Kakopetria: what to see, where to stay and how to get around

Now in Kakopetria--:--:--

--°

Kakopetria lies in the Solea valley, where the Karkotis stream comes down from the Troodos and gives the village its gardens, mills and trout. Its old quarter is one of the best-kept mountain villages in Cyprus, and two painted churches stand within a few kilometres. This route is a short morning: a walk in the village, then a short drive up and down the valley. Churches have set opening hours, so check before you go.

A short history of Kakopetria

A mountain village in the Solea valley in the Troodos Mountains, at an altitude of about 670 metres, built on a slope between two streams. Its stone and timber houses, with their overhanging balconies, have been preserved as an old quarter. About a kilometre and a half outside the village stands the 11th-century church of Agios Nikolaos tis Stegis, "of the roof", named after the additional timber roof built over it. The wall paintings inside span several centuries, and in 1985 it was added to the World Heritage List together with other painted churches in the Troodos.

The ten best sights in Kakopetria

1
Old Kakopetria
Stone and timber houses on a ridge between two streams; walk it before dinner
2
Agios Nikolaos tis Stegis
Frescoes from five centuries under a wooden roof, 3 km up the valley; check opening hours
3
Panagia Podithou, Galata
Renaissance-style frescoes in a timber-roofed chapel; the key is kept nearby
4
Panagia Asinou
The most famous of the painted churches, alone in the forest 20 minutes north
5
Panagia tou Araka, Lagoudera
Some of the finest Byzantine painting on the island, over the ridge to the east
6
Archangel Michael, Pedoulas
Small church in the cherry village; frescoes signed by their painter
7
Agios Ioannis Lampadistis
Three churches under one roof in Kalopanagiotis
8
Kykkos Monastery
The richest monastery in Cyprus, deep in the western forest; modest dress
9
Mount Olympos
The island's highest point; snow and ski lifts in winter, cool air in summer
10
Caledonian Falls
A shaded forest trail to one of the highest waterfalls in Cyprus

sleepntripRated 8 or moreOnly hotels guests loved

At least 50 reviews and a score of 8, or they are not on our list.

Find a room

What is an audio walk?

Tours in Kakopetria →

A guide in your headphones: open the walk on our site, walk from stop to stop, and at each one your phone tells its story. No guide, no group, and free. This is the first walk in Kakopetria:

Free walking tours in Kakopetria

Bad rock, good water

Kakopetria square · The name Kakopetria means 'bad rock', after the big boulders that lie around the village. The square sits on the main road, with the old quarter just behind it.
Old Kakopetria · The old quarter on the ridge is protected as a traditional settlement, and its houses are built of stone below and timber-framed mud brick above, with wooden balconies over the lanes. Many have been restored as guesthouses.
Mylos · Mylos means 'mill', and the restaurant is built around an old watermill on the stream. Trout raised in the cold mountain water is the local dish.
Agios Nikolaos tis Stegis · 'Of the roof': in the 12th century a second, steep wooden roof was built over the domed church to shed the mountain snow, and it gave the church its name. Inside, the walls are painted from the 11th to the 17th century, and it is one of ten Troodos churches on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
Galata · Galata, the next village down the valley, has several painted churches of its own within a short walk of each other. Its name is usually linked to milk — gala in Greek.
Panagia Podithou, Galata · The church was built in 1502 and its paintings mix Byzantine tradition with the new Italian Renaissance style that reached Cyprus under Venetian rule. It is on the UNESCO list with Agios Nikolaos tis Stegis.

Painted churches of the forest

The Troodos is full of small barn-roofed churches whose plain outsides hide walls covered in paintings, and ten of them are listed together by UNESCO. This route links the most famous of them with Cyprus's great monastery, in the pine forest west of Kakopetria. It is a full day of mountain roads, with long distances between stops. Go with a full tank and a picnic; villages are few.

Panagia Asinou · An inscription dates the paintings in the nave to 1105–1106, which makes them among the oldest in the Troodos group. The church stands alone in the forest, the last trace of a village that has disappeared.
Panagia tou Araka, Lagoudera · The paintings were finished in 1192 and are considered a peak of late Byzantine art, with long, expressive figures. A second wooden roof protects the domed church, as at Agios Nikolaos tis Stegis.
Archangel Michael, Pedoulas · The painter Minas signed and dated his work here, 1474, and the founder is shown holding a model of the church. Pedoulas is famous across Cyprus for its cherries, which ripen in June.
Agios Ioannis Lampadistis · The monastery is a cluster of churches built side by side and covered by one great roof, with paintings from the 11th to the 15th century. It is on the UNESCO list of the Troodos painted churches.
Kykkos Monastery · The monastery was founded around 1100 under the Byzantine emperor Alexios Komnenos, and it keeps an icon of the Virgin that tradition attributes to Saint Luke. The icon is kept covered, and no one has looked at its face for centuries.
Throni · Makarios III, the first president of Cyprus, began as a novice at Kykkos, and he asked to be buried on this hilltop above it. His tomb lies just below the small chapel.

