Villages of Cyprus: the best villages to visit

Limassol wine country · 800 m

OmodosΌμοδος

A grand cobbled square, the Holy Cross monastery and wineries on every lane

• One of Cyprus’s most charming squares, ending at the Timios Stavros monastery
• Taste local wine and zivania, then buy lace and fresh arkatena bread
• A three-day Holy Cross fair every 14 September

🎉 Feast of the Holy Cross fair · Sep

• Wine
• Local food
• Crafts
• History

Limassol wine country · 780 m

LofouΛόφου

A perfectly preserved hilltop village of stone lanes, 26 km from Limassol

• Winding cobbled streets and restored stone houses with views over the valleys
• Only about half an hour from Limassol
• A big mid-August festival and a September Grape Fest

🎉 Lofou Dekapentavgoustos festival · Aug

• Wine
• History
• Local food

Limassol wine country · 770 m

VouniΒουνί

A stone wine village of museums, old fountains and quiet lanes

• Several small museums packed into one walkable village
• Classic Krasochoria stone architecture and views
• Easy to combine with Omodos, Koilani and Lofou next door

• Wine
• History

Limassol wine country · 820 m

KoilaniΚοιλάνι

Grape feasts, glitzista pastries and one of the island’s biggest plane trees

• Traditional stone houses with earthenware jars in the yards
• Wine and ecclesiastical museums and working wineries
• Grape Feast on the first Sunday of October and again in mid-November

🎉 Grape Feast · Oct/Nov

• Wine
• Local food
• History

Limassol wine country · 850 m

ArsosΆρσος

Six medieval fountains, centuries of winemaking and a September grape feast

• The Six Fountains nature trail linking medieval fountains along the river
• A long winemaking history and a village winery
• Grape Feast at the end of September, saint’s fair on 14 November

🎉 Grape Feast · Sep

• Wine
• Nature & walks
• History

Limassol wine country · 750 m

Vasa KoilaniouΒάσα Κοιλανίου

A tiny wine village with a Zivania museum and a mid-September Grape Fest

• Museums of Zivania, Education and church art
• Old wine presses and distilleries in a preserved limestone village
• Grape Fest in mid-September

🎉 Grape Fest · Sep

• Wine
• History

Limassol wine country · 570 m

LaniaΛάνεια

Commandaria, flower-lined lanes and open courtyards every May

• One of the closest traditional villages to Limassol
• Commandaria Storage Museum and an ancient linos wine press
• “Lanes and Courtyards of Lania” every May

🎉 Lanes and Courtyards of Lania · May

• Wine
• Local food
• History

Limassol wine country · 820 m

MonagriΜονάγρι

Byzantine chapels and a painted church in the Kouris valley

• Panagia tis Amasgou church in the Kouris valley
• Quiet village among vines, citrus and almond trees
• A short drive from Limassol on the way to Troodos

• History
• Wine

Limassol wine country · 650 m

SilikouΣιλίκου

A Commandaria museum and olive trees planted around 1300

• Commandaria Museum in a restored village house
• Centuries-old olive trees in the old quarter
• A quiet, authentic village with valley views

• Wine
• History
• Local food

Limassol wine country · 745 m

PachnaΠάχνα

Once the biggest grape-growing village in Cyprus

• A real working wine village surrounded by vineyards
• Distinctive buildings in golden Pachna stone
• A base for exploring the western wine villages

• Wine

Limassol wine country · 170 m

AnogyraΑνώγυρα

Home of carob pasteli, with a festival every September

• See and taste traditional carob pasteli
• Ruins of the medieval Timios Stavros monastery
• Pasteli Festival every September

🎉 Pasteli Festival · Sep

• Local food
• History

Limassol wine country

PissouriΠισσούρι

A hilltop village square above a beach bay and the white cliffs of Cape Aspro

• Village and beach in one place, between Limassol and Paphos
• Cliff walks at Cape Aspro on public footpaths
• Halloumi and sweet Sultanina grapes

🎉 Celebration of Agios Andreas · Sep

• Near the sea
• Local food
• Nature & walks

Troodos, Marathasa & Solea · 1100 m

PlatresΠλάτρες

The classic hill resort of kings and poets, with waterfalls and forest trails

• Caledonia, one of the highest waterfalls in Cyprus, on a forest trail
• Historic hotels where the brandy sour was invented
• Lavender Festival in July and a Chocolate Festival in October

