Things to do in Troodos Mountains
And where to stay, the best time to visit, what a day costs, and the traps to skip.
Best time to visit Troodos Mountains
• a note or something on ✦ an occasion worth the trip
Best months: wildflowers in spring, mild walking in autumn
Warm but 10 degrees cooler than the coast; the escape season
Possible snow at the summit; ski season, some tavernas close midweek
Best things to do in Troodos Mountains
Mount Olympos
Cyprus's highest peak at 1,952 m with the full island panorama.
Caledonia Falls
Classic 3 km waterfall walk through pine forest.
Painted Churches of the Troodos Region
Ten UNESCO Byzantine churches with vivid frescoes.
Omodos
Prettiest wine village, made for slow wandering.
Holy Cross Monastery
Monastery at the heart of Omodos with its relic.
Kakopetria
Old upper town with mill houses along the stream.
Platres
Old mountain resort, base for the high Troodos.
Millomeris Waterfall
Short easy waterfall walk near Platres.
Where to stay in Troodos Mountains
Platres
high Troodos access
Kalopanagiotis
atmosphere and painted churches
Troodos Square area
hikers
Think twice about
- The coast as a base
mountain roads make every day trip 1.5 hours of winding driving each way
- Roadside motels on the B8
fine for a transit night, pointless as a base with no village around
- Kakopetria's new lower town
stay in the old upper town; the new town is houses along the road
Best restaurants in Troodos Mountains
To Palati
Platres taverna for mountain cooking and kleftiko.
Psilo Dendro
Trout farm restaurant, the family lunch spot.
Stou Kir Yianni
Omodos square taverna for meze and local wine.
Best bars in Troodos Mountains
Lambouri Winery
Commandaria and local wine tastings with vineyard views.
Outdoor things to do in Troodos Mountains
Kykkos Monastery
Richest monastery in Cyprus with major Byzantine art.
Atalanti Trail
14 km summit circuit, the best long Troodos walk.
Lefkara
Lace and silverwork village on the southern foothills.
Kouris Reservoir
Dam lake viewpoint on the mountain road up.
Limassol
Coast city an hour below for a rest day.
Best hotels in Troodos Mountains
Forest Park Hotel
Grand old mountain hotel in the pines.
New Helvetia Hotel
Long-running family hotel, good value.
Casale Panayiotis
Restored-village boutique hotel, the special stay.
Troodos Hotel
Summit hotel by the square, location is the point.
Is Troodos Mountains expensive? What a day costs
| Budget | €50 a person |
|---|---|
| Classic | €85 a person |
| Splurge | €170 a person |
A day of food, drink, sights and getting around, before the room
What to book ahead
- Casale Panayiotis: weeks ahead
- Lambouri Winery: a few days ahead
- Casale Panayiotis: well ahead, it is small and famous
- Summit hotels on snow weekends
- Winery tastings in summer
Is Troodos Mountains safe?
- Very safe; the risks are the winding and winter-icy roads
- Carry water and a charged phone on trails
- Emergency number: 112
Troodos Mountains travel tips: tourist traps to skip
- Overpriced coast-sold village day trips: the villages are free with a car
- Tourist-priced Commandaria in Omodos square: buy at the winery
- Midday summer hiking: walk mornings instead
Getting around Troodos Mountains: public transport and more
- You need a car: village buses are thin and slow
- Allow double the map time on winding mountain roads
- In winter check the summit road for snow and ice
Who Troodos Mountains suits
| Solo travellers | Good |
|---|---|
| Groups of friends | Good |
| Couples | Great |
| Bachelor parties | OK |
| Families | Great |
| Bachelorette parties | OK |
Make Troodos Mountains your trip
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