Are the Troodos trails free?

Yes. The Visit Cyprus trail guide says nature trails are free for public use, so Artemis and Atalanti cost nothing. Only the Troodos Visitor Centre near Troodos Square charges an entry fee, and it is free for children under 6.

Is Kourion Beach free, and does that include the ancient site?

The beach is free, like all beaches in Cyprus, and sun beds, umbrellas and showers at municipal beaches are for a fee. The ancient site of Kourion is a separate place that charges an entry fee, and it is not part of this guide.

Are Hala Sultan Tekke and Famagusta Gate free to visit?

Yes, Visit Cyprus gives entry as free for both. The mosque is open daily with different hours in summer and winter; Famagusta Gate opens Monday to Friday only and is closed on public holidays.

Can I walk into the Salt Lake to get closer to the flamingos?

No. The Larnaca Tourism Board says wading out into the lake is prohibited, because it harms the birds. Thousands of flamingos stay from November to March, and you can watch from the 4 km trail.

Is it free to walk through Lefkara, Omodos and Kakopetria?

Yes. The villages are public places, so walking their streets and squares costs nothing. Museums, monasteries, wineries and workshops are separate places with their own rules.

Is there a free guided walk in Larnaca or Nicosia?

Yes. Larnaca has a free walking tour on Wednesdays at 10:00 with no reservation, and Nicosia has a free guided walk of the old city and its walls in English. The Nicosia dates change, so check them first.

Free things to do in Cyprus

Our top five free things to do in Cyprus outside the resort areas are the Troodos Olympos Trails, the Larnaca Salt Lake with Hala Sultan Tekke, Kourion Beach, the Venetian Walls of Nicosia and the village of Lefkara. Entry to all of them is free; the extras you may pay for are sunbeds, umbrellas and showers at the municipal beaches and the Troodos Visitor Centre.

Checked on 17 October 2026

Every place on this page is free to enter. “Free entry” means that no ticket is needed. Beaches count as free because the Visit Cyprus guide says all beaches in Cyprus are public and free of charge; sunbeds, umbrellas and showers at municipal beaches are for a fee. Villages and promenades are public places you walk through, free of charge; churches, monasteries, museums and ticketed sites nearby, such as ancient Kourion, have their own rules and are not covered. An amount appears only where an official source states one, because prices change. Where a place has a car park, we say only that it exists, not whether it is free or charged. Each place shows the date we last checked it. Please check on site before you go.

Beaches

Pebble beach beside a road, with dark blue sea and pale cliffs along the coast under a clear sky — Photo: Radosław Botev · CC BY 3.0 pl · cropped

Kourion Beach

A 1 km beach of sand and pebbles in Episkopi Bay, with fish taverns and lifeguards in season

Cost: Free entry · Sunbeds charged
Time needed: 60–180 min
Best time: Summer
Parking: Car park available

Kourion Beach is a 1 km stretch of coast in Episkopi Bay, in the greater Limassol area. The swimming area has an exceptionally wide shore of sand and pebbles, and windsurfing is possible. Toilets, showers, changing rooms, sun beds, umbrellas and several fish taverns are on the beach; the Visit Cyprus guide says that showers, sun beds and umbrellas at municipal beaches are for a fee. Lifeguards are stationed from April to October. The beach offers disabled access, and car-parking facilities exist. Convenience stores, a children's playground and accommodation are about 1 km away. The ancient site of Kourion, with its Greco-Roman amphitheatre, is a separate place close by that charges an entry fee. This page covers the beach only.

Tip Lifeguards are stationed from April to October, so take extra care when you swim in the other months.

Source www.visitcyprus.com · 17 October 2026

Nature & hikes

A dirt path along a rocky ridge with a twisted pine, forested hills and a hazy horizon — Photo: Mboesch · CC BY-SA 4.0 · cropped

Troodos Olympos Trails

Two signposted circular forest trails around Mount Olympos, in the Troodos mountains at about 1,850 m

Cost: Free entry · Extras €1
Time needed: 150–180 min
Best time: Summer
Parking: Car park available

Artemis and Atalanti are circular nature trails in the Troodos forest. Artemis is 7 km long and goes around the top of Mount Olympos (Chionistra) at about 1,850 m; Visit Cyprus rates it difficulty 1 and estimates 2.5 to 3 hours. Signs point out black pines more than 500 years old, endemic plants and the ruins of makeshift Venetian fortifications from 1571, with views over the Limassol, Paphos and Nicosia districts. Atalanti is the longer circle, 14 km from Troodos Square, rated difficulty 2 and estimated at about 5 hours, with a drinking-water fountain about 3 km from the start. Nature trails are free for public use. The Troodos Visitor Centre, 200 m west of Troodos Square, is an optional extra: it charges adults and is free for children under 6. Parking is available at the start of Artemis.

