Cyprus 14 days grand tour — south, north, Karpaz peninsula and back

Two weeks to know the whole island

Disclaimer: Northern Cyprus is administered by Turkey, recognized only by Turkey; the United Nations considers it occupied territory. Always enter Cyprus via Larnaca or Paphos airport (Ercan in the north is considered an illegal entry by the Republic of Cyprus). When crossing the Green Line, carry a passport or EU identity card. Standard hire cars from the south do not always cover Northern Cyprus — check before you travel or purchase local north-side insurance (~€30 at the crossing).

Fourteen days is the length of time a thoughtful traveller needs to genuinely understand Cyprus — both sides, all regions, from the Roman mosaics of Paphos to the wild donkeys of the Karpaz peninsula. This is the grand tour in the original sense: not a race, but a structured encounter with a place that rewards attention.

The itinerary divides naturally into three movements: the south (Days 1–7), the north (Days 8–11), and the return (Days 12–14). Each has its own character. The south is more prosperous, more polished, more visited. The north is quieter, wilder, historically richer in some ways and poorer in others. The Karpaz is a world apart — a peninsula where time runs differently.

At a glance

Days	Region	Focus
1–2	Paphos	Archaeology, Akamas coast
3–4	Troodos	Mountains, wine, Kykkos
5	Nicosia	Capital, Green Line
6	Larnaca	Salt lake, Zenobia base
7	Ayia Napa	Sea caves, Cape Greco
8	Crossing	Green Line, North Nicosia
9	Kyrenia	Harbour, St. Hilarion, Bellapais
10	Famagusta	Walled city, Varosha, Salamis
11	Karpaz	Wild peninsula, Apostolos Andreas
12	Kyrenia → south	Return crossing
13	Limassol	Old town, Kourion, wine
14	Departure	Catamaran or Lefkara farewell

Days 1–2 — Paphos: foundation stones of Cyprus

Day 1 — Paphos Archaeological Park and Tombs

Fly into Paphos airport (PFO), collect hire car, check into Kato Paphos. The Paphos Archaeological Park is the right place to start any serious engagement with Cyprus: the Roman mosaic villas (Houses of Dionysos, Theseus, Aion, Orpheus) show the island at its most cosmopolitan — a crossroads of Greek myth, Roman administration and early Christianity.

Paphos: Half-Day City Tour with Tombs of the Kings Entry — guided tour of the park and Tombs of the Kings. Expert guides add mythological and historical context that dry signboards cannot.

Afternoon: Tombs of the Kings UNESCO necropolis (3rd century BC to 3rd century AD). Evening: Ktima old town dinner. Sleep: Paphos (2 nights).

Day 2 — Akamas: the wild western coast

The Akamas Peninsula National Park is western Cyprus at its most elemental — endemic flora, turtle beaches, and the Blue Lagoon at Kioni.

From Paphos or Limassol: Akamas National Park Jeep Safari — full-day jeep safari: Avakas Gorge, Lara Beach (turtle nesting), Aphrodite’s Baths, Blue Lagoon. The best way into the interior of the peninsula.

If you prefer the coastal approach: Paphos/Akamas: Blue Lagoon Bus & Boat Tour with Water Slide — bus and boat combination from Paphos, with swimming and water slide at the lagoon.

Evening: Paphos food culture. The western wine region starts here — try a tasting at Vasilikon Winery (booking advised).

Paphos: Wine Tour – Vineyards, Tastings & Scenic Views — a guided tasting at Paphos-area wineries.

Days 3–4 — Troodos: pine forests, painted churches and wine

Day 3 — Kykkos, Kakopetria and the northern slopes

Check out of Paphos and drive northeast into the Paphos Forest. The road climbs through wine terraces, pine groves and stone villages — this is the Cyprus that the coastal resorts conceal.

Kykkos Monastery (75 km from Paphos, 90 min): the wealthiest and most lavish monastery in Cyprus, its exterior mosaics extraordinary in their density. The museum holds Byzantine icons and manuscripts. Makarios III’s tomb is at the nearby Throni viewpoint — a pilgrimage site for many Cypriots.

From Paphos: Troodos — To the Highest Peaks — guided tour from Paphos covering Troodos summit area and key mountain stops.

Drive north from Kykkos to Kakopetria on the northern slopes — a perfectly preserved mountain village with a stream running through its centre, old stone houses and good trout. Lunch and early afternoon here.

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

Day 4 — Troodos wine roads: Omodos and the Krasochoria

A slower day. Drive south through the Krasochoria (wine villages) — the triangle of villages between Troodos and Limassol that produces most of Cyprus’s wine: Omodos, Arsos, Kilani, Koilani, Vouni.

