Hello beautiful people, and welcome back on the route! 🙂
Last year, early November we escaped the coldish autumn weather of Italy and visited the way warmer island of Cyprus for 14 days 🙂
While on the island, we discovered many funny and curious things about Cyprus, and we found plenty of lovely places to stroll around and have a good relaxing time.
From chill beaches (very quiet as it was November!) to pictoresque seaside towns, to tall mountains, forests and mythological sites too, it was awesome to get to know the Southern-most country of the EU (here we are roughly 800km from mainland Greece, to give you an idea!
In this article, we would love to share with you our favourite 10 places in Cyprus and why we believe they would be interesting to add to any Cyprus itinerary!🙂
Let’s dive right in and start discovering!
What gorgeous places
we found in Cyprus?
1. Oroklini: A Peaceful First Base
on the East Coast of Cyprus
After landing at the Larnaka airport, we spent our first days in Cyprus in an AirBnB in Oroklini (also written “Voroklini” in the local language), a town located just 8 kilometers northeast of Larnaka, on the southeastern side of the island.
With a population of roughly 7,000 residents, it is not one of those places travelers usually place at the top of their wishlist…which is exactly why it surprised us!
Rather than being an attraction-heavy destination, Oroklini worked brilliantly as a base.
It is a place that gives you that small town feeling: little bakery with local delights, short buildings, very few traffic, easy to park everywhere, way less tourists than any other part of the island too!
The beautiful part of Oroklini was surely its long long beach, where we spent couple of days simply laying on the sunbeds. Prices are very cheap compared to mainland Europe, we spent 6 Euro for two sunbeds and an umbrella for a day!
Nearby, there is an area also known as the “Oroklini Lake”, a protected salt lake that seasonally hosts flamingos and migratory birds (and November was the right season, it was definitely something out of the ordinary to see them flying near the apartment blocks!).
If you don’t know where to start your Cyprus journey, we believe Oroklini to be the right place, you’ll love the rhythm of this seaside place: morning cafés, quieter evenings, local restaurants, palm-lined roads, warm weather and that relaxed Mediterranean feeling that you can find from the Southern coast of Spain, to France, Italy, Greece, Turkey and until here! 😄
2. Larnaka: One of Cyprus’
Most Pleasant Urban Surprises!
Only a short drive south from Oroklini lies Larnaka, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Cyprus, and a place with roots going back more than 3,000 years to the ancient city-kingdom of “Kition”, an empire which was once associated with the Phoenicians!
Today, Larnaka has around 130,000 inhabitants in the urban area, making it one of the island’s main cities after just Nicosia (the capital) and Limassol. Yet, despite its size, we felt it very “local” and tiny.
We visited it for half a day, we strolled its long Finikoused promenade by the beach (the name comes from the Greek word for palms – you can see it in the photo above) and the town center filled with a surprising quantity of English pubs!
Cafès, beach, playground, tiny souvenir shops, the promenade was a relaxing half an hour walk (it is not too long!), crowds very few (locals told us that November is the end of the season here!).
At the southernmost edge of the walk, we stumbled upon the Church of Saint Lazarus, a 9th-century Orthodox church linked by tradition to Lazarus of Bethany, who, according to Christian belief, came to Cyprus after being resurrected by Jesus! (Yes, it’s that Lazarus of “stand up and walk, Lazarus!” 😉 ). It’s a very impressive architectonical piece, which we would recommend you visiting if passing here!
All in all, Larnaka can be a great place if you seek for convenience, as its beach is few minutes from the airport while its shops and malls (such Jumbo!) offer really any item you might need for your stay for very cheap! 🙂
Notice: in shoulder seasons, Cyprus enjoys an incredibly comfortable weather compared to mainland Europe. Flights to the island are cheap, and you can find luxury hotels in Larnaca for prices that are half or less, what you might find in full summer. All in all, we believe Cyprus to be an amazing deal during half seasons (we’ve got a 5-star room for a night as a gift to us, and we payed something like 160Euro total for 2 people!).
