Athalassa National Forest Park

Athalassa National Forest Park sits on the southeast edge of Nicosia, the island's capital, and is the city's main green space. It was declared a national forest park in 1990 and is managed by the Cyprus Department of Forests. The park mixes planted pine, eucalyptus and cypress with open ground and a small lake, and it works as an everyday escape for walkers, runners, cyclists and families rather than a wilderness destination.

The lake is the focal point, home to ducks, geese and wintering water birds, and the park records well over a hundred bird species across the year. A network of paths totalling around 20 kilometres loops through the trees, with separate routes for walkers, cyclists and (on a designated path) dogs. A visitor and environmental information centre near the main entrance explains the park's plants and wildlife, and there are picnic areas, a cafe and play areas for children. Because it is flat and well surfaced, it suits casual visitors and families with strollers.

Spending time at Athalassa

• Easy, mostly flat loops around the lake and through the woodland.
• Visitor centre, picnic areas, a cafe, play areas and bike-friendly paths.
• Good for early-morning or late-afternoon walks to avoid the midday heat.
• Bring water in summer; bins and benches are spread along the main routes.

Athalassa pairs well with a day in the walled old town of Nicosia and its museums. For a bigger day in nature, the marked trails of the Troodos National Forest Park are an easy drive west into the mountains, while the birdlife of Larnaca Salt Lake makes another good wildlife stop to the south.