Have A Real Cycling Holiday In Cyprus at The Agora Hotel

We’re midway through December with Christmas and the New Year quickly approaching. While the weather is still fairly mild (thanks global warming), the days are becoming increasingly darker and grayer as the end of the year approaches.

If the prospect of being stuck inside on the trainer for the next three months weighs heavily on your mind, it’s not too early to plan a spring escape for next year to someplace warm. Larnaca, Cyprus and the Agora Hotel might just be the adventure you need.

Larnaca, Cyprus and The Agora Hotel

Larnaca, Cyprus is located along the southeast coast of the island. It is the third largest city next to Nicosia and Limassol. While many believe Cyprus is part of Greece, it is an independent republic located in the Mediterranean Sea. One of its claims to fame is that the Stoic philosopher, Zeno, was born there.

The Agora is a boutique, small, high-end hotel with 18 rooms overlooking the pool. It offers many amenities and exudes Mediterranean charm throughout. Guests can indulge in lots of activities during their stay, such as movie nights, trivia, a Christmas Dinner, etc.

And if you are a cyclist, the hotel offers rental bikes, quiet, challenging roads, and a guide who also happens to be a cyclist as well as the owner of the hotel. The Agora’s mission is “to create a space where every moment feels intentional, where simplicity meets luxury, and where guests can reconnect with themselves and the world around them.”

Riding Around Larnaca, Cyprus

A writer for Cycling Weekly visited the Agora in April of last year and talked about the great weather and roads with good climbs. The hotel seems to give cycling equal status with its yoga classes and other wellness treatments. Best case scenario? It’s best to plan this part of your stay before your trip. The truth is, cycling features as a prominent activity on the hotel’s website with its own dedicated page.

It’s on this part of the Agora Hotel website where you can arrange to rent a bike. You can rent a road bike for a few days or for as long as a month. It’s 55 euros per day for 1-3 days, 48 euros per day for 4-29 days, or 40 euros per day for 30+ days.

The bikes the hotel rents are high quality, Factor carbon frames with disc brakes and Shimano Di2. The hotel has them in whatever size you might need. All you need to bring is your saddle, pedals, bike computer, or whatever else you might need. However, the hotel does sell its own branded kit (jersey and bib shorts) if you’re interested in that.

The routes the hotel offers look pretty challenging and intense. They are described as either extremely hard or moderately easy. But the hotel points out, “…we don’t do easy here!” And if you’re looking to grind out some good miles, the hotel posts Strava segments so you can see the type of terrain you’ll be riding.

Last Thoughts

If you’re looking for an early spring trip to an exotic location that offers great cycling, high-end bike rentals, and a posh hotel with all the amenities, a stay at the Agora Hotel in Cyprus might be right for you.

I’m feeling pretty tempted myself. Just keep in mind this is a small hotel that focuses on luxury, so the rooms can be expensive on a per-night basis. But the fact that you are staying at a nice hotel on an island with easy access to planned bike routes, a guide, and the experience of a new place is all worth the price of admission.