🎉 Lavender Festival · Jul

• Mountains
• Nature & walks
• History

Troodos, Marathasa & Solea · 1380 m

ProdromosΠρόδρομος

The highest village in Cyprus, with snow in winter and cool summers

• Snow on the doorstep and the Mount Olympus ski slopes close by
• Cool mountain air and trails in summer
• The abandoned 1930s Berengaria Hotel

• Mountains
• Nature & walks

Troodos, Marathasa & Solea · 1100 m

PedoulasΠεδουλάς

Cherry orchards and a UNESCO painted church in the Marathasa valley

• UNESCO-listed Archangelos Michael church and the Byzantine Museum
• Cherry orchards and a June Cherry Festival
• Cool summer resort with a spring said to bring long life

🎉 Pedoulas Cherry Festival · Jun

• UNESCO churches & sites
• Mountains
• Local food
• History

Troodos, Marathasa & Solea · 800 m

MoutoullasΜουτουλλάς

A tiny Marathasa village with a UNESCO church from about 1280

• Panagia tou Moutoulla, a UNESCO-listed painted church of about 1280
• Peaceful Marathasa valley scenery
• Easy to combine with Pedoulas and Kalopanagiotis

• UNESCO churches & sites
• Mountains
• History

Troodos, Marathasa & Solea

KalopanagiotisΚαλοπαναγιώτης

Sulphur springs, a Venetian bridge and a UNESCO monastery across the river

• Agios Ioannis Lampadistis monastery, with frescoes from the 11th to 15th centuries
• A 16th-century Venetian bridge and the Kykkos watermill
• Cobbled paths leading to nature trails

🎉 Feast of St John Lampadistis · Oct

• UNESCO churches & sites
• Mountains
• Nature & walks
• History

Troodos, Marathasa & Solea · 667 m

KakopetriaΚακοπετριά

A protected old quarter of wooden balconies beside two mountain rivers

• The protected old quarter (Palia Kakopetria)
• Agios Nikolaos tis Stegis, a UNESCO painted church of the 11th century
• A September spoon-sweets festival

🎉 Kakopetria Spoon Sweets Festival · Sep

• UNESCO churches & sites
• Mountains
• History
• Nature & walks

Troodos, Marathasa & Solea · 620 m

GalataΓαλάτα

The village of balconies, with two painted churches and a working watermill

• Panagia Podithou (UNESCO) and Archangel Michael churches
• Old houses with wooden balconies along the river
• A working watermill and a folk art museum

• UNESCO churches & sites
• Mountains
• History

Troodos, Marathasa & Solea

EvrychouΕυρύχου

Apples, watermills and the Cyprus Railways Museum

• The Cyprus Railways Museum in the original station
• Old watermills and stone houses
• Apple orchards across the Solea valley

• History
• Mountains

Troodos, Marathasa & Solea · 920 m

FoiniΦοινί

Pottery, loukoumi and the Chantara waterfall in the pine forest

• Chantara waterfall a short walk away
• Loukoumi and pottery workshops and the Pilavakeion folk museum
• Traditional Festival on the first Sunday of August

🎉 Foini Traditional Festival · Aug

• Crafts
• Local food
• Nature & walks
• Mountains

Troodos, Marathasa & Solea · 800 m

Treis EliesΤρεις Ελιές

A tiny valley village of wooden-roofed chapels and Venetian bridges

• Remote and peaceful, deep in the Troodos forest
• Small wooden-roofed churches of Archangelos Michael and Agia Paraskevi
• The Venetian bridges of Mylos and Agios Andronikos

• Mountains
• Nature & walks
• History

Troodos, Marathasa & Solea · 1100 m

LemythouΛεμύθου

A high amphitheatre village 8 km from the ski slopes

• Mountain views and tranquil agrotourism stays
• Walking and cycling routes
• The ski centre is just 8 km away

• Mountains
• Nature & walks

Pitsilia · 1100 m

AgrosΑγρός

The rose village: rose water, cured meats and a May Rose Festival

• Watch rose oil being distilled at local workshops
• Cured meats, sausages, marmalades and sweets made in the village
• Rose Festival over two weekends in May

