Take a trip to the mountains to discover an alternate view of the island. Rising to almost 2,000 metres above sea level, the Troodos peaks provide panoramic views of all corners of the island, a cool retreat from the heat of the coast and a popular destination for taking in the healthy mountain air and enjoying nature in all its majesty. Charming villages, some with cobbled streets and preserved folk architecture, nestle on terraced slopes among pines or amid vineyards and orchards. Wander through the village roads in the Solea Valley, known as the “apple valley” and Marathasa, known as “valley with cherry trees”. Those areas are renowned for their traditional architecture and their Byzantine churches and monasteries. Explore the traditional character of the villages of the picturesque Pitsilia, the interesting churches and the hospitality of their inhabitants and also the Wine Villages (Krasochoria), renowned for their vineyards and wine. A number of small wineries welcome visitors on wine tasting tours. Burbling mountain streams and nightingale’s songs are often the only sounds to fill in the air in a region that poets have waxed lyrical over. The Troodos mountains are where the painted churches of Cyprus can be found, superb examples of Byzantine art, ten of which have been listed among UNESCO’s World Heritage wonders. There’s much you can do, from mountain biking to playing tennis, angling in one of the dams, or even skiing in winter. A series of walking trails will take you through areas of exceptional beauty among scented pines, running streams and the occasional waterfall, stopping at a shady picnic site. Some of these form part of the European path E4, an international network of long-distance walking routes crossing the whole of Europe. The specific climatic conditions created by the high altitudes and the peculiar geological substratum may have contributed to the unique flora found in Troodos with nearly 800 different plant species, 12 of which found nowhere else in the world. Occasionally, if lucky, one may spot a Cyprus mouflon, a kind of wild sheep which roams free in the extensive forests. Birdwatchers may spot the rare and protected eagles or the colourful hoopoe with a pink body, a black and white crest and a call which can be heard from miles around.

Originally a medieval castle called Kastello, it was destoyed in 1856 and resurrected in 1939. Now, it's the crown jewel of the Old Town. Inside, ancient mosaics bedeck the floors, and you'll find a unique collection of 16th and 17th-century Western furniture. On a hot day, the castle's massive walls provide a much-needed reprieve from the heat.

Just off the Tomb of the Kings road in Paphos, lies a huge area which dates back to 300 BC here was the last resting place for top officials and members of Paphian aristocracy, each would have been laid in burial niches along with jewellery and other artefacts relating to their life. Tragically, these tombs were looted many many years ago leaving behind only an echoing and very powerful sense of stillness and a certain mystery. The tombs were carved out of solid rock and with frescoed walls, and looming Doric columns line the 100 tombs which have been unearthed. This site is well worth a visit and the best examples can be seen if you visit the atrium area.