi as a staple ingredient in pastries such as muffins and scones. Grilled halloumi and watermelon is also another popular treat in Cyprus.

Sheftalia

This Cypriot specialty is an uncased pork sausage wrapped in caul fat instead of the usual sausage casing. The caul fat is made from either pork or lamb, and is then ground and minced with salt, pepper, and other spices before being grilled. This allows the sheftalia to have a tough, charred exterior while being tender and juicy on the inside. Sheftalia can be enjoyed with some pita and hummus, or even a slice or two of halloumi.

Lokmades

If you are ready for dessert, try some lokmades, or honey doughnuts. Lokmades are popular throughout the region and are well worth a taste. These deep-fried balls are made from potatoes, covered in honey or syrup, and enhanced with spices such as cinnamon or orange blossom water.

Even though securing accommodations in Cyprus is your first priority, be sure to make sampling the delicious local cuisine next on your list of things to do.