Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
5
Enjoying a laid-back picnic at scenic picnic sites like
Kelefos Bridge
with its river
setting and surrounding nature trails.
Troödos
Pop 24
Located near the summit of Mt Olympus, Troödos village is the focal point for all hiking,
cycling and snow-related activities in the region. At over 1900m above sea level, it's far
cooler than the plains below and offers superb views of the surrounding valleys.
The village itself is minimal, centred on a simple square
(plateia)
known as Central
Troödos (Kentriko Troödos in Greek). The square has a playground with some benches
and a handful of souvenir shops selling everything from wind chimes to
soujoukko,
a tra-
ditional sweet made from almonds and sun-dried grape juice.
Opposite the park is the Troödos Hotel, with a couple of neighbouring restaurants and
cafes. Nightlife here is practically nonexistent, as most travellers are generally exhausted
from the day's activities and head to bed early. A further 200m downhill to the west is
Troödos Visitor Centre. The skiing facilities (open in winter) are just to the north near the
Jubilee Hotel.
From the square the road north heads towards the Solea Valley and Nicosia (Lefkosia).
To the west is the road to Prodromos and the Marathasa Valley. The third approach (and
most common) is from the south, which takes in Platres (sometimes Pano Platres on
maps), and the
krasohoria
(wine villages) of the Kommandaria region.
Central Troödos is best reached from Lemesos (via the B8) or Nicosia (via the B9). It
can also be accessed from Pitsylia, in the east, and from Pafos in the west, via good but
slow winding roads. On Sunday evening traffic can be very heavy on all the roads off the
mountain, as weekend visitors head home to Nicosia and the coast.
BUG BEACON
Make sure you bring bug or insect repellent. The mountains are wonderfully picturesque, but they do have their
share of creepy-crawlies. Many of the big flies and tree bugs appear to be especially attracted to white T-shirts
and skirts, so consider wearing alternative colours, particularly during the hotter months and around the summit.
History
