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16 Top-Rated Attractions & Places to Visit in Cyprus

Written by Jess Lee Updated Mar 22, 2022

This island has a grand history. Coveted by empires across the centuries, Cyprus' enviable position has made it a prized possession for all who rose to power in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Today, people still flock here, but it's now to seek out the island's beaches rather than to gain power and glory.

For travelers interested in more than sand and sun, you're in for a treat, as Cyprus has archaeological sites , fine Byzantine churches, and monasteries and museums galore among its historic tourist attractions.

It's also a wonderful place to go hiking , with an incredible wealth of unique flora and fauna. Best of all, it's so small that you can easily base yourself in one town and head out on sightseeing day trips from there.

Make sure you don't miss any of what's on offer by using our list of the top attractions and places to visit in Cyprus.

1. Ancient Kourion

2. st. hilarion castle, 4. karpas peninsula, 5. ancient salamis, 6. kolossi castle, 7. cape greco, 8. troodos villages, 9. house of dionysus, 10. cyprus museum, 11. nissi beach, 12. kyrenia, 13. underwater museum, 14. famagusta old city, 15. protaras beaches, 16. nicosia old city.

There's no shortage of ancient sites in Cyprus, but Kourion is the pick of the bunch. Exploring the grand monuments and mosaics here is one of the best things to do in Cyprus .

Romantically situated across a coastal cliff, with tumbling views of the countryside and Mediterranean below, it's a magical place.

The entire site is vast, but the most famous places to visit while here are the theater and the House of Eustolios , which holds a clutch of fine, well-preserved mosaics.

For those with more time up their sleeves, the large Byzantine basilica area is wonderfully picturesque with its tumbled columns and scraps of mosaic floor.

Read More: Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Limassol

One of the Mediterranean's most beautiful castle ruins, St. Hilarion is an old Crusader bastion and home to many myths and legends.

Local lore claims the castle itself was built by a fairy queen, who used to charm local shepherds on the slopes here.

The castle's extensive ramparts and chambers snake up the mountain and are explorer heaven. A trail runs through the lower castle buildings of soldier barracks and stables, up to the remnants of towers, royal apartments, and chapels.

For those that climb right to the top, the views across the hills and down to the coastal plain are phenomenal.

St. Hilarion is in north Cyprus, so you need to cross the Green Line to visit. The north has three major castle ruins, but St. Hilarion is by far the best preserved. This is the one to visit if you're only on a day trip to the north.

Easygoing Larnaca, on the island's southeast coast, may be a seaside resort, but it's kept its local soul.

This is by far the most laid-back base for holidaymakers here. All the facilities for sun- and sand-based fun can be found, but the old crumbling Turkish Quarter (called Skala) and ornate Agios Lazaros (Church of St. Lazarus) give the town an interesting historical edge, while the center itself has retained the atmosphere of a proper workaday town rather than just a summer resort.

Even better, the salt lake , just to Larnaca's west, is packed full of flocks of pink flamingos during spring, and plenty of hill villages and cultural tourist attractions lie in the surrounding hinterland.

Read More: Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Larnaca

The most beautiful region in Cyprus is the lonely and rugged Karpas Peninsula, which stretches out in a long finger of golden beaches backed by rugged hills in the northeast of the island (in north Cyprus).

It's Cyprus' least trodden area with sublime hiking, quaint villages, and hidden historical sites in abundance.

This is the place you need to head if you want to experience the undiscovered and undeveloped island life of old.

Venture out for the day in a car (the area has virtually no public transport) and visit the mosaics of Agia Triada at Sipahi village before heading further northeast to remote Dipkarpaz village and the small ruin of Agios Filon church.

Afterwards, move on to the peninsula's famous Golden Beach, a vast swath of sand that sums up the Karpas' rugged appeal.

This huge archaeological site is home to a wealth of marble ruins and ranks up there with Ancient Kourion as the top historical site on the island.

Wandering along the dirt tracks of Salamis between sets of ruins from a muddle of different time periods is a lesson in the vast history of Cyprus.

Grand Hellenistic statuary – missing their heads, which were lopped off by over-zealous Christians – sit amid the ruins of the Gymnasium.

Two substantial ruins of Byzantine churches stand amid fields of wild fennel and weeds, and a humongous reservoir area showcases the engineering ability and management of what must have once been a grand ancient city.

Ancient Salamis is in north Cyprus and is easily combined with a day trip to Famagusta.

If castles had cuteness competitions, Kolossi would surely come up trumps. This tiny but perfectly formed castle just outside of Limassol is an old Crusader stronghold and a reminder of Cyprus' importance for the Europeans during the Holy Land Crusades.

First held by the Knights of St. John, the castle was used as a commandery for the area, with an excellent location looking out over the coast line.

