Hike
Caledonia Waterfall Trail
A cool two-hour forest loop tracing the Kryos river through pine and plane trees to a 13-metre waterfall — the island’s best escape from the August heat.
Spring · full flowDirections
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Centre Cyprus
Things to do in Troodos Mountains
The Troodos range is the island’s other climate: pine forest, mountain streams and stone-built villages a full ten degrees cooler than the coast in August — and under snow in January. This is where the waterfalls run, where the wine villages pour their own commandaria, and where Kykkos, the richest monastery in Cyprus, sits at the end of a ridge road.
Free to visit
Free spots in Troodos Mountains.
Genuinely free — no tickets, no gates. Tap any spot for directions and the best time to go.
Waterfall
Millomeris Waterfall
At 15 metres, the tallest natural waterfall in Cyprus, plunging over a black rock face into a mossy plunge pool. A short cobbled path drops to the base.
Spring · after rainDirections
Hike
Artemis Trail · Mt Olympus
A near-level seven-kilometre loop circling the summit of Mount Olympus through black pine and juniper, with both coasts visible on a clear day. Snow-dusted in winter.
May–OctDirections
Heritage
Kelefos Venetian Bridge
A graceful single-arch medieval packhorse bridge on the old camel route through the cedar forest, spanning the Diarizos river in perfect stone silence.
Year-roundDirections
Village
Kakopetria Old Village
A preserved mountain village of timber-balconied stone houses tumbling along a rushing stream, with a UNESCO-listed barn-roof church a short walk uphill.
Year-roundDirections
Waterfall
Mesa Potamos Waterfall
A hidden cascade tucked in a steep, mossy ravine below a working monastery — a short shaded path leads to the falls and a cold plunge pool deep in the forest.
Spring · after rainDirections
Village
Omodos Village
A cobbled wine village built around the Monastery of the Holy Cross, ringed by vineyards and lined with cellars pouring indigenous Commandaria and Zivania.
Year-roundDirections
Waterfall
Chantara Waterfall
A graceful twin-drop fall on the Kryos river, reached by a short forest path past plane trees — quieter than nearby Caledonia and beautiful when the river runs full.
SpringDirections
Heritage
Kykkos Monastery
The wealthiest and most famous monastery in Cyprus, glittering with gold mosaics and frescoed corridors high in the Marathasa hills. Entry to the monastery itself is free, though the small museum charges a fee and coaches arrive in numbers by late morning. Dress modestly — wraps are provided at the door.
Apr-Oct · morningDirections
Village
Fikardou
A protected, near-deserted medieval village where stone-and-timber houses have barely changed since the 18th century — the whole place is a listed ancient monument. Wandering the cobbled lanes is free and wonderfully quiet; just note there is only a taverna or two, and the small rural museum charges a modest fee.
Mar-Jun · afternoonDirections
Village
Agros
The rose village of the Pitsilia hills, famous for its Damascena rose products, cured meats and mountain honey. Strolling the village and surrounding rose fields costs nothing — May is when the roses bloom and the village smells of it. Outside spring it is sleepier, but the traditional shops and cool air still reward the winding drive up.
May-Jun · morningDirections
Village
Kalopanayiotis & Agios Ioannis Lampadistis
A beautifully restored spa village stacked down the Setrachos valley, linked by lanes, footbridges and a free cable lift to the UNESCO-listed Agios Ioannis Lampadistis monastery with its remarkable frescoes. Entry to the monastery is free. The village is steep, so expect a proper leg workout between the upper road and the river.
Apr-Oct · morningDirections
Where to eat & drink
Best hotspots in Troodos Mountains.
Only the genuine local favourites — sorted by rating.
Levantine meze
Syrian Arab Friendship Club
A Nicosia institution for decades, beloved for generous Levantine meze served in a leafy garden that fills with big family tables at weekends. The menu barely changes and that is exactly the point — locals come back for the same hummus, falafel and grilled meats year after year.
