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Top Destinations: Agia Napa; Kato Pafos; Lefkosia; Protaras; Lemesos; Pano Platres; Lefkara; See all Destinations

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Places to See

There are many interesting historical places to visit in Cyprus. The island is located in the centre of the ancient world which is known as the cradle of western civilization. Ancient Greeks, Egyptians and Romans, along with Crusaders, Byzantines, Franks and Ottomans, have left a remarkable legacy for the modern visitor to explore.

Cyprus highlights by region:

• Central Cyprus
• Southern Coast
• Troodos Mountains
• West Coast
• Occupied North

Central Cyprus

Lefkosia (Nicosia) Europe’s only remaining divided capital

Main attractions:

Old Lefkosia, where you can enjoy a nice stroll along the old streets, stopping for coffee, or taking a shopping trip in the rebuilt district of the pedestrian area known as Laiki Geitonia (popular neighbourhood). The Cyprus Tourism Organization’s office is located in this district and offers free walking tours of the capital.

The Cyprus Archaeological Museum, the island’s largest and best archaeological museum, with a range of exhibits illustrating the history of Cyprus, from the Neolithic Era (7000BC) to the end of Roman rule (395AD).

Archbishop Makarios Cultural Centre houses several libraries, the School of Ecclesiastical Music and the Byzantine Museum (or Icon Museum) containing the largest and most valuable collection of icons in Cyprus.

The Cathedral of Saint John the Theologian, which dates from 1662 and contains beautiful 18th century frescoes.

Southern Coast

Ayia Napa

Ayia Napa is a popular holiday resort with many hotels, nightclubs and cafes. There are beautiful sandy beaches that offer a plethora of water sports and activities. Nissi Beach and Makronissos Beach are two of the most popular spots.

Cape Greco

The rugged coast of Cape Greco with its limestone cliffs is a protected nature reserve. Scuba divers and snorkelers can enjoy the clear water of the neighbouring coves.

Protaras

Protaras is another popular holiday spot with beautiful sandy beaches, hotels, tavernas and cafes. Water sports are plentiful here, too, as well as cruises on one of the local pleasure boats. On the road to Paralimni there is an aquarium where you can see crocodiles, penguins, fish and other marine creatures.

Larnaka

Saint Lazarus Church is located in the southern part of Old Larnaka and was built around 900AD on the site of St Lazarus’s grave. Inside the church on the right side of the central nave is a large gilded reliquary containing the skull of St Lazarus. The crypt houses several stone sarcophagi, one of which supposedly housed the relics of the saint.

Foinikoudes, Larnaka’s seaside promenade is lined not only with palm trees, but also with numerous cafes and restaurants and leads to the marina and beach.

Hala Sultan Tekke is a major Muslim sanctuary situated on the shores of the salt lake in Larnaka, surrounded by cypress, palm and olive trees. It includes an octagonal 1816 mosque and a mausoleum with the tomb of Umm Haram, paternal aunt of the Prophet Mohammed.

Lefkara

Lefkara village, 40 km (25 miles) west of Larnaka, is famous for the lace-making skills of its women. It is said that Leonardo da Vinci went to Lefkara in 1481 to order an altar-cloth for Milan’s cathedral. At the centre of the village is the 16 century Church of the Holy Cross containing a carved and gilded wood iconostasis and a precious sacred relic – a fragment of the true cross on which Christ was crucified.

Lemesos

Lemesos is a major centre of trade, business, and tourism. It has the biggest harbour in the southern part of Cyprus. There is a lovely seaside promenade and many hotels, restaurants, and nightclubs along the beach. Many festivities are celebrated in this vibrant town: there is a carnival in February, a Flower Festival in May, and the famous Wine Festival in September.

Lemesos Castle is at the centre of the Old Town, near the harbour, and was built by the Lusignan princes on foundations erected by the Byzantines. In 1191, the castle chapel was the venue for the wedding of Richard the Lionheart. The Turks later rebuilt the castle as a prison. During World War II it served as British Army headquarters, and today it houses the Medieval Museum.

On the way to Pafos

Kolossi Castle is a medieval castle located 14 km (9 miles) west of Lemesos. The castle was the Commandaria (headquarters) of the Knights Templar in the 12 century. The wine in this area became famous among the Knights and it became synonymous with the Gran Commanderie region. The wine took on the name Commandaria and today it is Cyprus’ traditional wine.