Omodos is the most beautiful: a stone-paved square, a monastery courtyard, cellar doors open to the street. Cyprus’s most ancient wine, Commandaria, comes from these villages — an amber dessert wine made from sun-dried Xynisteri and Mavro grapes, with a PDO status and a documented history stretching back to the Crusader period.

Paphos: Tour to Troodos, Kykkos Monastery, Omodos and Winery — guided day including Omodos, winery visits and Kykkos (useful if you want a guide to structure the wine experience).

Lunch at Stou Kir Yianni in Omodos, then drive up to the Mount Olympus (Chionistra) viewpoint for the island’s highest perspective: the sea on three sides on a clear day, Turkey’s southern coast visible when the atmosphere is crisp.

Evening in Troodos or Platres. The Forest Park Hotel restaurant serves mountain herbs and slow-cooked meats at a level that justifies its reputation.

Day 5 — Nicosia: the divided capital

Drive from Platres to Nicosia (80 km, 90 min via A1). The capital is the island’s intellectual and administrative centre, and the only city that feels properly European rather than Mediterranean-resort.

Morning: Cyprus Museum (2 hours, €4.50) — the best single collection of Cypriot antiquity: Chalcolithic figurines, Archaic-period terracottas, Classical sculpture, Byzantine pieces. The Ayia Irini room alone (2,000 votive figurines in situ) justifies the visit.

Walk the Venetian walls to the Famagusta Gate (1567, now a cultural venue). Explore the old town streets: coffee shops, craft workshops, the slow decay of buildings near the buffer zone.

Nicosia: Last Divided City, Tour combining South & North — a guided walking tour contextualising Nicosia’s partition. Essential if this is your first time.

Afternoon: Walk to Ledra Street and the UN crossing. From the observation platform, look north into the buffer zone: abandoned buildings, weeds growing through tarmac, UN posts. Sobering and thought-provoking.

Nicosia: Green Line and Buffer Zone Guided Tour — a guided tour of the buffer zone with access to restricted areas.

Evening: Nicosia’s restaurant scene is the island’s most sophisticated. Try Enoteca Montecapo for wine bar dining or Fata Morgana for modern Cypriot cuisine.

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

Day 6 — Larnaca: flamingos, Zenobia preparation and the old city

Drive from Nicosia to Larnaca (50 km, 45 min). Larnaca is the island’s oldest continuously inhabited city and its most underrated.

Morning: Hala Sultan Tekke (5 km from city, free) — an Ottoman mosque on the edge of the salt lake, containing the tomb of Umm Haram bint Milhan. One of the most important Islamic sites in the world; the setting (white dome, still water, flamingos October–March) is extraordinary.

Larnaca Salt Lake: Walk the path around the western edge. In winter the lake is pink with flamingos; in summer it dries to a white salt crust. The walk is free and beautiful in either season.

Afternoon: Church of Saint Lazarus (9th century, free), Larnaca Fort (small museum, good views), Finikoudes promenade walk.

Larnaca: Private Walking Tour of the City with a Local Guide — private guided tour of Larnaca’s historical sites.

Evening: Militzis Restaurant for traditional Cypriot — one of the best on the island.

Sleep: Larnaca (1 night). Golden Bay Hotel (~€100/night beachfront) for the sunrise view.

Note: Consider booking your Zenobia dive now for tomorrow morning, or arrange it today at the dive centre.

Day 7 — Ayia Napa: Cape Greco and the sea

Drive from Larnaca to Ayia Napa (47 km, 40 min). Today is the eastern coast: dramatic sea cliffs, cave beaches, MUSAN sculptures and the possibility of a dive.

Morning: Cape Greco National Forest Park (5 km east of Ayia Napa) — limestone headland with sea arches, natural pools, coastal walking trail. Walk the 4 km coastal path to the viewpoint above the famous bridge arch. The water below, in the morning calm, is impossibly clear.

Afternoon: Ayia Napa Monastery (free, Venetian, central square — better than its famous surroundings suggest), then the MUSAN Underwater Sculpture Museum if you are comfortable snorkelling or diving.

Ayia Napa: MUSAN Underwater Museum Scuba Dive — guided dive or snorkel at MUSAN. The sculptures at 8–12 m have been colonised by sea life and are genuinely surreal.

Evening cruise alternative:

Ayia Napa: Blue Lagoon & Turtle Cruise with Optional Lunch — if you prefer a relaxed afternoon by sea, this cruise covers the lagoon, Turtle Bay and sea caves with lunch included.

