Backpacking Cyprus Itinerary by Bus (+ Map)
TL;DR
Skip the typical Cyprus backpacking itineraries – our car-free 10-day route uncovers hidden gems, from archaeological sights and mountain monasteries to beautiful beaches, giving you a real sense of discovery.
Most Cyprus backpacking itineraries skim the surface – a beach here, some ruins there – but if you want a trip that actually feels like discovery, you need a smarter plan. Planning a Cyprus trip without a car can be weirdly frustrating: distances look short but transport takes time, the best historical sites are scattered, and it’s hard to tell which towns are worth an overnight versus a quick stop.
We spent three full weeks exploring the island by bus, making mistakes, backtracking, and finding places that never show up on the typical guides – and that experience is exactly what shaped this route. If we only had 10 days in Cyprus, this is precisely how we’d do it to go well beyond the beaten path while still keeping the trip smooth and realistic.
Our itinerary is for curious travellers who want ancient cities, mountain monasteries, hidden archaeological sites, and neighbourhoods locals actually hang out in.
- Cyprus Travel Itinerary
- Itinerary Cyprus Map
- Day 1 – Ayia Napa
- Day 2 – Day Trip to Cape Greco and the Sea Caves
- Day 3 – Nissi Beach and Beaches West of Ayia Napa
- Day 4 – Nicosia
- Day 5 – Choirokoitia Archaeological Site
- Day 6 – Limassol
- Day 7 – Day Trip to Kourion
- Day 8 – Paphos
- Day 9 – Day Trip to the Blue Lagoon
- Day 10 – Day Trip to the Troodos Mountains
- Getting Around Cyprus Without a Car
Cyprus Travel Itinerary
Itinerary Cyprus Map
Day 1 – Ayia Napa
Relax, settle in, and start exploring Ayia Napa. Check out sights like the Central Square, the Monastery of Ayia Napa, the Thalassa Municipal Museum, and Ayia Napa Sculpture Park.
Don’t miss the nightlife if that’s your vibe – we sure had a great time (even as over 30 year old travellers).
Here’s our full Ayia Napa travel guide:
Best restaurants and bars in Ayia Napa
- Taverna Napa is a great restaurant for a first glimpse into Cypriot cuisine. Make sure to try their meze, a taster of around 20 different delicious dishes.
- For cheap happy hour cocktails, head to Tommy's Pub.
- The Square Bar is amazing for live music.
- Although the google reviews are mediocre, we really enjoyed Karamelomeno Kremidi for a late-night snack in form of a gyro.
How to Get from Paphos / Larnaca Airport to Ayia Napa
Ayia Napa is easy to reach both from Paphos and Larnaca airport.
From Larnaca, you can take one of the direct shuttle buses, which run several times a day to Ayia Napa.
From Paphos you have two options: 1) you can take the shuttle to Larnaca and from there one of the frequent buses to Ayia Napa or 2) you can go to the main bus station in Paphos (Municipal Market Station) and take the direct bus from there, which runs once a day. The bus from Paphos airport to Paphos runs several times a day.
Day 2 – Day Trip to Cape Greco and the Sea Caves
Cape Greco is not only the easternmost point of Cyprus but also of the whole EU. It's also the highest point of the area thus offering amazing scenic views. There is a plethora of rock formations to explore in this area: several sea caves, bridges, even a rock mushroom, as well as the beautiful Ayioi Anargiroi Church on the rocks above the Ayioi Anargiroi Cave.
Natural bays like the Blue Lagoon or Konnos Bay offer an amazing opportunity to cool off on a hot day. As the shore is rocky, the water is crystal clear.
How to get from Ayia Napa to Cape Greco
You can
- You can walk (around 9 km or 5.5 mi) or take a bus.
- Go on a jeep tour.
- We went on a boat tour and loved it.
We have written a full review of our Aphrodite 2 Lazy Day Cruise:
Day 3 – Nissi Beach and Beaches West of Ayia Napa
It’s time to relax at the beach! We loved following the promenade from the harbour towards the west along nice viewpoints and cute little bays.
As you can see in the picture, Nissi Beach is not exactly a hidden gem anymore. In our opinion, the beach with the small island in front is still worth a visit.
In case you don’t want to head as far as Nissi Beach, you can choose one of the many other bays along the promenade. Vathia Gonia is gorgeous, and Pernera Beach has comfy sun loungers and fewer people.
If you want to head further than Nissi Beach, Makronissos Beach with the Makronissos Archaeological Site and Ayia Thekla Beach next to the super scenic Ayia Thekla Chapel are great options as well.