3. Limassol: The Most Modern
and International Part of Cyprus
After leaving the eastern side of the island, we drove westward for around 70 kilometers from Larnaka, reaching Limassol, Cyprus’ second-largest city and one of its main economic engines.
Note: Despite the road seems “seaside” by watching google maps, in reality there is almost nothing impressive to see on the road, despite the road itself, so our suggestion to get to Limassol is to get the highway and go there as fast as possible! 😉
With an urban population exceeding 180,000 people, from the moment we saw it, Limassol immediately gave us a different impression compared to the calmer rhythm of Oroklini and the softer balance of Larnaka.
Here we found skyscrapers! And well curated gardens too!
Then, we decided to dig a bit in the history of this place to understand it better!
Historically speaking, Limassol has always held strategic importance in Cyprus because of its central southern coastal location, positioned roughly between Larnaka and Paphos.
During the medieval period it gained prominence under the Byzantines, then the Crusaders, then the Venetians, then the Ottomans, then the British (which, if nothing else, tells you that many people considered it worth controlling!).
During the years, Limassol has so evolved into a center often associated with finance (my card provider is from there too!), shipping, real estate and a growing international community.
It feels different than other cities in Cyprus: more modern, more foward-looking, “richer” in a way I might say…
The city’s marina area, modern towers and redevelopment projects create a surprising skyline that gives more Dubai-vibes rather than Mediterranean ones 🙂
This are the things we would recommend you doing in Limassol (1 Days is enough in our opinion!):
- Walk along the Limassol Promenade → long, well-designed seafront, best at sunset!
- Explore the Limassol Marina → big yachts, posh restaurants and modern Dubai-like vibes
- Visit Limassol Castle → linked to Richard the Lionheart (12th century)
- See Kourion (~15 km away) → Greek-Roman ruins + insane sea view 😀
- Relax at Lady’s Mile Beach → easy access beach with generally calm water
4. Venus Rock &
the Aphrodite’s Coast
Continuing westward toward Paphos, we made one of the island’s most iconic stops: the coastal area known as “Petra tou Romiou”, often referred to internationally as “Aphrodite’s Rock” or, more casually, Venus Rock.
Located around 25 km east of Paphos and roughly 65 km from Limassol, this dramatic stretch of coastline is tied to one of the most famous legends of the Mediterranean world: according to ancient mythology in facts, this is where Aphrodite, goddess of love and beauty, emerged from the sea foam.
To visit the rock, there is a free parking space on the left side of the street (coming from the main road), and a bar/souvenir shop. You can simply park your car, and take an underground tunnel (the staircase down is just in front of the shop) to conveniently reach the beach and the rock.
Despite being november, many people were still bathing here, and no wonder as the place looked genuinely gorgeous! 🙂
On the path, there is also a QR code you can scan, and have Aphrodite guiding you there and explaining you the story of her own legend (quite creative way to give soul to the rock! ahah).
All in all, a great stop for spending 3-4 hours by the beach! 🙂
5. Paphos: History, Sea and Chill Vibes
6. Troodos Mountains: The Cyprus
Almost Nobody Expects
After spending time along the coast, we drove inland toward the Troodos Mountains, and this was to me the most epic part of Cyprus by far!
The Troodos range stretches across the central-western part of the island and covers a large section of Cyprus’ interior.
Instead of beaches, palm trees and seaside promenades, you suddenly find winding roads, pine forests, olive and agrume trees, cooler air, stone villages out of times, and landscapes that can feel surprisingly alpine for a Mediterranean island!
The highest peaks of the island are located here, with Mount Olympus being the tallest one (yes, there is a Mount Olympus also here, as there is one in mainland Greece!).
To get to the very top from paphos, it was a roughly 3 hours ride (we didn’t find any traffic, and almost no tourists – except some organised buses of elderly people!).