Sleep: Ayia Napa (1 night). Dome Beach Hotel or Nissi Beach Resort.

Day 8 — The crossing: into Northern Cyprus

Drive from Ayia Napa to Nicosia (90 km, 75 min). Park your southern hire car near the Ledra Street crossing or use the Agios Dometios vehicle crossing with your car (if covered by north-side insurance).

The Ledra Street crossing takes 5–15 minutes: passport shown, entry slip issued, walk through. The physical change is immediate: quieter streets, older signs, Turkish language, different architecture.

North Nicosia (Lefkosya): The Büyük Han (Great Inn) is a magnificent 16th-century Ottoman caravanserai now housing craft shops and a café. The Selimiye Mosque (formerly the Cathedral of Saint Sophia, a Gothic cathedral built 1209–1325, converted to mosque after 1571) is architecturally extraordinary — French Gothic with minarets.

The Bedesten bazaar (a former Byzantine church and later Venetian market, now a covered bazaar), the Lapidary Museum, and the narrow streets around Arasta market are all worth an afternoon.

Lunch: Sedirhan at Büyük Han — good food in an extraordinary space. Pay in euros (widely accepted) or TRY.

Sleep: Drive to Kyrenia (27 km north, 25 min). Kyrenia (2 nights). The Colony Hotel (€110/night) near the harbour, or Portucale Hotel (€80/night).

Day 9 — Kyrenia: castles, abbeys and the harbour

Kyrenia is the jewel of Northern Cyprus — a horseshoe harbour backed by a medieval castle, with the Five Finger Mountain range rising dramatically behind. In the 1950s and 60s it was an expatriate paradise; Lawrence Durrell, Patrick Leigh Fermor and Freya Stark all came here.

Morning — St. Hilarion and Bellapais

St. Hilarion Castle (15 km east of Kyrenia on the mountain ridge) is the most dramatic medieval fortification in Cyprus — three concentric wards climbing a limestone peak with views across the Kyrenia range to the sea on both sides. Walk to the upper ward (20-minute climb) for the Queen’s Window viewpoint. Richard the Lionheart captured this castle in 1191.

From Kyrenia: Half-Day St. Hilarion Castle & Bellapais Tour — guided half-day covering St. Hilarion and Bellapais Abbey, with expert historical context.

Bellapais Abbey (10 km east of Kyrenia): A 13th-century Augustinian Gothic abbey in extraordinary condition, perched on a hillside with sea views. Lawrence Durrell lived in the village below and wrote “Bitter Lemons of Cyprus” here. The cloister and refectory are hauntingly beautiful.

Afternoon — Kyrenia Harbour and Castle

Kyrenia Harbour at midday: the most photographed spot in Northern Cyprus. Walk the quay, visit the Kyrenia Castle (Venetian and Crusader fortifications), and the Shipwreck Museum inside — containing the oldest intact shipwreck ever found, a 4th-century BC Greek merchant vessel raised in 1969 with its cargo of almonds still on board.

Evening: Sunset from the harbour wall with an Efes beer, then dinner at Niazi’s (lamb kebabs, legendary) or Set Fish Restaurant on the quay.

Day 10 — Famagusta: layers of empire

Drive from Kyrenia to Famagusta (55 km, 50 min via the north coast road through the Five Finger Mountains).

Famagusta (Gazimağusa) was briefly the wealthiest city in the world in the 13th century. The Venetian walls (1489–1560, among the finest in existence: 3 km of bastions and towers built for artillery warfare) surround an almost intact medieval city.

Morning — Walled city and Cathedral of Saint Nicholas

The Cathedral of Saint Nicholas (now the Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque) is a near-perfect French Gothic cathedral of 1298–1312 — comparable to Reims in scale and detail — to which minarets were added after the Ottoman conquest of 1571. The interior is still used for prayer. Walking inside is a genuinely strange and moving experience.

From North Cyprus: Famagusta Tour, Ghost Town — guided tour of Famagusta’s walled city and Varosha. Essential context for what you are seeing; the guide will explain what each Gothic ruin was and what happened to it.

Afternoon — Varosha and Ancient Salamis

Varosha (Maras): The former tourist district of Famagusta, abandoned overnight in August 1974 when 45,000 Greek Cypriot residents fled as the Turkish Army advanced. For decades sealed behind wire. Since 2020, parts have reopened. Walking through the reopened area is eerie and thought-provoking; the closed sections remain visible through the fence.

Ancient Salamis (10 km north): One of the great cities of the ancient world — founded according to tradition by Teucer after the Trojan War, the site of battles involving Persian kings and Alexander’s successors. The gymnasium and baths (with columns re-erected by Justinian), the theatre (partially restored), the forum, and the Royal Tombs across the road constitute one of the most extensive ancient sites in the eastern Mediterranean. Allow 2–3 hours; the site is large.

