Cyprus is an island that is full of beautiful sights and tourist attractions, though you may not be able to tell from the first glance. This is especially true for those gems hidden under the spooky guise of Northern Cyprus. What should you see in Cyprus? Should you prioritise Southern or Northern Cyprus? Here’s our guide to the best beaches, castles and other tourist attractions in the vast and rich Cyprus.
What to see in Cyprus?
Exploring Cyprus
Getting around Cyprus
Let’s preface the list with a short introduction. You’ll most likely use one of the big cities as your base of operations, and we’d say this is a very valid approach. Cyprus as an island is not actually that large and a drive from Larnaca to Paphos, for instance, is only about 2 hours. The only problem is having to drive through small mountain roads.
We’ve been to Cyprus a couple of times and know that it’s really possible to see a lot in a week. The tourist attractions in Cyprus are scattered across the entire island, though, if we were to pick west or east, we’d say west is probably better. If you only have a limited amount of time, it’s preferable to focus on one part of the island. The best places in Cyprus are also usually not far from motorways, so you should have no problem getting around quickly. The furthest we’ve been is the very end of the Karpas peninsula in northern Cyprus, and even this massive journey was 3.5 hours from Larnaca (to see the wild donkeys, of course! 🙂 ) Also, remember about left-hand traffic in Cyprus!
Without further ado, though, let us get to the list. It’s always an issue with places like Cyprus, as these lists should realistically be three times as long, but we suppressed that urge to squeeze everything in and only picked the 21 must-sees. Enjoy!
Akamas Peninsula
A must-see in Cyprus
North of Paphos, you’ll find one of the most beautiful National Parks in Cyprus. This is the Akamas Peninsula, home to many natural attractions and majestic views. Among others, you’ll find Lara Beach on the west coast, best known for its sea turtles (we wrote about it more in our post on the best beaches in Cyprus). A hiking path leads to the beach from the car park at Toxeftra beach. You can also go to the Avakas Gorge from the same starting point, we’ll come back to this one later. On the eastern side, you’ll find many hiking trails along the coast leading up the hills. From there, you’ll have a beautiful view of the bay and the Blue Lagoon.
There are also private boats and cruise ships on both sides of the peninsula to Lara Beach and the Blue Lagoon.
Flamingos in Cyprus
Wonderful local inhabitants
Cyprus is one of the few places in Europe/Asia where you can see these beautiful birds. They tend to appear on salt lakes between October and March, where they spend the winter. Be careful, as they are very skittish. And it is their home effectively, so don’t scare them away. If you need to film them, do it from a distance. Where else can you find flamingos? You can try the pink lake in Spain.
Kourion Archaeological Site
The best attraction in Cyprus?
The Kourion Archeological Site sometimes doesn’t feature on top lists for Cyprus, and we feel like this is a massive mistake. It’s an amazing place, whether you like history or you’re just there for the incredible views. It’s located near Limassol, within the British Overseas Territory area. You can easily get here by car, as it’s not far from the motorway.
Kourion was once one of the most important towns on the map of Cyprus, but it has declined over the years, mainly due to earthquakes. You can find a Greco-Roman theatre overlooking the Mediterranean Sea (like the one in Taormina), the forum, the ruins of houses with beautiful mosaics, the baths and also a Christian part with the ruins of a cathedral. Here, too, you have views as stunning as this one.
There’s quite a lot to see here and the park is divided into several parts. We recommend visiting the main part with the theatre and the separately ticketed part with the Temple of Apollo.
Centre of Girne, Kyrenia
A town in Northern Cyprus
This is, in our opinion, the second prettiest town in Northern Cyprus. To get there, rent a car in the south or join an organised tour. Keep in mind that not all rental companies accept entry into Northern Cyprus – it’s better to use the offer of a small local rental company.
So what to see in Girne? Of course, the harbour is a must-see. You’ll find plenty of old townhouses, hotels and restaurants. Not far from the harbour is the old Kyrenia castle, built in the 7th century AD by the Byzantines (rebuilt in the 16th century by the Venetians). It was intended to be a part of the fortifications of this part of the coast.
While in Kyrenia, you can also go shopping for various local souvenirs, but beware. It’s not officially legal to bring products from the north to southern Cyprus. Border controls are a bit random, so you may be troubled or you may not.
Also, remember not to break speed limits in Northern Cyprus; there are plenty of speed cameras and you pay all your tickets at departure.
Troodos and Mount Olympus
Mountains in Cyprus
This is a very different Cyprus than the one you know from its beautiful beaches and azure coastlines. The temperatures here are drastically different; so different that you can expect months of snow on the peaks and you can even go skiing here. The highest peak is Mount Olympus, otherwise known as Chionistra. It’s 1,952 metres above sea level. You’ll find many monasteries, churches and temples along the slopes of the mountain. If you want to ski or board, there are 5 lifts on offer.
