Fantastic Day Trip Itinerary to Omodos

The beautiful and traditional Cypriot village of Omodos is nestled up in the Troodos Mountains. It is located 42 kilometres northwest of Limassol and is technically within the Limassol District. It is situated in the heart of the wine-growing region of Cyprus.

Omodos is a great day trip from Limassol and is such a fun place to explore.  It feels like being transported back in time with its cobbled streets and narrow roadways.  It is a unique place to visit on the island of Cyprus.

There are lots of things to do and see in Omodos. Here are my favourites.

Things to Do in Omodos

Omodos Cyprus is famed for its stone buildings and cobbled streets.  Think narrow alleyways, small boutiques and quaint shops.  Add in a beautiful monastery and a village square and you have a good idea!

It’s a really pretty little village which is hugely popular with Cypriots and tourists alike.

Monastery of the Holy Cross

Set right in the heart of Omodos is Timios Stavros Monastery.  In English, its name is the Monastery of the Holy Cross. 

The Holy Cross Monastery is set right in the heart of Omodos.  It is free to enter and is beautiful to see.  Just inside the gate is a courtyard.  The Monastery is in the centre. 

Around the outside of the courtyard are a number of smaller buildings with a first-floor balcony running around the outside.  You can climb the steps to the balcony for a great view of the Monastery and beyond.

The Monastery itself is said to house two hugely important Christian artefacts.  The first is part of the True Cross.  Said to be part of the original cross!  You will also find the holy rope which is said to have secured Christ to the True Cross.

Whether or not you are religious, it is a beautiful building.  Inside it is very impressively decorated and definitely worth a look.

The Omodos monastery is free to enter although donations are always welcome.

People watch in the main square

The main square is likely the first place you will encounter when you arrive at Omodos.  It can vary between busy and packed!  It is the most popular part of town and has the largest number of restaurants.

If you arrive slightly out of season or during the week, it may just be busy.  In that case, it’s perfect for grabbing a table and watching the world go by.  Enjoy a coffee and try the local loukoumades (little doughnuts with syrup – delicious!) 

However, if you arrive at the weekend or during the high season, you may find the square a little too busy.  If so, head a little further into Omodos and pick any of the bars around the monastery.  If it is hot, perhaps go for a frappe (cold coffee) and enjoy the slower pace of life!

Try the Local Wine

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. 

There are also shops by local wineries selling local wines.  If you want to find out more about local wine, I would suggest heading to the Stou Kir Yianni Wine Cellar located in the heart of Omodos.  This is a family vineyard located in the mountains around Omodos.  They have bottles to buy or offer wine tastings! 

Equally, many of the local tavernas in Omodos will be serving wines produced locally.  Just ask for their favourite and give it a try!

Roam the Streets

One of our favourite things to do was wander the wonderful, cobbled streets.  Omodos is not a huge village so you shouldn’t get lost!  As you head away from the main square, there are a number of streets with popular shops and restaurants. 

The further you wander, the more residential and traditional the streets and buildings become.  It is nice and cool in the streets as they are narrow and shaded.

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!

Eating in Omodos

There are lots of little tavernas and Omodos restaurants to explore.  You will not be stuck for somewhere to eat!

If you are planning to go to Omodos during the weekend or high season then I would recommend booking ahead if you want to dine at a specific restaurant.

Here I pick out a few favourite Omodos restaurants for you to try.

Stou Kir Yianni

If you have headed into the Stou Kir Yianni wine cellar, then why not pop into the adjacent restaurant. You know the wine will be good!

Fortunately, the food is great as well.  Many of the ingredients are grown in their gardens and vineyards and the food is always fresh.  There is plenty of choice on the Greek/Cypriot menu. 

If you are planning to visit at the weekend, I would recommend the 16 plate meze option if you want to try everything!

This lovely Omodos restaurant is a converted old mansion house and the décor inside is beautiful.  Expect live music in the evenings at weekends and a warm welcome!  I would definitely recommend booking this one.

The Black Geese (Μαύρες Χήνες)

If you want a more secluded setting then head to the Black Geese.  It is located down a side street away from the main square.  It serves traditional Cypriot food and it is delicious!

The menu is relatively small, which I think can be a good thing!  However, the portions are huge.  Meze choices are available as well and it is perfect for lunch or dinner.

There are lots of local wines to pair with your meal as well.  It is a lovely traditional setting, slightly away from the crowds of the main square.

The Village Tavern

This beautiful, traditional Omodos tavern is everything you want from a local restaurant!  It serves good local food at reasonable prices. 

Agi Jacovides is the proprietor of the Village Tavern and he also owns the Semiranis Hotel.  Agi is very passionate about his food and cooks everything himself.  As a result, the Village Tavern is very welcoming and friendly. 

The food is typically Cypriot; nice and fresh with plenty of choices.  It has some incredible views of the surrounding mountains. 

It is located just off the main road, where you take the turning towards Omodos.  So if you want to eat here, I would suggest popping in either on your way to Omodos or on your way home.  It is not really walking distance from the centre of Omodos. 

How to Get to Omodos

There are a few options for getting up to Omodos in the Troodos Mountains.

By Car

One option for covering the 42 kilometres from Limassol to Omodos is by car.  You can hire a car from one of the many car rentals in Limassol.  The drive itself, whilst up into the mountains, is straightforward.  The roads are paved and relatively wide.

When you get to Omodos itself, there is a car park, but this does get busy at weekends and in the high season.  If you are going to drive, I would recommend arriving as early as you can.

If the car park is full, you will see the locals parking anywhere they can find a spot.  You may need to follow suit!

By Bus

We didn’t catch the bus but apparently, the number 40 bus runs from Limassol bus station to Omodos High School.  

The bus departs at 10 am, 11.30 am, 1.30 pm, 4.30 pm and 6.15 pm during the week, 11.30 am and 3.15 pm on Saturdays and 9.30 am and 3.15 pm on Sundays. 

The return bus from Omodos leaves at 6 am, 7.30 am, 9.30 am and 3 pm during the week and 7.30 am and 2 pm at the weekend.

These times are taken from the bus website.  I would call the station the day before to double-check those times if you are planning to take the bus.  The journey is said to take up to 1hr 30 minutes. 

Given the times above, I would suggest an overnight stay in Omodos if you are going to take the bus as otherwise, you will not have much time in Omodos to explore!

There are no public buses from Paphos, Protaras or Nicosia as far as I am aware.

Private Tour

If you don’t fancy hiring a car or navigating the local bus services then tours run from the major cities.  These day tours take in Omodos and can include other stops on the way.  Check out the various options on TripAdvisor depending on where you are starting from.

Head for the Hills!

Hopefully, that has got you excited for a trip into the Troodos Mountains!  We really enjoyed heading to Omodos as it is something different from the usual trips in Cyprus. 

It was a lovely village to explore.  It is not a huge place so it is easily covered in a few hours if you are in a rush.  Or if you have longer, sit and enjoy a coffee or a local wine and let the world go by!

It has a good blend of history, tradition and some great views!.

If you have any queries, let me know in the comments below.  Or get in touch on social media.  I would love to hear if you do visit Omodos.

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