Cyprus · Local picks
100+ Places to Visit in Cyprus
These are the places worth your time in Cyprus, from the museums and cafés of Nicosia to the mosaics of Paphos, the seafronts of Limassol and Larnaca, the beaches of Ayia Napa and the painted churches of Troodos. Classics sit beside quiet corners many travellers miss, so every kind of visitor finds something to love.
Places to Visit in Nicosia
Arts and Culture
- Cyprus Museum (Old Town)
The island's most important archaeological collection, from Bronze Age idols to the Agia Irini terracotta army. - Selimiye Mosque (North Nicosia)
A soaring Gothic cathedral converted into a mosque, the most striking building in the old city. - Leventis Municipal Museum (Laiki Geitonia)
A clear, free introduction to the city's long story from prehistory to today. - House of Hadjigeorgakis Kornesios (Old Town)
An elegant Ottoman era mansion of a wealthy Cypriot dragoman, now a small museum. - Saint John's Cathedral (Old Town)
Small from outside but covered inside with vivid eighteenth century frescoes. - Cyprus Classic Motorcycle Museum (Old Town)
A quirky private collection of vintage motorbikes inside the walls. - Home for Cooperation (Buffer Zone)
A community centre in the buffer zone hosting talks, exhibitions and a café shared by both communities. - Nicosia Venetian Walls (Old Town)
Star shaped walls with eleven bastions that still ring the old city.
Things to Do
- Ledra Street Crossing (Ledra Street)
Walk across the Green Line from south to north with just your passport. - Shacolas Tower Observatory (Ledra Street)
A rooftop viewpoint looking across both halves of the divided capital. - Eleftheria Square (Old Town)
Zaha Hadid's sweeping redesign of the main square above the Venetian moat.
Shopping and Markets
- Büyük Han (North Nicosia)
A sixteenth century Ottoman inn with craft shops and courtyard cafés. - Bandabulya Market (North Nicosia)
A restored covered market for spices, sweets, soaps and snacks. - Ledra Street shops (Ledra Street)
The main pedestrian shopping street, lined with stores and cafés up to the crossing.
Cafés
- Onasagorou Street cafés (Old Town)
A busy strip of cafés and bars where students and locals linger for hours.
Restaurants
- Piatsa Gourounaki (Old Town)
A popular, no-fuss grill for souvlaki, sheftalia and pitta wraps.
Nature and Outdoors
- Athalassa National Forest Park (Strovolos)
Pine woods and a lake on the city's edge, popular for walks and cycling.
Places to Visit in Limassol
Arts and Culture
- Kourion Archaeological Site (Episkopi)
A clifftop Greco Roman theatre, mosaic villas and sea views that take your breath away. - Limassol Castle and Cyprus Medieval Museum (Old Town)
A compact castle with medieval finds and a rooftop view over the old town. - Kolossi Castle (Kolossi)
A Crusader keep linked with the Knights Hospitaller and Commandaria wine. - Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates (Kourion)
Columns and temple ruins in the woods, quieter than the main Kourion site. - Amathus Archaeological Site (Agios Tychonas)
Ruins of an ancient kingdom right beside the sea east of town.
Things to Do
- Molos Promenade (Seafront)
A long seaside park walk with sculptures, playgrounds and sunset views. - Limassol Marina (Marina)
Waterfront cafés and yachts, lovely for an evening stroll and dinner. - Fasouri Watermania (Fasouri)
A big waterpark that is a hit with children on hot days. - Limassol Zoo (Municipal Gardens)
A small, family friendly zoo in the city gardens. - Omodos Village (Omodos)
A wine village with a cobbled square, a big monastery and family wineries. - Vasa Koilaniou Winery Village (Vasa)
A tiny stone village of wineries in the hills behind Limassol.
Restaurants
- Old Port restaurants (Old Port)
Seafood and modern Cypriot dishes by the restored old harbour.
Nature and Outdoors
- Kourion Beach (Episkopi)
A long beach below the ancient cliffs, great for a swim after the ruins. - Lady's Mile Beach (Akrotiri)
A long, quiet stretch of sand with simple beach tavernas. - Akrotiri Salt Lake (Akrotiri)
A protected wetland where flamingos gather in winter. - Governor's Beach (Pentakomo)
Bright white chalk rocks against a dark sand beach, a favourite with locals. - Dasoudi Beach (Germasogeia)
A shady city beach with eucalyptus woods behind the sand.
Events
- Limassol Carnival (City Centre)
Ten days of parades and parties before Orthodox Lent. - Limassol Wine Festival (Municipal Gardens)
A cheerful late summer evening of local wine, food and music.
Shopping and Markets
- Limassol Municipal Market (Old Town)
A restored covered market for local produce, snacks and crafts.
