Cyprus 10 days deep — Paphos, Akamas, Troodos, Nicosia, Larnaca, Ayia Napa and Limassol

Ten days to stop being a tourist and start understanding Cyprus

Most visitors to Cyprus see the surface. Ten days allows you to go underneath it — literally, in the case of the Zenobia wreck dive. You will start in Paphos with the mosaics and the harbour, push north into the wild Akamas where the road runs out, climb into the Troodos for two nights in pine-scented mountain villages, discover that Nicosia is genuinely interesting, lie flat on the Zenobia at 40 m depth, and end with two days in Ayia Napa balanced by Limassol’s cosmopolitan pull.

This is a full island experience. It moves quickly in places (Day 6 Nicosia is a single night) but never becomes a blur because each environment is so distinct from the last. Budget the time carefully: ten days is enough to feel the island, not just photograph it.

At a glance

Day	Base	Focus
Day 1	Paphos	Archaeological park, Tombs, harbour
Day 2	Paphos	Akamas jeep safari, Blue Lagoon
Day 3	Troodos	Kykkos, wine villages, overnight
Day 4	Troodos	Mountain walking, Omodos, wine tasting
Day 5	Nicosia	Capital city, Green Line, museums
Day 6	Larnaca	Arrival, saint Lazarus, salt lake
Day 7	Larnaca	Zenobia dive, Larnaca old town
Day 8	Ayia Napa	Cape Greco, sea caves, MUSAN
Day 9	Ayia Napa	Blue Lagoon cruise, Protaras
Day 10	Limassol	Old town farewell, catamaran

Fly in: Paphos (PFO); fly out: Larnaca (LCA) or Paphos (one-way hire car recommended)

Day 1 — Paphos: the world in mosaics

Arrive Paphos, collect hire car, check in at Kato Paphos. The Paphos Archaeological Park is the opening chapter of this itinerary and it sets the tone: this island has been at the crossroads of Mediterranean civilisation since the Bronze Age, and it shows.

The four great mosaic villas — Dionysos, Theseus, Aion, Orpheus — date from the 2nd–5th centuries AD. The House of Dionysos alone has 556 square metres of floor mosaics, each panel a mythological scene of sophisticated draughtsmanship. Walk to the Odeon (restored Roman theatre), Saranta Kolones castle (Crusader-era), and the lighthouse.

Paphos: Half-Day City Tour with Tombs of the Kings Entry — guided tour of the archaeological park and Tombs of the Kings. Highly recommended for the mythological context.

Afternoon: Tombs of the Kings (2 km north) — a UNESCO necropolis of rock-cut chambers from the 3rd century BC. Allow 90 minutes.

Evening: Ktima old town dinner. Walk the harbour. Sleep well — tomorrow is a full day.

Sleep: Paphos (2 nights). Almyra Hotel (adults-only, seafront), Annabelle Hotel or the Coral Beach Hotel near Coral Bay.

Day 2 — Akamas: the wild north of Paphos district

This is one of the best days of the whole itinerary. The Akamas Peninsula National Park covers the northwestern tip of Cyprus: endemic flora (over 35 plant species found nowhere else), sea turtle nesting beaches (Lara), the Blue Lagoon, and terrain so rugged that the British Army used it as a training ground for decades.

From Paphos or Limassol: Akamas National Park Jeep Safari — a full-day jeep safari into Akamas covering Avakas Gorge (dramatic limestone canyon), Lara Beach (green and loggerhead turtle nesting site, May–August), Aphrodite’s Baths, and the Blue Lagoon. This is the best way to see the interior of the peninsula.

The Blue Lagoon at Kioni is the reward: a sheltered cove with 20 m visibility and water the colour of a Caribbean postcard. If you prefer the boat approach:

Paphos/Akamas: Blue Lagoon Bus & Boat Tour with Water Slide — bus-and-boat combination from Paphos to the Blue Lagoon, with swimming and water slide. More relaxed alternative.

Afternoon: Return via Aphrodite’s Rock (Petra tou Romiou) — the legendary birthplace of Aphrodite. The late-afternoon light on the sea stack is extraordinary; swimming possible, conditions permitting.

Evening: Paphos buggy tour as an active alternative to dinner:

Paphos: 4x4 ATV & Buggy Safari Tour to Aphrodite's Rock — an exhilarating buggy safari combining inland villages with Aphrodite’s Rock.

Day 3 — Into the Troodos: Kykkos and mountain villages

Check out of Paphos. Today you climb. The Troodos mountains rise to 1,952 m (Mount Olympus/Chionistra) and constitute the most geologically distinctive part of Cyprus — the island’s ophiolite core, oceanic crust uplifted above sea level.

