Troodos Mountains in Cyprus. Mount Olympus, waterfalls and fine monasteries

Name: Troodos Mountains Cyprus
Rating: 5

The Troodos Mountains hide the highest peak of the island - Olimbos 1952 m above sea level.
The least rainfall here is in summer, by far the most in December
Visit 2 waterfalls: Millomeris and Caledonia
Churches from the UNESCO list are extremely valuable here, there are 10 of them
I recommend visiting the village of Omodos, you will find not only a magnificent monastery, but also nice buildings with charming streets and small restaurants

The Troodos Mountains, or Trodos, is a quite high and very attractive mountain range, towering in the central-western part of Cyprus. The highest peak and the highest point of the island is Mount Olympus (Olimbos) with a height of 1952 m above sea level. Unfortunately, the Troodos Mountains did not show us the beautiful views they offer on a daily basis due to the rainy weather. The small flashes of the sun gave a foretaste of the beauty of this majesty. The bora wind combined with the microclimate of this place were inexorable. It is in December that these mountains are characterized by the greatest rainfall, many times greater than, for example, in the summer months. This did not prevent us from discovering the amazing charms and many attractions of this range.

Access from the coast and car parks

The Troodos Mountains grew up in the central part of Cyprus and dominate the island. The easiest way to get here is by car from the popular Limassol on the B8 route. That's about 45 kilometers and less than an hour's drive. Tourists often travel here also from Paphos on the A6 road. Then it's a little further, more than 70 km and nearly 1.5 hours of driving. In the mountains you will find a lot of free parking lots, e.g. popular near Olimbos. Access roads are well marked, but not as well prepared as, for example, mountain roads in Mallorca. Here, the shoulders are not so clear, and stones falling from landslides can lie on the road, which is also warned by signs. Also remember that the temperature in the mountains is lower and rainfall is more common, mainly in winter.

Attractions of the Troodos Mountains in central Cyprus

The peaks in this range are only part of the attraction, as you will find impressive waterfalls and extremely valuable churches, inscribed on the UNESCO List. Cats walk on the trails, and the views are reportedly delightful. We encountered stormy weather, but we were still enchanted by this place. Check out the top attractions of the Troodos Mountains!

Mount Olympus (Olimbos) and Artemis Trail

Olimbos is also known in Poland as Olympus. It is the highest peak of the Troodos Mountains and all of Cyprus. It rises to an altitude of 1952 meters above sea level and is a popular tourist destination. You cannot climb to the very top because there is a radar base here. However, there are various hiking trails in the area, allowing you to enjoy the charms of this place. I recommend the Artemis Trail, because it offers fantastic trekking around Olimbos. It is 8 km long, it is not difficult, but it provides wonderful views.

Millomeris Waterfall in the Troodos Mountains

Millomeris waterfall is considered the highest cascade in Cyprus. It is said to be 15 meters high, although some say that it is even 20 meters high. No matter how much it measures, it looks gorgeous. To get to it, we had to walk about 1.5 kilometers. On the other hand, you can get much closer by car. It's definitely worth the trip. Both the waterfall itself and its surroundings are beautiful.
Admission and free parking, 1.5 km away

Caledonia Falls in the Troodos Mountains

Caledonia Falls is a proverbial stone's throw from Millomeris. Despite the rain, we decided to walk to it because it is considered the most beautiful. Maybe we would argue with that, we liked Millomeris better. On the other hand, trekking here is definitely more picturesque. The trail reminded us of the Homole Gorge in Pieniny or the Lower Silesian rock towns. All the time, the path leads along a stream on which there are actually a lot of beautiful cascades.
Admission and free parking, 1 km away

Omodos with a monastery

Omodos is the most atmospheric town we have visited in Cyprus. The village is decorated with stone buildings, narrow streets and beautiful houses decorated with colorful doors and flowers in pots. Time seems to have stopped here.

Monastery and relics in the church

The biggest attraction of Omodos is the fantastic monastery. At the turn of the third and fourth centuries, the Roman empress Helena (mother of Constantine the Great) converted to Christianity and brought here the relics of the Holy Cross (in Poland similar relics can be found on the Holy Cross). Henceforth, this place is famous for its miracles.

This Helen also brought here another relic, namely the rope with which, according to tradition, Jesus Christ was bound. It is the only such souvenir in the world. Both can be admired in the monastery church. Next to it you can enter the tiny chapel of St. Helena. Remember that in Orthodox churches, both in Greece and Cyprus, attention is paid very much to clothing, also cover your legs and arms.

We were enchanted by the streets of Omodos, with Christmas decorations and trees full of ripe oranges. We also entered the building with an age-old grape press. We could admire it completely for free.
Free access to the church and chapel, free parking in front of the village

If you like Orthodox monasteries, be sure to visit the Agia Triada Monastery in Crete

UNESCO Byzantine Orthodox Churches, underrated attractions of Cyprus

In the Trodos mountains, a trail of painted churches was created. They are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. As in our country, there is the Wooden Architecture Trail with UNESCO churches in Małopolska. There are 10 temples here. We visited 3 of them, we managed to enter all of them for free. They are known for their modest stone architecture and beautiful frescoes.

