If you plan on spending around one week in Cyprus and want to make the most of it, here’s the best one week itinerary in Cyprus.
From the many beaches, to the archeological sites, including the cute villages and best hikes, I’ll show you the ultimate circuit around the island. If you need a shorter itinerary, I’ll also indicate which activities and sightseeing can be forgotten when coming for few days only.
I also made an article about everything to know before going to Cyprus as well as one about the best food specialties to try out on the island.
Moving on to this itinerary !
- Day One : Visit of Larnaca and settling in
- Day Two : Κourion Archeological site, Aphrodite’s beach, Cape Aspro
- Day Three : Nicosia, Kakopetria, Omodos
- Day Four : Boat day to Akamas peninsula and the Blue Lagoon
- Day Five : Lefkara, Governor’s beach
- Day Six : Nissi beach, Ayia Napa sea caves, Fig Tree beach, Green Bay beach, Ayioi Anargiroi church, Kamara Tou Korara
- Day Seven : Archeological Site of Nea Paphos, Tombs of the Kings, Avakas Gorge Nature Trail
Day One
Note : We stayed throughout the trip in the south, in the village of Tochni, located between Larnaca and Limassol, half an hour’s drive from each. So this itinerary takes into account the drive from there each day.
You’ll likely arrive at Larnaca airport, so I’d suggest spending your first day visiting the city. Honestly, there’s not much to see, however the Holy Church of Saint Lazarus is a monument worth the visit. This 9th-century orthodox church is a remarkable example of byzantine architecture.
We also enjoyed a really tasty lunch at Militzis Traditional Tavern, right in the front of the sea. I talked more about it in this article, but here are some pictures of the place :
We walked a bit on Finikoudes beach and then took the road to get to our stay in Tochni. We booked at the Dolphin Guest House & Studios through Booking.com and it was 25€ per person per night. I would definitely recommend this place if you are looking for a cute and typical studio in a small and quiet village, however perfectly located to explore the whole island (see pictures below).
Near Tochni village, you can head to the Governor’s beach, which I think is of a non-touristy beach. We were almost alone each time we went there. If you like being alone, keep walking on the right from the parking and you will find a few paths heading down to some secluded coves.
Day Two
On the way to Kourion Archeological site, you can make a pit stop to visit the Kolossi Castle, located 40 minutes away from Tochni. I personally wouldn’t recommend it if you don’t have much time as there’s barely anything to visit. You can see this 15th-century fortified castle from the entrance, the ticket (2,5€ per person) allows you to visit the interior which is a succession of empty rooms and an access to the roof, but you’ll get way better views at other sites.
Nevertheless, if you visit it, it takes at best 30 minutes to go around every room and outside you’ll see a beautiful 200-year-old acacia.
Approximately 8 minutes after, you’ll reach Kourion Archeological site, one of the main city-kingdoms of Cyprus in antiquity. It is well known for its mosaic floors, the most famous ones being in Achilles’ house dated to the 4th century A.D.
The site is mostly visited for its ancient amphitheater which was built during the 2nd century B.C but altered as we know it today on the 2nd century A.D. It also has splendid views over the Mediterranean sea and overlooks many monuments dating back from the Roman period, such as the Forum, the Nymphaeum, the House of Gladiators, the House of Achilles, the public baths…
The site is now a scene for musical and theatrical performances.
The entrance fee is 4,5€ and we spent a bit more than 1h30 to visit all the sites.
You will arrive here after a 25-minutes drive from Kourion.
Aphrodite’s beach is one of the best in Cyprus : snow-white cliffs reaching 10 to 15 metres in height, a bright blue sea, and a calm atmosphere.
From here, you can observe Aphrodite’s rock, also called Pétra tou Romioú, a rock formation off the beach where Aphrodite, the goddess of love, is said to have been born in Greek mythology.
We absolutely loved this beach, the decor is stunning, it’s very calm and even though it’s a pebble beach, it’s nice to lay down for a few hours and enjoy the sun.
