The E4 Long-Distance Trail in Cyprus: Route, Sections and Tips

The E4 is the big one for hikers in Cyprus: a cross-island path that links the coast, the monasteries of the eastern hills, the pine forests of the Troodos and the wild Akamas. You do not have to walk all of it to enjoy it; most residents tackle it a section at a time.

What is the E4 trail?

The E4 is one of the European long-distance paths. It begins in Tarifa in southern Spain and crosses France, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Greece, including Crete, before ending in Cyprus. The Cyprus section opened in the mid-2000s; its official brochure was produced by the then Cyprus Tourism Organisation with the Forestry Department.

Visit Cyprus describes it as the only long-distance trail on the island, more than 500 km long. Much of it follows existing nature trails, forest roads and agricultural tracks rather than a single purpose-built path.

Where does the E4 go in Cyprus?

The trail starts at Larnaca International Airport and ends at Paphos International Airport. From Larnaca, one arm heads east across the Larnaca and Famagusta countryside to Cape Greco National Forest Park; the main route heads west and north through the Stavrovouni and Machairas forests, across the Troodos range and down through the Paphos Forest to the Akamas Peninsula, before finishing at Paphos.

The official sections

Source: E4 brochure by the Cyprus Tourism Organisation and the Forestry Department. Some walkers' guides give different totals depending on variants and detours.

Highlights along the way

• Larnaca Salt Lake – the E4 follows the salt lake nature trail; see our flamingos guide.
• Cape Greco – the Sea Caves and Konnoi trails are part of the E4; see our Cape Greco guide.
• Stavrovouni and Machairas – monasteries, hills and pine forest.
• The Troodos – high forest, Mount Olympus and waterfalls near Platres; see our Troodos waterfalls guide.
• Paphos Forest – remote, quiet and home to the mouflon around Stavros tis Psokas.
• The Akamas – coastal paths and the Aphrodite trail; see our Akamas guide.

When is the best time to walk it?

The official E4 brochure recommends spring and late autumn (November), when the countryside is green and flowering. You can walk year-round, but summer temperatures in the lowlands often exceed 30 °C with little shade, and wildfire risk is high from May to October. In winter, expect rain, short days and snow on the high Troodos sections.

How to plan an E4 walk

1. Choose your sections. Start with day-length stretches such as the Larnaca salt lake or Cape Greco, then build up to multi-day mountain sections.
2. Get maps and tracks. Use the Visit Cyprus nature trails material and an offline map app with a GPS track. Signage varies, especially on farm tracks.
3. Plan accommodation. The brochure advises checking the availability of licensed accommodation in remote mountain and rural areas well in advance. Agrotourism houses and village guesthouses work well.
4. Book campsites ahead. Camping is only allowed at designated sites, and the Stavros tis Psokas forest station needs advance booking. Some Troodos campsites were closed in 2026; see our camping in Cyprus guide.
5. Arrange transport. Buses rarely reach trailheads. Plan drop-offs, taxis or a car shuttle; our public transport guide covers the main routes.
6. Check closures. The Department of Forests closes trails and forest roads for safety or fire risk, as with the Avakas Gorge trail since December 2025.

Safety tips

• Carry enough water. Springs and taps exist but are not always drinkable or reliable; take a filter on long sections.
• Start early in warm months and avoid walking in the midday heat.
• No fires. Fires are banned in and near state forests outside designated sites. Report fires on 1407 or 112.
• Tell someone your route, and carry a charged phone, a whistle and a first aid kit.
• Respect boundaries. The Larnaca–Famagusta section passes near Pyla, a village in the UN buffer zone, and close to the British Sovereign Base Area at Dhekelia; stay on the marked route and follow all signs.
• Insurance: make sure you have health cover; see our GESY guide.

What to do next

• Start with shorter routes in our hiking routes guide.
• Read our trail guides to the Artemis and Aphrodite routes, both close to the E4.