Tip Carry water and wear hiking shoes, because Artemis has no drinking water and the guide notes a risk of slipping; never light a fire, and call 112 in an emergency.

Source www.visitcyprus.com · 17 October 2026

Stone mosque with a dome and a tall minaret, palms and pines, and a tiled shelter in the foreground — Photo: Dickelbers · CC BY-SA 3.0 · cropped

Larnaca Salt Lake and Hala Sultan Tekke

Salt lake with winter flamingos and a 4 km nature trail, and the mosque on its western shore

Cost: Free entry
Time needed: 60–150 min
Best time: Winter

Larnaca Salt Lake is the second largest salt lake in Cyprus and a Ramsar and Natura 2000 site. From November to March thousands of flamingos stay on the lake, along with ducks and other water birds. A signposted nature trail of 4 km with benches runs through the lake area up to the Kamares aqueduct; one start is at the aqueduct, the other at the salt collection plateau on Artemis Avenue. The Hala Sultan Tekke mosque stands on the west bank. Built between 1760 and 1817, it is still used for worship, and entry is free. It opens daily from 08:30 to 19:30 from 16 April to 15 September and from 08:30 to 17:00 from 16 September to 15 April. It is closed on Christmas Day, New Year's Day and Greek Orthodox Easter Sunday, and only partly accessible for disabled visitors.

Tip Keep to the shore and the trail: wading into the lake to get closer to the flamingos is prohibited, because it harms the birds.

Source www.visitcyprus.com · 17 October 2026

A waterfall dropping through a dark rock gorge into a pool, with spray and green moss on the walls — Photo: Dickelbers · CC BY-SA 3.0 · cropped

Millomeris Waterfall Trail

A short linear trail beside the Kryos Potamos in Pano Platres to a waterfall in the Troodos mountains

Cost: Free entry
Time needed: 45–90 min
Best time: Spring

The Millomeris trail is a linear walk of 1.2 km along the Kryos Potamos in Pano Platres, estimated at 45 minutes and rated difficulty 1. The waterfall at its end falls 20 m and is described as the tallest in Troodos. The start is 300 m beyond Platres square on the road to Kato Platres, just before the church of Panagia tis Phaneromenis. The route lies outside the national forests, and the Local Authority of Pano Platres maintains it. Nature trails are free for public use. The trail has frequent river crossings and a risk of slipping, and there is no drinking water on the route. Plan the return along the same path.

Tip Take water and shoes with a good grip, because of the river crossings, and watch every step near the wet stones.

Source www.visitcyprus.com · 17 October 2026

Culture & history

Stone gate with an arched entrance and a flat roof seen from above, with trees and city buildings behind — Photo: Iakovos Hatzistavrou, European Commission · CC BY 4.0 · cropped

Nicosia Venetian Walls

The 16th-century walls around the old city, with Famagusta Gate and a moat now used as public green space

Cost: Free entry
Time needed: 60–150 min
Best time: All year

The Venetians built the walls that still circle the old city of Nicosia in the 16th century, with eleven heart-shaped bastions and a moat 80 m wide. The moat is now used as sports fields, public gardens, an open-air sculpture exhibition and car parks, so parts of it are green public space you can walk through. Famagusta Gate, the largest of the three entrances to the old city, has the Nicosia Municipal Multicultural Centre in its vaulted passage. Entry is free, but it opens Monday to Friday only: from October to April 10:00 to 13:00 and 16:00 to 19:00, from May to September 10:00 to 13:00 and 17:00 to 20:00. It is closed on public holidays. Ledra and Onasagorou are pedestrian streets with shops, cafés and restaurants, described by Nicosia's tourism site as the commercial heart of the city.

Tip A free guided walk of the old city and its walls starts at the Old Town Hall at Eleftheria Square; it is held in English and lasts about 2 h 45 min, so check the dates first.

