LarnacaRoad cycling

Road cycling

Larnaca

Road cycling facts

Road cycling routes on Cyprus: many
Best time to travel: February to June and September to December
Flight connections: Timetable Larnaca

Edelweiss tips:

A typical Mediterranean climate with sunshine guaranteed: Cyprus has made a name for itself as a road cycling destination and is referred to as the ‘Island of the Gods’ for good reason. Traffic drives on the left-hand side of the road in Cyprus, but oncoming traffic is very unlikely on many of the side roads. In addition, the Greek part of Cyprus boasts a well-developed road network which is in good condition (though cyclists need to be wary of potholes on side road descents), with flat stretches in the south and steep climbs in the Troodos Mountains on the western side of the island. The Troodos mountain range includes Mount Olympus, which peaks at 1,952 m and offers a particularly nice and challenging bike ride to the summit.

Top road cycling routes on Cyprus

In Aphrodite’s realm Light

Petra tou Romiou, situated half way between Paphos and Limassol, is one of most famous beaches on the ‘Island of the Gods’. According to legend, it is where Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, rose from the sea. Today, it is home to a rock known as Aphrodite’s Rock – according to popular belief, anyone who swims around the rock three times will find eternal love. Cyclists who want to pedal their way to the rock are best advised to start in Paphos, continuing along the promenade towards Limassol. This tour is ideal for a warm-up ride. Most of the route outside of Paphos goes through orange and olive groves, and along the coastal road.

2 h
49,6 km
320 m
-320 m

Find out more

Cycling on Mount Olympus Medium

This tour starts by the deep blue Mediterranean Sea and proceeds right up to Mount Olympus. The climb to the mountain peak at 1,952 m is one of Cyprus’s cycling highlights. Every year, in addition to road cyclists, hundreds of mountain bikers take on the challenge of this demanding ascent. The significant cumulative elevation gain on winding roads features gradients of up to 12%. Once you reach the peak, the views are worthy of gods: sweeping beaches, picturesque villages and dark green pine forests as far as the eye can see. Tip: there is snow in winter at an altitude of approx. 2,000 m; it can also get chilly on the summit in summer, especially for cyclists clad in T-shirts and cycling shorts.

10 h 10 min
180 km
3’840 m
-3’840 m

Find out more

Diverse mountain routes in the Machairas mountains Difficult

The Machairas mountains offer plenty of road cycling routes up to an altitude of 1,600 m. Most of them are along winding mountain roads with uphill stretches followed by downhill rides that require good levels of physical fitness. The latter also applies to this mountain tour, which departs from the island capital of Nicosia and is best started in the early morning. Whereas the initial climb is moderate, the climb before Vavla becomes quite steep. The tour continues up the Odou mountain pass, ascending to almost 1,200 m above sea level. The climb is followed by a high-speed descent down to the Machairas Monastery on the slopes of Kionia. The monastery is one of the most famous on the island – it’s a good place for a short break and offers spectacular views. The way back to Nicosia is via another monastery, Stavrovouni Monastery, and the village of Sia.

9h 30 min
186 km
3’000 m
-3’000 m

Road cycling on Cyprus street aerial view

Find out more

Drinking coffee in the Troodos Mountains Difficult

This loop in the Troodos Mountains starts at the car park for the Arnies Nature Trail above Paphos, and requires a high level of fitness. The first stretch involves an almost 20 km climb on paved roads up into the mountains. Tough ascents alternate with short downhill stretches in the hilly terrain. A little more than 40 km into the tour, you’ll reach the small Stavros Psokas café which provides a welcoming break. The cycling tour continues with a final ascent to 1,253 m above sea level, before returning back to the car park.

8 h 55 min
148 km
3’720 m
-3’720 m

Find out more

From the mountain village of Pano Lefkara down to the ‘Valley of Oranges’ Difficult

Situated in the Larnaca district, the village of Alaminos is the starting point for a moderately difficult tour that features plenty of uphill and downhill stretches en route to the idyllic mountain village of Pano Lefkara. The first climb is after the 12th km at the access point to Kornos. The route continues through hilly terrain, to the needlecraft art village of Pano Lefkara, where cycling summiteers are treated to stunning views. The real reward for the strenuous climb is the high-speed downhill ride through the picturesque ‘Orange Valley’. The tour can be extended with a detour to the Stavrovouni Monastery.