During our 15 days in Cyprus, we were also able to discover the cultural side of the island. A land of controversial nature, it is the place where the history of two peoples meets and clashes. To the south is the Democratic Republic of Cyprus with strong Greek influences, to the north is the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus occupied by the Turks in ’74. Historically, the island has been a crossroads between East and West and precisely because of its strategic importance it has suffered many dominations: there are traces of Roman and Byzantine rule but also of the more modern British sovereignty.
Here is our list of 10 must-see attractions in Cyprus.
1. Kykkos Monastery
The Kykkos Monastery, founded during the Byzantine period, is located in southern Cyprus, in the western part of the Troodos mountain range at an altitude of 1318. The road to reach it is long and winding but absolutely worth it. The buildings of the monastery complex date from different eras. The spaces, particularly the exterior walls and open-air corridors, have been largely restored. Most of the decorations are made of glass paste and enamel with gold leaf, adorning the entrance, courtyard walls and corridors in such a way as to harmoniously tie in with the architectural distinctiveness of the complex, giving it an almost surreal light.
In the centre of the complex is the temple, around it various sections of the abbey. On the upper floor is the library and the monks’ cells. Next to the temple is a large paved courtyard with a well. Further on, stairs lead to the lower floor with another open courtyard with a large well in the centre and a shop with monastery products. Right in front of the shop is a huge mosaic of the Virgin Mary. Next to the monastery church, the interior leaves one speechless with its decorations and the light it emanates. It is ‘L’ shaped and consists of two different churches: the first in the form of an elongated basilica, the second in the form of a centred Greek cross.
2. Bellapais Abbey
Bellapais Abbey is located in the small village of Bellapais, near Girne (Kyrenia) in northern Cyprus. It is what remains of a monastery built in the 13th century in the Gothic style, with imposing arches and a large terrace overlooking the Mediterranean, offering an amazing view over the valley to the sea. The visit does not take long but it is a little gem that absolutely must be visited. It has been called the most interesting Gothic church in the Middle East.
Sober and elegant, it is characterised by ribbed vaults. A flight of steps leads up to the roof of the cloister, from which there is a very impressive view of the abbey. The 14th-century structure of the courtyard is complete on three sides, adorned with bas-reliefs and small sculptures that embellish the pointed arches all around. On one side of the cloister are two ancient Roman sarcophagi used as a fountain and wash basin. Behind it is the refectory, where the pulpit from which the Holy Scriptures were read during meals is located.
3. St. Hilarion Castle
St. Hilarion Castle is located in the mountains of the Kyrenia mountain range in northern Cyprus, near the town of Girne (Kyrenia). It was originally a monastery, named after a monk who supposedly chose the site, where a monastery and a church had been built in the 10th century, as his hermitage. It is the best preserved of the three castles that dominated the sea, together with the castles of Kantara and Buffavento.
The castle is divided into three sections all connected by steep stairs. The middle and lower ones were used for services, while the upper one housed the royal family. The lower wing housed the stables and soldiers’ quarters. Prince John’s tower stands on a cliff above the castle while the church is in the middle wing. The upper wing was reserved for royalty and can be accessed through a well-preserved arched passage. Along the western wall, there is a breathtaking view of Cyprus and from the queen’s window, the town of Girne can be seen.
4. Tombs of the Kings
The Tombs of the Kings (Modern Greek: Τάφοι των Βασιλέων) is a large necropolis located about two kilometres north-west of Paphos in southern Cyprus. This necropolis, symbolically called the Tombs of the Kings because of the magnificence of the tombs it houses, was used for the burial of the dead during the Hellenistic and Ptolemaic periods. The tombs were very elaborate structures with a courtyard, peristyle and columns and even today one can imagine their grandeur. The hypogea in this area were excavated from the 3rd century B.C. onwards and are located in an area of small escarpments and rocky cliffs, known as paleokastro (ancient city).
A visit to the Tombs of the Kings is a very special experience, especially because of the mystical atmosphere one breathes when walking around the site. The area is characterised by a barren, rocky expanse ending in a cobalt blue sea. In addition to the Classical tombs and burial mounds, the most famous tombs, dating back to the 3rd century B.C., have been completely excavated in the rock. In many of them, it is possible to enter and walk through the tunnels that connect one tomb to another. Some have been built as if they were houses, with the burial chambers facing the peristyle, the portico supported by Doric columns over the garden or the courtyard. On the walls of some tombs one can sometimes find traces of frescoes and there is a general feeling of majesty and opulence.
5. Büyük Han
he Büyük Han (Modern Greek: Μεγάλο Πανδοχείο) is the largest caravanserai on the island of Cyprus, located in the Turkish part of Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus. It was built by the Ottomans in 1572 and served as a place of rest and refreshment for merchants and travellers. Today it houses craft workshops and galleries as well as a few restaurants where you can have lunch in the inner courtyard surrounded by a cheerful and spicy atmosphere.
