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10 Top Tourist Attractions in Cyprus

By Fiona Fiorentino · Last updated on October 3, 2023

The easternmost island in the Mediterranean Sea, Cyprus is an independent nation with a long and colorful past. Legend has it that Cyprus was the birthplace of Aphrodite, and it’s easy to understand why the ancients chose this appealing island to worship the Greek goddess of love. With its mild climate, beautiful beaches, forested mountains and lush green valleys, Cyprus is the ideal destination for a romantic holiday.

Lovers of history will be enchanted by the ancient attractions in Cyprus as well. The isle is peppered with archeological sites, ruins and remnants of past empires, conquerors and civilizations. Mouth-watering cuisine, a modern infrastructure and a welcoming populace make a vacation in Cyprus a pleasurable experience for any traveler.

10. Kourion [SEE MAP]

Scholars believe that the ancient city of Kourion was founded around the 13th century B.C., but it’s the 5th-century Greco-Roman ruins that most attract visitors to the archeological site near the city of Limassol. Perched on a hill overlooking Episkopi Bay, the tumbled homes, temples and public buildings of the Kourion complex make it easy to imagine what life was like on Cyprus two thousand years ago. Standout sites include the remains of Roman baths, an open Agoura, a temple to Apollo and an amphitheater where classical plays are still performed today.

9. Kolossi Castle [SEE MAP]

Situated near the southern tip of Cyprus, Kolossi Castle is a three-story keep built as a military fortress for the Crusaders of the High Middle Ages. From the 13th to 15th century, the fortress was controlled by the Hospitallers known as the Knights of St. John and was later taken by their rivals, the Knights Templar. While not much remains of the original complex beyond the sturdy stone walls of the keep, a spiral staircase leads visitors to the roof-top battlements for breathtaking views of the vineyard-covered peninsula and blue Mediterranean Sea.

8. Omodos Village [SEE MAP]

Located in the Troodos Mountains near the city of Nicosia, Omodos Village is the premier destination for wine aficionados in Cyprus. Wine-tasting stalls offer samples of local varietals like Mavro and Xynisteri, and restaurants and bars serve traditional fare. With its cobbled streets, stone houses and lush gardens, Omodos is well worth visiting for its beauty and charm as well. The town’s 17th-century monastery is home to several museums, including an icon museum that features extraordinary wood carvings as well as an extensive collection of icons.

7. Zenobia Wreck Diving [SEE MAP]

In 1980, the Swedish ferry Zenobia began listing to port during her maiden voyage off the coast of Cyprus, eventually capsizing outside Larnaca Harbor. The ship sank slowly, coming to rest on her port side in one piece. Today, the wreck of the Zenobia is ranked as one of the world’s best diving sites. Easy accessibility, mild currents and temperate water temperatures bring around 45,000 divers to the wreck each year. Although the ship’s many intact rooms are open for exploration, inexperienced divers are encouraged to confine their dive to the outside of the ship where they can view sea life from groupers to barracudas.

6. Tomb of the Kings [SEE MAP]

The Tombs of the Kings near Paphos is a large necropolis dating back to the 4th century BC. The tombs are carved out of the solid rock and decorated with Doric columns. Despite the name there is no evidence of any royalty buried here. Instead the site was the final resting place of Ptolemaic aristocrats and high officials. The tombs are unique in Cyprus, being heavily influenced by ancient Egyptian tradition, when it was believed that tombs for the dead should resemble houses for the living. The 7 excavated tombs are scattered over a wide area. The most impressive is No 3, which has an open atrium below ground level, surrounded by columns.

5. Nissi Beach [SEE MAP]

The most popular of the many beaches that grace the shores of the resort city of Ayia Napa, Nissi is best known for its lively beach party scene. Young people flock to its powder-white sands to sip libations at the famous Nissi Bay Beach bar where DJs play music day and night. Like all the beaches in Ayia Napa, there’s a water sports center in Nissi where visitors can enjoy everything from paragliding and windsurfing to water-skiing and pedal boating. Shallow crystal-clear water makes Nissi Beach perfect for wading and swimming as well. The beach takes its name from the small islet located close to the coast. The uninhabited island can be easily reached on foot through the shallow waters and provides good shelter.