Drive northeast on the F9 through the Paphos Forest: stone-terraced hillsides, carob orchards, villages where the pace slows dramatically. Stop in Panageia village to see the birthplace of Makarios III and the church beside it.

Kykkos Monastery (75 km from Paphos, 90 min): the wealthiest monastery in Cyprus, its exterior covered in gold and marble mosaics, its icon of the Virgin attributed to Saint Luke. The museum inside has surprisingly good Byzantine art. The monastery gift shop sells Zivania (Cyprus’s firewater) and local honey — both worth buying.

From Paphos: Troodos — To the Highest Peaks — guided tour from Paphos covering Olympus viewpoint and key mountain stops. Good complement to this day.

Afternoon: Drive to Kakopetria (40 min from Kykkos on the north Troodos slope) — a preserved mountain village with a running stream, stone houses, and a small watermill. One of the most atmospheric villages on the island. Lunch at To Mylos tou Christaki (the old mill taverne).

Evening: Drive 20 minutes south to Platres or Troodos village.

Sleep: Troodos area (2 nights). Forest Park Hotel, Platres (€90 B&B, pool) or Jubilee Hotel, Troodos village (€60).

Day 4 — Mountains: wine roads, Omodos and a slow day

This is deliberately unscheduled. One of the pleasures of ten days is having a day that is not a list.

Morning — Walking or driving the heights

From the hotel, take the Artemis Trail (circular, 7.5 km, around the summit of Olympus at 1,800 m) — a gentle walk through cedar and black pine, with views to both coasts on clear days. The trail is marked and takes about 2.5 hours at a relaxed pace. No special equipment needed; good shoes sufficient.

Alternatively, drive to the Caledonian Waterfall trailhead near Platres (3 km from the hotel) and walk the 45-minute path through forest to the waterfall.

Afternoon — Omodos wine village

Drive south to Omodos (25 min from Platres). This is the heartland of Cyprus wine — the Krasochoria (wine villages) of the Limassol district produce Commandaria, Xynisteri, Maratheftiko, Mavro and increasingly interesting single-varietal wines.

In Omodos itself, visit Ktima Dafermou for a tasting. A glass of aged Commandaria with a plate of loukoumades (honey doughnuts) in the monastery square is a quintessential Cyprus afternoon.

Paphos: Tour to Troodos, Kykkos Monastery, Omodos and Winery — a guided day from Paphos covering Omodos and the winery route (if you prefer a structured introduction to the wine culture).

Evening: Return to Troodos/Platres. The Forest Park Hotel restaurant serves excellent Cypriot cuisine using mountain herbs; book ahead even as a guest.

Day 5 — Nicosia: the divided capital

Drive from Platres to Nicosia (80 km, 90 min via A1/A6). Check in and spend the day in the only divided capital city in the world.

Morning — Cyprus Museum and old town

The Cyprus Museum (near Eleftherias Square) is the finest archaeological collection on the island: Bronze Age terracottas (the famous Ayia Irini collection: 2,000 figurines), Archaic sculpture, Roman-period bronzes. Allow 2 hours. Admission €4.50.

Walk the Venetian walls (built 1567) to the Famagusta Gate (one of three original city gates, now a cultural centre). The old town streets within the walls contain a fascinating mix of coffee shops, craft workshops, UN vehicles and the slowly decaying buffer zone at the north edge.

Nicosia: Last Divided City, Tour combining South & North — a guided walking tour contextualising the partition, the 1974 events and the current political situation. Highly recommended; the history is complex and a guide makes it accessible.

Afternoon — Ledra Street and the buffer zone

Walk to Ledra Street (pedestrian shopping street, then the crossing at the north end). From the rooftop observation point at the crossing, look into the buffer zone — a stretch of abandoned buildings and barbed wire administered by the UN, unchanged since 1974.

You can cross if you wish (see the 7-day with-north itinerary for the full northern Cyprus experience); or simply walk to the crossing and back, which itself is a thought-provoking experience.

Nicosia: Green Line and Buffer Zone Guided Tour — a guided tour of the Green Line and buffer zone, with access to areas not normally open to independent visitors.

Evening: Nicosia has the island’s most sophisticated restaurant scene. Try Enoteca Montecapo for modern Cypriot wine, or Fata Morgana for creative Mediterranean food. Budget €35–50/person.

Sleep: Nicosia (1 night). Hilton Nicosia (€115/night) or Classic Hotel (€75/night).

Day 6 — Larnaca: the underrated city

Drive from Nicosia to Larnaca (50 km, 45 min on A1). Check into your Larnaca hotel.

Larnaca is where most visitors land and hurry through. Stay and look properly.

