Larnaca

Welcome to Cyprus and thank you for choosing us as your guide to discover the secrets of this fascinating Mediterranean island! Today, please arrive in Larnaca International Airport. Whenever you arrive, our local guide and driver will pick you up on time and transfer you by private car to the hotel in Nicosia we carefully select for you.

Ledra Street Crossing Point

Our guide will pick you up from the hotel at the agreed time and officially set off for the escorted sightseeing. The first stop will be Ledra Street, located on the Green Line, a military buffer zone which was established by the UN to avoid military conflict between the North and South. Managed by different regimes (Greek and Turkey), the street appears in two different styles. We will visit the Greek side, a pedestrian street full of shops, cafes, and restaurants.

Leventis Municipal Museum of Nicosia

The next stop will be Leventis Municipal Museum, which is nearby. Here, you can see relics, including delicate clothes, daily items, pictures, and so on, which span from the Chalcolithic era, about 5,000 years ago to the present day.

Medieval Venetian Walls

Then, we will head to Venetian Walls. Surrounding the old town of Nicosia, it is the most significant and best-preserved historical relic in the city, with a length of 5 kilometers (3 miles) and a height of 12 meters (39.4 feet). It is roughly in a circle, with 11 fortifications on top at an equal interval. Due to the Green Line Regulation, walking the entire length of the walls is impossible. However, our guide will take you along the paths of the walls to Famagusta Gate, the best-preserved city gate, where you can appreciate the grandeur and solidity of the walls.

After leaving Famagusta Gate, we will take you to the House of Hadjigeorgakis Kornesios, a villa built in the Ottoman-Turkish architectural style whose upper hall has been preserved in its original form, with carved ceilings, scarlet velvet sofas, silk curtains, and huge oriental carpets. It is as if you were hear the people who lived here in the past talked with each other.

Buyuk Han

Then, you will pass through the Green Line with our guide to Buyuk Han, Cyprus's most impressive Ottoman architecture. You may also appreciate some handmade artworks made from silkworm pupae here. After a short break in Buyuk Han, an exploration of those little-known but fascinating places will begin.

The Venetian Column

Following our experienced guide’s step, you will hang out at the local bazaars such as Grand Bazaar and Arasta Quarter. Then, stroll at the park where the Venetian Column is situated, experience local people’s life at Samanbahçe Quarter, a residential neighborhood, and finally take a mini urban adventure in the Arabahmet Quarter, where houses from the Ottoman Empire stand. At the end of the day, we will transfer you back to the hotel in Nicosia.

Saint Hilarion Castle

After breakfast, we will drive to the Kyrenia Mountain Range, 30 kilometers (17 miles) north of Nicosia. Here, you will visit the Saint Hilarion Castle. This fairy-tale fortress was the inspiration of the castle in the ‘’Snow White and Seven Dwarfs’’. Located on the hilltop, it offers stunning panorama views of Kyrenia and the Mediterranean Sea.

Bellapais Monastery

We will then proceed to the Bellapais Monastery, a Gothic style monastery consisting of the main hall, cloisters, gardens, underground dining room and pulpit.

Kyrenia Castle

In the afternoon, we will drive to the 16-century Kyrenia Castle, which houses a shipwreck museum preserving a trading cargo ship from 300 BC. Built alongside the sea and adjacent to the harbor, it shows wonderful views of Kyrenia Harbour as you climb the battlements with our guide.

Kyrenia Harbour

After visiting the castle, you can spend some leisure time to stroll around the Kyrenia Harbour to experience the deep history of this city as well as to enjoy its relaxing vibe. Finally, we will transfer you back to the hotel in Nicosia.

Aphrodite's Rock

In the morning, we’ll move on to Paphos in the southwest of Cyprus, which is around 1 hour and 40 minutes’ drive away from Nicosia. You will firstly be guided to visit Petra Tou Romiou (Aphrodite's Rock), a sea stack on the way to Paphos. It is well-known as the birthplace of Aphrodite, the goddess of love in Greek mythologies, aka Venus in Roman mythologies.

Kato Paphos Archaeological Park

Upon arrival at Paphos, our Cyprus history expert will guide you to visit the Paphos Archaeological Park, which houses remains of buildings, monuments, and wonderful Roman mosaics from the 4th century BC to the Middle Ages. The most interesting thing is appreciating the wonderful mosaic inlays while guessing which Greek fairy tales they tell.

Tombs of the Kings

The last stop on today's itinerary is the Tombs of the Kings. Actually, these catacombs were not for the kings, but for the nobles and high-rank officials back then. There are over 100 catacombs, some carved out of rock, while others built as Greek temples, which resemble ancient Greek palaces sinking into the ground. Bats and pigeons inhabit here, so beware that they may suddenly fly out of the ground during your visit. After that, we will transfer you back to the hotel in Nicosia.

Choirokoitia Neolithic Settlement

Today, we will drive to Larnaca. Our first destination before transferring to Larnaca will be the Neolithic Settlement of Choirokoitia, dated back to the 7th to 4th millennium B.C., where you can see the earliest trace of human life on this Mediterranean island.

The Church Of Holy Cross

Thereafter, we’ll visit Lefkara Village, a small charming mountain village famous for lace work and silver handicrafts. Wandering on the street of the village, you can see lace products hanging everywhere as decorations or for sale. It is said that Leonardo da Vinci came here and took a piece of lace when he returned to Italy. Here we will also visit the Church of Holy Cross, built in the 14th century AD, and dominates the center of the village.

After exploring Lefkara, we will continue the drive to the Larnaca Salt Lake. It offers the best view in winter (December-March) when the flamingos migrate here. Our guide will take you for a hike along the lake. If you are lucky enough, you may see flocks of flamingos flying over the water, the pink reflections make the turquoise-blue lake even more beautiful. Since such pink birds usually inhabit the center of the salt lake, so remember to bring binoculars if you want a clearer view.

Hala Sultan Tekke

You’ll also set foot in the Hala Sultan Tekke on the west side of the lake with our guide, where you can watch the lake while standing in front of the prayer room window.

After leaving the Larnaca Salt Lake, our guide will drive you to the old streets of Larnaca and visit the Church of Saint Lazarus. Finally, we will send you to the hotel in Larnaca.

Larnaca

Our service on this Mediterranean island will end today with the Larnaca International Airport see-off service. Hope you have enjoyed this best Cyprus tour from Larnaca with us! If you plan to travel to the neighboring destinations like Turkey, Greece, or Egypt, we will be glad to assist you.