4. St. Hilarion Castle [SEE MAP]

Spread over the top of a rocky crag near the city of Girne off the northern coast of Cyprus, St. Hilarion Castle is the best preserved of the island’s 11th-century fortifications. Originally a monastery, the fortress gets its name from a local ascetic and hermit known as Hilarion, who attracted a group of devout followers during the 4th century. A 20-minute hike from Girne takes visitors up past the castle’s stables and soldiers’ quarters to the royal residence and church. A restored staircase leads to a hilltop guard tower where visitors can enjoy a panoramic vista of the mountains, valleys and shoreline.

3. Agios Lazaros Church [SEE MAP]

Situated in the town center of the southern city of Larnaca, the Church of Saint Lazarus is a 9th-century monument to the man that Christians believe Jesus raised from the dead. According to tradition, Lazarus fled to Cyprus to escape persecution and served as the city’s first bishop for thirty years. Built over Lazarus’ second tomb, the Byzantine church was refurbished in the Baroque style during the 1800s with Greek Orthodox ornamentation. Although the tomb now stands empty, renovations made after a fire occurred in 1970 found relics of the saint in a marble sarcophagus located under the altar.

2. Kykkos Monastery [SEE MAP]

Nestled in the hills west of the inland city of Pedoulas stands the Kykkos Monastery, a gorgeous Byzantine complex founded in the late 11th century. While all of the original structures were destroyed by fire, a no-expense-spared renovation begun in 1831 restoring the monastery to its original glory. Each building, particularly the chapel, is heavily ornamented in the Greek Orthodox style with murals lining the walls, indoors and out. The most prized artifact in the wealthiest monastery in Cyprus is a portrait of the Virgin Mary believed to have been painted by St. Luke.

1. Paphos Archaeological Park [SEE MAP]

With artifacts dating back to the Prehistoric Era, the Kato Paphos Archaeological Park located in the southwestern city of Paphos is an archeological treasure trove of ancient monuments, villas and underground tombs. The most impressive sites include Roman villas built around the 3rd century A.D. The ancient homes are named after their preserved mosaic floors, which feature pictorial narratives of Greek and Roman mythology. Nearby in the Agora is the Odeion, a recently restored 2nd-century theater. With its granite columns, thick walls and corner towers, the Saranta Kolones fortress constructed in the 7th century is worth a visit as well.

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Reader interactions.

August 22, 2016 at 2:26 pm

The shipwreck looks like it would be really cool to explore. I love all of the historical aspects of Cyprus, and it sounds like there’s a lot to explore. Thanks for sharing the tips!

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The best things to do in Cyprus: sun, sand and ancient civilizations

Nov 17, 2021 • 7 min read

Cyprus is beaches, walking, history and more © wundervisuals / Getty Images

Cyprus is a small island with a huge amount of fabulous things to do. The appeal includes several millennia of history — including some of the most incredible ancient sites in the Mediterranean – spectacular beaches, bounteous platters of superb food and much, much more. 

The island's bifurcated cultures uneasily coexist yet they’re unified by a welcoming tradition of hospitality that will have you looking for ways to delay your departure. It's easy to visit both the Greek Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus via the seven border crossings linking the two halves of the island.

Travelers from many countries can visit both north and south without a visa , opening up a fascinating journey through both Greek and Turkish culture. Here are the best things to do in Cyprus.

Cross the line

The UN-administered Green Line has split Cyprus in two since 1974. Most people head for the Republic in the south, ignoring the comparatively less-visited Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, with its natural beauty, ancient ruins, rich culture and Turkish accent.

Among the unmissable surprises in the North, make time for historic Famagusta (Gazimağusa) , which hides Gothic beauty behind its Venetian-era walls, and the Karpas Peninsula, with its wild beaches stalked by wilder donkeys. If time is short, hop over the border on foot to explore North Nicosia (Lefkoşa) , where each twisted alley leads to another architectural treasure.

Find the perfect Mediterranean package in Pafos

Is Pafos the best all-around city in Cyprus? That's for you to decide, but we love its beguiling seafront strip of excellent cafes and beaches, and its backstreets lined with medieval buildings and mysterious chapels. For many, the top sight is the collection of Roman mosaics in Pafos' sprawling shorefront archeological site , but make time for the colonial district with its excellent museums, and the brilliant diving offshore. Maximize your time for fun and fly into Pafos’ international airport, saving yourself a drive from Larnaka — you’re going to need every spare minute in Pafos.

