North · 1h 55m from Ayia Napa
Atmospheric 12th-century Byzantine church and 5th-century basilica mosaics overlooking a turquoise sandy cove on the Karpaz Peninsula.
Gorgeous spring wildflowers around the ruins and calm swimming from May through November.
North · 25 min from Nicosia
Twin golden-sand bays divided by sculpted sandstone cliffs, serving as northern Cyprus's primary sea turtle nesting sanctuary.
Superb daytime swimming May to November; closed between 8:00 PM and 8:00 AM in summer to protect nesting turtles.
North · 25 min from Nicosia
Mountain forestry pass in the Kyrenia range housing the national botanical herbarium and shaded pine picnic grounds.
Spring brings vibrant blooms of endemic wild orchids; summer provides crisp evergreen shade.
North · 40 min from Nicosia
Historic city-kingdom featuring remarkable sea-carved Roman fish breeding tanks and coastal Phoenician tombs.
Pleasant year-round; sublime for snorkeling and wading from May through October.
North · 35 min from Ayia Napa
Sprawling classical metropolis showcasing soaring marble colonnades, Roman baths, and a 15,000-seat amphitheater by the sea.
Splendid from October to May; golden acacia and spring wildflowers blanket the marble ruins in March.
North · 2h 15m from Ayia Napa
Venerated pilgrimage monastery situated near the far eastern tip of Cyprus, featuring a coastal holy spring.
Open year-round; set within the untouched landscapes of the Karpaz National Park.
North · 20 min from Nicosia
13th-century French Gothic monastic masterpiece immortalized by Lawrence Durrell in 'Bitter Lemons', overlooking citrus orchards.
Enchanting year-round; spring citrus blossoms perfume the hillside alleys.
North · 15 min from Nicosia
Cyprus's highest and most inaccessible fortress at 950m, aptly named 'Defier of the Winds'.
Prime hiking October through May; summer ascents are demanding due to intense heat and steep exposure.
North · 35 min from Nicosia
Premier organized golden sand beach club in Alsancak featuring shallow turquoise waters and an offshore islet.
Bathing season from May through November; shallow waters warm early in the spring.
North · 1h 10m from Ayia Napa
Easternmost Byzantine mountain castle perched at 630m, offering simultaneous panoramas of northern and southern seas.
Superb from October through May; crystal-clear winter days reveal the snowcapped Taurus mountains of Turkey.
North · 25 min from Nicosia
Flower-draped hillside village beneath St. Hilarion Castle with whitewashed cottages, cobbled lanes, and sea vistas.
Spectacular in spring when gardens burst into bloom; cooler mountain air in summer.
North · 1h 55m from Ayia Napa
Miles of rolling golden dunes and turquoise waters; celebrated as the Mediterranean's most pristine wild beach.
Supreme from May through October; in late summer rare white sand lilies (Pancratium maritimum) bloom.
North · 2h from Ayia Napa
Protected national park where hundreds of iconic free-roaming wild donkeys greet travelers along coastal lanes.
Visible throughout the year; a joyous highlight for travelers of all ages.
North · 25 min from Nicosia
Monumental 16th-century Venetian harbour fortress housing the world's oldest excavated merchant shipwreck from 300 BC.
Open daily year-round; the climate-controlled shipwreck room provides comfortable viewing.
North · 25 min from Nicosia
Iconic horseshoe-shaped historic harbor lined with Venetian carob warehouses, wooden gulets, and castle views.
Captivating year-round; magical at sunset when the castle walls glow gold.
North · 25 min from Ayia Napa
Sublime 14th-century Rayonnant Gothic coronation cathedral of the Lusignan Kings of Jerusalem, now a mosque.
Open daily outside of prayer times; tranquil, cool vaulted stone interior.
North · 25 min from Ayia Napa
Masterpiece of 16th-century Venetian Renaissance military engineering with 6-meter-thick ramparts and sweeping city views.
Cool inside the vaulted stone galleries; climb the upper rampart near sunset.
North · 45 min from Nicosia
Eccentric 1957 retro mountainside villa featuring color-coded rooms, secret escape tunnels, and sweeping valley views.
Open year-round; shaded mountainside gardens.
North · 25 min from Ayia Napa
14th-century Venetian sea castle adorned with the Lion of Saint Mark, legendary setting for Shakespeare's Othello.
Open daily; sea breezes cool the stone ramparts even during sunny days.
North · 25 min from Nicosia
Fairytale clifftop Crusader fortress clinging to a 732m crag above Kyrenia, said to inspire Disney's Snow White castle.
Best October to May. In summer, start at 9:00 AM opening before the steep rock climb heats up.
North · 25 min from Nicosia
Atmospheric 11th-century Armenian monastery of St. Macarius hidden deep within pine-forested mountain ravines.
Pleasantly shaded and cool throughout spring, summer, and autumn.
North · 35 min from Ayia Napa
Sanctuary of Cyprus's patron saint featuring the apostle's subterranean rock tomb and rich archaeological museum.
Open daily year-round; the peaceful cloister courtyard offers shade and quiet contemplation.
North · 20 min from Ayia Napa
Famous mid-century resort district frozen in time since 1974, now opened for pedestrian and bicycle exploration.
Open daily; best visited during cooler morning or late afternoon hours.