🎉 Agros Rose Festival · May

• Local food
• Crafts
• Mountains

Pitsilia · 1140 m

KyperountaΚυπερούντα

Apple capital of Cyprus, with an October Apple Festival

• The Apple Festival on the second weekend of October
• Natural History, Folk Art and Liberation Struggle museums
• Adventure Mountain Park and the Madari trails nearby

🎉 Kyperounta Apple Festival · Oct

• Local food
• Mountains
• Nature & walks
• Wine

Pitsilia · 800 m

PelendriΠελένδρι

A UNESCO painted church and a November zivania fair

• Timios Stavros church (UNESCO) with 14th-century frescoes
• Orchards, vines and wild mountain scenery
• A zivania festival in mid-November

🎉 Zivania festival · Nov

• UNESCO churches & sites
• Mountains
• History
• Local food

Pitsilia · 850 m

LouvarasΛουβαράς

Commandaria country, with a painted church from 1454

• Commandaria, one of the world’s oldest named wines
• The old church of Agios Mamas (1454)
• Only 28 km from Limassol

• Wine
• History
• Mountains

Pitsilia · 930 m

PalaichoriΠαλαιχώρι

A UNESCO church, zivania traditions and a river through the village

• Agia Sotira (Metamorfosis tou Sotiros), a UNESCO-listed painted church
• Byzantine Heritage Museum and the Afxentiou hideout
• Zivania traditions and a river running through the village

• UNESCO churches & sites
• Mountains
• History

Pitsilia · 900 m

AskasΑσκάς

Towering stone walls and hand-baked roof tiles under Mount Papoutsa

• Some of the most dramatic stone architecture in Pitsilia
• Traditional guesthouses in total quiet
• Zivania made in the village

• Mountains
• History
• Nature & walks

Pitsilia · 1200 m

AlonaΑλόνα

A painters’ village with a November Zivania Festival

• Zivania Festival every November
• A nature trail through hazelnut and cherry orchards
• The 15th-century church of Panagia Kardakiotissa

🎉 Zivania Festival · Nov

• Mountains
• Nature & walks
• Local food

Pitsilia · 1150 m

PolystyposΠολύστυπος

One of the highest villages, with a hazelnut-forest trail

• A 1.3 km trail along an old footpath through hazelnut trees
• Snowy winter scenery
• Traditional houses to stay in

• Mountains
• Nature & walks

Pitsilia

LagouderaΛαγουδερά

Panagia tou Araka, one of the most important Byzantine churches in Cyprus

• Panagia tou Araka (UNESCO), with frescoes of 1192
• Hiking near Madari peak
• A quiet mountain setting about 50 km from Nicosia

• UNESCO churches & sites
• Mountains
• History

Pitsilia · 940 m

PlatanistasaΠλατανιστάσα

Stavros tou Agiasmati, a UNESCO church with a full painted interior

• Stavros tou Agiasmati (UNESCO) with richly painted walls
• Mountain scenery on the northern slopes of Troodos
• A quiet drive through the Pitsilia hills

• UNESCO churches & sites
• Mountains
• History

Nicosia foothills & Tylliria · 900 m

FikardouΦικάρδου

A whole village preserved as an Ancient Monument

• A Europa Nostra award-winning village of 18th-century houses
• Two house museums of rural life
• Machairas Monastery is under 15 minutes away

• History
• Mountains

Nicosia foothills & Tylliria

GourriΓούρρη

Homemade spoon sweets in the foothills of Machairas forest

• Spoon sweets and marmalades made by village housewives
• Folk Art Museum opened in 2015
• Easy to pair with Fikardou and Machairas

• Local food
• Mountains

Nicosia foothills & Tylliria

PolitikoΠολιτικό

Ancient Tamassos and its royal tombs, a short trip from Nicosia

• The royal tombs of ancient Tamassos
• Agios Irakleidios monastery
• Under half an hour from Nicosia

• History

Nicosia foothills & Tylliria

NikitariΝικητάρι

Gateway to Asinou, perhaps the finest painted church in Cyprus

• Panagia tis Asinou (UNESCO), with frescoes from the 12th century on
• Forest scenery on the northern slopes of Troodos
• Easy to combine with the Solea valley villages

