Image by Eveline Yatri / 500px Images

Troödos Mountains

Home to Mt Olympus (1952m), the island’s highest peak, this stunning mountain range provides visitors with a forested flip side to the coastal resorts and big-city clamour. Overlooking the valleys of Lemesos (Limassol), Larnaka and the greater Mesaoria plain, this region covers over 90 sq km and is a protected natural park which safeguards its wildlife, ecology and geology. In winter, skiers and snowboarders populate the ski resorts of the northern slopes, while at other times of the year the park is ideal for camping, picnicking, hiking, cycling and birdwatching.

In addition to the natural beauty of the landscape, the Troödos Mountains are home to a variety of postcard-pretty villages with cobbled streets, terraced slopes and vernacular architecture. The region’s peaks and valleys also hide some of the island’s most important medieval frescoed churches, along with unexpected monasteries, museums and some of the Republic’s finest wineries.

Explore Troödos Mountains

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Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Troödos Mountains.

  • Monastery

    Kykkos Monastery

    The island’s most prosperous and opulent Orthodox monastery was founded in the 11th century by Byzantine emperor Alexios I Komninos after a bizarre series…

  • Church

    Archangelos Michail

    Most people visit Pedoulas to see this extraordinary Unesco-listed church. Dating from 1474, the gable-roofed building sits in the lower part of the…

  • Church

    Panagia Forviotissa

    This Unesco-listed church is in a stunning setting on the perimeter of the Adelfi Forest 4km southwest of Nikitari village. Dedicated to the Virgin of …

  • Gardens

    Troödos Botanical Gardens

    Part of the excellent Troödos Geopark, this is a small but well-laid-out botanical garden with a lily pond and other water features, including a tumbling…

  • Monastery

    Agios Ioannis Lambadistis Monastery

    This Unesco-listed site is a complex of three churches in one, dating from the 11th century and built over 400 years. Now under one huge pitched wooden…

  • Church

    Panagia tou Araka

    This 12th-century Unesco-listed church is on the outskirts of Lagoudera. From the outside, it appears enormous, the pitched roof and wooden trellis…

  • Monastery

    Timiou Stavrou Monastery

    Fronted by the town’s impressive, massive cobbled square, the monastery’s entrance is guarded by a statue commemorating Dositheos, a former abbot murdered…

  • Church

    Panagia tis Podythou

    Located in the village of Galata, on the Nicosia road, this 16th-century Unesco-listed church was established in 1502 by Dimitrios de Coron, a Greek…

  • Church

    Panagia tou Moutoulla

    The oldest of the 10 Unesco-listed painted churches in the Troödos Mountains, this church is believed to have once been a private chapel. It has the steep…

  • Church

    Agia Sotira tou Soteros

    Perched on the slope overlooking Palaichori village, this Unesco-listed early-16th-century chapel contains one of the island’s most complete groups of…

  • Church

    Panagia Theotokou (Arhangelou)

    Dating from around 1514, this smaller chapel is just near Panagia tis Podythou. It’s quite dark inside, so you may want to bring a torch. It has vivid…

  • Church

    Timios Stavros

    Built in the 12th century, this Unesco-listed church was originally dome-shaped with a single aisle. In the 13th and 14th centuries it was added to with a…

  • Historic Site

    Olive Mill of Paphitaina

    In operation until 1955, this well-preserved olive-stone mill and wooden press are now housed in a traditional building in Spilia’s village centre.

  • Church

    Stavros Tou Agiasmati

    This Unesco-listed Byzantine church is famous for its 15th-century murals by Orthodox Syrian painter Philippos Goul. In two tiers, the images decorate the…

  • Museum

    Byzantine Museum

    This museum houses much of Kykkos Monastery's fabulous wealth, including Byzantine and ecclesiastical artefacts. On the left when you enter is an…

  • Church

    Agios Nikolaos tis Stegis

    This Unesco-listed church, known in English as St Nicholas of the Roof because of its large, heavy-pitched top, was founded in the 11th century and…

  • Museum

    Folk Art Museum

    Near the village centre, this museum houses clothing, furniture and agricultural tools that provide a snapshot of the culture, customs and history of the…

  • Museum

    Socrates Traditional House

    Located in the backstreets but well signposted, this quirky museum in a traditional house has an eclectic assortment of exhibits and furnishings,…

  • Museum

    Pedoulas Byzantine Museum

    The museum’s rich collection of 12th- to 15th-century icons come from six ancient Byzantine churches in the village and include the late-13th-century icon…

  • Tomb

    Tomb of Archbishop Makarios III

    The tomb of the first president of Cyprus is located on Throni Hill, 2km past Kykkos Monastery. Makarios was buried here at his request, close to the…

Top experiences

Whether it’s a guided tour of a historic landmark, private tasting of local delicacies, or an off-road adventure — explore the best experiences in Troödos Mountains.

  • Activities