10 things everyone should do at least once on holiday in Cyprus

Last updated on May 19th, 2026 at 12:46 am

These 10 top things to do in Cyprus should be on your radar – and on your Cyprus bucket list! They cover all of Cyprus so you would need to go to both the north and south to do them all, but don’t worry – its all do-able!

First a few important links to use when you plan your trip. They are affiliate links, but I use them all for my travels and if you do too it will help me keep producing this content. Cheers!

Plan for your trip

Flights – use skyscanner or booking.com to find and book your flight – I often find the same flight for a lot cheaper than booking direct with the airline!

Insurance – Use EKTA or SafetyWing. TBH I usually use EKTA – they accept any nationality, any age and its ok if you are already traveling – which is perfect for me!

Accommodation – use booking.com or for a hostel – Hostelworld. I use both.

Internet – buy a yesim eSim or Airalo before you go. I use both depending on where I am going.

Buses, trains, ferries – 12Go is always my first option for buses, ferries and trains

Car rental – use DiscoverCars – they are my ‘go-to’ car rental site

Hiking – I use AllTrails for online and offline hiking trails – it means you know exactly where you are on the trail and makes getting lost a lot harder!!

Tours and Activities – book with Viator, GetYourGuide, or Eatwith . My top picks for you are:

Thanks so much if you use one of these links – it costs you nothing but helps me keep writing!

1. Head to the beach and get into that totally unreal crystal clear water!

The clarity of the water is crazy amazing! You can see for miles!
Chances are the beach is a big reason you’re here anyway, and so of course it is the no 1 in my top things to do in Cyprus list! But make sure you bring your goggles and check the water clarity out!

A great place to try is the Musan Underwater Sculpture Museum near Ayia Napa! It is an underwater forest, with over 93 artworks by Jason de Caires Taylor – some are trees, and others are more abstract. Whatever – it is cool! You need to be a reasonable swimmer to do this though.

Diving is a great option in Cyprus too with one of the top ten wreck dives in Europe – or the world – the Zenobia Wreck. Zenobia sank on 7th June 1980 with over 100 vehicles and lorries onboard. She is at a depth of between 19m and 42m and you can dive the Wreck or snorkel the wreck.

Top pick for snorkeling is at the Musan Underwater Sculpture Park near Ayia Napa and Nissi Beach. You need to be an okay swimmer and the 93 sculptures are at about 10 meters but the water is so clear so….go for it. You can dive the Underwater Sculpture Park and get in amongst the sculptures too!

probably-the-best-thing-to-do-in-ayia-napa-and-protaras-is-go-to-nissi-beach-with-its-crystal-waters-and-fine-sand — Top spot in Ayia Napa and Protaras – Nissi Beach – taken from Nissi island

2. Visit a monastery in the Troodos Mountains

There are plenty of monasteries in Cyprus, but the Troodos Mountains is the place to go see at least one of them! The Trooditissa Monastery, Timios Stavros Monastery, Stavrovouni Monastery, Monastery of Saint John Lampadistes, Chrysoroyiatissa Monastery,…….. the list goes on. (See a brief summary of the monasteries here.)

But if you are going to choose just one – I recommend the Kykkos Monastery. It has a stunning church, beautiful frescoes around all its courtyard walls, and is in a wonderful location. And it is just a few minutes from another incredible site. That is, the tomb of the first President of Cyprus, Archbishop Makarios III.

The Archbishop asked to be buried here on top of Throni Hill. But Cyprus went all out to create an amazing walkway to his tomb, as well as an utterly impressive mausoleum. Armed guards stand by his tomb and the views are astounding. It really has to be seen to be believed. Pictures do not do it justice.

If you don’t have a car – or want to drive the mountainous roads yourself, take a tour. See Kykkos monastery and villages from Paphos, or this one from Limassol does the same. There are plenty of options so take a look on Viator or on GetYourGuide.

seeing-this-kykkos-monastery-and-the-tomb-of-archbishop-makarios-iii-are-two-of-the-top-things-to-do-in-cyprus — Kykkos Monastery and the tomb of Archbishop Makarios III – the first President of Cyprus

3. Climb up St Hilarion for the spectacular views

If you have come to the south (by far the most likely), then absolutely make the effort and head to the north for this! You can do a day trip, but whatever you do – don’t miss it!

