Cyprus in 7 Days: The Full Island Loop Itinerary

Land at Paphos (PFO) airport, which sits just east of town, so transfers are short. Collect the hire car, drop bags at your base in Kato Paphos or up the hill in Ktima, and ease into the trip. If you arrive early, walk down to the small harbour below the medieval castle and have a first lunch of fresh fish at a quayside taverna.

Spend the afternoon at the Paphos Archaeological Park, where the floors of grand Roman villas survive as detailed mosaics of mythological scenes. The site is large and largely shadeless, so bring water and a hat. A short distance north, the Tombs of the Kings is a rock-cut necropolis carved into the coastal stone, its underground chambers styled like houses for the dead.

Return to the harbour area for the evening. The Pelican Restaurant is a harbourfront, family-owned spot dating back to the 1950s (with a resident pelican for company) that is a reliable choice for fresh seafood. Or try a meze, the long parade of small Cypriot plates, alongside halloumi and lountza. Keep it relaxed; tomorrow is an early start for the Akamas.

Head north out of Paphos toward Polis and Latchi, the gateway to the Akamas peninsula. From Latchi harbour you can join a Blue Lagoon boat cruise to the clear turquoise water of the Blue Lagoon, or take an Akamas jeep safari over the rough tracks that an ordinary hire car should not attempt. Either way, start early to beat both the heat and the crowds.

On the way back, walkers can detour to the Avakas Gorge, a narrow canyon that squeezes between high limestone walls. Wear proper shoes and check the weather first, as the gorge floods after rain. Otherwise, drop down to Coral Bay, the main sandy beach north of Paphos, for an easy afternoon swim.

Back in Paphos, take the evening slowly. If you would rather end the day on the water, a Paphos sunset catamaran trip leaves from the harbour and times the return for golden hour over the coast.

Check out and drive east along the A6 motorway toward Limassol, the largest city on the coast. Roughly halfway, pull off at Aphrodite's Rock (Petra tou Romiou), the sea stack tied by legend to the goddess's birthplace. There is a pedestrian underpass to reach the pebble beach safely; the swimming here is over stones, not sand.

Before reaching the city, stop at Ancient Kourion, a Greco-Roman city spread along clifftops above the sea, with a restored theatre still used for performances and fine house mosaics. A short drive on stands Kolossi Castle, a Knights Hospitaller stronghold linked to the island's sweet Commandaria wine. Then settle into Limassol and walk the seafront and marina.

In the evening, explore the old town around the Limassol Castle, which houses the Cyprus Medieval Museum. The lanes nearby hold some of the island's best restaurants, including the small, lively Meze Taverna with pavement tables right in Old Town; this is a good night for a longer, slower dinner.

Spend the day in the wine country that climbs the southern slopes above Limassol. Drive up to Omodos, a cobbled village at the heart of the island's wine heritage, built around a monastery square ringed by family wineries and craft shops. A guided Omodos village wine tour or a broader Limassol wine villages tour takes the driving and the tastings off your hands.

This is the region behind Commandaria, a sweet dessert wine with a documented history going back centuries. A Commandaria wine tasting at one of the producing villages rounds out the theme. If you prefer to set your own pace, link two or three villages by car and stop for a long village lunch of grilled meats and souvla.

Return to Limassol for the evening. If your trip lands in late September or early October, the city's annual wine festival fills the municipal gardens; the Limassol Wine Festival has run since 1961 and is one of the longest-established events on the island.

Climb from Limassol into the Troodos Mountains, the forested spine of the island and home to Troodos National Forest Park. The headline stop is Kykkos Monastery, the richest and most famous of the island's Byzantine monasteries, its interiors covered in gilded mosaics and frescoes. The drive up is slow and winding, so set off early and keep the day's distances modest.

Near the Troodos resort, Mount Olympus is the island's highest point at 1,952 metres, with cool air and long views; a marked nature trail loops the upper slopes for those who want a short walk. Keen walkers can add a stretch of Troodos mountain hiking on one of the signed trails. In winter the upper slopes hold snow, and a small ski area runs from roughly January to March.

Descend the eastern side of the range and drive down to Larnaca on the southeast coast for the night. After a mountain day, an easy seafront dinner along the Finikoudes promenade is the right note to end on.

Start in Larnaca's old town at the Church of Saint Lazarus, a stone Byzantine church built over the reputed tomb of Lazarus. A short drive south, the Larnaca Salt Lake fills with winter rain and draws flocks of flamingos from roughly November to March, with the Hala Sultan Tekke mosque on its shore. From late spring the lake usually dries to a white crust, so the salt lake flamingo birdwatching is a winter draw.

Spend the afternoon on the coast. Larnaca's town beach, Finikoudes Beach, runs the length of the promenade, with Mackenzie Beach closer to the airport. Strong swimmers and divers know Larnaca for the Zenobia wreck offshore; the scuba diving Zenobia wreck trip is one of the most famous dives in the Mediterranean and needs booking ahead.

In the late afternoon, drive about 45 minutes east to Ayia Napa to set up for the final two days on the southeast coast. The resort runs from a quiet harbour to a lively centre, so pick your district to match your pace.

Spend the last full day on the island's best swimming beaches. Nissi Beach in Ayia Napa and Fig Tree Bay over in Protaras are the headline white-sand bays, with calm, shallow water that suits families. Families with younger children can also trade a beach morning for the WaterWorld waterpark in Ayia Napa.

Drive out to Cape Greco, the headland inside Cape Greco National Forest Park, where cliff paths run above sea caves and clear coves like Konnos Bay. A Cape Greco boat cruise is the easiest way to see the caves from the water, or you can walk the coastal trail and swim from the rocks.

Round off the week with a final seafood dinner in Ayia Napa or Protaras. If your flight leaves from Larnaca (LCA), the airport is about 45 minutes back west, so plan the morning around your departure time. Returning the hire car to the airport you fly out of keeps the last day simple.