The average annual temperature here is more than 6 degrees lower than on the rest of the island
Kolossi Castle
Castle in Cyprus
The Kolossi Castle, while perhaps an inconspicuous monument, is associated mostly with one of the oldest wines still being produced in the world. It’s from this place that Commandaria, a sweet wine known since the 12th century, originates. The castle itself was built in 1210 by the Franks. Tickets cost just €2,50. You also have one of the salt lakes nearby where you can see flamingos, so it’s easy to combine the two.
Small towns and villages in Cyprus
Towns in the Troodos area
You’ll find many small charming villages with no crowds and noise of the seaside resorts scattered throughout the mainland, often with only a few dozen people living there. It’s worth driving through the heart of Cyprus, especially around the Troodos area, which includes gems like Lofou, Omodos, Pano Platres and Agros.
St Hilarion Castle – Northern Cyprus
Viewpoint in Cyprus
While on your way to Kyrenia, you should stop by St Hilarion Castle. This hilltop fortress overlooks the bay of Northern Cyprus. Construction of this fortification and monastery began in the 10th century AD. It is, in our opinion, one of the nicest attractions of the whole of Cyprus. This beautiful dilapidated castle was once the summer residence of the Lusignan rulers. It was expanded upon by the Byzantines and the House of Lusignan.
Unfortunately, it was partially taken apart by the Venetians in the 15th century.
Bellapais Monastery – North Cyprus
An attraction in northern Cyprus
This is another beautiful monument in Northern Cyprus, located close to Kyrenia, in the mountains near St Hilarion Castle. It was a place where monks fled from the Holy Land during the crusades. The history of the sites goes as far back as the 7th century AD. After the fall of Jerusalem in 1187, canons of the Holy Sepulchre fled here.
In 1200, a monastery was founded here thanks to Aimery de Lusignan. The site has been destroyed and looted many times over the years of its history, including by the Genoese and the British. Today it is one of the most famous places on the map of Cyprus. There is a restaurant, a café and the main building serves as a venue for cultural events.
The Bellapais Monastery is open from 9 am to 7 pm in the high season. It closes at 5 pm out of season and entry costs 15 TL.
Remember not to speed in North Cyprus, there are plenty of speed cameras – fines must be paid on departure.
Lara Beach
Turtle beach in Cyprus
What else is worth seeing in Cyprus? The aforementioned Lara Beach, where you can spot adorable sea turtles and their babies in the season. Of course, there’s the beach itself too, which is a beautiful blend of golden sand and azure waters. Keep in mind, however, that there are some restrictions here, due to it being a breeding site. No parties, no umbrellas, no sun loungers and no staying till late hours.
Still, nothing’s preventing you from taking a stroll along the coastline. To get to it, you’ll have to take a 1 hour walk from the nearest car park. This makes the Lara beach crowd-free and gives you plenty of beautiful views along the way too.
Karpas Peninsula – Northern Cyprus
Where are the most beautiful beaches in Cyprus?
This is likely the place most untamed by civilisation for most tourists in Cyprus. The peninsula is the easternmost and northernmost part of the island. It takes almost 3 hours to drive from Larnaca to the Apostolos Andreas Monastery. Most of the roads are quite comfortable though, with the exception of the last few miles.
Should you visit the Karpas Peninsula? Oh, certainly. It has, in our humble opinion, some of the prettiest beaches in Cyprus, and they’re usually scarcely populated with tourists at all. There are also the beautiful sights from the monastery itself, the place where St Andrew stopped before his pilgrimage to Palestine.
You can also find wild donkeys here, and you can even feed them. Sometimes that’s not a need but must, because they may randomly block the road. We recommend these three places in the Karpas peninsula:
- St Andrew the Apostle Monastery
- Golden Beach – an incredible beach, close to the monastery. If you’re lucky, you may even spend the beach day with donkeys
- Karpaz National Park
Avakas Gorge
An interesting place in Cyprus
What else is worth seeing in Cyprus? Well, we mentioned this one will come back. Not far from Paphos, on the Akamas peninsula, there’s a unique hiking trail for fans of rocky stuff. The attraction here is these small and tight gorges, often blocked here and there by huge boulders. The route is relatively short, takes about 50 minutes to cross. It’s also relatively easy, so don’t fret. It’s also a great way to hide from the heat due to its humid and cool microclimate down in the gorge.
There you can encounter interesting flora such as: Centaurea akamantis, Pistacia terebinthus and Juniperus phoenicea.
Rock of Aphrodite
Mythology class in Cyprus
The rock itself here is nothing special per se. What’s special about this place is the story behind it. It was here, according to myth, that Aphrodite emerged from the sea. She was born after Cronus mutilated her father, Uranus, by cutting off his testicles. These, then, fell into the waters near this very rock. And yes, this is just one of the readings, as Homer’s Iliad proposed that Aphrodite was the daughter of Zeus and Dione.