Known for Levantine meze spread
Ayios DometiosDirections
Home-style Cypriot
Mattheos
A tiny lunchtime legend tucked beside Phaneromeni church, where office workers and old-timers queue for whatever slow-cooked dishes came out of the kitchen that morning. Choice is limited and it winds down by mid-afternoon, but this is honest Cypriot home cooking at its most authentic.
Known for Daily slow-cooked stews
Old town, by Phaneromeni churchDirections
Craft cocktails
Lost + Found Drinkery
An internationally awarded cocktail bar in the old city with inventive, theatrical drinks.
Known for Seasonal signature list
Onasagorou StreetDirections
Cypriot meze
Kathodon
A lively meze house on Ledra Street where live Greek and Cypriot music keeps tables singing late into the evening. It is louder and more boisterous than a village tavern, but the atmosphere on a busy night is one of old Nicosia's great experiences.
Known for Meze with live music
Ledra Street, old townDirections
Mountain trout
The Mill Hotel Restaurant
The restaurant of The Mill Hotel, beside the stream in Kakopetria with views of the mountains; diners on Google single out its fresh trout. Its Google rating covers the hotel and restaurant together.
Known for Grilled fresh trout
Milos Street, KakopetriaDirections
Trout farm cooking
Psilo Dendro
A Platres institution at the foot of the Caledonia waterfall trail, serving trout raised in its own farm to generations of hikers and Sunday drivers. The menu beyond the fish is simple and the room fills fast after midday, but few Troodos meals feel this rooted in place.
Known for Farm-raised trout
Start of the Caledonia trailDirections
What’s on
Every event Coming up in Troodos Mountains
4OctSunday
Food & WineFree entry
Commandaria & Ppalouzes Day, Agios Mamas
Agios Mamas · Square of Saint Mamas Church, Agios Mamas (Limassol hills)
A Sunday in Agios Mamas, one of the Commandaria wine villages in the hills north of Limassol, where you can watch — and help with — the making of ppalouzes and soutzoukos, the grape-must sweets of the harvest. Live folk music and dancing, a village market, donkey rides and storytelling for children; free entry.
October 2026Details Directions
4OctSunday
Food & WineFree entry
Potamiou Wine & Gastronomy Festival
Potamiou · Potamiou village, Limassol wine villages
The fourth edition of a harvest afternoon in Potamiou, a small village in the Limassol wine country: local wine and zivania, palouzes, soutzoukos, trahanas and tremithopita, workshops in traditional cooking, a cycling wine route and folk music and dancing into the evening. Free entry.
October 2026Details Directions
10Oct10–11 Oct
Food & Wine · Every yearFree entry
Kyperounta Apple Festival
Kyperounta · Kyperounta village square, high Troodos
One of the highest villages in the Troodos, Kyperounta is apple country, and its October festival marks the harvest with an open-air market of fresh apples, juice, pies and apple vinegar, an exhibition of the apple varieties grown in Cyprus, a best-apple-pie contest, and Cypriot music and dance. Started in 2002 as a village get-together, it has run over two days since 2014. The mountain air is noticeably crisp by then, so bring a layer.
October 2026Details Directions
11OctSunday
Food & WineFree entry
Olive & Traditional Products Festival, Nikitari
Nikitari · Nikitari Community Multi-Use Hall, 39 Archbishop Makariou III
The second olive festival of Nikitari–Asinou, in the Troodos foothills west of Nicosia: guided walks with olive picking, a cracked-olive workshop, olive-grove photography walks, dancing, live music and stalls of handmade products and food. Free entry for everyone.
October 2026Details Directions
Explore other regions
West Cyprus
Akamas & Paphos
Wild peninsula, sea caves and turtle beaches.
Things to do South CyprusLimassol Coast
Chalk cliffs, long bays and quiet coves.
Things to do East CyprusAyia Napa & Protaras
Cape Greco caves and impossibly clear water.
Things to do East CyprusLarnaca & the Plains
Salt-lake flamingos and lace-making hills.
Things to do