Cyprus 7‑Day Itinerary
With one week in Cyprus, do not try to see the entire island. A west-to-south route gives you the best balance of archaeological sites, beaches, villages and mountain scenery: Paphos and the Akamas, the Troodos foothills, then Limassol, Lefkara and Larnaca. You need a hire car and four short stays.
- Best for
- First-time visitors with a car who want history, nature, villages and the sea in one trip.
- How much time
- Seven days and six nights, with bases in Paphos (2 nights), Omodos or the Troodos (2 nights), Limassol (1 night) and Larnaca (1 night).
In this guide
This route runs from west to east so you spend the long drive early and finish near Larnaca's airport. Each day is built around one region so you are not crossing the island repeatedly. We do not print drive times: they depend on traffic, season and where exactly you start. Each day links to live directions in Google Maps instead.
Before you go
| Plan | |
|---|---|
| Route | Paphos → Akamas → Troodos foothills → Limassol → Lefkara → Larnaca |
| Bases | Paphos (nights 1–2), Omodos or Platres (nights 3–4), Limassol (night 5), Larnaca (night 6; day 7 is departure) |
| Car | Required for days 2–6 |
| Pace | Moderate: one main sight in the morning, one in the afternoon, a long lunch |
| Best months | April–June and September–October. In July and August, do the sites early. |
Day by day
Day 1: Paphos: mosaics, tombs and the harbour
Base: Paphos
- Morning
- Paphos Archaeological Park, while it is cool. The Roman-era mosaics are the reason to come.
- Lunch
- A harbour-front lunch in Kato Paphos, or a simple taverna a street back from the water.
- Afternoon
- Tombs of the Kings, then a swim or a rest at your hotel.
- Evening
- Walk the harbour and the castle promenade. Dinner in Kato Paphos or the old town.
- Driving
- Little or no driving if you stay in Kato Paphos: walk between the park and the harbour. Live route in Google Maps ↗
- Or instead
- Add Agia Kyriaki Chrysopolitissa and Saint Paul's Pillar, or swap the tombs for a beach afternoon at Coral Bay.
Day 2: The Akamas: Baths of Aphrodite and a coastal walk
Base: Paphos
- Morning
- Drive north to the Akamas and walk a short section of the Aphrodite Trail from the Baths of Aphrodite.
- Lunch
- Latchi or Polis harbour for fish or meze.
- Afternoon
- A swim at a quiet bay, or Lara Bay if you are comfortable with unsurfaced tracks.
- Evening
- Back to Paphos; an easy dinner.
- Driving
- A longer driving day. Do not trust a straight-line map; check live time. Live route in Google Maps ↗
- Or instead
- Take a Blue Lagoon boat from Latchi instead of walking, or add the Avakas Gorge for confident walkers.
Day 3: Kouklia, Aphrodite's Rock and into the hills
Base: Omodos or Platres
- Morning
- Palaepaphos at Kouklia: the sanctuary and small museum.
- Lunch
- A taverna near Petra tou Romiou, or in a village once you are inland.
- Afternoon
- Quick stop at Petra tou Romiou, then drive inland to Omodos. Wander the village before the coaches or after they leave.
- Evening
- Dinner and a local wine in Omodos.
- Driving
- A mix of coast and mountain road: allow more time than the map suggests. Live route in Google Maps ↗
- Or instead
- Swap Omodos for Kakopetria or Platres if you prefer forest to vineyards.
Day 4: Troodos: painted churches and a forest walk
Base: Omodos or Platres
- Morning
- Pick two painted churches and confirm opening arrangements the evening before. Asinou and Agios Ioannis Lampadistis are good choices.
- Lunch
- A village taverna in the mountains; order meze to share.
- Afternoon
- The Caledonia Trail near Platres to the waterfall, in shade.
- Evening
- Quiet night in the mountains: the air is noticeably cooler.
- Driving
- Short distances, slow roads. Fuel up before you climb. Live route in Google Maps ↗
- Or instead
- Add Kykkos Monastery if you are in the western mountains, or the Artemis Trail around Mount Olympus for a longer walk.
Day 5: Kourion, Kolossi and Limassol
Base: Limassol
- Morning
- Descend to Kourion: the Roman theatre and the mosaics above the sea. Arrive early.
- Lunch
- A taverna in a nearby village, or lunch in Limassol.
- Afternoon
- Kolossi Castle, then the old town and seafront in Limassol.
- Evening
- Limassol's restaurant scene: this is the night to eat out well.
- Driving
- Moderate driving from the mountains to the coast. Live route in Google Maps ↗
- Or instead
- Add Amathus or a wine-village lunch in the hills behind Limassol.
Day 6: Lefkara and Choirokoitia, then Larnaca
Base: Larnaca
- Morning
- Choirokoitia Neolithic settlement: best early, with the site notes.
- Lunch
- Lefkara village: simple lunch and a stroll through the lace and silver shops.
- Afternoon
- Continue to Larnaca; Saint Lazarus Church or the salt lake.
- Evening
- Finikoudes promenade and a seafront dinner.
- Driving
- A moderate driving day with plenty of stops. Live route in Google Maps ↗
- Or instead
- Skip Choirokoitia for a longer village lunch, or add the Hala Sultan Tekke.
Day 7: Larnaca and departure
Base: Larnaca
- Morning
- A slow morning on the seafront or at the salt lake (flamingos in winter).
- Lunch
- A last meze.
- Afternoon
- Return the car and head for the airport with a buffer; check your flight time.
- Evening
- Flight.
- Driving
- A very short drive in Larnaca. Live route in Google Maps ↗
- Or instead
- If your flight is late, add a morning at Mackenzie Beach or a half-day trip towards Ayia Napa.
Variations
Want a longer loop with more stops? See the Cyprus road trip. Planning ahead? Read the Cyprus travel guide.
Check before you go
Hours, prices and schedules change. Confirm them at the source:
- Department of Antiquities (Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works): official opening hours and admission for state-run sites
- Cyprus Department of Meteorology