Church of Saint Lazarus: One of the most beautiful Byzantine churches in Cyprus, built over the tomb of Lazarus by Emperor Leo VI in the 9th century. The icon screen and the crypt (where Lazarus was supposedly buried twice — once in Bethany, once here) are remarkable.

Larnaca Salt Lake: 2 km from the airport, a 9 sq km natural hypersaline lake. October–March it hosts thousands of greater flamingos; the Hala Sultan Tekke mosque on its western edge (containing the tomb of Umm Haram bint Milhan, one of the Prophet Muhammad’s companions) is one of the most important Islamic sites in the world. Admission free; the setting is extraordinary.

Larnaca Medieval Fort and Finikoudes promenade: walk the seafront, watch the pelicans at the fishing harbour, eat at Art Café 1900 (excellent meze in a turn-of-the-century building).

Larnaca: Private Walking Tour of the City with a Local Guide — a private guided tour of Larnaca’s historical sites. Good for covering ground efficiently before tomorrow’s dive.

Sleep: Larnaca (2 nights). Golden Bay Hotel (€100/night beachfront) or Radisson Blu Larnaca (€120/night).

Day 7 — The Zenobia: one of the world’s great wreck dives

The MV Zenobia is the reason divers come to Larnaca. A Swedish-built Ro-Ro ferry, she sank in 1980 on her maiden voyage after a steering malfunction caused progressive listing. She lies 1.5 km off Larnaca port, on her port side, at 16–42 m depth. She is consistently ranked among the top ten wreck dives in the world — Cousteau named her number one in the Mediterranean.

Thirty-four trucks are visible on the car deck. Fish life is extraordinary: trevally schools, barracuda, grouper, lionfish, sea horses. The swim-through sections include the truck deck and the superstructure. Vis is typically 15–25 m; water temperature 22–27°C June–October.

Zenobia Wreck: Private Guided Dive — a private guided dive on the Zenobia. Even experienced divers benefit from a guide on the first dive; the wreck is large enough to get lost in.

Non-divers: While your companion dives, take a boat tour of the Larnaca coast or visit Choirokoitia (30 km west), a UNESCO Neolithic settlement from 7000 BC.

Afternoon: Recover and explore Larnaca old town.

Evening: Militzis Restaurant near the seafront — the best traditional Cypriot food in Larnaca.

Day 8 — Ayia Napa: Cape Greco and the sea caves

Drive from Larnaca to Ayia Napa (47 km, 40 min on B3). Check in and head straight to Cape Greco.

Cape Greco National Forest Park: A limestone headland 5 km east of Ayia Napa with sea arches, natural swimming pools, and walking trails. The famous bridge arch above the sea is visible from the cliff path. The water here is some of the clearest on the island. Walk the coastal path south from the car park (easy, 4 km return).

Ayia Napa town: The central monastery (Venetian, free admission) is a beautiful counter-point to the nightclub signs surrounding it. The MUSAN Underwater Sculpture Museum is accessible only by diving or snorkelling from the beach at the Anassa area — sculptures by Jason deCaires Taylor at 8–12 m depth.

Ayia Napa: MUSAN Underwater Museum Scuba Dive — a guided dive (or snorkel) at the MUSAN Underwater Sculpture Museum. Book ahead; entry requires booking.

Evening: Dinner at Captain Andreas or Vassou Restaurant. Ayia Napa’s better restaurants are a short walk from the main strip.

Sleep: Ayia Napa (2 nights). Dome Beach Hotel (€120/night beachfront), or quieter Sunrise Pearl at Protaras (€130/night).

Day 9 — Blue Lagoon cruise and Protaras

Ayia Napa: Blue Lagoon & Turtle Cruise with Optional Lunch — a morning cruise from Ayia Napa to the Blue Lagoon, Turtle Bay and the sea caves, with swimming stops and lunch. This is the Ayia Napa coastal experience at its best: gentle, social, beautiful.

Afternoon: Drive 8 km north to Protaras. Unlike Ayia Napa, Protaras is primarily a family resort — quieter, cleaner beaches, with the famous Fig Tree Bay (consistently ranked among the best beaches in Europe: clear water, fine sand, calm bay). Walk the headland north of the bay for views back toward Cyprus’s eastern coast.

Jeep safari option:

From Protaras: Full-Day Grand Tour Jeep Safari with Lunch — a grand tour jeep safari around the Protaras area and Cape Greco, covering viewpoints and hidden bays not accessible by normal car.

Evening: Last night in Ayia Napa. Consider a sunset boat or simply dinner at the harbour.

Day 10 — Limassol: farewell catamaran

Drive from Ayia Napa to Limassol (90 km, 75 min via A3/A1). Check in for one final night.