On your way way to Tochni or any other village in the south center of Cyprus, and 15 minutes from Aphrodite’s beach is the Cape Astro trail. It’s a 3,5km hike, which takes around an hour each way. It is not recommended for children or people who are afraid of heights as some sections are really on the edge of the cliff and there’s some risks of falling. Make sure to download the map of the trail beforehand there’s no signs along the way. Pack a lot of water and sunscreen as well. You can park at the starting point in Pissouri village.
We personally didn’t to the hike all the way as 1) I’m afraid of heights and 2) the sun was about to set. We walked for a good half-hour and still had amazing views during sunset !
Day Three
On this third day, we decided to visit the capital even though it is said that there’s not that much going on there.
Bur first of al, a bit of History :
Nicosia is the world’s last divided capital city. Indeed, after the Cyprus crisis in 1964, both Greek and Turkish Cypriot respectively segregated into the south and north of the city. After Turkey invaded the island in 1974, this separation became a militarized border between the Republic of Cyprus and Northern Cyprus
We reached Nicosia after a 45-minutes drive from Tochni.
We first wandered in the street of the Greek side :
- Ledra street : a typical shopping street in which you can cross the border to get to North Nicosia in Northern Cyprus (last picture below).
- Sacred Temple of Virgin Mary Faneromenis : an orthodox temple built in 1872 (third picture below).
You can then cross the border to get to the northern part of the capital. For that you have to go through the Republic of Cyprus border post, then the Northern Cyprus border post and show your passport both times.
On the other side, the atmosphere is very different, the bigs shops of southern Nicosia are replaced with small boutiques in a souk-like vibe.
Things not to miss here :
- Büyük Han : built by the Ottomans in 1572, it is the largest caravanserai on the island. A caravanserai was a roadside inn where travelers could rest in the accommodations on the upper floor, while the ground floor was used for commerce and as stables for their horses. This large, square, two-storey monument with a central courtyard is now the center of the old town, with cafés and restaurant in the yard, while upstairs you’ll find traditional craft shops.
- Selimiye Mosque : This 13th-century catholic cathedral with gothic architecture was officially converted into a mosque in 1570, when Nicosia fell after 50 days of siege by the Ottomans.
I personally thought that this side was the most interesting part of Nicosia, especially the caravanserai, so definitely bring your passport with you if you visit the capital !
On the way back, you can make a detour via Kakopetria, a small village located in the Troodos mountain range, at an altitude of 667 metres.
You can wander in the narrow cobbled alleys and admire the two-storey houses with their wooden balconies of the heart of the village which has been declared a historic site.
There’s also a nice walk that you can do along the river.
40 minutes from Kakopetria is the charming little village of Omodos. Perched 800 meters above sea level in the Troodos mountain range, Omodos is one of the island’s most charming and traditional villages.
A must visit here is the Timios Stavros Monastery. It is the oldest monastery in Cyprus, supposedly founded before 327 AD, and completely renovated in the 19th century. It’s a two-storey building in the shape of the greek letter Π.
The entrance is free and it’s really worth the time to visit. Plus, on the upper floor, you’ll get a really nice view of the surroundings.
Day Four
On this fourth day, we decided to book a day trip to Akamas peninsula and the Blue Lagoon.
We booked this activity through GetYourGuide, which is the only website I trust for day trips in a new city.
The pick-up was in Paphos, so we drove one hour to get there.
From there, you get picked up by a bus that will first take you to see the Edro III Shipwreck. This boat ran aground in 2011and there were many attempts to tow the 2500-tons shipwreck, all of which have been abandoned due to the difficulty of the project.
You have approximately 30 minutes there, so I’d suggest exploring the left side of the coast first (see pictures below), you’ll be completely alone, and once everyone is done with their pictures you can come close to the wreck, we had it to ourselves !
Around 10:30 you’ll cruise the Mediterranean sea to reach the Blue Lagoon. During a bit more than an hour, you’ll get to enjoy this isolated cove with crystal-clear blue waters.
It must be crowded during the summer months, but in late September there were only 2-3 touristic boats in the lagoon when we were there, so the crowd was manageable !
The next stop is mainly a lunch stop. You’ll have around 2 hours at Latchi beach (only picture I have of the place is from an aesthetic bar, see second picture below). Honestly, there’s only tourist restaurants there, so we stopped at a bakery and ate in front of the sea.
