Mountain Biking in Cyprus: Troodos, Akamas and the Best Trails

Mountain biking is one of the best ways to see the Cyprus that most visitors miss: forests, valleys and mountain villages linked by hundreds of kilometres of dirt roads. The island is small, so good riding is never far from the cities. This guide covers the main areas, the official routes, the rules in forests and protected areas, and where to rent a bike.

For road rides and general cycling tips, see our cycling routes in Cyprus page; remember that the helmet law applies off-road too.

Where can you go mountain biking in Cyprus?

The Deputy Ministry of Tourism publishes 45 cycle routes on Visit Cyprus, of which 23 are mountain bike routes, with maps, difficulty ratings and downloadable GPX files. Visit Cyprus states that mountain biking is allowed in any region of the island; the routes below are a good place to start.

Distances and ratings are as published on Visit Cyprus.

Troodos

The Troodos is the heart of Cypriot mountain biking. The local tourist office site My Troodos describes hundreds of kilometres of dirt trails and singletrack around Troodos Square, and lists routes such as Troodos Square – Persefoni trail – Kalidonia – Platres, which mixes paved road and forest track. The Platres routes follow forest dirt roads between Psilo Dendro, Karvounas and Prodromos; on the Prodromos – Psilo Dendro route Visit Cyprus warns of sharp stones and recommends a front-suspension bike for the Trooditissa – Foini section. For a big day out, the 90 km Tour of Marathasa climbs about 4,750 metres around the Marathasa valley; Visit Cyprus says it suits a mountain bike or a road bike with low gears. The valley is also home to several of the painted churches of the Troodos.

If you want to combine riding with a stay in the mountains, our Platres area guide and Troodos in autumn guide cover villages, food and where to stay.

Machairas and the Nicosia district

Machairas forest, south of Nicosia, is the island's classic cross-country venue. The Lefkosia 1 route is a 61.6 km loop from Deftera through the forest, past Machairas Monastery and back via Lythrodontas, climbing about 1,500 metres to a high point of just over 1,000 metres; Visit Cyprus recommends a mountain bike with at least 27 gears. The 5.5 km MTB piste at the Mantra tou Kampiou picnic site has hosted the Afxentia stage race, part of the international Cyprus Sunshine Cup. Closer to the city, Athalassa National Forest Park has an easy 16 km paved route that suits beginners and children.

Paphos forest and the Akamas

In the west, the Stavros tis Psokas – Pafos route crosses Paphos forest over 65 km, and the 40 km run from Stavros tis Psokas to Pyrgos is mostly downhill on tarmac. The best known Akamas ride is the 37 km Pafos – Baths of Aphrodite route, which passes Agios Georgios, Avakas and Lara before crossing the Akamas ridge to Fontana Amorosa; Visit Cyprus recommends a good front-suspension bike. From Polis, a 22 km route runs out to the Akamas lighthouse.

The Akamas is a national forest park and Natura 2000 site. In April 2026 the Audit Office warned that the dirt roads from the Baths of Aphrodite to Fontana Amorosa are dangerous, with potholes, loose stones and cliff edges, and that uncontrolled quad and 4x4 traffic reduces safety for cyclists and walkers. Ride these tracks early in the day, outside the summer quad rush, and keep well to the side on blind bends. For the gorge itself, which you visit on foot, see our Avakas Gorge guide, and for a base nearby, our Latchi and Neo Chorio area guide.

What are the rules for mountain biking in forests?

Stay off the nature trails

The official Visit Cyprus walking brochure includes a code of conduct that says riding motorcycles or bicycles on the nature trails is forbidden. These are the narrow, signed footpaths managed by the Department of Forests, such as the Persefoni trail near Troodos Square, and the E4 long-distance path described in our E4 trail guide. Mountain bikers use forest roads, dirt tracks and the official MTB routes instead. Where a published cycling route briefly shares a trail, give way to walkers and ride slowly.

Fire season

From 1 June to 30 September, using anything that produces heat, flame or sparks is strictly forbidden in state forests and within 2 km of them without a permit from the local forestry station, and the fine is €2,000. Causing a forest fire is a criminal offence that can bring up to 12 years in prison. Barbecues are allowed only at designated picnic sites. Never smoke on the trail, and if you see smoke, call the Department of Forests on 1407 or emergency services on 112.

Practical safety

• Wear a helmet: it is compulsory for all cyclists in Cyprus, off-road included.
• Carry more water than you think you need; many forest routes have no water for long stretches.
• Download the GPX file before you go, so you can navigate even if you lose mobile signal.
• Tell someone your route and expected return time.

When is the best time for mountain biking?

Visit Cyprus calls spring and autumn the ideal seasons, when days are long and not too hot. Summers are hot and dry, from about mid-May to mid-September, so in July and August ride at first light and choose the higher Troodos, where midday temperatures are usually several degrees lower than on the coast. Winters are mild and wetter from about mid-November to mid-March. Snow falls on the high Troodos roughly from December to February (in 2026 the first ski slope opened on 14 January), so tracks above Troodos Square can be muddy, icy or closed. Activate Cyprus advises bringing rain gear in October and November.

Where can you rent a mountain bike or join a tour?

• Troodos Mountain Bike Center: run by Activate Cyprus inside the Troodos Hotel on Troodos Square, it hires mountain bikes, e-bikes, road and gravel bikes and runs guided e-bike tours of one to five days. Tours run from April or May to the end of November.
• WAY Bikes, with branches in Limassol and Yeroskipou (Paphos), lists a BMC e-MTB on its rental page at €75 for one to six days (as shown in October 2026).
• CCT Bikerentals, with pick-up in Tochni, lists e-bikes and e-MTBs at €99 for three days (2026), with delivery to Limassol, Larnaca and Paphos for a fee.

Call ahead in winter and summer, as availability and opening times change with the season.

Mountain bike races in Cyprus

The Cyprus Cycling Federation's 2026 calendar included cross-country (XCO) races at Lofou on 25 January and Pyrga (Larnaca district) on 31 January, both on the international UCI calendar, a downhill at Stavrovouni on 8 February, MTB races at Tochni on 26 April and Fterikoudi on 2 May, short-track and cross-country races at Ayia Marina on 26 September and an eliminator race in Nicosia on 25 October. Amateur riders can enter many races in the "Cycling for All" categories with a one-day licence: at Pyrga in 2026 entry was €25 for adults plus €10 for the day licence.

The Cyprus Sunshine Cup, the island's best-known international MTB series, returned to the UCI calendar in 2024 with races at Amathus, Tochni and Mantra tou Kampiou. Dates for a later edition haven't been announced, so check the organiser's site before planning around it.

What to do next

• Download a route from Visit Cyprus and plan a first ride on one of the easy Troodos forest roads.
• Combine a ride with a walk using our hiking routes and 10 best hiking trails in Cyprus.
• Looking for other outdoor activities? See our guides to horse riding and outdoor sports in Cyprus.