Omodos Village Wine Tour

Omodos is a wine village in the southern Troodos foothills, set among terraced vineyards at altitude in the Krasochoria. It is among the most visited of the wine villages thanks to its large cobbled square, its narrow stone lanes and a long winemaking tradition that still supports small family producers around the village.

At the heart of the village stands the Monastery of the Holy Cross, with a 19th-century church and relics tied to local tradition. The square is one of the largest in Cyprus and is ringed by tavernas, craft shops and producers selling wine, the local zivania spirit and arkatena bread. The native Mavro and Xynisteri grapes grown around here are part of the Commandaria heritage of the wider region.

Making a day of it

Day trips run from the coastal resorts and combine the village with the mountain scenery on the way up through the foothills. Guided tours handle the winding roads and usually include tastings at a local winery, while independent visitors can park on the edge of the village and wander the lanes at their own pace. The cooler village air at altitude is a relief from the summer coast, and the square fills and empties through the day as tour groups come and go.

• See the Omodos village entry for more on the monastery and square.
• Taste the region's signature Commandaria dessert wine.
• Combine the village with a wider Krasochoria wine tour or a stretch of the Troodos trails.

Bring a light layer for the higher village, go with a driver or guided tour if you plan to taste, and allow time to walk the lanes beyond the main square.