Cyprus travel guide from Budapest: top 10 sights and a 4-day itinerary

Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean, a sunny EU member state where ancient Greek ruins, Byzantine mountain churches and some of Europe’s clearest beaches fit into a single long weekend. It is not a day trip destination: the flight from Budapest is close to three hours and the island is bigger than most people expect. With three or four days, though, you can see the best of it. This guide covers flights, the best season, the top 10 sights and a day-by-day plan.

How to get to Cyprus from Budapest

Cyprus has two international airports in the Republic of Cyprus, and both have a direct link with Budapest. Wizz Air flies between Budapest and Larnaca, the larger airport on the south-east coast. Ryanair flies between Budapest and Paphos, on the west coast. The flight takes roughly two hours and forty-five minutes to three hours, and Cyprus is one hour ahead of Budapest all year.

Frequencies change by season, so check the airlines’ own sites for the current timetable. A practical trick: fly into one airport and out of the other. Larnaca suits the east (Ayia Napa, Cape Greco), Paphos suits the west (the mosaics, Aphrodite’s Rock, the Akamas peninsula), and the motorway between them takes about an hour and a half.

Best time to visit Cyprus

Cyprus has one of the longest seasons in Europe. May, June, September and October are ideal: warm sea, sunny days and temperatures that still allow sightseeing. July and August are very hot, especially inland around Nicosia, so plan beaches for the day and sights for early morning or evening. The sea is usually warm enough for swimming well into November, and winter is mild, quiet and good for hiking in the Troodos mountains.

Top 10 sights in Cyprus

• Paphos Archaeological Park: Roman villas with some of the finest floor mosaics in the Mediterranean.
• Tombs of the Kings, Paphos: rock-cut underground tombs right by the sea.
• Aphrodite’s Rock (Petra tou Romiou): the legendary birthplace of the goddess, best at sunset.
• Cape Greco: sea caves, cliffs and turquoise coves near Ayia Napa.
• Nissi Beach, Ayia Napa: fine white sand and shallow, crystal-clear water.
• Troodos mountains: pine forests, wine villages and painted Byzantine churches on the UNESCO list.
• Kykkos Monastery: the island’s richest and most famous monastery, high in the Troodos.
• Nicosia (Lefkosia): the last divided capital in Europe, with the Venetian walls and Ledra Street.
• Kourion: an ancient Greek and Roman city with a theatre above the sea.
• Larnaca: the Church of Saint Lazarus, the palm-lined Finikoudes promenade and the Salt Lake with flamingos in winter.

Cyprus in 4 days: a day-by-day itinerary

Day 1: Larnaca

Land in Larnaca, pick up the rental car or take the bus into town. Visit the Church of Saint Lazarus, walk along the Finikoudes promenade and, in the cooler months, look for flamingos on the Salt Lake near the Hala Sultan Tekke mosque. Dinner is a meze in the old town: a long chain of small plates from halloumi to grilled meat.

Day 2: Cape Greco and Ayia Napa

Drive east to Cape Greco National Forest Park for the sea caves and the coastal path, then swim at Konnos Bay or Nissi Beach. If you like boat trips, Ayia Napa harbour has excursions along the coast. Head back to Larnaca or stay in the east for the night.

Day 3: Troodos and Kourion

Cross the island into the Troodos mountains. Choose one or two painted churches, visit Kykkos Monastery or stroll through a wine village such as Omodos. In the afternoon, come down to the south coast for the ancient theatre at Kourion, then continue to Paphos.

Day 4: Paphos and Aphrodite’s Rock

Start early at the Paphos Archaeological Park before the heat, then visit the Tombs of the Kings. Spend the afternoon at the harbour and finish with sunset at Aphrodite’s Rock, about 25 minutes east by car. Fly home from Paphos. If you have a fifth day, add Nicosia or the Akamas peninsula with the Blue Lagoon.

Where to stay in Cyprus

For a four-day trip, two bases work best. Spend the first two nights in Larnaca or Ayia Napa for the east, then two nights in Paphos for the west. Larnaca is a relaxed, walkable town with a seafront and good restaurants, while Ayia Napa is livelier and closer to the best beaches. Paphos has a pleasant harbour area and is the natural base for the mosaics, Aphrodite’s Rock and Akamas. Limassol, halfway between the two, is a stylish option if you prefer a single base and do not mind longer drives.

What to eat in Cyprus

Cypriot cuisine mixes Greek, Turkish and Middle Eastern influences, and the best way to try it is a meze: a long series of small dishes brought to the table one after another. Come hungry, because a full meze can run to fifteen or twenty plates.

• Halloumi: the island’s famous squeaky cheese, best grilled.
• Souvla and souvlaki: chunks of pork or chicken grilled on skewers over charcoal.
• Kleftiko: lamb slow-cooked in a sealed clay oven until it falls off the bone.
• Sheftalia: small grilled sausages wrapped in caul fat, a local speciality.
• Loukoumades: fried dough balls soaked in honey syrup.

In the mountain villages of the Troodos, look for local cherries, rose products and homemade sweet preserves called glyko, served with a glass of cold water.

Getting around Cyprus

Renting a car is by far the most flexible option, and the motorway network between Larnaca, Limassol and Paphos is good. Cyprus drives on the left, a legacy of British rule, so take the first hour slowly. Intercity buses connect the main towns and the airports cheaply, but the Troodos mountains and the remote beaches are hard to reach without a car.

Crossing into the northern part of the island is possible at the checkpoints in Nicosia with an EU ID card or passport, but check whether your rental car insurance covers the north before you drive across.

How much does a trip to Cyprus cost?

Cyprus uses the euro and is generally mid-priced by Mediterranean standards. Accommodation and car rental are the biggest items, and both are noticeably cheaper outside July and August. Eating out is reasonable, especially if you order a shared meze, while the beach bars of Ayia Napa are pricier. Most archaeological sites have modest entry fees.

Tips for Cyprus

• Book the rental car early for summer, and pick it up at the airport.
• Remember that traffic drives on the left, and roundabouts go clockwise.
• Visit archaeological sites in the morning: there is little shade.
• Take a swimsuit even in November, the sea stays warm for a long time.
• Fly into Larnaca and out of Paphos (or the other way round) to avoid backtracking.

If you only have one day

Cyprus needs at least a long weekend, but if you only have one free day, you can still fly abroad from Budapest and be home the same night. Daytrip collects the destinations each month where an early outbound flight and a same-day return really work, from Rome and Barcelona to Athens, Malta and Istanbul, each with a ready-made hour-by-hour itinerary. Browse our one-day city guides at flightdaytrip.com/blog.

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