Archangel Michael Orthodox Churchin Pedoulas (Archangelos Michael) - inconspicuous, austere and modest from the outside, and it makes a huge impression on the inside thanks to the paintings. It dates back to the 15th century. The vestibule located on the southern and western sides inside the stone building, due to the small size of the church, formerly served as a women's zone. Only men entered the main church. The wooden iconostasis from the same period as the temple has been preserved intact. Opposite the temple stands a small museum with interesting sacral exhibits. We were delighted with the noble icons and the incredibly atmospheric, old doors. We paid €1 per person for the museum
Church of the Virgin Mary in Moutoulla (Panagia tou Moutoulla) - the temple dates back to the 13th century. It is older, and the preserved paintings are also more rudimentary. Although still incredibly beautiful. They recall the times when Cyprus was ruled by the Byzantine Empire. The temple was built and decorated with frescoes in 1280, thanks to the donation of Ioannis and his wife Irene of Moutoullas. So it is said to be a private chapel
The Monastery of St. John in Kalopanagiotis (Agios Ioannis Lampadistis) - is the largest of these UNESCO sites. By far the prettiest. It makes a colossal impression. From the outside it is very impressive, but above all on the inside it is amazing. It actually consists of three churches from the 11th, 12th and 15th centuries. Interestingly, they are all covered with one roof. Inside, you can't take shots or photographs much, but I took one picture.

Monastery of Panagia (Virgin Mary) in Kykkos

Kykkos Monastery is fantastic. It grew up in the 11th century at the top of the mountain, at an altitude of 1318 m above sea level. Today it is a considerable complex. It is the richest and most lavish of Cyprus' monasteries. Its buildings are beautiful, and very richly decorated with frescoes. We walked through many generally accessible corridors and we have to admit that we were very impressed by this place. Here you can feel a centuries-old breeze of Orthodox spirituality. Photographs can be taken in the monastery, but no shots can be taken in the church.

You can also visit the museum on site, open even in the off-season. It houses an invaluable collection of icons, manuscripts and Cypriot antiques. We, tired, hungry and frozen after a whole day in the mountains with rainfall, unfortunately did not enter it.

And it has one of the 3 icons attributed to the Apostle Luke (Agios Loukas). The icon covered with gilded silver appears in a chapel made of turtle shell and mother-of-pearl. It stands in front of the iconostasis.
Admission to the monastery and museum is 5 euros, parking is free.

Geological structure

The Troodos Mountains were formed as a result of the uplift of the rocks on the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea. They are largely built by rocks of volcanic origin. An interesting fact is that it is the largest concentration of ophiolite in the world.

Where to eat in the Troodos Mountains

The mountains are not very commercial and you will not find too many restaurants here, the more they operate after the season. We tasted Cypriot cuisine at Kykkos Restaurant Cafe. This restaurant is located near the famous monastery of Panagia, which we described above. Here, food is served as a buffet. You can take as much as you can fit on a large plate. Of course there was moussaka, stuffed eggplants and lamb. And a variety of additives, including hummus and tzatziki. At the end, you get baklava for dessert. The whole price is 15 euros per person and you get a glass of wine, white or red, at your discretion.

Other things to do in Cyprus

Paphos - a popular city with ancient runes and tombs
Cape Greco - a wild and very scenic cape on the south-east coast of Cyprus
Ayia Napa with the Rock Bridge of Love, a popular attraction in Cyprus
Aphrodite's Rock- the most beautiful corner of Cyprus, where the goddess of love was born
Aphrodite's Baths and Aphrodite's Trail - a wonderful place for sightseeing trekking
Avakas Gorge - a fascinating canyon with white limestone cliffs protruding to a height of 30 meters
Lara beach with turtles - from May to August, turtles on this beach lay eggs, which hatch around October
The wreck of the Edro III - the ship sank on December 7, 2011, they wanted to tow it, but it was a problem and it just stayed that way. It is a unique setting for sunset

Accommodation in Cyprus

When we were in Cyprus, we slept in Paphos, at the Nereus Hotel. It looks very nice, it is large and very decent for its reasonable price. It provides a tasty breakfast. The room includes everything you need, a bed, a wardrobe, a desk, a chair and armchair, as well as a kettle with a set of coffees and teas. And, of course, a private bathroom. There is also air conditioning. We ordered the hotel in advance by booking, it cost about PLN 250 per night per room. We had to pay only a few days before leaving for Cyprus.

Here you will find a wide selection of accommodations. By booking your stay on Booking.com through our link, you support the development of our blog — and we thank you in advance! It helps us reach many interesting places that we later love to show you and share our experiences and information with you.

Rent a car

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What's worth seeing in the area?

If you are looking for more ideas for interesting places to visit, we have it for you some options in the area. There are several attractions within a radius of 100 kilometers, that are worth adding to your travel plan.

Aphrodite's Rock in Cyprus, distance: 37.2 km
Paphos Cyprus, distance: 46.5 km
Cyprus, distance: 46.5 km
Avakas Gorge in Cyprus, distance: 48.2 km
Wreck of the Edro III ship in Cyprus, distance: 48.5 km
Cypriot cuisine, distance: 49.1 km
Aphrodite Baths and Aphrodite Trail in Cyprus, distance: 49.4 km