Morning: The Limassol old town is the perfect finale — cosmopolitan, confident, layered. Walk the carob warehouse district (Anexartisias Street), the medieval castle, the covered market. Have a coffee at one of the roasting houses in the gentrified warehouse area.

Limassol: Old Town Walking Tour with a Local Architect — a final architectural walk through Limassol’s old town.

Afternoon:

Limassol: Luxury Catamaran Cruise with Lunch and Drinks — a half-day catamaran cruise from Limassol with swimming, lunch and drinks. The perfect sendoff: you have seen the island from land for nine days; see it from the sea on the last afternoon.

Return to Limassol for an early dinner, then drive to Paphos airport (70 km, 50 min) or Larnaca airport (80 km, 55 min) for departure.

Sleep (if needed): Limassol (1 night). Londa Hotel (€130/night) or Four Seasons Hotel Limassol (€200/night).

What to book in advance

1. From Paphos or Limassol: Akamas National Park Jeep Safari — Day 2 Akamas jeep. Book 48–72 hours ahead.
2. Zenobia Wreck: Private Guided Dive — Day 7 Zenobia dive. Book at least a week ahead; must hold a valid dive certification (PADI OW or equivalent).
3. Ayia Napa: MUSAN Underwater Museum Scuba Dive — Day 8 MUSAN dive. Book 48 hours ahead minimum.
4. Ayia Napa: Blue Lagoon & Turtle Cruise with Optional Lunch — Day 9 cruise. Book a week ahead in July–August.
5. Limassol: Luxury Catamaran Cruise with Lunch and Drinks — Day 10 catamaran. Limited capacity.

Driving and logistics

Total distance: approximately 600–650 km over ten days.

One-way hire car: If flying into Paphos and out of Larnaca (or vice versa), arrange a one-way rental at booking. Drop-off fee typically €20–40. All major companies offer this.

Key distances:

• Paphos → Akamas (Latchi): 45 km (50 min)
• Paphos → Kykkos: 75 km (90 min)
• Platres → Nicosia: 80 km (90 min)
• Nicosia → Larnaca: 50 km (45 min)
• Larnaca → Ayia Napa: 47 km (40 min)
• Ayia Napa → Limassol: 90 km (75 min)

Fuel: Budget €100–120 for the full ten days of driving.

Parking: Most towns have paid parking (€0.50–1.50/hour). Troodos and national parks have free car parks.

Variations

For non-divers: Replace the Zenobia day with a Larnaca food tour and a half-day at Choirokoitia and Lefkara. The rest of the itinerary is unchanged.

For wine specialists: Extend Troodos to three nights and add a second winery day visiting Ktima Vlassides, Ktima Tsangarides and the Keo cooperative wine museum in Limassol.

Budget version: Self-drive all days, pack lunches from supermarkets, sleep in guesthouses (~€40–60/night), eat mezze at village tavernes (€12–15/person). Total cost drops to €100–120/person/day.

Adding Northern Cyprus: This itinerary can be extended to 12 days by adding Nicosia crossing + Kyrenia + Famagusta after Day 5. See the 7-day with-north itinerary for that section.

Frequently asked questions about this itinerary

Is ten days too long for Cyprus?

Not if you use it as this itinerary does — going slow enough in each place to understand it. Visitors who rush the island in five days often wish they had stayed longer. Ten days is the minimum for a truly comprehensive experience.

Do I need to be a diver to enjoy this itinerary?

No. The Zenobia day can be replaced with a snorkelling trip above the wreck (the superstructure rises to 16 m, visible from the surface in good vis) or a land-based excursion to Choirokoitia and Lefkara. MUSAN is also accessible by snorkelling.

What is the best time of year for this itinerary?

May–June and September–October are ideal: warm enough for diving and swimming, not brutally hot in the interior. The Zenobia is diveable year-round (water temperature is 17–27°C depending on season); Akamas is most comfortable April–June.

How do I manage a one-way car hire?

Book online before you travel. Specify pick-up at Paphos airport and drop-off at Larnaca airport (or vice versa). Add-on fee is typically €20–40. All major hire companies (Hertz, Avis, Budget, Europcar, local companies) offer this in Cyprus.

What should I eat on this itinerary that I cannot get elsewhere?

Commandaria wine (Omodos area), fresh halloumi grilled over carob coals (any village taverne), koupepia (stuffed vine leaves in egg-lemon sauce), tarhana (fermented wheat-yogurt soup from the Troodos villages), and freshly-caught red mullet (barbouni) in Larnaca or Limassol. These are not tourist-menu items — ask for them specifically.