The roof of Cyprus

Above Kakopetria the road climbs to almost 2,000 metres, to the summit of Mount Olympos, where the air is cool even in August and snow falls in winter. The mountain is made of rock from the floor of an ancient ocean, pushed up into the island, which is why geologists come from all over the world. This route takes a day, with two easy walks. Wear real shoes; the trails are stony.

Troodos Square · The square is the meeting point of the mountain, with souvenir stalls, cafés and the trailheads. In winter it fills with families who come up from the coast to see snow.
Troodos Botanical Garden · The garden was planted on part of the old Amiantos asbestos mine, which closed in 1988 after more than half a century of digging. Restoring the scarred slopes with native plants is the point of the place.
Artemis Trail · The trail circles the summit of Olympos at about 1,850 m, passing black pines that are hundreds of years old. It is almost level, about 7 km, and in winter it crosses the ski slopes.
Mount Olympos · At 1,952 m this is the highest point in Cyprus. The very top is closed off by a British radar station, whose white dome can be seen from much of the island.
Caledonian Falls · The trail follows the Kryos stream down through alders and pines for about 3 km to a waterfall some 12 m high. It is one of the highest waterfalls on the island and runs all year.
Platres · Platres was the summer resort of the British and of wealthy Cypriots and Egyptians, with grand hotels and cool nights. The Greek poet Giorgos Seferis wrote in his poem 'Helen' that 'the nightingales won't let you sleep in Platres'.

sleepntripJules Verne, 1872 · us, 2026Around the world for $80 a night

A quality hotel in every city. We checked every room for you.

Find a room

Getting to Kakopetria and getting around

Kakopetria square bus stop · Buses run down the valley to Nicosia, about an hour; few a day, so check times
Troodos Square bus stop · The mountain hub, 20 minutes up the road; buses are few, so check before relying on them

Cheap eats in Kakopetria

The Troodos eats differently from the coast: trout from the mountain streams, village sausages smoked in the chimneys, and jams and spoon sweets made from cherries, walnuts and grapes. Kakopetria is small, so most food comes from its tavernas, but there is a bakery and a café for a quick stop. Prices are in euros and modest.

Colours Creperie · Sweet and savoury crêpes, about €4-7
Galini · Village café for Cypriot coffee and a snack, about €2-5
Galatas bakery · Village bread and halloumi pies for the trail, about €1-4
The Village Pub · Toasts, salads and beer in the old quarter, about €6-12
Mylos · Grilled trout from the mill pond, about €14-18

Museums in Kakopetria

Agios Nikolaos tis Stegis · Five centuries of frescoes in one small church
Panagia Asinou · The oldest paintings of the group, 1105–1106
Panagia tou Araka · Paintings of 1192, a peak of Byzantine art
Kykkos Monastery · Museum of icons and church treasures inside the monastery
Troodos Visitor Centre · Geology and nature of the mountain, short and useful

Nature and day trips near Kakopetria

Caledonian Falls · Forest trail of about 3 km to the falls
Artemis Trail · Level loop around the summit with old black pines
Atalante Trail · A longer, quieter trail of about 9 km below the summit
Millomeris Waterfall · Short walk to a waterfall near Platres
Troodos Botanical Garden · Mountain flora on a healed mine

Things to do in Kakopetria with kids

Mount Olympos · Snow to play in, December to March
Caledonian Falls · A walk with a waterfall at the end
Mylos · Trout pools and the old mill wheel
Old Kakopetria · Lanes, balconies and the stream below
Troodos Botanical Garden · Paths and a small visitor centre

Where to eat in Kakopetria

Mylos Restaurant · Trout and meze by the watermill
Linos · Village dishes in the old quarter
Stou Violari · Taverna for grills and village sausages
Zoumos · Simple taverna on the main road
River Park · Dinner by the stream

sleepntripWonders of the world12 wonders, and a hotel near each

For every wonder: a nearby city, a route and a hotel up to $80.

To the wonders

Frequently asked questions about Kakopetria

What is there to see in Kakopetria?

The top sights in Kakopetria are Old Kakopetria, Agios Nikolaos tis Stegis and Panagia Podithou, Galata. The full list on this page has 10 sights, each with a photo and a short note.

How many days do you need in Kakopetria?

Three to four days are enough to see the best of Kakopetria without rushing, including at least one walking tour.

Is there a free walking tour in Kakopetria?

Yes. sleepntrip has 3 free audio walks in Kakopetria, with no guide and no group: your phone tells the story at every stop. The first one: Bad rock, good water.

How do you get to Kakopetria and get around?

The main ways are Kakopetria square bus stop and Troodos Square bus stop. Full details are in the transport section on this page.

Where to stay in Kakopetria, and for how much?

sleepntrip shows only rooms in Kakopetria that meet nine conditions: a good location, high guest scores, cleanliness, and a price of up to $80 a night for two. Pick your dates and see what is free.

Looking for a hotel in Kakopetria for your dates?

Only rooms that meet nine conditions, up to $80 a night.

All hotels in Kakopetria

Plan a trip across CyprusAphrodite’s island of sun→