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Villages

Kakopetria

Kakopetria lies at 670 m in the Solea valley, Nicosia district. A protected old quarter, spoon sweets, trout, small museums and a UNESCO church nearby.

Checked: 31 October 2026

Kakopetria is a fairly large village in the Solea valley at the foot of Troodos. The rivers Karkotis and Garillis meet in the village centre and form the Klarios river.

The old quarter, with narrow stone-paved alleys and houses with wooden balconies, has been restored and declared a protected cultural heritage site. People come to walk the old village, try spoon sweets and trout, and visit the painted UNESCO churches nearby.

At a glance

Altitude
670 m
Population
1255 source

Seasonal events

Christmas Villages

21 November – 6 January 2027

The season programme is not out yet.

Kakopetria is one of the Christmas villages for 2026-27. For enquiries, contact the Deputy Ministry of Tourism.

Opening days and hours have not been announced yet.

What Kakopetria is known for

Kakopetria is known for its apples, and it also grows pears, plums, apricots, peaches, cherries, potatoes, vines and tomatoes.

Women in old Kakopetria still make glyko tou koutaliou, fruit preserved in syrup, and sell it from the verandas of their homes or in small traditional shops. Since September 2017 the village has held a spoon sweet festival.

Locally farmed trout is on the menu of most restaurants in the village.

UNESCO churches nearby

Five kilometres from the village, in the Solea valley, stands the church of Agios Nikolaos tis Stegis (St Nicholas of the Roof), a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its wall paintings date from the 11th to the 17th century. Opening hours change with the season, so check them before you go.

Another UNESCO-listed church, Panagia Podythou, is on the outskirts of the neighbouring village of Galata.

Getting there

The village lies south-west of Nicosia. Bus route 405 runs from Kakopetria via Astromeritis to the Makarios stadium bus terminal in Nicosia. Check the timetable before you travel.

Places to visit in the village

Museum

Linos Museum

A museum in old Kakopetria, on Linou street, with three sections on wine, bread and oil. Visits are arranged by phoning the community council; an audio guide is available.

Opening hours
Mon–Fri 07:30–15:00 source

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Museum

Eliomilos Olive Mill Museum

An old olive mill in the yard of Sotiros church. If the museum is closed, the key is kept by a neighbour who lives opposite the church.

Opening hours
Mon–Fri 07:30–15:00 source
Place

Mylos tis Gonias watermill

A watermill that ground barley and grain from 1754. It closed after the Second World War and was restored in 1980.

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Map

Sources

News about the village

Villages nearby

  • Fikardou

    Fikardou sits at 900 m in Nicosia district; since 1978 the whole village has been a listed ancient monument. A rural museum, an old church, trails and no cars.

  • Kalopanagiotis

    A village at 700 m in the Marathasa valley of Troodos: the UNESCO-listed monastery of Agios Ioannis Lampadistis, healing springs and a Christmas village from 21 November.