Are you looking for the perfect Cyprus travel itinerary?
Here you will find not one but several excellent travel itineraries for a brilliant and unforgettable holiday on our island – whether it is for a long or a short stay. We cover both.
Please note that these Cyprus travel itineraries were created having in mind that you will have a rental car as your transport.
So let’s get started…
Follow the quick links below to guide you through the article.
Quick links:
Although we usually recommend staying on the island for more than 3 days because it’s well worth it and there is an abundance of things to see and do, we have decided to include 3 days travel itineraries in this article because of the queries we have received by many of you.
So let’s start…
We recommend renting a car because in 3 days you can do quite a few things on the island and you can see more of Cyprus rather than just the beautiful capital city of the island…Nicosia (Lefkosia in Greek).
The nearest legal airport to Nicosia is Larnaca Airport (LCA). See flights to Cyprus.
Start early. Stroll Ledras street and Laiki Geitonia. You will love Old Nicosia and its quaint buildings.
Consider booking a guided tour or a Segway tour. You will love it and above all you will have fun!
After that, get in the car and drive to the Larnaca district. Go to Finikoudes (Palm Trees) beach and have a warm dip and sunbathe under the hot sun.
Alongside the Finikoudes beach you will find Finikoudes promenade which is full of restaurants, taverns, cafes, pubs and bars. You can have your lunch there and a nice cocktail to relax even more, before you head back to Nicosia.
Head back to Nicosia.
Relax in your room.
In the evening, you can stroll Eleftherias Square and buy local ice cream from Ledras Street.
Wake up early in the morning, you have a long day ahead of you. Fill up the fuel tank of your car and get ready to drive through the scenic mountains of the island and visit picturesque and traditional villages, monasteries and UNESCO churches.
Check out Cyprus routes to choose which route to follow with your car for today. You can either choose Route 1, Route 2 or Route 3. No matter which route you choose (all 3 routes are scenic ones), today’s travel itinerary in the mountains will take you a whole day.
Ayia Napa day! It’s Nissi beach time!
Today you are going to the famous resort of Ayia Napa in the Famagusta (Ammochostos in Greek) district.
Put on your bathing suit, take your sun cream, flip flops, hat and a bottle of water and take the motorway towards the Larnaca district. From the Larnaca district take the motorway towards Ayia Napa (there are road signs to guide you).
Today you will spend a whole day at the wonderful Nissi beach in one of the most famous resorts in Europe! Ayia Napa!
Check out Ayia Napa attractions to choose where you want to go in Ayia Napa, if bathing under the hot sun all day long is not your cup of tea. :-)
Also, check out Cyprus routes – the Route 12 – in case you wish to explore the villages of Eastern Cyprus (Famagusta district) – the wonderful resort of Protaras and the beautiful holiday village of Paralimni are included.
Consider booking a boat cruise in Ayia Napa…you will love it!
Follow the Cyprus travel itinerary below having in mind that we have created it for those who are considering to have a car while on the island (car rentals in Cyprus) – which is highly recommended since the best way to explore the island is by car.
The nearest legal airport to Larnaca is Larnaca Airport (LCA). See flights to Cyprus.
Book a guided tour or explore the town of Larnaca on your own at your own pace. Stroll the streets of Old Larnaca and familiarize yourself with the place. Visit traditional shops and admire the view of the Mediterranean Sea.
Visit Finikoudes beach and sunbathe under the hot sun. Have lunch in one of the restaurants or taverns on the Finikoudes Promenade which is alongside the Finikoudes beach.
For the evening we suggest to take your car and drive to MacKenzie beach. There are cafes, lounges and bars which become night clubs at night. Have fun and lots of cocktails! You will love it, if loud music is your kind of thing of course :-).
Take your car and head towards the mountains. Check out Route 16 and Route 17 (see Cyprus Routes).
Choose which route to follow (either Route 16 or 17) and start your adventurous journey in the scenic mountains of our island early in the morning. Don’t forget to fill up the fuel tank of your car. That’s very important.
Take your time and explore the beautiful inland of the island at your own pace. You will love it! Today’s day will be full of scenic mountains, picturesque villages and lovely monasteries waiting for your visit…and don’t forget your camera. The island is so photogenic!
For today you have 3 options. You can choose to visit either Ayia Napa, Limassol or Paphos. We have created travel itineraries for all 3 destinations, to make it easier for you to choose which destination you wish to follow in Day 3.