Source www.visitcyprus.com · 17 October 2026

Long stone aqueduct with many arches over grass, a blue sky and white buildings in the distance — Photo: Dickelbers · CC BY-SA 3.0 · cropped

Kamares Aqueduct

A Roman-style aqueduct of 1746 on the edge of Larnaca, with arches lit at night and a footpath to the salt lake

Cost: Free entry
Time needed: 15–45 min
Best time: Evening

The Kamares aqueduct is an open-air sight on the road towards Limassol. Bekir Pasha, the Ottoman governor of Larnaca, had it built in the Roman style in 1746, funded from his own resources, to carry water to Larnaca from a source about 10 km away. It was abandoned in 1939 and replaced by modern pipes. More than 20 arches are still intact, and they are lit at night. A cobbled area with benches and a footpath lets you enjoy the monument, and the path joins the Larnaca Salt Lake trail. An accessible bench for wheelchair users was installed in 2026. The aqueduct is an open-air monument you view from the cobbled area and the path.

Tip Pair it with the 4 km salt lake trail, which starts here, and if you are there after dark, look for the lit arches.

Source www.visitcyprus.com · 17 October 2026

Towns & harbours

Narrow lane between stone houses, with a blue-painted house and a flowering shrub in the sun — Photo: Mboesch · CC BY-SA 4.0 · cropped

Lefkara Village

A foothill village known for lace and silver, with narrow winding streets and terracotta-roofed houses

Cost: Free entry
Time needed: 90–180 min
Best time: Morning

Lefkara lies at the foot of the Troodos Mountains, 650 m above sea level and 43 km from Larnaca. It is split into Pano and Kato Lefkara (upper and lower) and is known for lace embroidery and filigree silver, crafts practised here since Venetian times. Visit Cyprus describes narrow, winding streets and old houses with terracotta roofs. The streets are public space, best explored on foot. The Local Museum of Traditional Embroidery and Silversmith-work, the Handicraft Centre and the workshops are separate places with their own rules. The chapel of Archangelos Michail in Kato Lefkara has frescoes from the 12th and 15th centuries, and the Lefkara Festival takes place each August.

Tip Walk both the upper and the lower village: the chapel with the old frescoes is in the lower one.

Source www.visitcyprus.com · 17 October 2026

Quiet lane between old houses, with a café sign, shade sails and tables in a courtyard — Photo: Mercy from Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · cropped

Omodos Village

A wine village at 800 m in the Troodos range, with a cobbled square, stone houses and old wineries

Cost: Free entry
Time needed: 60–120 min
Best time: All year

Omodos sits at an altitude of 800 m on the Troodos mountain range, in the Krassohoria area, 42 km from Limassol. Visit Cyprus lists a cobbled square, old stone-built houses, local wineries and a medieval wine press close to one another, so you can see much of it on foot. The village is famous for its wine, Zivania spirit, handmade narrow-knit lacing and arkatena bread. Every 14 September a three-day fair is held for the Holy Cross, and vendors gather in the square in front of the monastery; the square also hosts events in summer and at Easter. The monastery of Timios Stavros, the museums and the wineries have their own rules and are not covered here.

Tip Around 14 September the square fills with vendors for the fair, so come on another day if you want a quiet walk.

Source www.visitcyprus.com · 17 October 2026

Wooden boardwalk through a palm-lined seafront park, with fountain pools, a pier and the sea on the left — Photo: Mboesch · CC BY-SA 4.0 · cropped

Limassol Molos Promenade

The seafront promenade with fountains, green areas and an open-air sculpture park

Cost: Free entry
Time needed: 45–120 min
Best time: Evening

The Molos is the seafront promenade of Limassol. The municipality, whose redevelopment of the seafront was completed in February 2015, mentions fountains, sculptures, green areas and play areas, and says thousands of visitors walk, exercise, rest and enjoy some recreation there. The Sculpture Park lies on the Molos sea front, described as one of Limassol's most crowded and visited hot-spots. The sculptures were made on site at symposiums organised by the municipality in the summers of 1999, 2000 and 2001. Ten information signs in Greek and English carry digital information points that you can open on a mobile phone.

Tip Use the signs in the park: they explain the idea behind each work in Greek and English, with more information on your phone.