The Kyrenia Mountains have three medieval castles perched on top of the high points of these rocky mountains. The views from each castle are to die for!!! And that’s apart from following in the steps of Byzantines and then Crusaders and being swept up in the romance of it all!

The other two castles are Buffavento and Kantara. Both also have amazing views and you can drive to them. (Kantara is easier to drive to.) Its a great hiking option to go to Buffavento though. You will need a car or taxi to get to those two, but you can take a tour to get to see St Hilarion.

St Hilarion and Bellapais in a private tour from Girne / Kyrenia. (You can get a bus from Nicosia to Kyrenia. So this is do-able without a car.)
From Paphos – Kyrenia – St. Hilarion and Bellapais Abbey

st-hilarion-castle-in-the-kyrenia-mountains-an-absolutely-amazing-place-to-visit-in-cyprus — St Hilarion Castle

4. Drive the Karpaz peninsula

Again, this is in the north. But it is one of the least touched places in the island and is spectacular – especially in winter and spring with the green fields and wildflowers. Tbh I rate this and the castles as the two top things to do in Cyprus!! (Actually I should rephrase that to the two top places to go – I can’t forget the sea, and wildflowers, and the halloumi of course!)

I absolutely recommend hiring a car and spending a few days in the north just taking it in. And definitely getting to one or two of the castles and to this peninsula. There are beaches all the way up the peninsula with great swimming spots to stop at and enjoy. Then near the end of the peninsula – forget kings and queens of times gone by – these days the wild donkeys reign supreme! Bring carrots to give them a tasty treat!

one-of-the-best-things-to-do-in-cyprus-is-to-drive-the-karpaz-peninsula-and-see-this-golden-beach-and-the-wild-donkeys — Karpaz Peninsula’s Golden Beach and the wild (feral) donkeys

5. Eat halloumi

It was invented here and even though it is found around the world now – Cyprus is, and always will be, its home base! You can have halloumi burgers, halloumi pitas, grilled halloumi, fried halloumi, uncooked halloumi….. I’ll take it any way – but grilled is my go to joy!

grilled-halloumi — Grilled Halloumi – lecker lecker lecker

6. Take in some ancient culture – Paphos, Salamis, or Kourion near Limassol

For the historians this is the top of the top things to do in Cyprus. But even if it is not your thing (like me) it is hard to not be impressed and to see at least some of this ancient history from 4,000 BC is quite mind boggling! Top UNESCO listed sites are:

Paphos

The Paphos Archaeological Park, which has monuments that date back to prehistoric times, the Middle Ages, and the Roman period. It has some of the finest floor mosaics in the eastern Mediterranean – depicting various scenes from Greek mythology.
The Tombs of the Kings is a huge necropolis of well preserved underground tombs carved from rock that date back to the 4th century. They are not actually the tombs of kings but of the wealthy and high officialdom. Its stunning.

Salamis

Salamis – near Famogusta in the north is another ancient Greek city-state. It was the capital of ancient Cyprus as far back as 1100 BC but destroyed by a number of earthquakes at the beginning of the 4th century. A lot is yet to be excavated.
(Although this is in the north it is not far from Ayia Napa. So it is easy to do what I did and take a day trip from most towns to see this and the Varosha Ghost Town. Try this one or this one from Paphos, or this one from Larnaca or Ayia Napa or via a jeep!)

Kourion

The Kourion Archaeological site – near Limassol. This ancient Greek city-state from the twelfth century BC has a fabulous view and is probably the best preserved. They even use the amphitheatre for events in summer which would be magical.

