Pano Platres
©
Pano Platres

Pano Platres

Troodos mountain resort village with cooler pine forests and walking trails to waterfalls and Mount Olympos.

Perched on the southern slopes of the Troodos mountains at around 1,100 metres, Pano Platres is the most popular mountain resort in Cyprus. The air is noticeably cooler here than on the coast, and the surrounding pine forests give the village a quite different character from the sun-baked lowlands.

In summer, Cypriots head up to escape the coastal heat. In spring and autumn, visitors arrive for the walking trails — the Caledonian Waterfall trail and the Millomeris trail are particular favourites, and the Artemis trail circles the peak of Mount Olympos nearby. When winter arrives, the village sits within easy reach of the Troodos ski centre. Trooditissa Monastery, set in a steep pine valley above the village, is one of the most atmospheric religious sites in Cyprus.

Guide

Things to Do

Pano Platres is the gateway to the best walking in Cyprus. The trails through the pine forests are well-marked and varied: short waterfall walks for an afternoon, longer ridge routes for a full day. In winter, the village sits close enough to Mount Olympos for skiing. Year-round, the cool mountain air and the unhurried pace are the main attractions.

Guide

When to Go

Spring (March to May) is the best time to visit Pano Platres: the waterfall trails run strong with snowmelt, wildflowers appear in the forest clearings, and the village is not yet crowded. The temperature at 1,100 metres stays pleasantly cool — around 15°C — while the coast can already be hot.

Summer brings Cypriots escaping the coastal heat, and the village gets noticeably busier in July and August. Accommodation books up on weekends. Autumn is quiet and beautiful, with the forest turning golden. Winter is cold (sometimes with snow on the upper slopes) and the village is largely closed, though the ski centre on Olympos may be operating if there is enough snowfall.