Deryneia
A small town in Famagusta district and the island's main strawberry grower. A museum of traditional trades, a viewpoint over Famagusta and a Christmas village from 21 November.
Checked: 31 October 2026
Deryneia is a small town in Famagusta district, one of the fertile red-soil villages known as Kokkinochoria. Since 2024 it has been part of the Paralimni–Deryneia Municipality. It is known for strawberries: Deryneia is the island's main grower.
The town lies next to the buffer zone. From the Cultural Centre of Occupied Famagusta you can look at the city of Famagusta through binoculars, and the local museums show the old rural trades.
At a glance
- Population
- 6229 source
- Phone
- +357 23811000
- Website
- deryneia.org.cy
Seasonal events
Christmas Villages
21 November – 6 January 2027
The season programme is not out yet.
Opening days and hours have not been announced yet.
Organiser: Paralimni–Deryneia Municipality, +357 23811000
Strawberries
From January to June many plantations open to visitors, so you can see the whole strawberry-growing process up close. Besides strawberries, the area grows oranges and mandarins.
Every Saturday from 7:00 to 13:00 local farmers sell their produce next to the Anagennisis Deryneia stadium. The Strawberry Festival is held at the same stadium; in 2026 it took place on 29 May.
Churches and feasts
Deryneia has the churches of Panagia and Agios Georgios; Agios Georgios keeps a 16th-century iconostasis. The church of Agia Marina stands inside the buffer zone.
On 16 December Deryneia celebrates the feast of Agios Modestos with stalls, entertainment and local food and drink.
Places to visit in the village
Deryneia Folkloric Museum and Open Air Museum of Traditional Professions
The open-air museum displays old farm tools, and the rooms opposite recreate the workshops of the furniture and shoe maker, carpenter, tailor, blacksmith, builder, barber, sculptor, fisherman and farmer. Outside the museum stands a working oven where Margarita Xatziliasi still bakes bread and traditional pastries. Hours may change without notice.
- Opening hours
- winter Mon–Sat 09:00–13:00 and 15:00–17:00; summer Mon–Sat 09:00–13:00 and 15:00–18:00
- Price
- €2, groups €1 (both museums)
- Phone
- +357 23811000
Cultural Centre of Occupied Famagusta
A centre by the buffer zone that hosts talks on the Cyprus problem. Binoculars let you look at the occupied city of Famagusta, and there is a small photo exhibition. Guided visits on request.
- Opening hours
- winter (4 November – 5 May) Mon–Sat 07:30–15:00; summer (8 May – 1 November) Mon–Fri 07:30–17:00
- Phone
- +357 23740860
Water Theme Park
An exhibit on traditional ways of drawing water: an ancient well (lakkos), a wooden wheel known as an alakati, an Archimedes' screw and a traditional Famagusta-area windmill. Opening hours are not published.
Map
Sources
- Visit Cyprus: Deryneiavisitcyprus.comstrawberries, feast of Agios Modestos, Christmas village dates, phone
- Visit Cyprus: Deryneia museumsvisitcyprus.comexhibits, hours, price
- Visit Cyprus: Cultural Centre of Occupied Famagustavisitcyprus.comhours, phone
- Visit Famagusta: Deryneiavisitfamagusta.com.cyplantations, market, churches, museum oven, water park
- Paralimni–Deryneia Municipalityderyneia.org.cy2024 municipal merger
- Cyprus Mail: Strawberry Festival 2026cyprus-mail.comfestival date and venue
- 2021 census (Statistical Service of Cyprus)citypopulation.depopulation