Note: Go early to any of these sites to avoid the sun (and crowds) in summer! Entry prices are low – between €2.50 – €4.50 at the time of writing.

two-of-the-top-attractions-in-cyprus-are-the-remains-of-ancient-civilisations-at-the-tombs-of-the-kings-in-paphos-and-salamis-near-famagusta — Tomb of the Kings (left) and Salamis!

7. See the wildflowers

I spent three months from Jan to April and the wildflowers were just awesome. There are flowers all year – they just keep changing. Big, small, tiny and anything in-between, red, pink, yellow, white, purple…. its heavenly.

Good walks for wildflowers are the Aphrodite- Adonis trail in the Akamas National Park, the Genesis Aphrodite trail near Pissouri (best in Jan and Feb for the fields of anemones), and any of the trails in the Cape Greco National Park. But you can find wild flowers all over Cyprus and they are absolutely gorgeous.

the-genesis-aphrodite-trail-is-definitely-one-of-the-best-hikes-in-cyprus-not-to-be-missed-in-spring-with-these-amazing-wildflowers — Fields and fields of wildflowers in spring

8. Visit one of the Troodos old towns – Lania or Kakopetria or Omodos

The Troodos not only have monasteries absolutely worth visiting but also some gorgeous old villages. You wander through winding pathways, with upstairs balconies of houses on one side almost touching their neighbors on the other side, and flowers and greenery adorning the doorsteps amongst huge old earthenware wine pots traditionally used for making wine in the region.

The three villages above are all perfect for this type of wandering – and even better if you stay a night. I stayed in Kakopetria and think it was the best choice – a pretty river flowing through the town with resident ducks and geese, big enough to have places to stay in the heart of the old town, small enough to have that village feel. Oh and do try the Loukoumades there – its the delicious traditional Cyprus doughnut and apparently you wont get it better than here!

Again there are plenty of tours if you are without a car or the desire to drive. The trips in No2. – Monasteries int he Troodos are all good for at least one village too. But you might prefer to do some wine tasting instead! These are some options:

Mountains and wine tasting – visiting Omodos village, Millomeras waterfall, a medieval bridge

An artesian food and wine tour through the mountains and villages – or just a pure grape escape!

Cheese making and tasting through the villages in the mountains

an-old-narow-street-in-kakopetria-which-is-one-of-the-prettiest-of-the-ancient-villages-in-the-troodos-mountains-and-is-one-of-the-top-things-to-see-in-cyprus — Beautiful Kakopetria old town in the Troodos Mountains

9. Go hiking – in Cape Greco or Akamas National Park

The two best hikes and places (imho) in the southern part of the island are at either end of the island! Akamas National Park and Cape Greco National Park. You want to get to hike to the hilltop for the views in at least one of them!

If you are staying at the Paphos end, then the best hike in the area is definitely the Aphrodite – Adonis loop in Akamas National Park.

If you are at the Ayia Napa end of the island then its Cape Greco loop taking in the peace monument.

In both places the coastal paths are fantastic too. Read more about the hikes in The 15 best hikes in Cyprus – aka your Cyprus Hiking Bucket List!

views-from-hilltops-in-cape-greco-national-park-and-akamas-national-park-in-cyprus — Views from trails in Cape Greco (left) and Akamas National Parks

10. Spend some time in Nicosia / Lefkosa and cross the “Green Line”

The only remaining divided capital in Europe. In reality – probably the only real divided city in the world! The “Green Line” runs right through Nicosia – also known as Lefkosa and to go from one side to the other you have to go through border and passport control. One one side they will be speaking Greek and charging you in Euros. A few meters later they will be speaking Turkish and charging you in Turkish Lira!