Last stop of the day will be at Aphrodite’s bath which is completely overrated. It’s a small dry pond which, according to mythology, was the bathing place of the goddess Aphrodite.
The surrounding landscape however, is ten times more beautiful ! There are some hikes from the baths that you can do and you’ll have a splendid view of the bay.
Except for the Blue Lagoon you can totally see all the other stops without booking an activity, and honestly I would go on my own if I had to do it again. Yes the lagoon was really nice, but nothing beats visiting at your pace and without a bus of tourists 🙂
Day Five
The village of Lefkara, located in the mountains, is divided into two parts : Pano Lefkara and Kato Lefkara (upper and lower villages). This little town is widely known for its embroidered lace and silver filigree.
The village is very picturesque, with its narrow and paved streets.
Here you can visit the museum of traditional embroidery and silversmith work. It will give you the backstory of those crafts in a charming traditional house, plus the visit is free.
After that, you can enjoy the afternoon to your favorite beach, so we went back to the secluded cove we loved at Governor’s beach :
Day Six
Despite being overly crowded and touristy, we wanted to make a pit stop to Nissi Beach to see the crystal-clear blue water. I’d recommend walking from the beginning of Nissi beach all the way to Adam’s beach. Sunbathing here is clearly not the smartest choice as there’s only paid sunbeds and way too much people.
If you walk 20 minutes east of Nissi beach (or a 4-minutes drive), and get a bit closer to the cliffs, you will get to see some stunning sea caves, and this area is pretty secluded.
On the contrary, if you get to the famous Ayia Napa sea caves located near the monument of peace, you’ll have a bit more of a crowd. But it’s really worth it, those natural rock bridges and caves are must see landmark along the coastline.
We enjoyed a lunch on the rocks near Fig Tree beach (too crowded for us!), but here are some photos of the less popular spots around it (first and last pic below).
After that, we went for a swim and a break at Green Bay beach, a bit less developed and touristy and 10 minutes away from Fig Tree by car (see second picture below).
Finally, we did the short trail to the Cyclops’ cave from Konnos beach (first picture below), also 10 minutes away from the last stop. It’s best done at sunset, to escape the sun and enjoy the golden hour. Honestly the cave in itself has nothing impressive, but the walk along the coastline is beautiful.
The hike is really easy and the path is very well indicated.
A 5-minutes drive from Konnos beach will take you to the little church of Ayioi Anargiroi. This white little chapel with its blue dome is facing the sea and has a very peaceful during the last minutes of sunset. On your way back you’ll see Kamara Tou Kokara, a natural rock bridge above the sea.
Day Seven
If you’re looking for another day of exploration I’d suggest visiting the archeological park of Paphos and then take a hike in the Avakas gorge. We personally didn’t go to Paphos as we liked the Kourion archeological site and they looked alike.
The Archeological site of New Paphos is the main activity in this city. The sites and monuments here date back from prehistoric eras through the medieval times. You will get to see remains of elaborate Roman villas, all with preserved mosaic floors. But also ruins of a theater, an agora, an odeon (which is an acropolis / amphitheater, and even a temple and a basilica.
The Paphos archaeological complex is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1980 and the entrance fee is 4,5€.
On the other end of Paphos are the Tombs of the Kings. It’s a large necropolis dating from the 3rd century BC, with underground tombs carved out of the rock. It has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the entrance fee is 2,5€.
To end this last day of adventure, I’d recommend doing the Avakas Gorge Nature Trail. The path becomes more and more narrow and slippery so bring a good pair of trainers. It’s 3km long and the walls can reach up to 30 meters high.
You can do the whole loop which is 8,5km, we personally only did the part in the gorges and turned around once out of the freshness and shade of the gorges.
And that wraps up my one week itinerary in Cyprus !
Overall, it was a magical and wonderful trip, in 7 days you get a really good feel of the island and can do a lot ! If you plan one going there for a shorter period, it’s totally possible if you skip some activities such as the big cities of Nicosia, Larnaca or Limassol that offer way less than the island’s nature sites !
Also note that most car rentals company in the South of Cyprus don’t allow driving the car in Northern Cyprus. That’s why we skipped Golden beach, Salamis and Saint Barnaby Monastery.
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