Discover Cyprus' national parks

The national parks of Cyprus cater to every taste, from family-friendly expanses perfect for picnics – complete with playgrounds and mountain views – to vast, remote retreats in the hills. Reserves such as Cape Greco National Forest Park and Troödos National Forest Park do a great job of preserving the island’s natural beauty; come to stretch your legs and explore pine forests, wildflower-blanketed meadows, craggy limestone cliffs, isolated beach and even snowy peaks. You can swim and ski all in one day!

Feast on more meze dishes than you can count

Meze is short for mezedes (“little delicacies”), a Cypriot food tradition that’s as much Turkish as it is Greek. And there's no better way to unify the island’s cultures than through a seemingly ceaseless cavalcade of small plates of Cyprus delicacies, hot and cold, savory and sweet, freshly made and preserved.

Get a group together and don’t stop the culinary assault until you’re at least 10 dishes past the point you lost count. Best of all, there’re plenty of excellent local wines to lubricate the feast. Start the sampling at Zanettos Taverna in Nicosia (Lefkosia), which has been cooking up a storm since 1938.

Dive the Zenobia

Considered one of the very best wreck dives in the world, the Zenobia was a Swedish-built freighter that went down off Larnaka in 1980. Today, a jumbled cargo of trucks spills out of its broken holds like an aquatic scrapyard. Local dive operators arrange trips for people of all skill levels. You can explore the decks of the ship and revel in the teaming marine life attracted to this unplanned artificial reef.

Tour the Byzantine churches of the Troödos

“Bright” doesn’t suffice to describe the colors splashed over the interior walls and ceilings of these outwardly unremarkable-looking churches dropped into clefts in the Troödos Mountains. From the 11th to the 16th centuries, countless artisans transformed the interiors of these stone chapels into works of art that are rightfully listed as Unesco World Heritage sites. Once you enter Panagia Forviotissa chapel – or any of the other late- and post-Byzantine chapels nearby – give yourself extra time to savor the vibrant details.

Have a therapeutic pounding at Büyük Hamam

In the medieval Iplik Bazar–Korkut Effendi quarter of North Nicosia, look for the tiny ornate door set 2m below street level that leads to this traditional Turkish bathhouse . Originally part of the 14th-century Church of St George of the Latins, this cultural relic provides the full soak-and-scrub experience, from a rough exfoliation with black soap to a pounding massage. For the complete treatment, come during the early evening most days when “touristic services” are offered.

Find solace in the Sanctuary of Aphrodite

Cyprus is packed with sites related to the ancient Greek goddess of love, passion and plenty of other pleasures. Yet somehow, one of the most significant places linked to the island’s patron goddess is also one of the least visited. Credit to Unesco for making these handsome Greek and Roman ruins a World Heritage Site. An interesting museum gives context for the treasures while walkways around the site have splendid seashore views.

Stroll around Kyrenia’s historic harbor

A cauldron of history, the old harbor in the heart of Kyrenia (Girne) has a little bit of history from every era, including a looming castle with relics from the Romans, Ottomans, even Richard the Lionheart. Toss in the disheveled remains of a 16th-century church, a centuries-old mosque, abandoned stone warehouses subsiding into oblivion plus the inevitable Greek and Roman ruins and you have a heady — and unrestored — mix of the island’s legacies.

Join the coffee debate

Turkish coffee or Greek coffee? Debating the differences between these two cups – both central to the cultures of their respective portions of Cyprus – may divide more than it unites, but lucky you getting to do the research to form your own conclusion. Compare these strong little cups brewed from finely ground beans in the stylish cafes of Nicosia (Lefkosia) and the humbler backstreet stalls in North Nicosia (Lefkoşa).

Marvel at the mosaics at Pafos Archaeological Site

The archeologists have their work cut out for them at the sprawling Pafos Archaeological Site , given that all the magnificence on display is but a fraction of what is thought to still be under the ground, waiting to be uncovered. The Romans loved their mosaics, and the examples in this ancient city from the 4th century BCE are superb even by their high standards. Wander amidst reconstructed arches, outcroppings of wild sage and impossibly huge blocks of marble and let loose with your inner toga.