Evening: Return to Kyrenia for dinner, or stay overnight in Famagusta (Salamis Bay Conti Resort, ~€90/night on the beach north of the city).

Day 11 — Karpaz peninsula: the wild northeast

The Karpaz (Karpas) peninsula is the long “panhandle” of Cyprus reaching northeast toward Turkey. It is the least developed part of the island, partly because it sits in the administrative no-man’s-land of Northern Cyprus, partly because the road gets worse as you go further. This is exactly what makes it extraordinary.

Drive from Kyrenia (or Famagusta) northeast along the peninsula. The road passes through the Karpaz National Park, where wild donkeys graze by the roadside — domesticated animals turned feral after 1974, now a protected population of several hundred. The landscape becomes progressively emptier: abandoned villages, Byzantine churches, goat tracks.

From North Cyprus: Karpaz Peninsula Tour — a day trip to the Karpaz peninsula from Kyrenia or Famagusta, covering the key sites with a guide who knows the peninsula’s complex history.

Key stops on the peninsula:

• Kantara Castle (midway along the ridge): the third of the great Crusader castles, with extraordinary views in all directions.
• Dipkarpaz (Rizokarpaso) town: the largest remaining Greek Cypriot community in Northern Cyprus (~300 people), with a Greek school and Orthodox church still functioning.
• Apostolos Andreas Monastery (tip of the peninsula): a pilgrimage site for both Greek and Turkish Cypriots (one of the few sites managed jointly), currently being restored. The setting — at the very end of the land, sea on three sides — is extraordinary.
• Deserted beaches: The northeast coast has long, empty sand beaches with turtle nesting sites (May–August) and no development.

Return: Drive back to Kyrenia (2.5 hours from the tip) or stay overnight in a simple guesthouse in Dipkarpaz.

Sleep: Kyrenia (if returning) or Karpaz Peninsula guesthouse.

Day 12 — Return south via Nicosia

Drive from Kyrenia to the Agios Dometios vehicle crossing in Nicosia (27 km south + 3 km to crossing). Cross back to the Republic of Cyprus, reclaim your southern hire car from wherever you parked it (or re-rent at Nicosia airport if that was your arrangement).

North Nicosia to south Nicosia crossing: Takes 10–20 minutes at the vehicle crossing.

Spend the afternoon in Lefkara village (40 km south of Nicosia) — the lace and silver village. The lefkaritika embroidery has UNESCO Intangible Heritage status. Walk the Venetian-era cobbled streets, visit the lace workshops, buy a piece if the prices seem fair (they vary considerably — compare a few shops).

Paphos: Tour to Ancient Kourion, Unique Lefkara and Limassol — a guided day trip from Limassol or Nicosia covering Lefkara and Kourion.

Evening: Drive to Limassol (40 km south of Lefkara, 35 min).

Sleep: Limassol (2 nights). Londa Hotel (€130/night) or Four Seasons Hotel Limassol (€200/night) for a luxury finale.

Day 13 — Limassol: old town and Kourion

Morning: Kourion archaeological site (20 km west of Limassol) — the finest cliff-top Greco-Roman city in Cyprus: theatre, mosaic villas, agora, Nymphaeum, early Christian basilica, all on a 70 m promontory above the sea. Allow 2.5 hours.

From Limassol: Ancient Kourion Tour with Paphos Town — guided tour of Kourion and the western Limassol coast.

Afternoon: Return to Limassol old town. Walk the carob warehouse district, the medieval castle and museum (Byzantine-Lusignan-Ottoman history of the city told through excellent exhibits), the Agios Andreou pedestrian street.

Limassol: Old Town Walking Tour with a Local Architect — architectural walking tour of Limassol old town. The best way to understand the layers.

Evening: The best dinner of the trip. Limassol has Cyprus’s finest restaurant scene: Culinarium for modern Cypriot tasting menus, Rema for traditional fish taverne, or Bunch of Grapes at Pissouri village (30 km west — the drive is worth it for what many consider Cyprus’s most consistent traditional restaurant).

Wine: The Limassol wine region deserves a toast. Order a bottle of Ktima Vlassides Shiraz or Tsangarides Marathon to pair with dinner — wines that demonstrate how seriously Cyprus takes its viniculture.

Cyprus: Troodos Mountain Food & Wine Tasting Tour with Lunch — if you want a structured wine and food experience, this half-day tour covers the Troodos wine villages from Limassol.