Bars and Nightlife
- Saripolou Square bars (Old Town)
A lively square of bars and small restaurants in the old town.
Places to Visit in Paphos
Arts and Culture
- Paphos Archaeological Park (Kato Paphos)
The famous Roman mosaics of the Houses of Dionysos, Theseus and Aion. - Tombs of the Kings (Kato Paphos)
Rock cut tombs with columned courtyards beside the sea. - Paphos Castle (Harbour)
A small fort at the end of the harbour wall, best at sunset. - Agia Solomoni Catacomb (Kato Paphos)
An underground chapel with a tree outside hung with cloth offerings. - Chrysopolitissa Church and Saint Paul's Pillar (Kato Paphos)
A church on early Christian ruins with the pillar linked to Saint Paul. - Sanctuary of Aphrodite (Kouklia)
Remains of the ancient cult centre of the goddess, with a small museum. - Paphos District Archaeological Museum (Ktima)
A strong small museum of finds from across the region. - Agios Neophytos Monastery (Tala)
A monastery with a hermit's cave of Byzantine frescoes in the hills.
Nature and Outdoors
- Petra tou Romiou (Aphrodite's Rock) (Kouklia)
The legendary birthplace of Aphrodite, a must at sunset. - Coral Bay Beach (Peyia)
A sheltered sandy bay with shallow water, perfect for families. - Sea Caves and Edro III Shipwreck (Peyia)
Cliffside caves and a stranded ship on the rocks. - Avakas Gorge (Akamas)
A dramatic walk between high rock walls in the Akamas. - Lara Bay Turtle Beach (Akamas)
A protected beach where turtles nest in summer. - Blue Lagoon (Akamas)
Astonishingly clear turquoise water, best reached by boat from Latchi. - Baths of Aphrodite and Adonis Trail (Polis)
A shady grotto and well marked trails with sea views. - Latchi Harbour (Latchi)
A fishing harbour with seafood tavernas and boats to the Blue Lagoon.
Shopping and Markets
- Paphos Municipal Market (Ktima)
The old covered market in the upper town for crafts and local produce.
Things to Do
- Paphos Zoo (Peyia)
A large wildlife park that is easy to enjoy with children. - Lemba Village (Lemba)
An artists' village and a reconstructed prehistoric settlement. - Kathikas Village (Kathikas)
A wine village on the Laona plateau with tavernas and views. - Paphos Harbour (Harbour)
A pretty harbour walk lined with cafés and fishing boats.
Events
- Paphos Aphrodite Festival (Harbour)
Open air opera staged in front of Paphos Castle in late summer.
Bars and Nightlife
- Bar Street Paphos (Kato Paphos)
The busiest strip of bars and clubs near the harbour.
Stays
- Polis Chrysochous (Polis)
A quiet little town as a base for Akamas and the north west coast.
Places to Visit in Larnaca
Arts and Culture
- Church of Saint Lazarus (Old Town)
A splendid Byzantine church built over the tomb of Lazarus. - Hala Sultan Tekke (Salt Lake)
A tranquil mosque among palms by the salt lake, one of the region's most important shrines. - Larnaca Medieval Castle (Seafront)
A small fort by the sea with a museum and summer events. - Pierides Museum (Zinonos Kitieos Street)
A fine private collection of Cypriot antiquities in a historic mansion. - Ancient Kition (Old Town)
Phoenician temple ruins in the middle of town. - Panagia Angeloktisti (Kiti)
A church with a rare sixth century mosaic of the Virgin. - Choirokoitia Neolithic Settlement (Choirokoitia)
A UNESCO listed Stone Age village with reconstructed round houses.
Things to Do
- Finikoudes Promenade (Seafront)
A palm-lined promenade and town beach full of cafés. - Zenobia Wreck Dive (Larnaca Bay)
One of the world's great wreck dives, just offshore. - Skala Pottery Quarter (Skala)
The old Turkish quarter with ceramic studios and quiet lanes. - Lefkara Village (Lefkara)
A hill village famous for lace and silver crafts. - Stavrovouni Monastery (Stavrovouni)
A hilltop monastery with huge views; men only inside.
Nature and Outdoors
- Larnaca Salt Lake (Airport Road)
Flamingos in winter and a flat walking trail along the shore. - Mackenzie Beach (Mackenzie)
A lively beach with bars and planes coming in low overhead. - Cape Kiti Lighthouse (Kiti)
A quiet spot for a walk and a swim west of town.
Events
- Kataklysmos Festival (Seafront)
The Festival of the Flood at Pentecost with stalls, concerts and water fun.
Restaurants
- Militzis Restaurant (Piale Pasha)
A traditional taverna known for oven-cooked dishes on the seafront road.