• UNESCO churches & sites
• History

Nicosia foothills & Tylliria

Kato PyrgosΚάτω Πύργος

Remote Tylliria: beach, mountains, fresh fish and famous peaches

• Quiet beaches and fresh fish from the village fishing shelter
• Panagia tis Galoktistis chapel with 12th- and 14th-century paintings
• Famous Pyrgos peaches

• Near the sea
• Nature & walks

Larnaca hills · 575 m

LefkaraΛεύκαρα

Lace, silver filigree and a legend of Leonardo da Vinci

• Watch lace and silver being made in workshops and museums
• Whitewashed lanes and terracotta roofs in the hills
• Lefkara Festival every August and a Christmas village in winter

🎉 Lefkara Festival · Aug

• Crafts
• History

Larnaca hills · 520 m

Kato DrysΚάτω Δρυς

Birthplace of St Neophytos, with a Bee Museum and a July music festival

• Bee and Embroidery Museum and Rural Museum
• Feggaros, one of the biggest summer music festivals, in July
• On the 7th Wine Route through the Larnaca hills

🎉 Feggaros music festival · Jul

• Crafts
• Local food
• History

Larnaca hills

VavlaΒάβλα

A preserved white-stone village of honey and icon-painting nuns

• A declared Preserved Village of white stone houses
• Thyme and wildflower honey
• Agios Minas convent, where nuns paint icons and make sweets

• Local food
• History

Larnaca hills

OdouΟδού

Famous tomatoes on an old Roman road

• Traditional folk architecture
• The Gyrillithkia nature trail into the hills
• Odou tomatoes

• Nature & walks
• Local food

Larnaca hills

TochniΤόχνη

Golden stone houses, cycling and a legend of St Helena

• Restored stone houses in a quiet valley
• Cycling, horse-riding and a 2.8 km nature trail
• The church said to be founded by St Helena

• Nature & walks
• History

Larnaca hills

KalavasosΚαλαβασός

Neolithic Tenta, old copper mines and a peaceful reservoir

• Kalavasos-Tenta Neolithic site
• Walks around the Kalavasos reservoir
• An old mining railway route

• History
• Nature & walks

Larnaca hills

PsematismenosΨεματισμένος

A quiet village with an ancient olive tree park

• Agia Marina church with old frescoes
• A park of ancient olive trees
• A peaceful stop just off the motorway

• History
• Nature & walks

Larnaca hills

KitiΚίτι

The church “built by angels” and its rare Byzantine mosaic

• Panagia Angeloktisti and its famous early mosaic
• Kiti lighthouse and beaches on the cape
• Easy to reach from Larnaca

• History
• Near the sea

Larnaca hills

AthienouΑθηένου

Athienitiko bread, halloumi and ancient Golgoi

• Watch Athienitiko bread, halloumi and pastries being made
• Kallinikeio Municipal Museum with finds from Malloura
• A festival of local products in autumn

🎉 Pancyprian Festival of Athienou Products · Sep/Oct

• Local food
• History

Paphos & Akamas · 655 m

KathikasΚάθηκας

Wine village above the Avakas Gorge, with a moving Easter tradition

• Hike the Avakas Gorge below the plateau
• Wineries and agrotourism in century-old houses
• Grape festival in August and a Good Friday Passion procession

🎉 Festival of the Grapes · Aug

• Wine
• Nature & walks

Paphos & Akamas · 590 m

Pano ArodesΠάνω Αρόδες

On the edge of Akamas, with a love-potion legend

• Trails down towards the Avakas Gorge and coast
• Possibly the only church in the world dedicated to St Kalandion
• Stone lanes in green, quiet countryside

• Nature & walks
• History
• Wine

Paphos & Akamas · 625 m

IneiaΊνεια

Wine, basket weaving and views over Lara Bay

• Views over the Akamas peninsula and Lara Bay
• Basket-weaving museum
• On the Laona–Akamas wine route

• Crafts
• Wine
• Nature & walks

Paphos & Akamas · 470 m

Kritou TerraΚρήτου Τέρρα

Green all year, with a rare domed church and a painted “casino”

• The unusual multi-domed church of Agia Aikaterini
• Springs and a small waterfall
• Birthplace of the dragoman Hadjigeorgakis Kornesios

