Why City of Dreams should be your family’s dream holiday in 2024

Does new City of Dreams resort deliver dream family holidays in Cyprus? It just opened this summer, so Sandy Cadiz-Smith and her family went to find out if you need it on your wish list in 2024.

City of Dreams, Cyprus

Can family holidays in Cyprus really get any better?

Just a short drive from Larnaca Airport, City of Dreams only opened in July 2023, but it’s already proving to be the perfect destination for families, as we soon discovered after checking in to our luxurious connecting rooms: so much space and large balconies looking out over myriad pools and the Mediterranean.

This was a sight we couldn’t resist, so we drop our bags, change and head downstairs for a refreshing dip. Of course, the kids make straight for the water slides, while we retire gratefully to the shade of a sun lounger for a cooling welcome drink.

City of Dreams pool complex, Cyprus

City of Dreams pool complex is the largest in Cyprus

Four unique pools make City of Dreams’ complex the largest in Cyprus, and it’s beautifully designed in the style of a Mediterranean village, with whitewashed stone arches, curves, and interlinking bridges. Whether it’s activity, a beach vibe or total peace you’re after, there’s a pool to suit. There’s even a wave pool for body boarding and surfing lovers, as well as an indoor pool for some serious lengths. Plus, every pool is watched over by a life guard, so you can truly relax or even enjoy a poolside snooze.

You can be confident your kids are being cared for, all the time

One of the great things for families at City of Dreams is how confident you can be that your children are safe and well looked after, at all times, which makes any holiday more enjoyable.

Younger kids from age 4 to 12 will love Kid’s City, which is close to the pools and supervised by smiling, energetic staff ready with indoor and outdoor games, arts and crafts, as well as limited TV and PlayStation access. Our youngest daughter was particularly taken by a dolls’ house packed with Barbie in her many forms, and she also spent hours producing holiday-inspired works of art.

City of Dreams, Adventure Park, Cyprus

All holidays in Cyprus should have an Adventure Park

The Adventure Park nearby offers less sedate entertainment, again fully supervised, and it’s all included for under-16s.

Our kids headed to the sinking ship playground with its swings, slides and climbing frames, but were soon lured away by the large trampoline zone, its giant air trampoline providing many happy airborne hours. Although the highlight for our adrenaline junkie teenage daughter was undoubtedly the more adventurous challenges. Watching her ride the zipline coaster, climb the climbing wall and tackle the two ropes obstacle courses made us slightly dizzy, but she loved every minute and kept going back for more.

City of Dreams reception, Cyprus

Don’t ask where to eat, ask where to begin

For family time at the end of the day we became obsessed with increasingly lively games of miniature golf: nothing like a bit of rivalry to work up an appetite for dinner.

Because food is a real event at City of Dreams. There are three a la carte restaurants on site: Anaïs which serves French cuisine; pan-Asian Amber Dragon, and Mediterranean Olea. Alternatively, the sumptuous buffet restaurant, Aura, is also worth serious exploration. And you’ll find kids’ menus at both Amber Dragon and Olea, however, Anais is adults-only.

And finally, poolside Aqua Bar serves a great selection of salads, sandwiches, pasta and burgers, and has a children’s menu too.

Does City of Dreams deliver dream holidays in Cyprus?

There’s plenty to explore outside City of Dreams. It’s only a short drive from Limassol city, and closer still to historical sites, like the archaeological wonder of Kourion. Though we found it difficult to drag ourselves away from the fun in the sun vibe at City of Dreams, which very much lived up to its name by delivering a dream family holiday, in every sense.