Pano Lefkara
A charming town in Cyprus
This small town, located close to Larnaca, is best known for its handicrafts and the very pretty little centre. This is where some of the most famous lace, tablecloths, scarves and towels in Cyprus come from. Old ladies on the streets knit their masterpieces, which you can then buy from them in their shops. Do make sure that you’re buying legit ones, as there are some fakes too. Lefkara is also known for its jewellery and silverware. We wrote about these handicrafts in our post about the best things to buy in Cyprus.
It’s also just a great place for a stroll to admire the beautiful views of the nearby hills and white towns.
Cape Greco
East of Cyprus
This is the easternmost point of Southern Cyprus and the EU (excluding Northern Cyprus). It’s a beautiful region, perfect for relaxing hikes. It’s also close to places such as Protaras and Ayia Napa. According to legend, the sea monster of Ayia Napa lives nearby; the local fishermen call it Filiko Teras, meaning: a friendly creature. They say it has never caused anyone any harm, hence why the name. Some people also link it to Scylla from Greek mythology.
City centre of Paphos
What to see in Cyprus?
We’ve already covered Paphos before, in our article about what to do in Paphos.
To describe it briefly, though, the centre of Paphos is divided into two parts: one newer and one older. One is by the promenades, where the life of this city is most vibrant. It’s full of restaurants, hotels and other various commodities. Among the most important sites in Paphos are: the Paphos Archeological Park, the Tombs of the Kings, the wrecks of MV Demetrios II and Edro III and the nearby beaches.
Limassol city centre
Second largest city of Cyprus
The Limassol coastline is more reminiscent of Miami than a small port town at this point. It’s full of restaurants, hotels and clubs. You can find the Kolossi castle there, the flamingos on the nearby salt lake, Limassol’s marina and its castle. It’s the second largest city in Cyprus, with a history dating back to ancient Greece.
Some of the graves discovered at the site date back to 2,000 years BC.
Check out our list of the best things to do in Limassol.
Nissi beach
The iconic beach of Cyprus
A strong contender for the spot of the most popular beach in Cyprus, which means that it is usually very crowded. It’s located near Ayia Napa. We really don’t like crowdedness like this, but we have to admit that the beach itself is very pretty and the mini-island in the middle adds a lot of charm to it. The beach is free, like every other beach in Cyprus, but the sun loungers and drinks in the nearby bars will cost you.
The ghost city of Famagusta – Northern Cyprus
The most beautiful city in Cyprus
What to see in Northern Cyprus? Famagusta is, for us, the prettiest city in Northern Cyprus, if not the whole island. We wouldn’t recommend staying there per se, but it’s certainly a must-see if you’re entertaining the idea of Northern Cyprus. The centre here is packed with ruins of old cathedrals, churches, mosques and castles. The city is still surrounded by walls and its streets resemble a mixture of a Caribbean pirate town and an Italian village. On top of all this, you have the district of Varosha nearby as well. It’s an off-limits part of the city that basically stopped in time in the 1970s, during the Turkish invasion. You can read more about the Famagusta attractions here.
For a brief, though, here are the best sites in Famagusta:
- The Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque
- the Palazzo del Provveditore
- the Church of St Peter and St Paul
- the harbour quarter
- centre itself
- Varosha
Nicosia city centre
The capital of Cyprus
Nicosia is the only capital city in the world literally torn in half by two hostile ‘countries’. If we can call it that, given that international law does not recognise the Turkish part as anything more than occupation. The old centre of Nicosia is split in two with barbed wire, but you can still explore both on foot, you just need an identification of some kind to get through.
Nicosia is the largest city in Cyprus and has been inhabited since 2500 BC. The Cyprus Museum, the Venetian ruins, the Büyük Han, the Selimiye Mosque (St Sophia’s Church), the Leventis Municipal Museum, the Cathedral of St John the Theologian are all worth a visit.
Old centre of Larnaca
City in the east of Cyprus
Another large city, this time on the east coast of Cyprus. Larnaca is also full of various things to do, as we’ve written about before. You can take a walk along the coast, visit the Larnaca Castle, the local mosque or the beautiful church. Larnaca is also home to a salt lake with flamingos and the famous Hala Sultan Tekke.
Today the centre is full of life and good restaurants. A good starting point for exploring the eastern part of the island – including Northern Cyprus.
Map of tourist attractions in Cyprus
What to see in Cyprus?
1) Paphos
2) Lara Beach
3) Avakas Gorge
4) Akamas Peninsula , Aphrodite’s Baths
5) Blue Lagoon
6) Limassol Salt Lake (flamingos)
7) Kolossi Castle
8) Aphrodite’s Rock
9) Limassol
10) Salt Lake Larnaca (flamingos)
11) Larnaca
12) Nicosia
13) Mount Olympus – Troodos
14) Lefkara
15) Girne/Kyrenia
16) Famagusta/Magusa
17) Ghost City – Varosha
18) Nissi Beach
19) Cape Greco
20) Karpaz Peninsula
21) Golden Beach
22) St. Hilarion Castle
23) Bellapais Monastery
See also:
