Pano Lefkara Cyprus is a beautiful and traditional Cypriot village set up in the Troodos Mountains. ‘Pano’ means ‘higher’ and this is where the tourist attractions are. There is also ‘Kato’ or ‘lower’ Lefkara, but this is mostly where the locals live. You want to head to ‘Pano’ Lefkara.
Pano Lefkara is located in the Larnaca region, around 40km from Larnaca and 48 km from Limassol. Lefkara is situated 650 metres above sea level, perfect for any photography lovers!
Lefkara was named one of the “the 30 most beautiful towns in Europe” by the Japanese Association of Travel Agents. It previously had a lot of significance in Cyprus, being the island’s largest town in the 16th century. Its name derives from the Greek for white mountains.
Lefkara is most famous for its silver and lace making, skills which have been practised in the village since Venetian times. You can watch the ladies sitting outside making their Lefkara lace on the cobbled streets of the village. You can also watch the silver smiths in action in various workshops around town.
Legend has it that Leonardo da Vinci visited Lefkara in 1481 and bought a lace alter cloth. This very same cloth is on display in Milan Cathedral today.
There is not all that much to do in Lefkara, but it is a quaint little village, ideal for spending an afternoon wandering. It is traditionally Cypriot, and definitely worth a visit to soak up that Cypriot charm.
You may not need an entire day here, as there’s not a lot to do. However, it is a great place to have a wander and grab some lunch in one of their tasty cafes and restaurants.
Here are a couple of things to see and do during your visit to Lefkara.
Things to do in Lefkara
Lefkara is a small village with less than a thousand people living there. However, historically, it used to be one of the largest and most populated cities on the island.
For tourists, it is interesting for its narrow, cobbled streets, colourful buildings and beautiful views of the surrounding area. It is a traditional Cypriot mountain town and a wonderful place to visit to get a feel for the Cypriot culture and traditions.
Museum of Traditional Embroidery and Silversmith
Located in the village of Lefkara, the museum is in the House of Patsalos. This is named after the owner, who was a member of one of the village’s richest families.
Many of the buildings in Lefkara have been declared ancient monuments, and in 1983 the House of Patsalos was acquired by the Department of Antiquities and restored. It is now the Lefkara Museum of Traditional Embroidery and Silversmith.
Inside this historic house, there are a few rooms which recreate the atmosphere of a grand Lefkara house. You will see traditional handmade clothing, jewellery, silver and some of the renowned embroideries on display here.
If you want to know more about Lefkara history, it is a great museum to get a good idea of what traditional village life was like.
Timios Stavros – the Church of the Holy Cross
Nestled in amongst the narrow streets is this impressive church. It was built in the 14th century. In its crypt, it houses a silver cross which, according to tradition, contains a piece of the holy cross.
The cross is equally famous for its intricate depictions and decorations which are very impressive to see.
The church itself is beautiful and has a stunning backdrop overlooking the Troodos Mountains. It is also wonderfully cool and a place of tranquillity to escape the midday sun!
Roam the Streets
Omodos is famous for its wine and is located in Cyprus’ wine-growing region. You will find many wineries and vineyards in the area and villages surrounding Omodos. Each of these can be visited on a tour or by car if you fancy exploring the wine region itself.
If you prefer to stay in Omodos during your visit, there is still plenty of opportunities to try the famous wine!
As part of its history, there is a medieval wine press that you can visit. It is free to go in and has some interesting information on the history of winemaking in the region.
Many tourists don’t visit the town for a particular attraction. The attraction is in wandering the pretty, colourful and narrow cobbled streets. Taking in the architecture and simply enjoying the atmosphere.
One of our favourite things to do was grabbing a coffee in one of the small cafés and watching the world go by in the sun!
Ktima Sofokleous Olive Farm
Not technically in Lefkara, but located just 1km from Lefkara is Ktima Sofokleous, an organic olive farm. There are more than 7,000 trees on the farm, including a 1000-year-old tree which is protected by the Cypriot government!