So are you ready? Let’s start!
From Larnaca take the motorway and head towards Ayia Napa.
See Ayia Napa attractions to choose which attractions you wish to visit.
Since you have a car, we recommend exploring Eastern Cyprus, the villages of Famagusta district. Check out Route 12 (Cyprus Routes). It’s a circular route. It starts from Ayia Napa and ends at the starting point.
After exploring Eastern Cyprus, head to the beach.
Check out Cyprus beaches to choose which beaches you wish to visit in the exquisite resort of Ayia Napa…or…
…check out our Top 3 Ayia Napa beaches.
In addition, consider booking a boat cruise. It’s an experience you will definitely love!
Instead of taking the motorway from Larnaca all the way to Limassol, try to follow the route we prepared for you below. You will drive through the coastal villages of Larnaca district to get to your destination which is much nicer than the monotonous motorway.
From Larnaca head towards Meneou and Kiti. From Kiti head towards Mazotos. Keep going straight to enter the coastal road and drive all the way to Zygi.
From Zygi take the motorway and drive towards Limassol.
Check out Limassol attractions to choose which attractions you wish to visit. Also, check out Cyprus beaches or our Top 3 Limassol beaches to choose which beaches you wish to visit for swimming and sunbathing or even snorkeling.
Have fun! :-)
Again, instead of taking the motorway from Larnaca to Paphos, follow the route below.
That is, from Larnaca head towards Meneou and Kiti. From Kiti head towards Mazotos. Keep going straight to enter the coastal road and drive all the way to Zygi.
From Zygi take the motorway and drive towards Limassol. From Limassol keep going straight to reach your destination which is Paphos.
At some point during your drive on the motorway – just as you are reaching the Paphos district – you will see a road sign saying Petra tou Romiou (Aphrodite’s Rock). Take that exit and head towards Aphrodite’s Rock. Make a stop there, unwind and take some beautiful photos.
Now, it’s time to head towards Kato Paphos.
Check out Paphos attractions and Cyprus beaches or our Top 3 beaches in Paphos district to plan your itinerary for the day.
Don’t forget that there are lovely boat cruises in which you will have an unforgettable experience…and excellent guided tours to explore Paphos.
So don’t forget to put on your bathing suit, take the sun cream with you, a hat and a bottle of water for hydration.
If you don’t wish to spend the whole day at the beach, then apart from checking out Paphos attractions, also check Routes 4, 5, 6 and 7 (Cyprus Routes). It will be an adventurous day out! :-)
If you plan a road trip to the Akamas peninsula, please note that you will need a 4x4 car and good driving skills (because the road is rocky and bumpy)…or…
…book a Jeep safari in Akamas or even better book a boat cruise to the Blue Lagoon in Akamas.
Either way you will have an adventurous, fun time!
So have you decided which place (either Ayia Napa, Limassol or Paphos) to visit for Day 3?
If so, great! :-)
If you have decided to visit our island for 3 days and stay in the Limassol district, then here’s a travel itinerary that will make your stay in Cyprus unforgettable!
We take it that you will have a car (car rentals in Cyprus) because it’s the best way to explore the island, so we created this 3-day Cyprus travel itinerary based on that.
So let’s start…
Limassol is situated in the middle of both legal airports on the island. So you can choose to book a flight either to Larnaca Airport (LCA) or Paphos Airport (PFO). See flights to Cyprus.
On Day 1 you will explore Old Limassol to familiarize yourself with the town of Lemesos (Limassol). Stroll the streets of Old Limassol and admire the quaint buildings, visit traditional shops and at the end visit Molos (Limassol Promenade) and Limassol Marina to admire the views of the Mediterranean Sea.
Consider booking a guided tour which is an informative way to explore Old Limassol-Lemesos.
At the end of your guided tour or self-guided tour, if you have time, you can spend it at the beach – if you fancy a dip and sunbathing under the warm sun. If you do, check out Cyprus beaches or our Top 3 Limassol beaches to choose where to go to soak up the sun...
…and since you have a car, you will have plenty of options.
For lunch or dinner you will find out that Limassol is full of restaurants, taverns, pubs and bars ready to serve you delicious fresh food.
Today is driving day!
You will spend the day in the magnificent mountains and picturesque villages of the island! What a wonderful day you will have!
Depending on which route you choose (please see below), you will head towards the inland of Cyprus where the scenery is breathtaking!