Personally, I would suggest you to take it easy and make stops along the way as there are so many curious villages and panoramic viewpoints to stop by.
Villages such as Omodos, Kakopetria and Platres are known for traditional houses, churches, mountain food and slower rhythms of life. UNESCO-listed painted churches are scattered through the region, many dating from the Byzantine era 😉🙂
If you want to see something astonishing in Cyprus, the Troodos are jaw-dropping! 🙂
7. The Ski Resort on Mount Olympus – One of the Most Unexpected Sights of the Trip
As we continued climbing the Troodos, we eventually reached the area of Mount Olympus, the highest point in Cyprus at approximately 1,952 meters above sea level, and home to one of the island’s most surprising realities: Cyprus has a ski resort!!!
Who the hell would have thought that? xD
During our visit, it was still without any snow though.
We took a stroll around the facility and, as a snowboard-lover myself, I found it pretty enjoyable to walk the slopes! (it’s a lovely walk in nature!).
As we learned there, the slopes near Mount Olympus open for skiing and snowboarding mostly during January and February, if snow allows it.
The facilities are surely modest compared to the Alps or major European resorts (just two-three tiny slopes!)of course, but that is not the point I guess… what makes them insane is the sheer absurd charm of skiing in Cyprus!
The “resort” (if so you can call it xD) is operated historically by the “Cyprus Ski Club” (again…who would have tought there was something like that xD), and depending on weather, the season can run even till end of March!
We walked to the very top of the highest slope, and thanksfully it was a very clear day and we could even gaze the sea from there… I can only imagine how could would be skiing while seeing the sea in the background ahah 🙂
8. Nicosia: Europe’s Last Divided Capital City
From the mountains, we drove eastward and reached Nicosia, where we rented a place for four days.
First weird thing: on street signs, cartels and everywhere around, the city is called “Lefkosia”, and not Nicosia… apparently Nicosia is just the international name!
And did you know that politically speaking, this town is one of the most unusual capitals in the world?
Located near the center of the island, Nicosia is Cyprus’ capital and largest city, with an urban population of roughly 330,000 people when considering both sides of the divided metropolitan area: yes, because the city is actually split into two very separate parts!
As of today, Nicosia remains the last divided capital city in Europe, separated since the events of 1974, when a Greek-backed coup and subsequent Turkish military intervention led to the partition of the island.
If you open a Google Map, and check Cyprus from the map, you will see that the island is divided into two parts by very long lines.
When you travel there, you will realize that two lines are in facts an UN buffer zone, a very hard barricade often called the Green Line, which still cuts the whole island and the city of Nicosia even today!
We were shocked when we started driving around the island, as the barricade looks like out of a world war movie, it is controlled by cameras, yet quite deserted. In between the two barricades there is this UN military land which depending on where you are, it stretches from few kilometers, for mere meters (like in the heart of Nicosia!).
Luckily, passing from one side of the other is not very complicated, at least in Nicosia: there is a little checkpoint-kyosk for passport check, 5 minutes and you’re on the other side (at least as a tourist!).
On one southern side we felt in Greece (the restaurants sell souvlakis, tsatsiki, pitas…), then when we crossed to the northern side the town reminded us of Ankara or Instanbul in Turkey: tons and tons of counterfeit goods, kebabs, mosques, way cheaper prices, cigarettes half the price!
Both people south and north of the border don’t seem to mind too much, to us they seemed very tolerant and welcoming on both sides!
9. The Turkish Side of Nicosia: One of Europe’s Strangest Urban Experiences
As we LOVE Turkey, we definitely loved North Nicosia!
After crossing the famous checkpoint in Ledra Street, we felt catapulted right in the center of a much older city!
It was a funny shock: currency became the Turkish lira (although euros are also commonly accepted in tourist areas), the shops were selling Turkish delights and Lokum, the language changed, the minarets were chanting, even architecture changed!