Shopping and Markets
- Larnaca Municipal Market (Old Town)
A local market for fruit, vegetables and snacks.
Places to Visit in Ayia Napa
Nature and Outdoors
- Nissi Beach (Ayia Napa)
White sand and shallow turquoise water, the island's most famous beach. - Cape Greco National Forest Park (Cape Greco)
Sea cliffs, caves and trails with dazzling water below. - Fig Tree Bay (Protaras)
A crescent of fine sand with clear, calm water. - Konnos Bay (Cape Greco)
A pretty cove framed by pines, great for snorkelling. - Sea Caves of Ayia Napa (Cape Greco)
Rock arches and caves carved by the sea, best seen at sunset. - Agioi Anargyroi Chapel (Cape Greco)
A tiny chapel on the cliffs above sea caves. - Makronissos Beach (Ayia Napa)
A string of sandy coves next to ancient rock tombs.
Arts and Culture
- Ayia Napa Monastery (Town Centre)
A peaceful Venetian era monastery in the middle of the resort. - Thalassa Municipal Museum (Ayia Napa)
A sea museum with a full replica of an ancient Kyrenia ship.
Things to Do
- WaterWorld Waterpark (Ayia Napa)
A big, themed waterpark loved by families. - Ayia Napa Sculpture Park (Cape Greco Road)
Open air sculptures above the sea, free to wander. - Ayia Napa Marina (Marina)
A new marina with cafés and evening walks. - Deryneia Viewpoint (Deryneia)
A look across to the abandoned Varosha district. - Potamos Liopetriou (Liopetri)
A tiny fishing creek with fish tavernas.
Bars and Nightlife
- Ayia Napa Square (Town Centre)
The famous nightlife hub of bars and clubs in summer.
Places to Visit in Troodos Mountains
Arts and Culture
- Kykkos Monastery (Kykkos)
The island's most famous monastery, rich in mosaics and icons. - Agios Nikolaos tis Stegis (Kakopetria)
A UNESCO listed painted church with frescoes from five centuries. - Panagia tou Araka (Lagoudera)
Some of the finest twelfth century frescoes on the island. - Panagia Forviotissa (Asinou) (Nikitari)
A tiny barn roofed church with remarkable Byzantine paintings. - Troodos Visitor Centre and Botanical Garden (Troodos Square)
Explains the geology of these mountains, born from the ocean floor.
Nature and Outdoors
- Caledonia Trail and Falls (Platres)
A shady streamside walk to one of the island's prettiest waterfalls. - Artemis Trail (Mount Olympos)
A circular high trail around the island's highest peak. - Millomeris Waterfall (Platres)
A short walk to a waterfall near the hill resort.
Things to Do
- Kakopetria Old Quarter (Kakopetria)
Timber balconied houses beside the river in a protected old village. - Fikardou Village (Fikardou)
A preserved village of stone houses with a small folk museum. - Throni of Kykkos and Makarios Tomb (Kykkos)
A hilltop shrine and the tomb of the island's first president. - Pedoulas Village (Pedoulas)
A cherry village with a UNESCO painted church. - Mount Olympos Ski Slopes (Troodos)
Small ski runs when snow allows, usually January to March. - Lofou Village (Lofou)
A quiet stone village with tavernas and lanes to wander.
Shopping and Markets
- Agros Rose Factory (Agros)
Rose water, creams and sweets made in the village.
Stays
- Platres hill resort (Platres)
Old hotels and forest walks in the classic mountain village. - Kalopanayiotis agrotourism houses (Kalopanayiotis)
Restored stone guesthouses in a village of springs.
More to Explore
We are still checking these with fresh sources, so confirm opening times before you go.
- Matthaios Restaurant (Old Town, Nicosia)
A small family taverna near the Archbishop's Palace with home-style Cypriot dishes. - Sykaminia Taverna (Old Town, Limassol)
A traditional meze taverna loved for its long, generous spreads. - Laona Restaurant (Ktima, Paphos)
A simple, family run spot for home-style Cypriot cooking. - Hondros Taverna (Kato Paphos, Paphos)
A long running taverna in a garden setting near the harbour. - Zephyros Fish Tavern (Piale Pasha, Larnaca)
A classic fish taverna by the sea south of the castle. - Paralimni village tavernas (Paralimni, Ayia Napa)
Local tavernas in the inland town away from the resort strip. - Ayia Napa Festival (Town Centre, Ayia Napa)
A September festival of music, dance and local food. - Linos Inn (Kakopetria, Troodos Mountains)
Village food in the old quarter of Kakopetria. - Agros Rose Festival (Agros, Troodos Mountains)
Rose picking and rose water making in May.