How to Get from Ayia Napa to Nissi Beach
You can walk as we did or take the bus, which should run approximately every 30 minutes. It is also possible to rent a bike or a small electric vehicle but beware that you cannot drive all the way to Nissi Beach as you have to cross the sand at Vathia Gonia Beach.
Want more action? Here are 5 quintessential tours in Ayia Napa:
Day 4 – Nicosia
We fell in love with Nicosia. Lonely Planet chose it as one of the best cities to visit in 2022 and rightly so. It's where you feel the history and culture of Cyprus like nowhere else. We recommend spending at least one night because the nightlife is modern and vivid. The Leventis Municipal Museum gives a great overview of the history of Nicosia and Cyprus – the best part is that it's completely free to visit!
As there are no free walking tours, we did the self-guided walking tour by MelBTravel to get a first overview. Walking along the city walls and checking out some of the many churches and archaeological sites is amazing! Visit the Sakolas Tower Observatory for a 360° view over Nicosia / Lefkosia including the Turkish side.
Speaking of the Turkish side: As Nicosia is the last divided capital in the world, we recommend making the border crossing and checking out the Turkish side as well. Make sure to bring your passport and check the current regulations. The picturesque Büyük Han is one of the best places to get a Turkish coffee!
Best Restaurants and Bars in Nicosia
- Avo Armenian Food and Piatsa Gourounaki Express are two cheap and fast restaurants for a sightseeing break.
- In Greece, we fell in love with dessert restaurants and there is no shortage of them in Nicosia – we loved our chocolate sampler at Chocolate Maze.
- Additionally, we found two amazing craft beer places: Golem Brewhouse and Brewfellas.
- If you prefer cocktails, Lost + Found Drinkery is on par with top-notch cocktail bars in other major European cities.
- If you're looking for a traditional shisha, Shisha Friends has got you covered.
How to Get from Ayia Napa to Nicosia
As Nicosia is the capital of Cyprus, there are many direct busses from Ayia Napa as well as all other major destinations on the island.
Day 5 – Choirokoitia Archaeological Site
Choirokoitia or Khirokitia is an archaeological site dating from the Neolithic age. This UNESCO world heritage site is one of the best-preserved prehistoric sites in the eastern Mediterranean.
Our favourite part were the roundhouses, which were carefully reconstructed using the old materials and methods. It was amazing to learn in detail how they were built. Afterwards, it was much easier to understand the ruined settlement leading up the slope to the top of the hill. Make sure to walk the round tour for a cave and nice views along the backside of the hill.
How to Get from Nicosia to Choirokoitia
Here is where things get interesting. The intercity buses from Nicosia to Limassol do stop here – in front of the Oasis Restaurant to be precise. The stop is called Choirokoitia and in doubt, you can tell your bus driver where you want to get out. If you get a daily ticket for 9€, you can just hop off the bus, visit the archaeological site, and hop on the next bus (or two buses later) again. The guys at the ticket office even kept our luggage for us so that we didn't have to carry it around.
Day 6 – Limassol
Limassol has a lot to offer: from ancient archaeological sites to a modern marina combined with a buzzing nightlife. The waterfront is lined by a promenade, the Molos, which is great for some strolling and people watching. And don't forget the city beach, which is not the most beautiful beach on the island, but it's sufficient for a quick beach fix. Check out Lady's Mile Beach for a nicer beach.
The Limassol Castle with the Medieval Museum is a must-visit and the Archeological Museum is worth a visit as well. If you don't mind heading a bit further out of the city centre, you can visit the ruins of Amathus, Kourion, ****or **Kolossi Castle**.
Best Restaurants and Bars in Limassol
- The new marina is an area for food with many popular chains like Wagamama or Tavernaki.
- We preferred the area around the old market because the cuisine was much more local.
- Genethliou Mitella street is lined with bars.
- We loved Kafeney for craft beer.
- If you're more in the mood for a shisha or a cocktail with a rooftop view, Da Vinci is the place for you.
- For some traditional Cypriot ice cream flavours, head to Gelato Mio.
How to Get from Nicosia to Limassol
As Limassol is Cyprus's second biggest city, direct buses do not only run from Nicosia but also from other cities like Paphos or Larnaca.
Day 7 – Day Trip to Kourion
Kourion was an important ancient Greek city-state. Nowadays, visitors can explore Greek, Roman, and Byzantine ruins. Beautiful views along the coast are a bonus. There is much more to see than the famous amphitheatre with its sea view. The agora is huge and we were surprised that we were allowed to walk across it. Additionally, you can visit the remains of several houses, a bath, and an old basilica. If you want to satisfy your inner archaeologist, you can explore the Amathus gate cemetery on your way from the bus stop.