Source www.limassol.org.cy · 17 October 2026

Palm-lined seafront street with café terraces and hotels on the left and a vintage car in the foreground — Photo: Valantis Antoniades · CC BY-SA 3.0 · cropped

Finikoudes Promenade

Larnaca's palm-lined 600 m seafront with a sandy beach, cafés and the marina at one end

Cost: Free entry · Sunbeds charged
Time needed: 30–90 min
Best time: Evening
Parking: Car park available

Finikoudes means palm trees, and the promenade is a stretch of 600 m that combines coast, entertainment and culture. The sand is fine and brown to beige, and the sea is calm and shallow, with the marina at one end and the medieval fort at the other. Toilets, showers, changing rooms, sun beds, umbrellas and a beach bar are on the beach; the Larnaca Tourism Board says sunbeds and umbrellas are for a fee, and the government rules for beach equipment keep it back from the water so that the beach stays freely accessible. Lifeguards are stationed from June to October. A floating wheelchair is free to use, and free Wi-Fi covers the strip. Concerts are held on the Seafront Stage, and boat trips leave from the marina pier. Several municipal and private car parks serve the general area.

Tip A free guided walking tour of Larnaca passes along the promenade on Wednesdays at 10:00; no reservation is required, at least 5 people are needed and it does not run on public holidays.

Source www.visitcyprus.com · 17 October 2026

Cobbled lane between old stone houses with a wooden balcony, flower pots and a vine pergola — Photo: Héctor Ochoa 'Robot8A' · CC BY-SA 4.0 · cropped

Kakopetria Village

A Troodos village in the Solea Valley, with stone-paved alleys and wooden-balconied houses in its old quarter

Cost: Free entry
Time needed: 60–150 min
Best time: All year

Kakopetria lies in the Troodos mountain range, in the Solea Valley. Visit Cyprus calls it a popular summer resort, with pine forests across the Karkotis Valley. The old quarter has narrow, stone-paved alleys and traditional houses with wooden balconies that have been restored, and it is a protected cultural heritage site. The Church of the Transfiguration of our Saviour stands in the centre of the old village. The church of Agios Nikolaos tis Stegis, 5 km away, the museums and the watermill Mylos tis Gonias are separate places with their own rules and are not covered here.

Tip Take the old quarter slowly on foot: it is a protected cultural heritage site of narrow, stone-paved alleys.

Source www.visitcyprus.com · 17 October 2026

All activities

Nearby guides

Ayia Napa
The Ayia Napa guide lists the free beaches, the Cape Greco nature trails and the monastery in the south-east.
Protaras
The Protaras guide lists the free beaches, bays and trails around Protaras.
Paralimni
The Paralimni guide lists the free places in and around the town next to Protaras.
Paphos
The Paphos guide gathers the free places on the south-west coast, from Aphrodite's Rock to the harbour promenade.

Frequently asked questions

Are the Troodos trails free?: Yes. The Visit Cyprus trail guide says nature trails are free for public use, so Artemis and Atalanti cost nothing. Only the Troodos Visitor Centre near Troodos Square charges an entry fee, and it is free for children under 6.
Is Kourion Beach free, and does that include the ancient site?: The beach is free, like all beaches in Cyprus, and sun beds, umbrellas and showers at municipal beaches are for a fee. The ancient site of Kourion is a separate place that charges an entry fee, and it is not part of this guide.
Are Hala Sultan Tekke and Famagusta Gate free to visit?: Yes, Visit Cyprus gives entry as free for both. The mosque is open daily with different hours in summer and winter; Famagusta Gate opens Monday to Friday only and is closed on public holidays.
Can I walk into the Salt Lake to get closer to the flamingos?: No. The Larnaca Tourism Board says wading out into the lake is prohibited, because it harms the birds. Thousands of flamingos stay from November to March, and you can watch from the 4 km trail.
Is it free to walk through Lefkara, Omodos and Kakopetria?: Yes. The villages are public places, so walking their streets and squares costs nothing. Museums, monasteries, wineries and workshops are separate places with their own rules.
Is there a free guided walk in Larnaca or Nicosia?: Yes. Larnaca has a free walking tour on Wednesdays at 10:00 with no reservation, and Nicosia has a free guided walk of the old city and its walls in English. The Nicosia dates change, so check them first.

Travel guide: Cyprus