Kourion, located 19 km (12 miles) west of Lemesos, is an archaeological site and an ancient city-kingdom with an impressive Greco-Roman Theatre built in the 2nd century AD. The theatre offers a magnificent view of the Mediterranean Sea, as well as, excellent acoustics for the plays and concerts that take place throughout the summer months.

Troodos Mountains

Kykkos Monastery is the largest monastery in Cyprus situated in the middle of the mountains. The monastery museum contains holy books, embroidered vestments, and beautiful, precious icons, among other important treasures.

Ten of the many Byzantine Churches located in Troodos are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Troodos is a small resort with a few restaurants and souvenir shops. In the summer you can enjoy horse and donkey rides in the surrounding area, as well as, hikes in the marked nature trails.

Platres is the most famous mountain resort in Cyprus. Situated on a steep bank above the Kyros stream, the location and surrounding forests offer an excellent type of weather. Platres is the starting point for walking trails, including “Caledonia” that takes you past the Caledonia waterfall and the restaurant “Psilodendro”.

Omodos is the wine capital of Cyprus and is also known for papilla lace, silver jewellery, honey, and the ring-shaped arkatena bread typical of this village. It is a lovely, traditional village worth visiting. The Timiou Stavrou Monastery (Monastery of the Holy Cross) is located in the centre of the village and contains a carved wooden iconostasis dating from 1813. According to legend, St Helena (mother of Emperor Constantine) left a piece of the rope with which Christ was tied to the cross. This relic is kept in a silver cross-shaped reliquary. In addition, another holy relic, the skull of St Philip, is kept in a silver casket.

West Coast

Pafos has a large concentration of hotels and a well developed tourist infrastructure. It is made up of Pano Pafos (Upper Pafos) and Kato Pafos (Lower Pafos) which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Kato Pafos is an archaeological park with Bronze Age dwellings, royal tombs dating from the Hellenic era, Roman floor mosaics, and Byzantine castles and churches. The ruins were unearthed in 1962, providing new information about Cyprus under the Roman Empire. In ancient times, this area was the capital of Cyprus.

The Medieval Castle is now a museum situated on the Pafos harbour. Its flat roof offers a great view of the town.

Petra tou Romiou (Rock of the Greek), located 25 km (16 miles) east of Pafos, is the legendary birthplace of Aphrodite. There are three huge limestone rocks known collectively as the Rock of Aphrodite. In Greek mythology it was here that Aphrodite, goddess of love, beauty and fertility, emerged from the sea foam. The name Petra tou Romiou also commemorates the legendary Greek hero Digenis Akritas, also known as Romeos. He lived during the Byzantine era and, during an Arab raid by Saracen corsairs, he threw huge boulders into the sea to destroy the Arab ships. The rocks at this spot are said to be the stones thrown by Romeos.

Polis is a town located 35 km (22 miles) north of Pafos. It provides an excellent base from which to explore the Akamas peninsula and the wilderness of Tylliria. Polis is very popular with backpackers and those who enjoy nature trips. A 15-minute walk from the centre of Polis there are some of the most beautiful sand-and-pebble beaches and picturesque villages and churches.

The Baths of Aphrodite, located 8 km (5 miles) west of Polis, is the place where, according to legend, Aphrodite met her lover Adonis, who stopped by the spring to quench his thirst. It is said that bathing in this spot restores youth, but unfortunately people are no longer allowed in the water. There are walking trails around the baths and detailed descriptions of them can be found in the Nature Trails of the Akamas, published by the Cyprus Tourism Organization.

Akamas Peninsula is Cyprus’ last undeveloped and protected region with rugged scenery, sandy coves, clear water and hillsides covered with pine and juniper trees. Steep cliffs line the coast of the peninsula and provide for spectacular views of the sea. This area is inhabited only by wild animals and flocks of goat. The only way to travel around the wild countryside of Akamas is by a four-wheel-drive vehicle or by a cruise along the coast from Latsi.

Occupied North

The northern part of Cyprus has been occupied by the Turks for more than three decades. The so-called Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is only recognized by Turkey. There are no direct flights to Ercan (Tymbou) Airport from anywhere but Turkey and ferries sail only from Turkish ports.