How to Get from Limassol to Kourion
Kourion is easy to visit from Limassol but it takes a while. There are two bus routes: 1) The 16B which takes around 50 minutes from the EMEL Bus Station or 2) the 18 which takes around 50 minutes from My Mall. Both places can be easily reached by the city buses and the EMEL bus station might even be walkable depending on the location of your accommodation. The buses only run every few hours so be prepared for this only 18 km (11 mi) journey to become a day trip. There’s a restaurant right next to the bus stop where you can pass the time until the next bus.
Day 8 – Paphos
Paphos is split between the harbour area (Kato Paphos) and the old town on the hill (Ktima). Explore both: Kato for tourist infrastructure and archaeological sites and Ktima for charming streets and local life.
Highlights include the Tombs of the Kings – a UNESCO site with underground tombs from the 4th century BC that give serious Indiana Jones vibes – and the Archaeological Site of Nea Paphos, with Roman villas, mosaics, an amphitheatre, and the Paphos Lighthouse.
For hidden gems, check out Fabrica Hill, scattered with caves, catacombs, and tiny churches – free to explore and almost tourist-free.
Here’s our full Paphos itinerary and travel guide:
Pahpos also has nice beaches like
- SODAP Beach/Vrysoudia Beach
- Sandy Beach
- Coral Bay Beach
- Geroskipou Beach
Here’s an overview of Paphos main beaches including a map:
Best Restaurants and Bars in Paphos
- The Windmill was our favourite spot to have meze in Kato Paphos. The restaurant is quite touristy but the food was delicious and the service was lovely.
- If you're looking for a more local experience, try Minas tavern just down the road.
- Ta Mpania has some lovely ocean views but we recommend to go only for drinks and not for food.
- As the old town is set on a hill, you'll find plenty of places with a great view. Muse is very trendy and expensive but the views are amazing.
- Souvlaki Livadias has the best Souvlaki we tried in Cyprus, and trust us, we tried a lot.
How to Get from Limassol to Paphos
Intercity buses from places like Limassol run very frequently and are a cheap and easy mode of transport.
Day 9 – Day Trip to the Blue Lagoon
A trip to Paphos wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the Blue Lagoon, which is located on the Akamas Peninsula. Highlights here include the
- Edro III Shipwreck and Sea Caves.
- Legendary Baths of Aphrodite, a shaded grotto where, according to mythology, Aphrodite once bathed and met Adonis.
- The crystal clear waters of the Blue Lagoon which are great if you’re also craving a dip like Aphrodite.
How to Get from Paphos to the Blue Lagoon
If you don’t have a rental car, your main option is the Blue Lagoon Cyprus bus & boat tour – which is great either way because the blue lagoon can best be reached by boat!
Here are more amazing day trips from Paphos:
Travel Guides
Best Day Trips & Tours from Paphos
The best day trips from Paphos – without renting a car!
Carina
Day 10 – Day Trip to the Troodos Mountains
Omodos is a cute little village with small alleys and picturesque views. The Holy Cross Monastery which supposedly holds a part of the Holy Cross and the Holy Rope is worth a visit, even if you're not Orthodox.
You cannot visit Cyprus without visiting at least one monastery as the island has a long Greek Orthodox history. Kykkos monastery with its painted archways, relic collection and beautiful church is definitely worth a visit. Make sure to also check out the tomb of Archbishop Makarios III and the Throni of Panagia Kykkou with its beautiful views of the surrounding Troodos Mountains when you're in the area.
How to Get from Paphos to the Troodos Mountains
Most buses are going from Limassol to the Troodos mountains if you want to spend one or more nights to do a wine tasting or some hiking. For example, bus 40 leaves from Limassol to Omodos several times a day. In general, travelling around the Troodos mountains by public transport is quite tedious.
We booked a day trip to Omodos, Kykkos Monastery, and Chrysorrogiatissa Monastery which was totally worth it.
We have written a full review of our Troodos Mountains tour:
Getting Around Cyprus Without a Car
Bus travel in Cyprus is cheap and easy. City buses only cost 1,50€ and run as often as every 10 minutes in places like Paphos or Limassol. Intercity buses link the big cities several times a day. Costs are between 4€ and 9€. If you don't start your journey at the main bus station, just look for the Intercity Buses logo at the bus stop.
https://www.cyprusbybus.com/ is the perfect resource: it has all the lines, routes, timetables, prices, and everything else you can wish for and is super reliable, even for holiday schedules.
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