A Perfect Tour of Cyprus

Day 1

Larnaka

Arrive at Larnaka Airport, pick up your hire car, head into town for the Pierides and Archaeological museums. Lunch at a restaurant along Piyale Paşa, booking a dive for tomorrow over the Zenobia wreck. Drive west to accommodation in Tochni or Kalavasos. Dinner at nearby Zygi, or perhaps Limassol.

Day 2

Limassol

Return to Larnaka for a mid-morning dive of the Zenobia. Spend the middle of the day in Limassol, at the Cyprus Medieval Museum, and then lunch in the old quarter. Head to Kourion for a late afternoon visit, before dinner.

Day 3

Nicosia

Head early to Nicosia; visit the Cyprus and Byzantine museums. Later, explore the Mevlevî Tekke and the Selimiye Camii in North Nicosia. Return to the southern sector for dinner in the old town.

Days 4

Keryneia

Take your car across at Agios Dometios/Metehan and reach Keryneia waterfront in time for lunch. Afterwards, head up to Bellapais/Beylerbeyi with its Gothic abbey. Check into accommodation in Keryneia or Bellapais.

Day 5

Karpasia

Next day, head east to Kantara Castle, gateway to Karpasia. Lunch at a recommended local fish taverna, stopping afterwards at Agias Trias basilica with its fine mosaics. Enjoy a late afternoon swim at Nangomi/Golden Beach, then overnight at a recommended lodging in Dipkarpaz (Rizokarpaso). Watch the sunset from Agios Filon/Ayfilon cove.

Day 6

Three towns

Get an early start towards ancient Salamis, and then Famagusta to view the walls and Gothic mosque, before lunch at Gingko. Use fast roads west to the Kato Zodeia-Astromeritis border crossing, stopping at Galata to view its frescoed churches, then arriving at old Kakopetria for an overnight and dinner at Tziellari.

Day 7

Troödos painted churches

Start with Agios Nikolaos tis Stegis beside Kakopetria, then move to the Marathassa valley for Agios Lambadistis monastery and early lunch in Kalopanagiotis. Assuming a long spring day, spend the afternoon hiking the Madari circular trail (3 hours). Alternatively, visit the spectacular church of Panagia tou Araka nearby. Change base to Pano Platres.

Day 8

To Pafos

Leave Pano Platres via a Limassol foothill winery, then change valleys for lunch at Ariadni’s outside Vasa. A lovely route leads quickly downhill, via Koulkia and Palaia Paphos, to Pafos, where you overnight. Dinner at Seven St Georges Taverna.

Day 9

Around Pafos

Spend the morning at the world-class Pafos Mosaics, then the hermitage of St Neophytos. After lunch at Laona in Ktima marketplace, spend the afternoon at the turtle beach of Lara. Overnight as previous day; dinner at Imogen’s in Kathikas.

Day 10

Homeward

Return to Larnaka Airport, or preferably Pafos Airport, for flight home.