Its a fascinating place with a very sad recent history culminating in a war between the two ‘sides’ in 1974 that turned thousands into refugees in their own country and has left a physical and emotional divide across the country ever since. Visit the Shacolas Tower on the southern (Greek) side and watch the short video there for a potted history of the city. Meanwhile enjoy the cafes, museums, architecture and people on both sides of the border. Read more about what to do in this fascinating capital city in my 11 must do’s when you’re in Nicosia / Lefkosa post. It is definitely worth spending some time here. Recommended tours to get more of the story behind the scenes are:

The highly rated Green Line and Buffer Zone Guided Tour
A Walking City Tour of Nicosia North or for a bit of fun – a Segway tour of Nicosia

crossing-the-border-in-nicosia — Crossing at the border

Frequently asked questions about Cyprus:

Q: Is Cyprus safe for tourists?
A: Yes, it is generally very safe for tourists. Tourist crime rates are low, violent crime is uncommon.

Q: Do I need a visa for Cyprus – and is it part of the Schengen?
A: Many nationalities do not e.g. NZ, Australia, UK, Canada, USA, Singapore, Malaysia – you get a visa on arrival at the border. You can check for your nationality here. Cyprus is part of the EU but not part of the Schengen Area as of 2026. They do follow the Schengen 90 days in 180 tourist visa rule though.

Q: Is Northern Cyprus a real country and can I travel to it from Southern / Greek Cyprus?
A: Northern Cyprus is not officially a country – it is only recognised by Turkey. You can cross the border into Northern Cyprus and back again, but do not try and enter one side and leave from the other – it becomes very messy. The only exception is that you can enter Greek / Southern Cyprus and leave from Northern Cyprus to Turkey (only). If Cyprus becomes part of the Schengen at a later date, then this will not work.

Q: Is Cyprus expensive compared to Greece or Spain?
A: Cyprus is slightly cheaper than many Greek islands and cheaper than Ibiza/Mykonos, but it is more expensive than Turkey.

Q: What side of the road do they drive on in Cyprus?
A: British style – the left!

Where to stay in Cyprus:

It depends on what you want for a holiday! If you want easy access to the top historical sites, then stay in Pathos, for beaches, Ayia Napa, For a chill authentic atmosphere, Larnaka. For weird and interesting – Nicosia (for a night or two). And of course it is great to have a night or two in the Troodos mountains. Personally if you have more than a week, it is good to mix it up. Hire a car and try a few different places as you explore the country.

To book accommodation use booking.com or for a hostel – Hostelworld.

These are some recommendations around the country:

Troodos Mountains – Kakopetria

High End – try Casa Oliva in Tris Elies or the Thymises Boutique Hotel in Kakopetria

Mid Range – Evmelia Kakopetria Suites in Kakopetria or Semiramis Boutique Hotel & Spa in Kato Platres.

Good value – I stayed at the Maritsa Lodge in the Kakopetria old town – which was perfect! Nearby are the Enipnion Apartments – also rated highly and good value.

Great value for a group or family – try the River House in Trimiklini, Tina’s Country Home in Askas, or, Anastou’s Traditional House in Kalopanayiotis

Travel Tips for Cyprus:

Placenames and signage is often written in Greek, English and Turkish – e.g. Nicosia is Lefkosa. There are sometimes various spellings of the same placename just to add to the confusion!
Don’t forget your passport when you go to Nicosia – you need it to cross the border into the northern part of the city!
The sun can be brutal in summer – always take water with you and cover up!
Wherever you stay in Cyprus it is great to rent a car for a few days to explore more of the country. You can easily take buses between the main cities, but to get into the mountains and to some of the lovely beaches, a car is the way to go. Note: taking a car to Northern Cyprus is a little more difficult – you need a special insurance and most rental agencies will not help you if you break down or need assistance across the border. If you want to do this, check with your rental agency first.
Watch what you say! The people are great all over the country. But passions can get high re the war and the division of the land. In the south do not refer to the north as “Turkish” Cyprus. As far as most there are concerned, it is “illegally occupied Cyprus.” Just stick to saying Northern Cyprus.

The 12 best things to do around Ayia Napa – when you’ve had enough of the beaches and bars!

11 must do’s when you’re in Nicosia / Lefkosa

15 irresistible reasons to go to Northern Cyprus

The 16 best hikes in Cyprus – aka your Cyprus Hiking Bucket List

Larnaca – more than just the beach!