Cyprus Road Cycling Routes

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Route 7, Nicosia-Stavrovouni-Lefkara-Lythrodontas-Nicosia

Route is the same with route 6 until Stavrovouni, at which point it continues on the old Nicosia-Limassol road until Skarinou, where it turns right to climb to Lefkara. It enters Katw Lefkara, passes through the village continuing to Panw Lefkara and then climbs to the peak Aetomoutti before descending towards Lythrodontas. From there it goes back to Nicosia through Analiontas and Tseri. Very hilly route, should avoid doing it in the summer heat. Beautiful scenic climb from Lefkara to aetomoutti (and of course Stavrovouni), Lefkara villages are beautiful however the climb towards them is not particularly nice (woods burned down a couple of years ago).

Maps and further info:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/308703394

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Route 6, Lefkosia-Stavrovouni-Lefkosia via old Lefkosia-Lemesos road

Route starts from the Mall of Cyprus and passes through Latsia, then getting on the old Lefkosia-Lemesos road. The route continues straight on, passing through Nisou, outskirts of Alambra, Mosfiloti before turning left to climb to the top of Stavrovouni. The route is on generally good quality tarmac with some undulations until reaching Stavrovouni. The climb to the peak is around 5-6km on good quality tarmac, is quite tough but provides magnificent view of Larnaka, Limassol and Nicosia. The descent is fantastic and will reward your effort to climb to the top.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/304715306

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Route 5, Lefkosia-Latsia-Nisou-Mosfiloti-Psevdas-Agia Anna-Kalo Chorio-Lympia-Dali-Latsia-Lefkosia

This is a relatively easy route on good quality roads with some easy and moderate climbs spread throughout the course. The roads in the parts between Lefkosia and Nisou and Dali and Lefkosia have light traffic, while in the rest of the route are very quiet. The route starts at Aglantzia in Lefkosia, close to the Cyprus Institute and heads towards Latsia (south) passing in front of Lefkosia General Hospital (not via the motorway, follow signs leading to the old Lefkosia-Limassol road, B1). We pass through Latsia and continue straight on, passing Nisou village (staying on the B1 road towards Limassol) until we reach a roundabout, where we take the first exit (east) towards Mosfiloti. We pass through Mosfiloti, Psevdas, Agia Anna and when we reach Kalo Chorio we make a left turn (north east) towards Aradippou (clearly marked, a bit after the village center). We then follow signs towards Kochi and Lefkosia (old Larnaca-Lefkosia road, B2). When we reach Kochi we pass in front of an army camp and then after 2-3 miles we make a left turn (west) towards Lympia (clearly marked). We pass through Lympia (taking the 2nd exit at the roundabout within Lympia towards Dali). We pass through Dali (following signs towards Dali Industrial Area and Nisou) and towards the exit of Dali we encounter two roundabouts where we take the 2nd and 3rd (one of the exits is a dirt road) exit respectively, finally heading north towards Lefkosia (Pentadachtylos mountain should be visible straight ahead). We continue on the main road until we reach the traffic lights in Dali Industrial Area where we make a right turn heading north towards Latsia and Lefkosia. We are now on the old Lefkosia-Limassol road, B1 (from which we have passed earlier) and from here onwards the route is the same as the one we followed at the beginning (opposite direction, now we are heading north towards Lefkosia). The length of the route is around 47 miles. 

For more info (including a zoomable map) click:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/214586311

Local Info: The part of the route from Mosfiloti to Kalo Chorio is quite interesting and the four villages encountered in this part are very nice. There are three excellent traditional Cypriot taverns in Psevdas, Agia Anna and Kalo Chorio (one in each village) named 'Kokkinou', 'Agia Anna' (which in summer nights offers an entertainment program with traditional Cypriot dancers) and 'Koutsonikolias' respectively. These are not just tourist taverns; they are real traditional taverns and all three are well worth a visit. However, eating there and riding your bike for a long distance is impossible! Cypriot food is quite nice and usually comes in large quantities, so you should plan ahead how to get back home (there are buses running in the area, mostly towards Larnaca). Also, a reservation would be a good idea, as space tends to be limited in these taverns and also to be sure that they are open on the day ([phone], 22532500 and 99651818 respectively).

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Route 4, Tseri-Analiontas-Kampia-Kapedes-Machairas Monastery and back

This is a hard route on good quality roads (except the part within Tseri) with some easy climbs mainly between Tseri and Analiontas, some moderate ones between Analiontas and Kapedes and many hard ones (with my standards) between Kapedes and Machairas Monastery. The roads in most of the route are very quiet. The route starts in Tseri and moves in a southern direction until we pass an army camp after which we turn right (south-west) towards the village of Analiontas. When we reach Analiontas, at the stop sign we go right (west) towards Kampia. When we get to Kampia, at the stop sign, we turn left (south) towards Kapedes. At the entrance of Kapedes there is a roundabout, where we take the 4th exit towards Machairas. From there onwards we just stay on the paved road ascending towards Machairas, passing from 'Mantra tou Kampiou' picnic site, Poullaros peak (~600m), Skordokephalos peak (~700m) and Saint Onoufrios, until we arrive at a crossroad where the monastery is clearly visible on our right (and clearly marked). One can make a right turn and go to the monastery (as i did) or continue towards Kionia peak (the peak straight ahead with the golf ball-looking radar site). The way back is exactly the same (but much easier). The length of the route is ~35 miles.

