Troodos: the other Cyprus starts here.
Forests, mountain villages, waterfalls, walking trails, Byzantine churches and roads climbing to the island's highest point. Troodos is probably the biggest change of scenery you can find without leaving Cyprus. And yes: when conditions allow, you can even ski in winter.
Type
Mountains · Villages · Nature · Culture
Time
1 day for a first route · 2–3 days for different areas
Car
Highly recommended
Best for
Road trips · walking · villages · nature
In winter
Snow is possible and, when conditions allow, skiing on Mount Olympus
Do not try to see everything.Choose which side of Troodos to explore.
The other Cyprus
First: Troodos is not a village.
Troodos is a large mountain region made up of forests, valleys and dozens of villages.
That means opening Google Maps and saving places is not always helpful. It makes more sense to decide first what kind of day you want.
Mountain villages
You do not need to visit twenty villages.
Each valley has its own villages, and it would be easy to turn this page into an endless list. As a starting point, these four show quite different sides of Troodos.
Wine + stone + village square
Omodos
One of the best-known villages in the vineyard area, with a large central square, stone streets and a winemaking tradition.
Woodland + old town
Kakopetria
A mountain village surrounded by woodland, with a small historic centre of cobbled streets and houses with wooden balconies.
Valley + architecture + heritage
Kalopanayiotis
Built on the slopes of the Marathasa valley, it combines traditional architecture, steep streets, bridges and UNESCO heritage.
Woodland + walking trails + waterfalls
Platres
One of the most convenient bases for combining village life, woodland and some of Troodos's best-known riverside and waterfall walks.
Keep exploring
Nature, wine and heritage
Walking trails, wineries, monasteries, winter and all the practical information for Troodos.
Keep exploring
Nature, wine and heritage
Walking trails, wineries, monasteries, winter and all the practical information for Troodos.
Now leave the village and head into the forest
Troodos makes sense on foot.
recommends
Artemis Trail
A circular trail around Mount Olympus that lets you walk through the highest part of Troodos without tackling a technically demanding route.
It passes through black pine forest and offers views from approximately 1,850 metres above sea level.
Walking · Waterfall
Caledonia Waterfall Trail
A short route through woodland and along a river, ending at one of Troodos's best-known waterfalls.
Mountains · High point
Mount Olympus
Mount Olympus, also known as Chionistra, is the highest point in Cyprus, at around 1,952 metres.
Geology · Visitor centre
Troodos Geopark Visitor Centre
If you want to understand why Troodos's geology is so interesting, there is a Geopark Visitor Centre near Amiantos.
Wine · tastings · local products
You come here to taste things too.
The slopes of Troodos form one of Cyprus's major wine regions.
Among the villages, vineyards and small wineries, you can arrange a tasting, learn about local varieties and discover Commandaria, the island's historic sweet wine.
RECOMMENDS
What if the plan is simply to go wine tasting?
That works too.
A morning of villages, mountain roads and a winery visit is one of the most special ways to discover this part of Cyprus.
Troodos does not have to mean only walking trails and villages. You can also plan your day around a tasting.
Local wine
Xynisteri · Mavro · Maratheftiko
Commandaria
The historic sweet wine of Cyprus
Ideal for
Couples · friends · a relaxed day · combining with villages
Commandaria
The villages of Commandaria.
A route through villages traditionally associated with one of Cyprus's most historic wines.
Olive oil + local products
There is more than grapes.
The villages' farming culture also lives on in old olive mills and presses, local products and small producers.
Lania: an old wine press and olive oil press. Louvaras and Spilia: restored old olive oil presses.
Byzantine heritage
And then there are the churches.
Troodos is home to one of Cyprus's most important collections of Byzantine heritage. Ten painted churches in the region are included on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Monastery
Kykkos Monastery
One of Cyprus's best-known monasteries, in the heart of the mountainous Marathasa region.
Painted church · UNESCO
Agios Nikolaos tis Stegis
A small church with a pitched roof tucked into the landscape of Solea, with wall paintings spanning several centuries.
Painted church · UNESCO
Agios Ioannis Lampadistis
A complex of three churches beneath one large wooden roof in Kalopanayiotis, also included in the UNESCO group.
Winter in Troodos
Hang on.
Can you ski in Cyprus?
YES 😂
When enough snow falls, the slopes of Mount Olympus become Cyprus's only ski centre. It is probably one of the most unexpected sights on an island we usually associate with the Mediterranean and the beach.
Mount Olympus
~1,950 m
Typical season
Approx. January–March, always depending on snow
Ski runs
Zeus · Hera · Aphrodite · Hermes
Status
Check the official source, rather than static information
Troodos through the seasons
The mountains change the plan.
Spring
recommendsWoodland + walking trails.
A good time for walking and seeing the mountains come to life.
Summer
Escaping the heat + villages.
A different way to experience Cyprus when the coast gets hot.
Autumn
recommendsMountains + a change of scenery.
Roads, villages and nature at a different pace.
Winter
recommendsSnow + villages + possible skiing.
It always depends on snow, road and access conditions.
A day in Troodos, the
way
An itinerary to help you choose.
Step 01
Morning
Choose a village
Omodos, Kakopetria or Kalopanayiotis.
Step 02
Midday
Road + woodland
Make the journey between villages part of the day.
Step 03
Afternoon
Choose an experience
A walking trail, waterfall or UNESCO church.
Step 04
End of the day
Mountains
Head back down as the light starts to change.
Two days
Combine valleys without rushing.
With two days, you can start combining valleys. But exploring Troodos need not become a race to tick off villages.
Day 1
Villages + culture
Day 2
Nature + walking
Food and drink are different up here too.
Wine, Commandaria, mountain produce and local traditions are part of the journey. We will explore them separately.
Practical information
Before you go.
Choose villages, nature, walking, heritage or winter activities. Do not try to fit everything in.
A car is highly recommended for travelling between valleys, villages and trailheads.
Choose Omodos for stone streets and wine; Kakopetria for an old town among woodland; Kalopanayiotis for valley scenery and heritage; and Platres for walking trails and waterfalls.
Check the weather, trail status and mountain conditions. Not every route offers the same experience in every season.
Yes, but do not plan a day's skiing without first checking official ski slope, snow and road conditions.
Snow, ice or bad weather can affect roads and access. Always check official information before heading up.
PLANNING YOUR TRIP
Where do I start?
A quick guide to Cyprus to help you make your first decisions. Request it for free and receive it by email.