Want to visit the famous Kykkos Monastery in Cyprus? It’s located in the Troodos Mountains in the Nicosia district and is one of the best-known monasteries on the island.
In this article, I will share some history and information about Kykkos Monastery as well as how to get there and other useful tips and general information for your visit.
The Kykkos Monastery dates back to the 11th century and lets you travel back in time. It’s the richest and largest monastery in Cyprus and it’s widely recognized as an important place within the Orthodox religion.
It sure is a beautiful monastery with impressive mosaic artworks and paintings, and if you’re driving up in the Troodos Mountains, you should definitely make a stop here!
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Just look at these paintings in the ceiling, they are wonderful to look at and holds a lot of interesting details.
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It’s a peaceful place, and it’s lovely to just stroll around and admire the beautiful arches and spectacular mosaic artworks.
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More about Kykkos Monastery in Cyprus
The monastery is located in the Nicosia district, about 20 kilometers west of the village Pedoulas, and it’s open daily except on Public Holidays.
The Kykkos Monastery was established in the 11th century by the Byzantine emperor Alexios I Komnenos. Unfortunately, the original monastery was burnt down and rebuilt several times, but it’s still one of the best-known monasteries in Cyprus.
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It’s especially famous for holding one of the three icons associated with Apostle Luke. The icon at Kykkos Monastery is known as Eleousa, and it has been covered in silver gilt for the last 200 years, standing in front of the iconostasis.
The first President of Cyprus (Archbishop Makarios III) served here as a monk in 1926 as well and his tomb is located 3 km west of the monastery. The monastery also produces Zivania spirit and every year, they hold religious fairs on August 15th and September 8th.
Furthermore, there is a small museum where visitors can see historic and religious items as well as old religious books.
Dress Code
The dress code at Kykkos Monastery is strict, and no shorts are allowed. Women should also cover their shoulders, and men should wear a shirt or similar.
Kykkos Monastery – Opening hours
It’s open daily all year round except on Public Holidays, then it’s closed.
- November to May: 10:00 – 16:00
- June to October: 10:00 – 18:00
Photo: Dainis Derics/Shutterstock
The Inside of Kykkos Monastery
Architecture wise, it’s more spectacular on the outside, and the inside is quite modest with the exception of the beautiful paintings and mosaic artworks.
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The orthodox church of Kykkos
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How to get to Kykkos Monastery
Unfortunately, there is no direct bus from any of the major cities in Cyprus, so it’s recommended to go here by car. However, visitors who don’t have access to a car can join one of the guided tours which are available daily.
From Paphos to Kykkos Monastery
It takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes to drive from Paphos via A6 and E606 up towards Paphos Forest. You can check the directions below on Google Maps, which I suggest that you use while driving from Paphos to Kykkos Monastery.
Google Map data @2019
From Limassol
The journey from Limassol takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes, and you’ll be driving via B8 and later on E804 and E912.
From Nicosia
Even though the Kykkos Monastery is located in the Nicosia district, it’s quite a long drive from the capital. It takes about 1 hour and 38 minutes to get there from Nicosia by car, and you will be driving on A9 and later on B9 as well as E912.
From Larnaca
The drive from Larnaca to the Monastery is the same as from Nicosia, so first, you’ll drive towards Nicosia and Strovolos, and from there take the same route as above.
Recommended hotel nearby
There is no hotel within walking distance to the monastery. However, there is one very nice hotel located about 30 minutes away by car. If you want to stay overnight in the Troodos mountain and book a hotel near Kykkos Monastery, then I recommend the Casale Panayiotis Traditional Village Hotel & Spa.
It’s a beautiful 4-star hotel with cozy and modern rooms that have all the amenities needed. The hotel is a great mix of traditional and modern, so you get the best out of both worlds and can enjoy full spa service.
Casale Panayiotis also has a restaurant where you can eat traditional Cypriot food.
Restaurants near Kykkos Monastery
Due to its remote location up in the Troodos mountain, there isn’t a wide selection of restaurants nearby. I would avoid the Kykkos Tourist Pavillion which is next to the monastery because it’s overpriced with bland food.
However, there are some nice restaurants that you can drive to that offer great traditional Cypriot food.
- Platanos restaurant
- Gerakina
- Markos
- Podji Poda
Do you have more questions about visiting Kykkos Monastery in Cyprus? Leave a comment below!