7–8 November 2026
A two-day festival in Pelendri tying zivania to the grape harvest and the village’s distilling tradition, with traditional music and dancing, local dishes and products. The village’s Byzantine churches, among them the painted church of the Holy Cross, make the drive up worthwhile.
7–8 November 2026.
Pelendri village, Pitsilia. The Directions button goes to the venue’s exact Google Maps pin.
See organiser.
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.
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.
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.
Within about 12 km of the venue, ranked by Google rating and review count.
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.
7–8 November 2026.
Pelendri village, Pitsilia, Cyprus.
One of the older events on the international rally calendar, run since 1970 on the winding gravel roads of the Troodos mountains above Limassol, usually in October. Watching from the roadside stages is free, and the sight and sound of rally cars sliding through the pine forest is a real thrill for petrolheads. Stages and dates are published in advance — follow the marshals and arrive early for the best spots.
A first-time weekend festival in the neighbouring mountain villages of Kannavia and Agia Eirini about nature, wildlife habitats and rural tradition. There are halloumi, zivania and bread-making workshops, village produce, folk music and dancing, guided nature walks, archery demonstrations and a small petting zoo for children, with the Department of Forests taking part. Free entry.
The 12th edition of the neighbourhood arts festival run by the NGO Urban Gorillas moves to Synergasias Street in old Kaimakli. Over two days more than 60 artists fill the streets with community games, craft workshops, guided walks, street theatre, film screenings, tango, storytelling and live music, plus installations built by architecture students.
Photo: A glass of Cypriot zivania — Maxx1972, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0).