Today, the castle's appeal is mostly down to its dollhouse proportions and its tranquil position amid snoozy Kolossi village.

Even along Cyprus' buzzing south coast, there are regions where you can escape the crowds.

Cape Greco is a rugged and rocky coastal national park covering the promontory that makes up the island's southerly tip. There's a variety of walking trails here that start just east of the resort of Agia Napa.

The longest trail winds across the rocky headland, with staircases at points along the cliff, where you can descend to swim by the sea caves, and ending at the tiny cove of Konnos Beach, where you can cool off with another swim after your walk.

There is a wonderful variety of local flora here, particularly many of Cyprus' endemic wild orchids that bloom in early spring but the real highlight is the absolutely gorgeous coastal scenery with azure blue sea beyond.

The Troodos Massif (Troodos Mountains), in the hill region of the southwest, are packed full of pretty villages full of stone-cut traditional houses and cobblestone alleys.

They're also home to some of Cyprus' most amazing churches and monasteries that hold vibrant frescoes and wall paintings that date from the medieval era.

The Troodos churches are so important historically that nine of them have been given UNESCO World Heritage status.

Hiring a car and tootling around this area, searching out stone cut chapels is a great day out but if you only have time to view one, the Church of Archangelos Michail in the little village of Pedoulas should be top of your things to do list.

For self-drive day trip potential, the Troodos Mountains are easiest accessed using Limassol or Nicosia as your base.

To cut down on the driving there are also plenty of small boutique-style hotels in the main Troodos Mountains villages themselves.

The big-hitter site in the resort of Paphos is the House of Dionysus, home to an incredible collection of mosaic floors that are feted for their excellent preservation and vibrant coloring.

Part of the larger Paphos Archaeological Site which contains the excavated remains of ancient Paphos, the area is home to a variety of Greco-Roman ruins, as well as several other mosaic houses.

The House of Dionysus remains the most visited part of the site because it contains the best examples of intricate mosaic artistry.

The house is named after the god Dionysus who crops up in many of the mosaics throughout the house, which mostly depict scenes of Greek mythology.

Read More: Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Paphos

With so many archaeological sites, Cyprus is packed full of museums, but the Cyprus Museum in the capital Nicosia is where you go to pull together all of the island's history.

Extremely well-curated, the museum takes visitors on a journey from the Neolithic age right up to the Ottoman era using beautiful artifacts to show the sophisticated artistry of each period.

The standout exhibits are the huge collection of terra-cotta votive statues that date from the 7th century BC.

Even if you're based on the coast, you should definitely make a half-day trip to the capital just to view the museum.

Read More: Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Nicosia

A swath of white sand loveliness that rolls onto the turquoise sea in Agia Napa, Nissi Beach is Cyprus' most famous strip of sand.

Yes, it gets crowded in summer (a beach this gorgeous doesn't stay a secret), but even with rows of sunbeds, there's no denying Nissi's beauty.

The water is very shallow at the shoreline and very calm within the bay as a whole, making it a great spot for families with young children, and in the summer high season, bags of facilities are on offer, meaning you can make an entire day at the beach.

Kyrenia (Girne) is north Cyprus' prettiest town having clung to the old Ottoman character of its harborside district.

Kyrenia Castle overlooks the quaint harbor on the eastern side, and climbing up onto the castle's ramparts rewards you with fantastic views across the town.

A squiggle of narrow lanes meander back from the waterfront area, full of wooden-shuttered houses in various states of disrepair. It's a great place for strolling and soaking up the timeless atmosphere and there are plenty of cafés overlooking the harbor for when you want to put your feet up.

Opened in 2021, the underwater museum park (officially called MUSAN Museum of Underwater Sculpture Ayia Napa) is an underwater forest featuring 130 sculptures created by reef artist Jason deCaires Taylor.

As well as being a major new tourist attraction, the forest has been created to help the local marine environment, with the sculptures (all made from PH neutral cement that will eventually attract coral) set between kelp, which will grow to become a dense forest attracting marine life to the area.

Both snorkelers and scuba divers can explore the underwater museum, though divers will be able to head down to the farthest depths of the park.

MUSAN is situated off the coast of Pernera Beach in Ayia Napa.

Official site: http://musan.com.cy/en/home

In north Cyprus, don't miss the old city of Famagusta, surrounded by sturdy, high Venetian-era walls and inside, scattered with the crumbling ruins of Gothic churches.

In the center is the Lala Mustafa Paşa Mosque, which was originally the Cathedral of St. Nicholas, built in the early 14th century during the reign of the Lusignans.

Sprinkled throughout the old city's lanes are several other churches in various states of ruin or disrepair, mostly dating from the 14th century and built in the Gothic style but also some earlier Byzantine examples.