We took a 3 hours stroll in the whole city center, and it felt like a flashback to a market in Ankara!
If you plan to eat out, we can definitely recommend to try something here in Northern Nicosia: we’ve got a traditional kebab plate that was humongous, for less than 10 Euros 🙂
10. Girne (Kyrenia) & The Giant Mountain Flag
Another day, we thought of driving north from Nicosia to Girne (known internationally as Kyrenia), one of the most scenic towns on the northern side of Cyprus and located roughly 25 km from the capital!
To get to northern Cyprus, you will need to make a new insurance, as your car insurance won’t likely cover trips to Northern Cyprus. Luckily, you can buy that at the border and it costed 20Euro for a 3 days permit when we were there.
There was a bit of queue at the border crossing (where they check documents of the car and your passports), but in 20 minutes we crossed 🙂
The road itself is memorable, climbing through the Kyrenia mountain range, a narrow but dramatic chain running parallel to the northern coast, is just pure magic!
These mountains create one of the island’s most striking visual backdrops and historically acted as a natural defensive barrier for centuries.
Then comes one of the most impossible-to-ignore sights in Cyprus:
the enormous flag painted into the mountainside, visible from large distances and illuminated at night.
This monument, representing the flag of Northern Cyprus alongside Turkish symbolism, is among the largest hillside flag displays in the world.
Whatever one’s political views, the visual impact is undeniable…it dominates the landscape in a way that feels both surreal and historically loaded!
We decided to drive there, and we found out that the place is not touristic at all, there was barely any foreign/rented car there, we were alone!
Seeing it in person gave a stronger impression than the photo above could ever deliver!
Afterward, we drove to Girne town on the northern coast.
This pictoresque town is known for its charming harbor, castle, cafés and seaside setting, blending history with relaxed Mediterranean atmosphere:)
Extra Fun fact: The port looks very very similar to that of the Italian town of Bisceglie, but apparently was just pure casuality! 🙂
Bonus: Ayia Napa and Protaras!
We said 10 most beautiful places (because “10” sounds good you know! ahah), but we’ve got one more, which we had not time to visit fully as we wanted to!
Ayia Napa is the eastern-most town in southern Cyprus, and a paradise for international travelers looking for clear waters, secluded bays, and organised fun!
To us, there area gave us Mallorca-vibes, with all its restaurants, resorts, and seaside entertainment options 🙂
On the east side of Ayia Napa, there is also one of the most gorgeous natural reservoir of Cyprus (Cape Greco) as well as one of the most clear-water towns we’ve seen in the whole island: Protaras!
The area was incredibly beautiful, and it was a pity we almost ended our days on the island as we would have liked to explore it more, at least 3 – 4 days!
We also noticed that beach hotels in Protaras are extremely convenient for what they offer, and going back, we would have preferred staying here rather than 4 days in Nicosia (one day to visit the capital on both sides would have been fine…).
Conclusions 🙂
And here we are at the end of our Cyprus road trip!
We started in peaceful Oroklini, explored the elegant Larnaka, discovered the modern side of the island in Limassol, stopped where mythology says Aphrodite rose from the sea, enjoyed historic Paphos, crossed into the forests of the Troodos Mountains, found a ski resort where almost nobody expects one, spent 4 days in the divided Nicosia, crossed borders on foot, found a giant mountain symbol, ate a kebab Girne and visited the touristy Ayia Napa and the gorgeous sea of Protaras.
All in all, I would say not bad for an island measuring only around 9,250 km²! 😄
Before going, as always, I would love to ask you:
Which place surprised you the most? 🙂
Did you know Cyprus had mountains and skiing?
Have you been to the island before?
Let us know in the comments below! 😀
Thank you for reading, and see you in the next article! 🙂
Let us know in the comments below! 😀
Hereafter, I will leave you a few articles that you might also be interested in checking out:
Thank you for reading, and see you in the next article!
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