Check out Routes 8, 9, 10 and 11 (Cyprus Routes). Choose which route to follow (all 4 are scenic routes) and start early in the morning with a full tank of petrol.
Enjoy your day by travelling at your own pace and stopping at villages and mountain points to admire the view and acquaint yourself with the locals. You will love it because it’s a unique experience. Cyprus is not only beaches and vibrant nightlife. It’s got lots of culture too! :-)
Since you have a car, today we are going to take you to Paphos. This wonderful district has a lot to offer to visitors of our island. It’s a fact!
Get ready for an adventurous day out in the Paphos district where you will visit Kato Paphos Archaeological Park (UNESCO) (check out Paphos attractions), sunbathe under the warm sun (check out Cyprus beaches and our Top 3 beaches in Paphos), have a boat cruise in the Blue Lagoon or a Jeep safari in the Akamas Peninsula or both, drive to Polis Chrysochous (Polis) and have lunch in Latchi…or…
…if you wish you can road trip the Akamas Peninsula with a 4x4 car.
In addition, if you still have time, you can follow either Route 5, Route 6 or Route 7 (check out Cyprus Routes) to explore the wine villages of Paphos district.
That’s a lot to do for one day, so have an early start and a full tank of petrol.
As it was mentioned above, Paphos has a lot to offer to its visitors.
So let’s start with this wonderful Cyprus travel itinerary…
The nearest legal airport to Paphos is Paphos Airport (PFO). See flights to Cyprus.
On Day 1 you will explore Kato Paphos Archaeological Park (UNESCO), walk along the Paphos promenade admiring the view of the Mediterranean Sea, visit the harbor and the castle. They are all within walking distance.
(There is a car park just outside Kato Paphos Archaeological Park to park your rental car).
Alongside the promenade, you will find numerous restaurants and cafes, so if you wish you can have your lunch there.
(For more attractions in Paphos district please check out Paphos attractions).
You can end your day by swimming and sunbathing on one of the best beaches in Paphos. We recommend checking out our Top 3 beaches in Paphos to choose one...or…
…see Cyprus beaches for more options.
On Day 2 we will take you from Kato Paphos to Kato Pyrgos through Polis Chysochous (Polis); and back to Kato Paphos through the wonderful picturesque mountains. Check out Route 4 (Cyprus Routes).
This is a long adventurous route!
You have a long drive ahead of you, so start early in the morning with a full tank of petrol and head towards Polis.
From there take the coastal road towards Pomos. From Pomos head to Agios Raphael (a stop at this church is recommended to admire the Mediterranean view from the hill) and from Agios Raphael (Saint Raphael) follow the road signs to the coastal village of Kato Pyrgos.
You will most certainly enjoy the views of the route so far…
…but still you have driving ahead of you, so let’s move on to your next stop.
Make a stop at Kato Pyrgos for lunch. Just don’t let it take you too long though (that’s very important) because you have a long route ahead of you. You will get back from Kato Pyrgos to Kato Paphos through the magnificent mountains of the island including a visit to Kykkos monastery and Throni tis Panayias.
From Kato Pyrgos take the road towards Nicosia (Lefkosia). At some point in the route (in the mountains – long before you reach Nicosia city) you will see the road sign saying Kykkos Monastery. Take that road and follow the road signs to Kykkos.
From Kykkos head towards Pano Panagia (Pafos). You will pass through the Cedar Valley which is a lovely experience! If you have time you can also visit the monastery of Chrysorrogiatissa.
From Chyrsorrogiatissa monastery head towards Kato Paphos.
We know that’s a long route, so be prepared to drive long hours. The scenery, the friendly locals, the majestic monasteries and the picturesque villages will be your “compensation” :-).
On Day 3 you will explore the wine villages of the Paphos district.
Check out Routes 5, 6 and 7 (Cyprus Routes) for a fun day out driving through the wine villages! No matter which Route you choose you will have a great day out since all 3 routes are scenic ones.
Consider visiting a couple of wineries along the way. You won’t regret it, it’s an excellent experience!
It’s very exciting to know that you are going to visit the exquisite resort of Ayia Napa, one of the most popular resorts in Europe…
…and the bonus, Protaras (another popular resort in Cyprus) is very close to Ayia Napa...
...so we have created a 3-day itinerary including the holiday resort of Protaras.
You will spend a day exploring the villages of Famagusta district including Protaras resort and Cape Greko. The second day you will spend it in Ayia Napa and the third day you will spend it in the mountains (it’s adventure time!).