Party on the beach

Protaras at the east end of the Republic is the anchor for a string of beaches that erupt with joyful crowds and pleasure all summer long. Here you don’t decry the mobs, you join them for fun, both in and out of the water, all day and all night long. One of the best options here, Fig Tree Bay has a small sand island just offshore and a staggering assortment of clubs, bars, watersports rental shacks and much more inland.

Windsurf Cyprus' wind-buffed coves

Windsurfers of all skill levels can find ideal conditions at some point along the island’s filigreed coast. Beginners can take lessons and learn the ropes in the sheltered waters of Pissouri Bay, between Lemesos (Limassol) and Pafos on the southwest coast. Those who’ve mastered their boards can battle the blows at world-class sites like Lady’s Mile Beach on the Akrotiri Peninsula.

Get lost in Ancient Salamis

Littered with the detritus of great civilizations from the ancient Greeks to the Byzantine empire, with Assyrians, Romans and a few others in between, the grand archaeological site of Ancient Salamis is one of the glories of Cyprus. Stake out a seat in the large amphitheater and ponder the passing of one of the ancient world’s great city-states, then lose yourself on the paths that wander through these spectacular seaside ruins.

Wander Cyprus' wine-tasting villages

The sun-drenched, south-facing slopes of the Omodos region form the heartland of Cypriot wine culture. Grapes have been grown here for centuries and every farmhouse is said to have old wine-making tools in its cellar (check out the collection at Socrates Traditional House ). Today, more than 50 wineries operate in these tiny hillside villages and the region is known for its bold Shirazes and cabernets as well as some pleasing dry whites. Touring and tasting in these splendid surroundings makes for a fine afternoon.

You may also like: The best places to visit in Cyprus: from Aphrodite's rock to Adonis' bath See a different side to Cyprus on these stunning hikes The 8 most beautiful beaches in Cyprus for wildlife, swimming, and partying

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14 Best Things to Do in Cyprus

Written by Jess Lee Jul 21, 2022

The island of Cyprus is a summer hot spot and one of the Mediterranean's best places to visit for easygoing beach vacations. If you're looking for things to do beyond the sand, though, Cyprus offers plenty of opportunities.

Whether you want to dive, hike, paraglide, or bike, Cyprus provides plenty of scope for more active travelers, while the wide variety of boat tours available at coastal resort towns such as Paphos combine scenic sightseeing as you skim the coast, with swimming and sunbathing.

Check out what to add to your itinerary with our list of the top things to do in Cyprus.

1. Hit the Beach in the Ammochostos Region

2. dive larnaca's zenobia wreck, 3. tandem paraglide at kyrenia (girne), 4. hike in the troodos mountains, 5. cast off on a boat from paphos, 6. road trip to the historic ruins of north cyprus, 7. explore the caves of cape greco, 8. turtle watch at alagadı beach, 9. feast on meze at a taverna, 10. get active on the water at pissouri bay, 11. bike the limassol to pano platres route, 12. watch an ancient greek drama in the theater of kourion, 13. hike or mountain bike the akamas peninsula, 14. ski on mt. olympus, map of things to do in cyprus.

For most visitors, Cyprus is all about the beach.

There are plentiful beaches surrounding all the coastal towns, but the Ammochostos Region, which covers Agia Napa and the coast east from town, is where you'll find some of the best sandy beaches in Cyprus , noted for their clear, calm water and white sand.

Just three kilometers from Agia Napa town, the island's most famous strip of sand is Nissi Beach, with its curve of soft, white sand lapped by shallow, turquoise water and a sandbar trailing out to the rock of Nissi Island just offshore.

Heading east from Agia Napa are the beaches of Protaras and Paralimni, including family favorite Fig Tree Bay right in Protaras town and the sheltered cove of Konnas Beach, backed by a dramatic sheer cliff at the northern end of Cape Greco.

The most popular thing to do for underwater enthusiasts in Cyprus is dive the Zenobia wreck, one of the world's top 10 wreck dives .

Sunk in 1980, this shipwreck lies just off the coast in Larnaca Bay and is one of the top things to do in Larnaca .

Experienced divers can enter the innards of the ship to explore the car decks and engine room, but even beginner divers can dive the site to see the exterior starboard side of the ship.