🎉 Feast of Agia Aikaterini · Nov

• Nature & walks
• History
• Wine

Paphos & Akamas

MiliouΜηλιού

One of the smallest and greenest villages, with a monastery spa

• Lush citrus groves fed by spring water
• Restored limestone houses from the Laona Project
• The 17th-century Agioi Anargyroi monastery

• Nature & walks
• History

Paphos & Akamas · 680 m

FytiΦύτη

The weaving village of Paphos and its colourful fythkiotika

• Museum of Traditional Weaving and its looms
• Buy hand-woven fythkiotika
• A peaceful stone village on a high plateau

• Crafts
• History

Paphos & Akamas · 560 m

LysosΛυσός

Gateway to Paphos Forest, mouflon country and dried figs

• Mouflon and Bonelli’s eagle country in Paphos Forest
• The Latin-influenced church of Panagia Chryseleousa
• Maxilles dried figs

• Nature & walks
• History
• Local food

Paphos & Akamas · 850 m

Pano PanagiaΠάνω Παναγιά

Birthplace of Archbishop Makarios and home of Chrysorrogiatissa monastery

• Chrysorrogiatissa monastery, its treasury and wine
• Makarios’s family home and cultural museum
• A big fair on 14–15 August and the Rogiatika festival

🎉 Feast of the Virgin Mary · Aug

• Wine
• History
• Mountains

Paphos & Akamas

Episkopi (Paphos)Επισκοπή Πάφου

A giant rock, nesting falcons and the cell of St Hilarion

• The Rock of Episkopi and four nature trails
• St Hilarion’s cell and church
• An environmental centre and Ezousa river streams

• Nature & walks
• History

Paphos & Akamas · 290 m

TalaΤάλα

Hillside village with sea views and the Agios Neophytos monastery

• Agios Neophytos monastery and the painted Enkleistra cave
• Sunset views over Paphos and the sea
• Very close to Paphos town

• History
• Near the sea

Paphos & Akamas · 80 m

LembaΛέμπα

A Cultural Village with a reconstructed prehistoric settlement

• Walk inside reconstructed 5,000-year-old round houses
• The Lady of Lemba, a famous prehistoric figurine, was found here
• Close to Paphos, with Kotzia beach nearby

• History
• Near the sea

Paphos & Akamas · 85 m

KoukliaΚούκλια

Old Paphos and the sanctuary of Aphrodite, near her birthplace

• The Sanctuary of Aphrodite and Palaepaphos (UNESCO)
• Petra tou Romiou, Aphrodite’s Rock, nearby
• A big fair for St Luke on 17 October

🎉 Feast of St Luke · Oct

• History
• UNESCO churches & sites
• Near the sea

Red-soil villages

LiopetriΛιοπέτρι

Potatoes, a fishing river and a famous 1958 battle

• Fish tavernas at Potamos tou Liopetriou
• The 1958 barn memorial of the liberation struggle
• An easy trip from Ayia Napa and Protaras

🎉 Feast of the Virgin Mary · Aug

• History
• Local food
• Near the sea

Red-soil villages

AvgorouΑυγόρου

Red earth, a Potato Festival and a big saints’ fair

• Potato Festival every July
• Ethnographic Museum of village life
• Feasts of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June) and Agios Kendeas (6 October)

🎉 Potato Festival · Jul

• Local food
• History

Red-soil villages

FrenarosΦρέναρος

Watermelons and 12th-century Byzantine churches

• Watermelon Festival in July with free watermelon
• 12th-century churches of Agios Andronikos and Archangelos Michael
• Feast of Archangelos Michael on 6 September

🎉 Watermelon Festival · Jul

• Local food
• History

Red-soil villages

SotiraΣωτήρα

Kolokasi festival and a cluster of medieval churches

• Kolokasi Festival every September
• Medieval churches, including the cross-shaped Panagia Chordakion
• Traditional Festival in late June or early July

🎉 Kolokasi Festival · Sep

• Local food
• History

Red-soil villages

DeryneiaΔερύνεια

Strawberries, a folk museum and views of Famagusta

• Strawberry Festival with free strawberries, every two years
• Folk Art Museum and Open-Air Museum of Traditional Professions
• Cultural Centre of Occupied Ammochostos

🎉 Strawberry Festival · Apr/May

• Local food
• History