Mountain castles of the Kyrenia range, Bellapais Abbey, ancient Salamis, and wild Karpas beaches.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Atmospheric 11th-century Armenian monastery of St. Macarius hidden deep within pine-forested mountain ravines.
Pleasantly shaded and cool throughout spring, summer, and autumn.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Eccentric 1957 retro mountainside villa featuring color-coded rooms, secret escape tunnels, and sweeping valley views.
Open year-round; shaded mountainside gardens.