Famagusta's biggest tourist attraction, though, is its 16th-century Venetian walls, with its bastions and gates, which can still be climbed up and traversed across at some sections.

In the island's southeast corner, the coastline running north from Cape Greco up to the Green Line (which separates the Republic from the north) is speckled with beaches.

This stretch of coast is a summer resort haven, with the little town of Protaras the central base for family-friendly holidays devoted to sun, sea, and sand.

Protaras Beach and Fig Tree Bay are the two most popular strips of sand, with plenty of water sports on offer and facilities for a full day of beach time, though the small white-sand cove of Konnos Beach, on the northern edge of Cape Greco, comes a close third.

To the north of Protaras, the little sand strips of Agia Triada Beach and Skoutari Beach are great options if you want to escape the biggest crowds, but during mid-summer, don't expect any patch of sand along this coast to be empty.

Nicosia is Europe's last divided capital. Nicosia (Lefkosia) is the capital of the Republic of Cyprus, and North Nicosia (Lefkoşa) is the capital of UN-unrecognized north Cyprus.

The Green Line slices right through the center of the walled old city district, and you will need to have your passport (and fulfill any of the current border requirements, which change regularly) if you want to cross.

In Nicosia (Lefkosia), the old city lanes are home to several excellent small museums, including the Makarios Cultural Foundation Byzantine Museum, and some fresco-covered churches, such as the Agios Ioannis Church.

Two of the city's best preserved architectural sights are in North Nicosia (Lefkoşa). Here, you'll find the glorious Gothic architecture of the Selimiye Mosque, originally the 14th-century St. Sophia Cathedral, and the Ottoman-era caravanserai of the Büyük Han.

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Father and son on a trek through the mountains in Cyprus

Cyprus is beaches, walking, history and more © wundervisuals / Getty Images

Cyprus is a small island with a huge amount of fabulous things to do. The appeal includes several millennia of history — including some of the most incredible ancient sites in the Mediterranean – spectacular beaches, bounteous platters of superb food and much, much more.

The island's bifurcated cultures uneasily coexist yet they’re unified by a welcoming tradition of hospitality that will have you looking for ways to delay your departure. It's easy to visit both the Greek Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus via the seven border crossings linking the two halves of the island.

Travelers from many countries can visit both north and south without a visa , opening up a fascinating journey through both Greek and Turkish culture. Here are the best things to do in Cyprus.

Cross the line

The UN-administered Green Line has split Cyprus in two since 1974. Most people head for the Republic in the south, ignoring the comparatively less-visited Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, with its natural beauty, ancient ruins, rich culture and Turkish accent.

Among the unmissable surprises in the North, make time for historic Famagusta (Gazimağusa) , which hides Gothic beauty behind its Venetian-era walls, and the Karpas Peninsula, with its wild beaches stalked by wilder donkeys. If time is short, hop over the border on foot to explore North Nicosia (Lefkoşa) , where each twisted alley leads to another architectural treasure.

Find the perfect Mediterranean package in Pafos

Is Pafos the best all-around city in Cyprus? That's for you to decide, but we love its beguiling seafront strip of excellent cafes and beaches, and its backstreets lined with medieval buildings and mysterious chapels. For many, the top sight is the collection of Roman mosaics in Pafos' sprawling shorefront archeological site , but make time for the colonial district with its excellent museums, and the brilliant diving offshore. Maximize your time for fun and fly into Pafos’ international airport, saving yourself a drive from Larnaka — you’re going to need every spare minute in Pafos.

Discover Cyprus' national parks

The national parks of Cyprus cater to every taste, from family-friendly expanses perfect for picnics – complete with playgrounds and mountain views – to vast, remote retreats in the hills. Reserves such as Cape Greco National Forest Park and Troödos National Forest Park do a great job of preserving the island’s natural beauty; come to stretch your legs and explore pine forests, wildflower-blanketed meadows, craggy limestone cliffs, isolated beach and even snowy peaks. You can swim and ski all in one day!

A woman climbs down steps at Cape Greco in front of rough seas

Feast on more meze dishes than you can count

Meze is short for mezedes (“little delicacies”), a Cypriot food tradition that’s as much Turkish as it is Greek. And there's no better way to unify the island’s cultures than through a seemingly ceaseless cavalcade of small plates of Cyprus delicacies, hot and cold, savory and sweet, freshly made and preserved.

Get a group together and don’t stop the culinary assault until you’re at least 10 dishes past the point you lost count. Best of all, there’re plenty of excellent local wines to lubricate the feast. Start the sampling at Zanettos Taverna in Nicosia (Lefkosia), which has been cooking up a storm since 1938.

