Cyprus is a crossroads of civilizations. From mythical Aphrodite to the Romans, Venetians, Crusaders, and Ottomans, each left stories in sun-washed stones and vine-covered villages. In 12 days, you’ll taste halloumi at the source, wander amphitheaters over the sea, and swim in an impossibly blue lagoon.

Expect warm Mediterranean days, crystal coves, and a kitchen that celebrates olive oil, oregano, and charcoal-grilled meats. Wine has flowed here for millennia—Commandaria, the world’s oldest named wine, still sweetens village evenings. Distances are short, so you’ll see and do a lot without rushing.

Practical notes: Cyprus drives on the left; buses between cities are reliable and inexpensive. Summer is hot—pack reef-safe sunscreen and hydrate. If you join tours into Northern Cyprus (across the Green Line), carry your passport/ID. Seafood shines on the coast; inland, slow-cooked kleftiko and village meze are musts.

Larnaca

Larnaca blends a palm-lined promenade with deep history—Hala Sultan Tekke shimmers lakeside, and Saint Lazarus Church anchors the Old Town. It’s a perfect base for exploring Ayia Napa, Protaras, and the sea caves of Cape Greco.

Settle in on Finikoudes Beach, then make time for Mackenzie’s café scene and sunset strolls along the medieval fort. Divers can descend to the famous Zenobia wreck; food lovers can chase meze and grilled octopus by the fishing harbor.

Days 1–4: Larnaca, Ayia Napa & Cape Greco

• Top highlights: Saint Lazarus Church; Hala Sultan Tekke and the Salt Lake (flamingos in winter); Cape Greco sea cliffs; Nissi Beach’s shallow turquoise; the sculpture park in Ayia Napa.
• Getting in: Fly into Larnaca (LCA). From within Europe, compare fares on Omio (flights). Coming from outside Europe, check Kiwi.com or Trip.com (flights).
• Where to stay:
  • Beachfront comfort: Golden Bay Beach Hotel or The Ciao Stelio Deluxe Hotel (adults-friendly, Mackenzie).
  • City-convenient: Radisson Blu Hotel, Larnaca.
  • Value picks: San Remo Hotel, Onisillos Hotel, or family-friendly Palm Beach Hotel & Bungalows.
  • Browse more stays: VRBO Larnaca | Hotels.com Larnaca
• Experiences to book:
  • Cape Greco Blue Lagoon and Ayia Napa Tour — boat time, sea caves, and the bright-blue lagoon.

    

  • Troodos Mountains Villages: All Inclusive Food & Wine Day Tour — halloumi at a village farm, boutique wineries, and traditional sweets.

    

  • Meet the Locals of Lefkara and Machairas Mountains — lace-making lanes, monastery views, and a hands-on cheese stop.

    

  • Full Day Tour in Nicosia: Split in Two — explore the last divided capital, culture on both sides of the Green Line. Carry passport/ID.

    

• Eat & drink (local favorites):
  • Breakfast/coffee: Lush Beach Bar Resto (Mackenzie) for seaside brunch and fresh juices; Coffee Island for excellent Cypriot coffee; To Kafe Tis Chrysanthi’s for homemade pies and traditional sweets.
  • Lunch: Militzis (slow-baked kleftiko and afelia since the 1970s); Maqam Al Sultan (mezze, charcoal-grilled meats, and Lebanese salads on the promenade); Zephyros by the fishing harbor for grilled calamari and local mullet.
  • Dinner: Ammos Beach Bar (sunset cocktails and sushi/Med plates); Art Cafe 1900 (eclectic decor, meze, zivania cocktails). For gelato, look for stands along Finikoudes after dark.
• Travel to Limassol (morning of Day 5): Bus Larnaca–Limassol ~1 hr 15 min, about €6–9; check schedules and tickets via Omio (buses). By car, ~1 hour via A5/A1.

Limassol

Limassol is Cyprus’s lively seafront city—medieval castle, sleek marina, and an old town threaded with wine bars. It’s also the gateway to ancient Kourion, where a Greco-Roman theater crowns sea cliffs, and to the stone villages of the Troodos Mountains.

Spend your afternoons between museums and beach clubs, then slip inland for tastings in Omodos and Platres. History, food, and sun share the stage here.