Dive companies across the island run trips here (not just the dive operators in Larnaca), so even if you're based in Paphos or Protaras, it's easy to arrange a Zenobia dive trip.

Anyone who enjoys both a good view and the buzz of an adrenaline rush shouldn't miss the chance to tandem paraglide in Cyprus.

There are only a few operators on the island, but the best experience, which makes the most of the dramatic aerial panoramas, is Highline Tandem based in Kyrenia (Girne) in northern Cyprus.

The paragliding ride offers views that extend across the island's densely forested inland mountain spine and over the flat sweep of northern coastal plateau, out to the Mediterranean beyond.

Visitors holidaying in the Republic of Cyprus can easily make a day trip to Kyrenia to tandem paraglide here.

Official site: http://www.highlineparagliding.com/

North of Limassol, the Troodos Mountains region is the island's best day-hiking destination, with a series of way-marked trails threading across dense pine-tree-forested mountain slopes to scenic viewpoints with soaring views across the hills below, and down into deep, shady valleys.

Many of the trails are perfectly suitable to casual walkers, with the mostly flat route of the seven-kilometer Artemis Trail , which loops around the slopes of Mt. Olympus, a particularly good choice.

The short (and steep in parts) three-kilometer-long Caledonia Trail , which leads to the Caledonia waterfall, is another good choice for visitors who want a taste of this region's natural landscapes.

In and around the village of Troodos, located right in the heart of the region, is the starting point for most of the trails here.

Heading out on the sea for a sightseeing day cruise along the coast, is a major activity for visitors to all the island's resort towns. But it's one of the top things to do in Paphos , on the island's western coast, which also offers the most variety of boat tour operators.

From Paphos harbor, a typical boat tour cruises north up the coast and is all about an easygoing day or half-day of soaking up the sun while admiring the coastal views, with swimming stops at Coral Bay's beach included.

Make sure to check out what style of boat tour is being offered. Some are set up as party boats, so won't be to every traveler's taste. Others include extra stops for kayaking and swimming, usually around the area of sea caves near Paphos. These are great for people who want more than a relaxing day onboard.

Paphos Sea Cruises offers a wide range of different boating tours.

For a cruise centered round spotting sea life, head out on an Atlantis Turtle Watching Cruise, which runs shorter (two-hour) cruises on a boat with underwater-viewing windows, so that you can spy the Cypriot coast's endemic green turtles. There's also a stop for swimming on this tour.

Almost all the tours include lunch in the price.

The northern slopes and hills of the Kyrenia Mountain Range, which scythes through north Cyprus, are home to a handful of the island's most picturesque historic ruins.

Start off bright and early on a road trip and, even from the Republic of Cyprus, you can squeeze in the fairy-tale towers and ramparts of St. Hilarion Castle, the Gothic arches of Bellapais Abbey, and the high eyrie of Buffavento Castle all in one day.

Head to St. Hilarion Castle first, as this is northern Cyprus' major sight and attracts busloads of tour groups. If you can get here at the 8am opening time, you'll manage to escape most of the crowds.

It would make sense to visit Bellapais Abbey next, as it's only 16 kilometers east using the shortest minor mountain road (and 25 kilometers using the main highway), except that Bellapais is the north's second most popular historic tourist attraction, and by the time you've finished exploring St. Hilarion (bank on two hours) it will probably be busy with fellow visitors.

To miss the crowds, instead take the Beşparmak Pass east for 25 winding kilometers to the remnants of Buffavento Castle, with its sprawling views across the plains below.

After Buffavento, retrace your way west to Bellapais to visit this hillside village in the soft afternoon light. First take a wander through the steep cobblestone alleys, which twist up the slope, and then explore the medieval Augustine abbey below, with its Gothic arched, 14th-century cloister; 13th-century church; and views of the Mediterranean from the roof.

The rocky headland of Cape Greco is a national park and a haven for nature lovers, with turtles often spotted in the surrounding sea and raptors such as honey buzzards and common kestrels regularly soaring in the skies above.

Hire a kayak at Konnos Beach, located at the cape's northern entrance point, and explore the cape from the sea with its dramatic natural arches and caves.

High above, a series of nature trails threads across the headland leading to natural rock arches, lookout points with Mediterranean views, and steep trails down to the sea caves below for those who need to cool off with a swim mid-point on a hike.