If you want to cross from the south into the north there are some crossing points, all in Lefkosia: a pedestrian-only checkpoint at Ledra Palace and three other vehicle crossing points at Ayios Dometios, Pergamos and Strovilia. You must have your passport with you when you cross over. Authorities will not stamp your passport, but will give you a piece of paper that you need to keep with you for your return cross.

North Lefkosia is the administrative, business, banking and commercial centre of the occupied part of Cyprus.

Here, within the old Venetian walls, you will find Gothic churches turned into mosques, bazaars, Ottoman fountains and baths.

Attaturk Square (or Sarayanou) was the political centre of Lefkosia. The Saray Palace, demolished by the British, was a Gothic Palace of the governor throughout the Frankish, Venetian and Ottoman periods. In the centre of the square, there is a granite column quarried from the temple of Jupiter in Salamis. The square is named after Kemal Attaturk, the great leader born in Salonika, Greece, who changed the Turkish alphabet from Arabic to Latin characters and made Turkey a secular state. The Saray Hotel is a city landmark as is the Ledra Palace Hotel on the Greek side of the checkpoint.

Bouyuk Han (Big Inn) was built by the Turks shortly after the capture of Lefkosia in 1572. It was used as an inn for visiting merchants. Now it is used to house souvenir shops, art galleries, and cafes. There is a small Muslim shrine and prayer hall in the centre of the courtyard with an ablution fountain. Bouyuk Han is also used as a venue for theatrical performances, concerts and exhibitions.

Selimiye Mosque is the former St Sophia Cathedral, erected by Lusignan kings from 1208-1326. It is the oldest and finest example of Gothic architecture in Cyprus. Frankish rulers were crowned here and many Lusignan nobilities and kings were buried here. The marble tombstones constitute part of the floor or are kept in a separate room. The cathedral was turned into a mosque following the capture of Lefkosia by the Turks in 1570.
Kyrenia

The city of Kyrenia was the most picturesque of all Cypriot towns up until July 1974 when its inhabitants were forced out by the invading Turkish troops. Kyrenia was founded by Achaean colonists in the 10th century BC, later to become a city state. But it was not of great importance in the overall political structure of the island until it was fortified by Byzantium. The castle that dates from this time was strengthened and enlarged by the succeeding Lusignan and Venetian rulers.

St Hilarion Castle is named after the saint of the same name, a monastic saint from Palestine who came to Cyprus in search of solitude and died here in 372. Later in the 10th century, the Byzantines built a church and monastery here. The castle was originally built as a watch tower for the approaching Arab raids on Cyprus from the 7th to the 10th centuries. It then became a refuge and summer residence for the Lusignans. Today the ruins of St Hilarion castle are still very impressive and offer the visitor an amazing view of Kyrenia.

Kyrenia Castle is situated on the northeast side of the Kyrenia harbor. The first reference to the castle is in 1191 when Richard the Lionheart, on his way to the Third Crusade, captured it by defeating Isaac Komnenos of Cyprus. The castle was sold first to the Templar Knights and then to Guy de Lusignan who kept it for 300 years. The castle was enlarged between 1209 and 1211 and destroyed during the Genoese raids in 1373. By 1489, the Venetians took control of the island and enlarged the castle with thick walls embracing the tower and the church of St George, built by the Byzantines in 1100. During the British rule, the castle was used as a prison and a police academy.

While visiting the castle, you will see:

• the church of St George
• the remains of an ancient ship dating back to 300 BC
• the Lusignan Tower (northeast)
• the Venetian Tower (southeast), and
• the Dungeons and various other exhibits

Bellapais Abbey (or the Abbey of Peace -- Abbaye de la Paix) is a fine example of Gothic architecture. Construction started at the end of the 12th century when the Augustinian monks were expelled from Jerusalem and the complex was completed in 1359.

With the Ottoman conquest in 1570, the monastery was given to the Greek Orthodox. The church dates from the 13th century. The refectory is the finest room in the monastery with a pulpit, six windows in the north, and a rose window in the eastern wall. The east side contains the chapter house and the work rooms while the rooms for the monks are on the second floor.