Externally it resembles a fortress, in fact during colonial times it was used as a central prison. Entry is possible through two entrances, one to the east and one to the west. Inside, it consists of two floors with a square plan. The rooms on the ground floor each have a low arched door, an arched window and a fireplace. These rooms were originally used as shops, storerooms and offices. Two symmetrical stone staircases at the northwest and southeast corners of the courtyard lead to the upper floor. Here the rooms, which were originally bedrooms, have low arched doorways with machicolations at the top. There are also windows facing the outside of the Han with louvers above, hearths with octagonal fireplaces and niches. In the centre of the open courtyard is a mosque with a fountain for ablutions before prayers.
6. Ancient Kourion
Ancient Kourion is a settlement dating back to the 13th century BC. The site is located near Limassol in the southern part of Cyprus. The site is very large and it takes at least three hours to visit it all but the route is very well signposted and easy to follow. It is also located high above Episkopi Bay and offers wonderful views of the sea and coastline.
Among the most beautiful monuments is the imposing amphitheatre, perfectly restored and still hosting plays, concerts and ballets. Nearby is the Villa of Eustolios, a private residence built by a wealthy 5th century Christian inhabitant decorated with exquisite mosaics, and an interesting Roman bath complex with an ingenious underfloor heating system. Other mosaics are preserved at the House of Achilles and the nearby House of the Gladiators.
7. Hala Sultan Tekke
The Hala Sultan Tekke is located in southern Cyprus, on the western shore of the salt lake of Larnaka, a shallow expanse of brackish water that in summer, totally drained by the heat, becomes a shimmering expanse of salt that mirrors the surrounding landscape.
It is a complex consisting of a mosque with an adjoining tekke (monastery) surrounded by olive trees, cypresses and palm trees. The mosque is still in use and is a very important place in the Islamic world as it has a deep religious significance. Legend has it that it was built on the site where Muhammad’s revered paternal aunt died after falling from a horse while fleeing from Byzantine soldiers. To visit it, one must wear sober clothes and be properly covered. To visit the prayer hall, which is very simple and modest, one must remove one’s shoes and observe a religious silence.
8. Nea Paphos
The Nea Paphos Archaeological Park is located near the harbour in the Kato Paphos area of southern Cyprus. It has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1980, due to the richness and beauty of its sites and monuments.
Some of the historical monuments are kept within a well-defined excavation area and are accessible by purchasing an entrance ticket. Other points of interest are located within the town centre and can be visited free of charge. The archaeological area is vast and one can admire, in addition to the agora and the Roman theatre, a series of mosaics preserved in the remains of what were originally noble houses: from the House of Dionysus to the House of Aion, to the House of Theseus and the House of Orpheus.
9. Salamina Ruins
The Ruins of Salamis are located near Famagusta, in the northern part of Cyprus. According to historians, the ancient city of Salamis was founded by Teucer, brother of Ajax Talamonius, on his way back from the Trojan War. It is a very impressive archaeological site and one of the most famous tourist resorts in the Turkish Republic of Cyprus. Over the centuries, it was first Greek, then Assyrian, Persian, Ptolemaic and finally Roman, considered its heyday.
Just inside the Archaeological Park is the large early Christian basilica of Agios Efipanios. To the south is the main square with tall columns and the temple dedicated to Zeus. Towards the north-east, the acropolis where the gymnasium with its Ionic columns and the Roman-period temple are located. Next is the Theatre of Augustus, the baths from the Hellenistic period with wonderful mosaics depicting the myth of Leda and the swan of Apollo and Niobe. On the way back to the entrance, the Roman villa and basilica of Kambanopetra from the 4th century AD.
10. Famagusta
Famagusta (the ghost town), is located on the east coast of the Turkish part of Cyprus. In the city centre, time stood still in 1571, the year in which, after a ten-month siege, the two hundred thousand soldiers of Lala Mustafa Pasa defeated the eight thousand soldiers of the Venetian and Greek armies. The city centre was banned to Christians, who settled in the village of Varosha.
The Citadel is a fortification of Lusignan origin, accessed through the Terra Gate. Arriving on the main pedestrianised square, we visit the Cathedral of St Nicholas, now the mosque of Lala Mustafa Pasi. On the opposite side of the church are the arches and supporting columns of what was once the Provveditore’s Palace. Opposite are the striking ruins of the Church of St Francis. A little further on is the beautiful Church of Saints Peter and Paul, now the mosque of Sinan Pasa. The grandiose Byzantine church of St George of the Greeks, of which only the huge apse, a side wall and part of what used to be the entrance to the church remain. Finally, on to Othello’s tower and the ramparts surrounding the old town to observe the meadows, vegetable gardens and streets from which the ruins of dozens of Byzantine churches sprout.
If you liked this article and want to know more about Cyprus read our complete itinerary of Cyprus, an island with two souls
Last modified: 7 April 2025