The Sofokleous family are passionate about their top-quality extra virgin olive oil, an essential ingredient in a Mediterranean diet! You can wander the groves and gain an insight into olive oil production and the health benefits by joining a fun tasting session!
It is a beautiful location and a lovely place to wander around and enjoy some olives!
Pop into the small boutique shops as you wander. You will find all sorts of different shops. There are plenty of shops selling local crafted items and trinkets for the perfect souvenir. You will find lots of jewellery and clothes. You can also find locally made glassware, food and drink.
It is easy to lose an hour or so wandering the streets and exploring the beautiful village. After all of that, you will want to settle in for a drink!
Restaurants in Lefkara
There are some great places to eat and drink in Lefkara. You can wander the small streets and find yourself a little gem hidden off the main track.
I have picked out a couple of my favourite places from our visit.
Lefkara Da Vinci Pizzeria & Cafe
We loved this place; it was one of our favourite Lefkara restaurants. It’s so cute and quaint based on one of the narrow, cobbled streets and the staff were so nice. It’s got some facts about Lefkara on various signs on the wall so you can learn whilst you eat!
The pizzas are fantastic here and are a must-try.
Tasties Lefkara
Tasties in Lefkara is very popular amongst tourists because it looks so traditionally Cypriot. With blue and white walls and overhanging balconies, it really looks the part.
Unfortunately, on our visit, Tasties was closed, and we understand (from Facebook) that it still is. It has been closed since the Covid outbreak and it is not clear when/if it will be reopening.
However, I’ve featured this on this list because I would like to have gone. The food has consistently good reviews online and it just looked so pretty!
Let us know in the comments if you go to Lefkara and find that Tasties is open along with your thoughts!
Coffee Yard Café-Restaurant
A gorgeous little shaded courtyard café, Coffee Yard is the perfect place to have a break, and enjoy a coffee and homemade cake or pie!
They also serve meals, including pizzas and salad which looked good too.
How to Get to Lefkara
If you’re staying at a hotel in Larnaca or Limassol, they will be able to help you book a space on a trip heading up to Lefkara or at least recommend who to book with.
You can also book an organised tour from Viator such as this day trip from Larnaca.
If you have rented a hire car, the journey will take you around 30 minutes from Larnaca and 45 minutes from Limassol. You should not drive into the very centre of the city, as the roads are particularly narrow.
There is free parking on the outskirts of the village. The village is small, so you should park on the outskirts and take a very short walk in. We parked here.
Getting to Lefkara from Larnaca
Lefkara is around 40km from Larnaca. It is best visited by car, or with a tour.
If you choose to get a taxi, it is likely to cost around 35 euros each way. You should confirm a price before you book and arrange your return transport.
The final option is to take the bus from Larnaca to Lefkara. I wouldn’t recommend this as it takes so long and you have to swap buses.
From Larnaca Bus Station you’ll need to get the 408, 448 or 414 and get off at Kofinou. Then you should take the 449 or 405 from Kofinou to Lefkara. These only run a few times a day, so you’d need to check the schedule.
This journey is fiddly and I wouldn’t recommend getting the bus.
Getting to Lefkara from Limassol
Lefkara is around 48k from Limassol. It isn’t viable to get the bus to and from Lefkara from Limassol in a day. You can check the bus times here, but I wouldn’t recommend it.
The best way to get from Limassol to Lefkara is to rent a car and drive or book an excursion. You should do this either through your hotel or through a local operator. Your hotel should be able to provide some guidance on where to book this.
Soak up the Cypriot culture!
If you love history and getting to know a place’s culture, you should definitely visit one of Cyprus’s traditional villages. We loved Lefkara village because of the colourful bougainvillaea which lines the pretty cobbled streets, and its lovely little cafes. It’s up in the hills and you can take some amazing photos from there.
Another great option is the village of Omodos, which is a slightly larger village based in Cyprus’ wine country!
Let us know if you have any questions in the comments below! If you’ve been to Lefkara, let us know what you thought!
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