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Is one week enough for Cyprus? Yes, if you use two bases and resist the urge to cover everything: four nights on the west coast and three in the Troodos.
This itinerary keeps the driving short and leaves room for the long lunches that are half the point of being here.
Renting a car in Cyprus? Compare rates on DiscoverCars or check local deals with Localrent.
One Week in Cyprus at a Glance
- Route: Paphos, the Akamas, Limassol coast, the Troodos, Nicosia, Larnaca.
- Best day: Day 3 in the Akamas.
- You need: A hire car from day one.
- Flights: Into Paphos and out of Larnaca if you can.
How Is the Week Structured?
Four nights on the west coast, three in the Troodos. Fly into Paphos and out of Larnaca if you can, which saves a day of backtracking.
Hire a car at the airport, because none of this works without one. Booking ahead is easier, and you can compare suppliers on DiscoverCars. A one way hire from Paphos to Larnaca is worth checking when you book. Our guide to getting around Cyprus covers driving here.
How Do You Get From the Airport to Your Hotel?
Paphos airport is 15 to 20 minutes from Kato Paphos, so a pre-booked private transfer is easy if you would rather not collect the car until the next morning. If you fly into Larnaca instead, the official taxi tariff to Paphos Airport (124 km) is €93.94 by day and €109.76 at night. Our Paphos airport guide and Larnaca Airport review cover both ends.
How Long Are the Drives Between Stops?
Knowing the distances up front makes the week feel far less rushed. These are the approximate road times for each leg, and the mountain ones are the ones people underestimate.
- Paphos to Polis and Latchi: about 45 minutes.
- Paphos to Limassol: about an hour.
- Limassol or Paphos to the higher Troodos villages: allow an hour and a half.
- Nicosia to Larnaca Airport: 40 to 50 minutes.
The mountain roads are narrow and winding, so the clock matters more than the kilometres. Fill the tank before you climb, because petrol stations are scarce once you are up in the villages.
Exploring by car? See live prices on DiscoverCars and Localrent.
Day 1: Arrive, Paphos
Land, collect the car and settle in, and do not plan anything ambitious. If you have the afternoon, walk the harbour and eat early. Our Paphos guide covers where to go beyond the strip, and our Grazie review covers a dependable dinner in Kato Paphos.
Day 2: Paphos Archaeology
Start at the Kato Paphos Archaeological Park in the morning, before the heat. The Roman mosaics in the House of Dionysus are the highlight and take a couple of hours.
Swim at Coral Bay in between, then visit the Tombs of the Kings in the late afternoon, when the light is better and the crowds have gone.
Opening Hours and Tickets for Day 2
As of 2026, Visit Cyprus lists the Kato Paphos Archaeological Park as open daily from 08:30 to 19:30 between 16 April and 15 September, and from 08:30 to 17:00 for the rest of the year. Entry is listed at €4.50, with an extra €2.50 for the Tombs of the Kings, and the site is closed on Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and Greek Orthodox Easter Sunday.
The Department of Antiquities also sells multi day cards that cover its museums and monuments, listed at €8.50 for one day, €17 for three days and €25 for seven days. If you plan to add Kourion and a museum or two, the card is worth working out against the single tickets. Times and prices can change without notice, so check before you go.
Day 3: The Akamas
This is the best day of the week. Drive north to Latchi, then either take a boat to the Blue Lagoon or a jeep trip into the peninsula, or walk Avakas Gorge if you prefer to be on foot.
Eat in Polis or Latchi. Our review of Moustakallis Tavern covers the best meal in the area, and it is worth booking. Polis is about 45 minutes from Paphos town.
Day 4: Aphrodite’s Rock and Kourion
Drive east along the coast. Stop at Petra tou Romiou, then Kourion for the Greco Roman theatre above the sea, with the beach directly below.
End in Limassol for dinner, about an hour from Paphos. Our Limassol guide covers the options, and our ranked restaurant guide covers where to book. Strong Limassol choices are BEGE and our Pyxida Limassol review.
If the schedule allows, take a walk along Limassol’s seafront promenade, the Molos, before dinner. It is, in my view, incredible and one of the biggest benefits of the city, and it is a very easy way to end a day of driving.
Day 5: Into the Troodos
Move base. Drive up through Omodos, stopping for lunch and a winery, then continue to wherever you are staying, with Kalopanayiotis the best village to be based in.
Our guides to the best Troodos villages, the mountain taverns and Cyprus wine cover the area. Allow an hour and a half from the coast to the higher villages.
Day 6: Mountains
Walk in the morning. The Caledonia Falls trail is shaded and comfortable even in summer, or you can take the Artemis Trail around Mount Olympus for views.