Dive the Zenobia

Considered one of the very best wreck dives in the world, the Zenobia was a Swedish-built freighter that went down off Larnaka in 1980. Today, a jumbled cargo of trucks spills out of its broken holds like an aquatic scrapyard. Local dive operators arrange trips for people of all skill levels. You can explore the decks of the ship and revel in the teaming marine life attracted to this unplanned artificial reef.

Tour the Byzantine churches of the Troödos

“Bright” doesn’t suffice to describe the colors splashed over the interior walls and ceilings of these outwardly unremarkable-looking churches dropped into clefts in the Troödos Mountains. From the 11th to the 16th centuries, countless artisans transformed the interiors of these stone chapels into works of art that are rightfully listed as Unesco World Heritage sites. Once you enter Panagia Forviotissa chapel – or any of the other late- and post-Byzantine chapels nearby – give yourself extra time to savor the vibrant details.

Byzantine-era ceiling murals in the church of Panagia tis Asinou

Have a therapeutic pounding at Büyük Hamam

In the medieval Iplik Bazar–Korkut Effendi quarter of North Nicosia, look for the tiny ornate door set 2m below street level that leads to this traditional Turkish bathhouse . Originally part of the 14th-century Church of St George of the Latins, this cultural relic provides the full soak-and-scrub experience, from a rough exfoliation with black soap to a pounding massage. For the complete treatment, come during the early evening most days when “touristic services” are offered.

Find solace in the Sanctuary of Aphrodite

Cyprus is packed with sites related to the ancient Greek goddess of love, passion and plenty of other pleasures. Yet somehow, one of the most significant places linked to the island’s patron goddess is also one of the least visited. Credit to Unesco for making these handsome Greek and Roman ruins a World Heritage Site. An interesting museum gives context for the treasures while walkways around the site have splendid seashore views.

Stroll around Kyrenia’s historic harbor

A cauldron of history, the old harbor in the heart of Kyrenia (Girne) has a little bit of history from every era, including a looming castle with relics from the Romans, Ottomans, even Richard the Lionheart. Toss in the disheveled remains of a 16th-century church, a centuries-old mosque, abandoned stone warehouses subsiding into oblivion plus the inevitable Greek and Roman ruins and you have a heady — and unrestored — mix of the island’s legacies.

The ancient harbor at Kyrenia, North Cyprus

Join the coffee debate

Turkish coffee or Greek coffee? Debating the differences between these two cups – both central to the cultures of their respective portions of Cyprus – may divide more than it unites, but lucky you getting to do the research to form your own conclusion. Compare these strong little cups brewed from finely ground beans in the stylish cafes of Nicosia (Lefkosia) and the humbler backstreet stalls in North Nicosia (Lefkoşa).

Marvel at the mosaics at Pafos Archaeological Site

The archeologists have their work cut out for them at the sprawling Pafos Archaeological Site , given that all the magnificence on display is but a fraction of what is thought to still be under the ground, waiting to be uncovered. The Romans loved their mosaics, and the examples in this ancient city from the 4th century BCE are superb even by their high standards. Wander amidst reconstructed arches, outcroppings of wild sage and impossibly huge blocks of marble and let loose with your inner toga.

Party on the beach

Protaras at the east end of the Republic is the anchor for a string of beaches that erupt with joyful crowds and pleasure all summer long. Here you don’t decry the mobs, you join them for fun, both in and out of the water, all day and all night long. One of the best options here, Fig Tree Bay has a small sand island just offshore and a staggering assortment of clubs, bars, watersports rental shacks and much more inland.

Hotels and beach at Fig tree Bay in Protaras, Cyprus

Windsurf Cyprus' wind-buffed coves

Windsurfers of all skill levels can find ideal conditions at some point along the island’s filigreed coast. Beginners can take lessons and learn the ropes in the sheltered waters of Pissouri Bay, between Lemesos (Limassol) and Pafos on the southwest coast. Those who’ve mastered their boards can battle the blows at world-class sites like Lady’s Mile Beach on the Akrotiri Peninsula.

Get lost in Ancient Salamis

Littered with the detritus of great civilizations from the ancient Greeks to the Byzantine empire, with Assyrians, Romans and a few others in between, the grand archaeological site of Ancient Salamis is one of the glories of Cyprus. Stake out a seat in the large amphitheater and ponder the passing of one of the ancient world’s great city-states, then lose yourself on the paths that wander through these spectacular seaside ruins.

Wander Cyprus' wine-tasting villages

The sun-drenched, south-facing slopes of the Omodos region form the heartland of Cypriot wine culture. Grapes have been grown here for centuries and every farmhouse is said to have old wine-making tools in its cellar (check out the collection at Socrates Traditional House ). Today, more than 50 wineries operate in these tiny hillside villages and the region is known for its bold Shirazes and cabernets as well as some pleasing dry whites. Touring and tasting in these splendid surroundings makes for a fine afternoon.

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