In that way you will get to experience the Ayia Napa and Protaras vibes and the mountains vibes too. You will love it!
Before we start, check out Cyprus beaches, although we recommend Nissi beach, Makronissos beach and Ayia Thekla beach as our Top 3 beaches in Ayia Napa. Our Top 3 beaches in Protaras are Fig Tree Bay, Konnos beach and Kapparis (MADD) beach.
Also, take a look at Ayia Napa attractions and Protaras attractions for your information.
So…let’s start…
The nearest legal airport to Ayia Napa or Protaras is Larnaca Airport (LCA). See flights to Cyprus.
Take the car (car rentals in Cyprus) and explore Eastern Cyprus, the charming villages of Famagusta district. Check out Route 12 (Cyprus Routes) – the wonderful resort of Protaras and the beautiful holiday village of Paralimni are included in this route. It’s a circular route and it starts and ends in Ayia Napa.
Start early in the morning from Ayia Napa and head towards Liopetri. If you start late in the morning and it’s already lunch time you can have lunch in one of the taverns alongside Liopetri river.
From Liopetri, head towards Xylofagou, then Ormideia, Xylotymvou, Dasaki Achnas, Avgorou, Frenaros, Deryneia, Paralimni, Protaras, Cape Greko and back to the starting point in Ayia Napa.
If you don’t want to stop at all the places mentioned above, we recommend at least to consider making a stop at Paralimni, Protaras and Cape Greko.
In Protaras, visit Ayioi Saranta Cave Church (a church inside a cave) and Profitis Elias church which is built on a hill. The view from up there is a panoramic one!
After your visit to these 2 churches, go to Fig Tree bay or Kapparis (MADD) beach or Konnos beach to soak up the warm sun. :-)
(Please see Protaras attractions and Cyprus beaches).
If you have time – depending on how long you will spend in Protaras swimming and sunbathing – drive to Cape Greko and explore it.
After that, head towards Ayia Napa.
Today you will spend the whole day in Ayia Napa. You will familiarize yourself with the resort by exploring it and at the end you will spend time soaking under the warm sun. It’s swimming and sunbathing time! :-)
Consider visiting Ayia Napa Marina, Ayia Napa monastery and Ayioi Anargyroi church in Cape Greko. You will love it in Cape Greko, as the view there is spectacular!
Also, visit the sea caves of Ayia Napa, Kamara tou Koraka (Crow’s Arch) and the Love Bridge.
(Please see Ayia Napa attractions).
After exploring the resort, head towards either Nissi beach, Makronissos beach or Ayia Thekla beach. If you want more beach options see Cyprus beaches.
Spend the rest of the day there sunbathing under the warm sun (it’s relax time).
If a boat cruise is your cup of tea, consider booking one. You won’t regret it, it’s lots of fun!
In addition, think about scuba diving. There are many schools which teach first time divers. You will love the experience, because scuba diving is mind blowing!
Adventure time!
Today you will drive to the scenic mountains of the island via Finikoudes (Palm Trees) in Larnaca. Check out Route 14 (Cyprus Routes).
Start your adventure early in the morning with a full tank of petrol, you will need it!
Take the motorway towards Larnaca. Once in Larnaca, go to Finikoudes Promenade or beach. They are both alongside each other. Unwind for a while and have a morning coffee in one of the cafes in Finikoudes.
Time to get back to the car.
From Finikoudes head towards Kiti and Mazotos (don’t enter the village of Mazotos, keep going straight towards the coastal road). Enter the coastal road towards Agios Theodoros Larnacas. Take a right turn towards the village of Agios Theodoros Larnacas and head towards Skarinou.
From Skarinou head towards Kato Lefkara, then Kato Drys, Agros and Trooditissa Monastery. Stop at Lefkara and explore this beautiful village. Also, stop at the Trooditissa monastery and admire the views from up there.
From the monastery take the road towards Kato Platres. That’s another stop. Kato Platres is a must-visit traditional village in our wonderful mountains. Don’t miss out!
From Kato Platres head towards Limassol.
If you have time, visit Limassol Promenade (Molos).
From Molos head towards the motorway to Larnaca. From Larnaca take the motorway towards Ayia Napa.
…So, have you decided which is your favorite 3-day Cyprus travel itinerary?
If your answer is yes, then excellent! Start planning your trip :-).