Spend the afternoon on the painted churches, with Agios Nikolaos tis Stegis near Kakopetria the most accessible, then have a long dinner in a village tavern. Our 7 Linoi review covers a good one, and our hiking guide has the trail detail.
Day 7: Nicosia, Then Larnaca
Drive down to Nicosia for the Cyprus Museum, the old city inside the Venetian walls and the crossing at Ledra Street. Our Nicosia guide covers it, and our Taverna tou Theodosi review covers a lunch worth planning the day around.
Continue to Larnaca for the flight, 40 to 50 minutes from Nicosia, stopping at the salt lake if it is winter and the flamingos are in. Our Larnaca guide covers the city.
Leave generous time on departure day. Return the hire car with a full tank if your agreement requires it, allow for traffic on the approach to Larnaca, and aim to reach the airport well ahead of check in rather than treating the drive as the last stop on the sightseeing list.
Where Should You Stay on This Route?
Paphos for the first four nights, a Troodos village for the last three. Our guide to where to stay in Cyprus compares the regions.
Hotels across Cyprus
What if You Would Rather Not Move?
One base works too, since nothing is more than about two hours away, and Limassol is the most central. You will spend more time driving and less time unpacking, which suits some people better.
How Should You Adjust for the Season?
In July and August, front load everything to the morning and put the Troodos days in the middle. In winter, drop the beach days and add Nicosia and the villages.
Spring and autumn suit this route best, with warm days for the coast, a sea that is comfortable for swimming and trails that are pleasant to walk. In winter, expect cooler weather in the mountains and check the forecast before committing to the Troodos days, because rain and snow can change road conditions and the Akamas tracks are best avoided when wet.
What Should You Book Before You Go?
Three things are worth sorting early. The first is the hire car, particularly in July, August and around Easter, when supply tightens. The second is your Troodos accommodation, because the best village stays are small and have few rooms. The third is dinner on the nights that matter, especially Moustakallis on Day 3 and your village tavern on Day 6.
Orthodox Easter moves each year and falls on 2 May in 2027. Many businesses close for the holiday itself and the Kato Paphos park is closed on Easter Sunday, so check dates carefully if you are travelling at that time.
What Are the Common Mistakes on a One Week Trip?
- Doing the Akamas by rental car: Many hire agreements exclude unpaved tracks, so use a boat or jeep tour if you are unsure.
- Walking at midday in summer: Start early, finish by lunch and save the afternoon for shade or the sea.
- Underestimating the mountain drive: Journey times in the Troodos run longer than the map suggests.
- Packing the days too tightly: Two main stops a day is plenty, and a long lunch counts as one of them.
- Arriving without offline maps: Phone coverage is patchy in the Akamas and the mountains, so download maps before you set off.
Who Is This Itinerary For?
First time visitors who want a mix of sea, history, food and mountains, and who are happy to drive. It suits couples and small groups best.
If you want a pure beach week, skip the Troodos days and stay on the coast. If you do not want to drive at all, base yourself in one town and use day tours.
Want the best rental rates? Book early with DiscoverCars and compare Localrent before you pay.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a Week Long Enough for Cyprus?
Yes for the main sights. Ten days lets you do the Akamas and the mountains without rushing.
Should I Fly Into Paphos or Larnaca?
Into Paphos and out of Larnaca works best for this route. Both airports take a car hire return.
Do I Need a Hire Car for This Itinerary?
Yes. Book ahead, especially for July and August, and check one way fees if you fly into one airport and out of the other.
How Do I Get From the Airport to My Hotel?
Paphos airport is 15 to 20 minutes from Kato Paphos. From Larnaca Airport the official taxi tariff to Paphos Airport (124 km) is €93.94 by day and €109.76 at night.
Do I Need to Book Restaurants?
In summer and at weekends, yes. The village taverns are small and fill quickly. See the best restaurants in Cyprus.
How Much Driving Is This?
Around an hour on the two transfer days and considerably less on the others.
What Is the Best Time of Year for This Itinerary?
April, May, September and October. The weather is warm enough for the sea, cool enough for walking and the roads and sites are less crowded than in midsummer.
Can I Do This Itinerary in Winter?
Yes, with adjustments. Swap beach time for villages and museums, check the weather before the mountain days and keep a layer in the car, since the Troodos are much colder than the coast.
Is It Worth Buying a Multi Day Antiquities Ticket?
It can be, if you plan to visit several museums and monuments in a few days. Add up the single entry prices for the sites you actually want and compare them with the one, three and seven day cards.
Can I Add Extra Days to This Route?
Yes. A spare day works well in Limassol, in a second Troodos village or on the Akamas coast, and each of those adds depth without extra long drives.
Final Thoughts
The mistake is trying to see all of Cyprus in a week. This route covers the coast, the archaeology, the mountains and the capital, and still leaves most afternoons free, which is what the island is actually for.