For more info (including a zoomable map) click:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/213941889

Me at Skordokephalos peak:

'Stavraetos tou Machaira' monument at the peak next to Machairas monastery: 

Stavraetos refers to Grigoris Afxentiou, perhaps the most prominent Greek-Cypriot freedom fighter of EOKA, the organization which took on the fight (1955-59) against the British colonial troops occupying Cyprus at the time (1878-1960). Afxentiou's hiding place was in the area of the monastery; in fact this is where he was burnt alive at the age of 29 (3/3/1957), after many hours of fight, when his position was leaked by a traitor.

Machairas Monastery:

  Kionia peak, as seen from the area of Machairas monastery:

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Useful information

I added a new page (right column) containing links with useful information regarding cycling routes in Cyprus. This is information provided by the Cyprus Tourism Organisation which is a trustworthy source, however most of the routes contain parts on dirt roads.

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Route 3, Tseri-Episkopio-Arediou-Agrokipia-Mitsero-Agrokipia-Arediou-Ergates-Psimolofou-Deftera-Tseri

This is a relatively easy route on good quality roads (except the part within Tseri) with some easy and moderate (at least with my standards) climbs mainly between Tseri and Episkopio and Arediou and Mitsero. The roads in most of the route are very quiet. The route starts right off the Nicosia-Limassol motorway (A1), on the exit to Tseri. We head towards Tseri (western direction) and then make a turn towards the south. We continue until we pass an army camp after which we turn right (south-west) towards the village of Analiontas. We take the first paved road turn on our right (western direction) and continue towards Psimolofou until we reach a stop sign. We turn left (south) and enter the main road. We take the first turn on the right, at the stop sign make a left and then take the first turn on the right towards Episkopio. After the first houses at Episkopio we take the first turn to the right and then the second to the right and continue on a western route towards Arediou. When we reach Arediou we make a left turn at the stop sign and then the fourth to the right (west direction) and then the first to our left. We continue until we reach a stop sign, where we cross the main road (the road going to Palaichori) and continue towards Agrokipia and finally Mitsero. On our way back we follow the same route until we pass Arediou, after which instead of continuing to reach Episkopio we take the first paved road turn towards Ergates (north direction). From there onwards the route is straightforward just passing through the village centers of Ergates, Psimolofou and Panw Deftera. When we reach Katw Deftera, we need to make a turn to the right (east direction) towards Tseri (clearly marked). We continue until we reach the traffic lights in Tseri, where we make a turn to the right (south direction) and continue on the main road passing through the center of Tseri and after we pass a zig zag part of the road we take the first turn on the left towards the motorway (eastwards) to get to the start/finish point. The length of the route is 36 miles.

For more info (including a zoomable map) click:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/212241407

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Route 2, Tseri-Analiontas-Kapedes-Kampia-Pera-Psimolofou-Tseri (circular)

This is a harder route on relatively good quality roads (except the part within Tseri) with some easy-moderate (at least with my standards) climbs mainly between Tseri and Analiontas and a harder climb between Analiontas and Kapedes. The roads in most of the route are relatively quiet. The route starts right off the Nicosia-Limassol motorway (A1), on the exit to Tseri. We head towards Tseri (western direction) and then make a turn towards the south. We continue until we pass an army camp after which we turn right (south-west) towards the village of Analiontas. When we reach Analiontas we turn left and continue towards Lythrodontas. After we exit Analiontas we take the 2nd (paved road) turn on our right (western direction) towards Kapedes. We climb towards Kapedes and when we finally reach it we stay on the western side of the village until we reach a roundabout, where we take the 4th exit (1st counterclockwise) towards Nicosia. We then descend on a northern direction through the village centers of Kampia and Pera. After we pass Pera village we make a right turn (easter direction) right before Psimolofou village (28is Oktovriou road). We continue until we reach a stop sign (staying on the main road) where we make a left turn towards Tseri. Again we continue until we reach another stop sign and make another left turn to enter Tseri. We have finally arrived in Tseri (on the same road we passed earlier) and turn right (eastwards) to get to the start/finish point. The length of the route is around 29 miles.

For more info (including a zoomable map) go to:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/211502266

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Route 1, Tseri-Analiontas-Lythrodontas-Mathiatis-Agia Varvara-Kotsiatis-Marki-Tseri (circular)

This was my first real ride with my newly purchased bike. It's a relatively easy route on relatively good quality roads (except the part within Tseri) with some easy-moderate (at least with my standards) climbs mainly between Tseri and Analiontas and Analiontas and Lythrodontas. The roads in most of the route are very quiet. The route starts right off the Nicosia-Limassol motorway (A1), on the exit to Tseri. We head towards Tseri (western direction) and then make a turn towards the south. We continue until we pass an army camp after which we turn right (south-west) towards the village of Analiontas. When we reach Analiontas we turn left and continue towards Lythrodontas. From there onwards the route is straightforward just passing through the village centers of Lythrodontas, Mathiatis and Agia Varvara where we make a left turn (northern direction) towards Kotsiatis village. We continue on this road passing through Kotsiatis and Marki until we finally get to Tseri (on the same road we passed earlier) and turn right (eastwards) to get to the start/finish point. The length of the route is around 29 miles.

    For my riding data (including zoomable map) click:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/210754578

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Welcome!

Hi, my name is Sergios and I've decided to create this blog to provide hopefully useful information on road cycling routes in Cyprus. While searching online I have noticed that there is not really much about road cycling routes in Cyprus. The idea is to upload all my cycling data from my rides, thus making available not only the routes but also elevation profiles etc. I don't claim to be any kind of cycling expert, I am actually quite new in cycling, I only purchased my first road bike (a 2011 Cannondale Caad 8 Sora) a week ago.

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This is me with my bike at the entrance of Mitsero village (south west of Nicosia)