Troodos: mountains, painted churches and villages

By Talk Cyprus. Published 19 October 2026.

Last verified 19 October 2026

South of the Green Line. Greek: Troodos. Turkish: Trodos.

Troodos (Trodos Dağları) is the mountain range that fills the middle and west of Cyprus, rising to 1,952 metres at Mount Olympos, the highest point on the island. It is a world away from the coast: pine forest, stone villages, monasteries and some of the finest Byzantine wall paintings anywhere. In summer it is the place to escape the heat. In a good winter there is snow.

The mountains straddle the Limassol, Nicosia and Paphos districts, so most visitors come up for the day from one of those towns. Staying a night or two lets you see the villages without rushing.

Troodos square and Mount Olympos

Troodos square. The small hub where the main mountain roads meet, just below the summit. Buses from Limassol and Nicosia stop here, several of the nature trails start nearby, and in winter it is the base for the ski slopes.

Mount Olympos (Chionistra). The summit itself carries a British radar station and is not a place to wander about. The ski runs are on its flanks, and the Artemis trail circles the mountain just below the top.

The painted churches

The UNESCO painted churches. Ten churches and monasteries in the Troodos region are listed together as a World Heritage Site, first inscribed in 1985. From the outside many look like barns, with steep timber roofs. Inside, the walls are covered in paintings from the 11th to the 16th centuries. Opening arrangements vary from church to church, so check locally before a long drive. A good selection:

Asinou. The church of Panagia Phorviotissa, outside Nikitari, with paintings from the 11th to 14th centuries.

Agios Nikolaos tis Stegis. Saint Nicholas of the Roof, near Kakopetria, with important 11th century paintings and later work of high quality.

Panagia tou Araka. At Lagoudera, with 12th century paintings closely tied to the art of Constantinople.

Kalopanagiotis. The monastery of Agios Ioannis Lampadistis, with murals from the 13th and 14th centuries.

The others are at Moutoullas, Pedoulas, Galata, Platanistasa, Palaichori and Pelendri.

Monasteries and villages

Kykkos monastery. The best known monastery in Cyprus, at 1,318 metres on the north west side of the range. It was founded around the end of the 11th century under the Byzantine emperor Alexios I Komnenos and keeps an icon of the Virgin that tradition says was painted by Saint Luke. Archbishop Makarios III, the first president of Cyprus, is buried at Throni, about three kilometres away. Dress as you would for any working monastery.

Omodos. A wine village at about 800 metres on the Limassol side, around 42 kilometres from Limassol. The cobbled square leads to the monastery of Timios Stavros (the Holy Cross), with old icons and fine woodcarving. Look for the medieval wine press. The big village fair is on 14 September.

Platres. At about 1,200 metres on the southern slopes, Platres has been the island’s main hill resort since the British period began in 1878. It is the closest village to the two best known waterfalls.

Caledonia and Millomeris waterfalls. The Caledonia trail runs for about three kilometres between the Platres to Troodos road and Psilo Dendro, following and crossing a stream to the falls. Walk it downhill if you can, and expect wet feet. Millomeris is reached by a path of about 1.2 kilometres from Platres, short but rated the hardest grade, and is said to be the highest waterfall in Cyprus, at about 15 metres.

Kakopetria. The highest village in the Solea valley, on the north side of the range in the Nicosia district. Two rivers meet in the village, and the old quarter sits between them.

Walking

The forestry department maintains a network of marked nature trails. Three of the best known start near Troodos square:

Artemis. A circular path of about 7 kilometres around Mount Olympos, at about 1,850 metres, passing black pines around 500 years old.

Atalante. A longer circuit of about 14 kilometres along the mountain, with an old juniper and the entrance to a disused chromium mine.

Persephone. A short linear walk of about 3 kilometres through black pine to a viewpoint at Makria Kontarka. You return the same way.

Seasons

Summer. On a typical July or August day it is around 24°C on Troodos, against around 30°C on the central plain. Nights can be cool, so bring a layer.

Ski season. Skiing on Mount Olympos depends entirely on snow and the season is short and unpredictable. In 2026 the first slope opened only in mid January after fresh snowfall, and other runs had too little cover. Check the Cyprus Ski Club before you plan a trip around it.

Winter driving. When it snows, police close or restrict the main roads up to Troodos, from Karvounas, Platres and Prodromos, to vehicles with snow chains or four wheel drive. Roads can stay slippery for some time after snowfall. Check police announcements on the day and do not rely on sat nav shortcuts.

Getting there

A car is by far the easiest way to see the mountains. Buses do run, including route 64 from Limassol to Troodos square via Platres and route 408 from Nicosia, but there are only a few a day and rural connections are patchy, so check the current timetable. See car hire and our guide to the best time to visit Cyprus.

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