Days 5–8: Limassol Old Town, Kourion & the Wine Villages

• Top highlights: Limassol Castle and Carob Mill; Kourion’s mosaics and theater with panoramic sea views; Kolossi Castle (Crusader-era); Amathus ruins; village squares in Omodos and Lania; coastal boardwalk sunsets.
• Where to stay:
  • High-end seaside: Amara Hotel.
  • Good-value central: Pefkos Hotel.
  • Family-friendly resort: Atlantica Oasis Hotel.
  • Browse more stays: VRBO Limassol | Hotels.com Limassol
• Experiences to book:
  • Best of Troodos Mountains & Villages tour from Limassol — Omodos wines, mountain vistas, monastery stops.

    

  • Troodos Mountains Villages: All Inclusive Food & Wine Day Tour — village bakeries, winery tastings, and long-table lunch.

    

  • Limassol Cruise Terminal Traditional and Modern Cyprus Tour — a compact city-and-history overview, ideal if your time is tight.

    

• Eat & drink (top picks):
  • Breakfast/coffee: The Shopkeeper & Co for specialty coffee and light bites; Columbia Beach early for a calm seaside breakfast before it turns festive.
  • Lunch: Karatello Tavern (next to the castle) for classic meze and sheftalia; Pier One by the Old Port for grilled fish and harbor views.
  • Dinner: Dionysus Mansion (garden setting, modern Cypriot plates); Kourion Beach fish taverns for sunset dinners after exploring the ruins.
• Travel to Paphos (morning of Day 9): Bus Limassol–Paphos ~1 hr 20 min, about €5–8 via Omio (buses). Driving the A6 takes ~1 hour 15 minutes.

Paphos

Paphos is story-rich: mosaics of Dionysus and Theseus in the Kato Paphos Archaeological Park, tombs carved into rock, and a coastline crowned by Aphrodite’s Rock. It also leads to the wild Akamas Peninsula, where turtles nest and boats idle in the Blue Lagoon.

Between archaeological mornings and beachy afternoons, linger in old-town cafés. By night, sail along the coast for dinner and fireworks or toast the sunset from clifftop bars near the sea caves.

Days 9–12: Paphos, UNESCO Mosaics & the Akamas Peninsula

• Top highlights: Kato Paphos Archaeological Park (villa mosaics); Tombs of the Kings; Petra tou Romiou (Aphrodite’s Rock); Coral Bay; Edro III shipwreck and sea caves; day trips into Akamas (Avakas Gorge, Blue Lagoon).
• Where to stay:
  • Resort luxe: Elysium Hotel.
  • Great value in town: Pyramos Hotel.
  • Family favorite: Aliathon Resort.
  • Browse more stays: VRBO Paphos | Hotels.com Paphos
• Experiences to book:
  • Full Day Tour in Akamas Adonis Waterfalls and Blue Lagoon — jeep tracks, swim stops, and dramatic gorges.

    

  • Ocean Vision | Half Day with BBQ Cruise — slides, swim stops, and coastal views with lunch on board.

    

  • Wave Dancer Fireworks Night Cruise — live show, dinner, and fireworks on the water.

    

  • Full-day Famagusta: Lost Cities & Coastal Secrets from Paphos — Salamis ruins, Varosha viewpoints, and stories of Northern Cyprus. Bring passport/ID.

    

• Eat & drink (don’t miss):
  • Breakfast/coffee: Omikron Brunch & Coffee for hearty plates and espresso; Muse Café Kitchen Bar for hilltop coffee and sweeping sea views.
  • Lunch: Laona Restaurant (home-style Cypriot dishes, changing daily specials); 7 St. Georges Tavern (slow-food meze, seasonal foraged greens, and house preserves).
  • Dinner: Oniro by the Sea (near the shipwreck; book for sunset, try octopus with fava); Ouzeri at Almyra for elevated meze and local wines. For a casual night, seaside grills along the harbor serve souvlaki and fresh fish.
• Optional add-ons: If you have an extra half-day, visit the Paphos Ethnographical Museum or drive to Kathikas village for boutique wineries and a rustic lunch.

Suggested pacing for 12 days

• Days 1–4: Base in Larnaca for Old Town, Mackenzie Beach, and a full day in Ayia Napa/Cape Greco; add one Troodos food-and-wine excursion or a Nicosia day trip.
• Days 5–8: Move to Limassol (morning of Day 5). Dive deep into Kourion, Kolossi, the marina/Old Port, and 1–2 days in the Troodos wine villages.
• Days 9–12: Base in Paphos for UNESCO sites, Akamas jeep/boat day, and a coastal cruise with an evening fireworks sailing.

From Larnaca’s palm-fringed promenade to Limassol’s amphitheater-by-the-sea and Paphos’s myth-steeped shores, this Cyprus itinerary balances beaches, archaeology, and mountain villages. You’ll eat memorably, swim often, and bring home stories stitched with sunlight and song.