From approximately late May to early September, sea turtles head to the sand of Alagadı Beach in northern Cyprus to nest.

Organized small-group tours to watch the sea turtles are run throughout the summer by the Society for the Protection of Turtles, which runs the Alagadı Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Center on the beach.

All night tour visits need to be pre-booked through the society's website, as tour numbers are capped at 17 people per tour. This is a great nature introduction for older kids and anyone interested in conservation.

You'll need your own transport to get to the beach, so this is an excellent add-on to a self-drive itinerary in northern Cyprus.

Alagadı Beach is 19 kilometers east of Kyrenia (Girne) and 40 kilometers northeast from central North Nicosia.

Cypriot cuisine is full of the fresh flavors of the Mediterranean, with major influences from both Greece and Turkey, as well as the Arab world. The best way to sample it is to feast on meze (small-plate dishes made for sharing).

A meze spread generally consists of around 30 small dishes, starting with dips such as hummus and tzatziki, olives, grilled halloumi, and salads before moving on to the dishes of hot meats and seasonal vegetables.

In the Republic, many Cypriot tavernas (traditional restaurants) specialize in meze spreads, while others serve a meze spread option and an a la carte menu.

Some Cypriot specialities you may see on a meze spread include snails served on bulgur wheat and stuffed vine leaves baked in a tomato stew.

Pissouri Bay, 37 kilometers west of Limassol, is the active vacationer's beach choice thanks to it being one of the best places to visit in Cyprus for water sports .

There are several water sports operators on the beach, all offering equipment rental for windsurfing, as well as Jet Ski and kayak hire.

The beach here is particularly noted for its great windsurfing conditions thanks to strong winds that provide plenty of opportunities for intermediate and advanced windsurfers to practice jumps and tricks.

For travelers with children in tow, there's plenty to keep them active in the water, too, with inflatable rides and pedal boats for hire.

Road biking is a popular sport in Cyprus, and plenty of active independent cyclists tour the island.

In the Republic, the Limassol to Pano Platres is one of the most popular bike touring routes , taking you from the coast, into the heart of the Troodos Mountains.

Biking this route allows you a good snapshot of the island's natural beauty, traveling from the Mediterranean shorefront and city bustle of Limassol , up through the traditional villages that speckle the rolling hills and then into the forested Troodos Mountains.

The route is 69 kilometers in total and is fully on asphalt-surfaced roads. There is a lot of uphill, though, as you're beginning at sea level and ending at 1,200 meters.

Every July, the theater of Ancient Kourion and the ancient odeon in Paphos play host to a series of Classical Greek dramas as part of the Republic's annual International Festival of Greek Drama.

Several different plays hailing from the Classical Greek period, or based on the original dramas, are performed throughout the month by both Cypriot and international theater troupes. As the plays are performed in Greek, the staging has English subtitles.

This is a great opportunity to see a piece of theater in the place it was meant to be performed in.

The festival's website provides all information on program details for the year and ticket booking for the individual plays.

Official site: https://www.greekdramafest.com/

The headland of the Akamas Peninsula, 38 kilometers north of Paphos, is a national park with a scatter of ruins and nature beaches joined by winding hiking and mountain biking trails that thread across the hills.

Pack your swimsuits, as there are opportunities to cool off after your hike with a swim at a wild beach.

The most popular trail is the seven-kilometer loop of the Aphrodite Trail, which summits the headlands highpoint ( 370 meters ) for great vistas across the rugged, scrub-covered hills below and the Mediterranean beyond.

If you want to mountain bike in the national park, there are plenty of bike rental shops in Polis, the nearest town to the national park.

Cyprus may not automatically jump to mind when talking about winter sports, but during the colder months, it snows in the higher altitude regions, and Mt Olympus in the Troodos Mountains is home to the island's only ski resort.

The ski center has a ski equipment rental shop, a couple of restaurants, and a ski school on-site, while four ski lifts transport skiers up to the pistes, with a range of slopes suitable for beginners through to advanced skies.

Many locals day trip from the coast (or Nicosia ) for a day of skiing, as the ski center is only 46 kilometers north of Limassol. For more time on the slopes, the village of Troodos is only two kilometers from the ski center.

It's usually a short ski season, with the center usually open from late December to mid-February.

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