Cyprus Tourism

This Mediterranean island is an excellent year-round holiday destination, with balmy winters and warm summers

Cyprus continues to grow as a year-round tourist destination, having consolidated its reputation as an island nation with amazing weather, delightful coastal resorts and fascinating historic sites.

This island combines Mediterranean culture and cuisine with a distinctly laid-back way of life, offering tourists the ideal holiday blend of pristine beaches, characterful resorts and lively nightlife.

The capital, Nicosia, is the cultural epicentre of the country, while Paphos is its ancient historic centre, with ruins dating back centuries. You’ll find plenty of delightful beaches there too.

The Troodos Mountains offer an escape into the wilderness with picturesque villages, hiking trails and even ski slopes, while Limassol and Larnaca provide a relaxed beach resort alternative away from the party-centric town of Ayia Napa.

There are plenty of accommodation options available in all six of our Cyprus hot spots, or you can always visit on a day trip as the island is small enough to get across easily in just a few hours. Read on to find the best places to visit during your trip.

Paphos

Paphos remains one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations, with sparkling year-round weather allowing you to make the most of its Mediterranean promenade and beaches like Aphrodite’s Rock, Coral Bay or the Blue Lagoon.

The city itself comprises a charming old town (filled with colourful architecture, alfresco restaurants and great harbour views), a host of surrounding ancient ruins, a lively nightlife scene and great options for day trips such as vineyard tours or visits to other nearby towns.

Tourist highlights include the Kato Paphos Archaeological Park and its many ruins – which range from villas and mosaics to a 4th-century acropolis and the Odeon, an outdoor theatre – as well as the Chrysorrogiatissa Monastery and the Harbour Castle.

Nicosia

The capital is a magnificent showcase of Cypriot history, where Venetian, Ottoman and Byzantine architecture attests to the city’s complicated past. The skyline is dominated by russet-tiled roofs and walls of white and honey, with an old town surrounded by 16th-century Venetian city walls, delightful squares such as the recently redesigned Plateia Eleftherias and quaint neighbourhoods like the Chrysaliniotissa Quarter or Laïki Geitona.

Cyprus is divided into two parts by the UN-administered Green Line, which runs right through the country’s capital. The north and south of the city are separated into the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities, and the immediate area around the line is a good place to learn about recent Cypriot history.

Parts of Ottoman and Byzantine life remain today in the city’s many churches, mosques and the Hamam Omerye bathhouse. Archangelos Michail and Agios Ioannis are the main churches, while the Omeriye Mosque stands out as a working mosque that non-Muslims can visit. For the best views of both sides of the city, ascend the Shacolas Tower Observatory.

Limassol

Limassol is a busier, more cosmopolitan alternative to Paphos or Larnaca. It is the second-largest city on the island, with a picturesque marina and beaches including Lady’s Mile, Dasoudi Beach and Governor’s Beach that offer safe swimming.

Stretching back from the waterfront, the city itself is a collection of white-washed buildings that line cobbled limestone streets, with a mix of high-rise buildings and preserved heritage sites. Older historic sites include Limassol Castle, Kolossi Castle and the 2,000-year-old ruins at Amathus, while you can also day-trip to the ancient ruins of Kourion, once one of the island’s most important city-kingdoms.

Larnaca

Larnaca lies along the southern coast of Cyprus, just east of Paphos and Limassol, so benefits from much of the same great weather and superb beaches. Standouts are Makenzy, Finikoudes, Kastella and Dhekelia.

Larnaca is probably less glamorous than its resort town neighbours, but has a solid tourist infrastructure and enough sites to keep you occupied over a long weekend (if you decide you want to leave the beach). The Leoforos Athinon is the main thoroughfare, linking the marina with Larnaka Fort – it’s lined with plenty of hotels and restaurants. Many of the city’s main sites are close by, including the Agios Lazaros (a 9th-century church), the museums of natural history and archaeology and the site of Ancient Kition, an ancient Greek city-kingdom.

Half a day can also be spent exploring areas like the Turkish Quarter, or experiencing the phenomenal scuba diving on the Zenobia, one of the best wrecks in the world. The towns of Protaras and Ayia Napa are also both within easy reach.

Protaras

Protaras offers more of a laid-back, family-friendly alternative to the well-known party atmosphere of Ayia Napa. It is smaller too, stretching from Fig Tree Bay in the south to Trinity Bay in the north (just over 10 minutes’ drive up the coast). There are plenty of other bits of attractive coastline too, including the blue glag beaches of Konnos Bay and Pernera.

Many of the activities in Protaras are aimed at families, with mini-golf courses, amusement arcades and the Ocean Aquarium all within easy reach. The Konnos Nature Trail offers opportunities for hiking, while Cape Greco is the place to go for the best coastal views. The Church of Profitis Ilias, perched on a hill overlooking the coast, offers one of the most scenic views in town.

Troodos Mountains

This mountain range shows a different side to Cyprus, with quiet mountain villages surrounded by dense pine forest and medieval churches sitting alongside historic monasteries. Cooler temperatures allow for summer hiking and, in the winter months, you can even go skiing on the slopes of Mount Olympus, Cyprus’s tallest peak.

The main settlement here is Troodos village, which sits just under Mount Olympus, and this is the best base for tourists. Some of the most desirable villages to visit include Fikardou, Pedoulas and Agros, all of which are well-preserved and filled with churches and russet-roofed buildings that hug the verdant hills. Hiking trails in the area to check out include the Caledonia, Millomeris and Artemis.