Day 14 — Catamaran farewell and departure

Limassol: Luxury Catamaran Cruise with Lunch and Drinks — a half-day catamaran cruise from Limassol with swimming, lunch and drinks. The perfect finale: you have spent two weeks driving the island; spend the last morning floating beside it.

The cruise typically returns by 14:00–15:00. Shower, pack, drive to the airport.

• Paphos airport (PFO): 70 km from Limassol, 50 minutes.
• Larnaca airport (LCA): 80 km from Limassol, 55 minutes.

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. From Kyrenia: Half-Day St. Hilarion Castle & Bellapais Tour — Day 9 St. Hilarion/Bellapais. Book 48 hours ahead.
3. From North Cyprus: Famagusta Tour, Ghost Town — Day 10 Famagusta guided tour. Book ahead; groups are small.
4. From North Cyprus: Karpaz Peninsula Tour — Day 11 Karpaz day trip. Limited departures; book in advance.
5. Limassol: Luxury Catamaran Cruise with Lunch and Drinks — Day 14 catamaran. Limited capacity; book a week ahead.
6. Ayia Napa: MUSAN Underwater Museum Scuba Dive — Day 7 MUSAN dive. Book 48 hours ahead minimum.

Driving and logistics

Total distance: approximately 900–1,000 km over fourteen days — the full perimeter and interior of the island.

Car strategy: One southern hire car for Days 1–7 and Days 12–14. North-side arrangement for Days 8–11: either one car with north-side insurance add-on, or park in Nicosia and hire locally in the north.

Airport options: Fly into Paphos (PFO), fly out of Larnaca (LCA). Or fly both ways into Larnaca and start/end there with Paphos as a one-way hire. Or fly both into Paphos with a taxi/bus from Limassol to Paphos airport on Day 14.

Budget for north side: Accommodation is cheaper in Northern Cyprus by 20–40%. Restaurants are roughly 30% cheaper. Fuel is cheaper. Budget TRY-denominated costs as equivalent of €60–100/day for two people in the north.

Key crossing points used:

• Day 8 (going north): Ledra Street or Agios Dometios
• Day 12 (coming south): Agios Dometios (vehicle) or Ledra Street (foot + taxi to car)

Variations

For luxury: Upgrade to a villa in Paphos district (Days 1–4), stay at the Aman Residences Limassol or Four Seasons (Days 12–14), and book a private yacht charter from Limassol for Day 14 instead of the group catamaran.

For history specialists: Add an extra day in Famagusta (2 nights) with a full morning at Salamis and afternoon at the Famagusta Archaeological Museum. Add Stavrovouni monastery (Larnaca district) on the drive south on Day 12.

For families: The crossing (Day 8) is fine with children who understand the basics. Replace the Karpaz drive (Day 11) with a beach day near Kyrenia (Escape Beach at Tatlisu is excellent for families). Replace MUSAN dive with the snorkelling surface tour.

Budget two-week version: Hostel/guesthouse accommodation throughout (€35–50/person/night shared), self-catering lunches, mezze taverne dinners (€15/person), skip the guided tours in favour of good guidebooks. Total: ~€80–100/person/day.

Frequently asked questions about this itinerary

Is fourteen days too long for Cyprus?

Not with the Karpaz peninsula. Most “long” Cyprus itineraries stop at seven or ten days in the south. The addition of Northern Cyprus and the Karpaz changes the character of the trip entirely — you are not just extending a beach holiday but adding a genuinely different country’s worth of history and landscape.

What is the most surprising moment of the grand tour?

Most visitors cite the Varosha ghost town or the Karpaz wild donkeys. The most intellectually surprising is usually the crossing itself — the realisation that you are in a different political reality within a 15-minute walk of where you started.

How should I manage money in Northern Cyprus?

Carry a mix of euros and TRY. Euros are accepted almost everywhere in the tourist areas; TRY is useful for local markets, fuel and village shops. There are ATMs dispensing TRY in Kyrenia and Famagusta. Tell your bank you are visiting Northern Cyprus before you travel.

Can I get a Cyprus stamp in my passport and then visit Turkey on the same trip?

Yes. A Republic of Cyprus stamp does not affect Turkish visa eligibility. Conversely, if you enter northern Cyprus via the crossings (not Ercan airport), there is no stamp — you receive a slip of paper.

What is the best time to do the grand tour?

April–May or September–October are ideal: warm without being brutal, crowds manageable, wildflowers in Akamas and Karpaz (spring), sea still warm (autumn), hotels at shoulder rates. July–August is possible but hot — particularly Nicosia and Famagusta where summer temperatures exceed 40°C.