Cyprus, a jewel of the Mediterranean, unfolds its rich history and captivating landscapes. Nicosia, the capital, presents a blend of modern life and historical landmarks like the Famagusta Gate.

The coastal city of Limassol offers sandy beaches and vibrant nightlife, while Paphos boasts ancient ruins and the mythical birthplace of Aphrodite. The Troodos Mountains offer cool respite with hiking trails and charming villages. Cyprus' festivals, like the Limassol Carnival, burst with color and exuberance, embodying the island's joyful spirit and diverse heritage.

A location that, despite being a lot smaller, has gained as much fame, if not more, is Cyprus. A land famed for its beauty since the ancient times, Cyprus is famous all over the world. This imperial land features not just the natural beauty that one finds in places that are inclined towards nature, but quite immense architectural beauty, as this small island in the middle of the large sea is just positively littered with UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

10 Best Places To Visit In Cyprus

It is true that if one just turns the corner in Cyprus, World Heritage Sites seem to litter the very streets, with old fortresses, statuary, Cathedrals, and monasteries at every nook and cranny. If you’re planning to visit anytime soon, then make sure to explore these 10 must visit places in Cyprus.

1. Agios Georgios

This is by far one of the most well known and popular sights in Cyprus. One of several important architectural sites in Cyprus, this site was discovered all the way back in the 1950s. Originally a Christian settlement that dates back all the way to the 6th Century, this historical village was not a simple one, as the village contains 3 large Basilicas, which were the original buildings to be discovered, along with a bath. It is one of the best places to visit in Cyprus.

2. Argos

This is one of the more interesting villages in the entirety of Cyprus. A popular tourist sight, this village stands at an elevation of more than 1,100 meters, high up in the tall Troodos Mountains. The village originally grew up around a landmark called the Monastery of Great Agros, a large as life monastery that housed 40 some monks, and was a great sight for pilgrimages back in the day. While this incredible sight was destroyed back in the 1890s, the Church of Panagia of Agros was built in its place. This place is definitely among the top places to visit in Cyprus Mountains.

3. Kakopetria

As we have said, more than a lot of villages have flourished in the land of Cyrus. One of these is the village of Kakopetria, a village that not only makes you want to stay for a few days, but take up permanent residence, as it has a climate that few deny as the best they have seen. The village is also a great destination for fruit lovers, as its orchards produce the best apples for miles around. Vineyards sot the fields, and beautiful bottles of homemade wine is sold in the village very cheaply. This village is a worthwhile addition to the top 10 Places to visit in Cyprus.

4. Salamis

This site housed one of the greatest Roman settlements the island has seen. Complete with markets, bath houses and so on and so forth, Salamis is a perfect example of a great Roman city, complete with all the luxuries and comforts one would find in the capital of Roma itself. Now being a ruined city, it still has most of the buildings left intact. It is definitely one of the best places to visit in Cyprus.

5. Nicosia

Nicosia is one of the most amazing cities in the entirety of Cyprus. Being the capital city of Cyprus, this is no surprise, as itis the very cultural center for all of Cyprus. The history of this city dates back more than just mere centuries, with a rich heritage matched by few cities. It is one of the ideal places to visit in Cyprus in winter.

6. Omodos

While there are many wine making villages that dot the wide and varied countryside of Cyprus, Odomos is one of the more well known ones. Besides making some of the best brands of homemade wine in the entire country, this village is also famous for its fruits, as its large orchards produce apples, pears, pears and many other fruits that are often presented to the tourists as gifts.

7. Lofou

A quite well known tower establishment, this village is certainly one of the most oldest villages that exist in Cyprus. While its absolutely ancient architecture suggests centuries, in truth this village has been around for millenia and has served a whole host of wide and varied purposes throughout the ages.

8. The Temple of Aphrodite

One of the largest and most grand Greek temples built on this island, the Temple of Aphrodite has stood tall for millennia, and has, over the years, been accentuated and built up by many different governments, such as the Roman Empire, which not only built up the temple after the ruin of the Greek Empire, but added lots of touches, finishes and buildings that were Roman in nature. The Temple features large highlights of both Greek and Roman culture, and also is home to a small museum, which houses artifacts recovered from the Greek and Roman periods of its influence.

9. Panagia

This is one of the most picturesque villages in Cyprus, and can be found on the outer edges of the forests of Paphos. The village is one of the largest and grandest in the region, and has a multitude of monasteries, basilicas, churches, and cathedrals, with almost all of them being dedicated to the Virgin Mary. An ideal location for those who are fervent Christians, or are interested in the workings of Christianity, this village has amazed many over the years. This is one of the best places to visit in Paphos Cyprus.

10. Platres

Platres is a village in the Limassol District, and is quite simply the very largest Troodos resort, along with being one of the essential members of the winemaking villages of Cyprus. Featuring many natural and cultural goodies, this village dates back all the way to the Venetian Era.

All of these listings prove just one thing and one thing only: the glory of Cyprus. One can see over and over the magnificent and glorious civilizations that took root here, and flourished, as most of the ruins boast a level of grandeur seldom seen in war torn lands. Thus if you’re excited to discover the heritage of this ancient land, then make sure to plan your holiday to this middle-eastern country