Districts & Cities
Cyprus is divided into 6 districts (επαρχίες / eparchíes). These are not just lines on a map — each district has its own character, history, and administrative center.
6 districts of Cyprus
| District | In Greek | Center | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nicosia | Λευκωσία | Nicosia | Partially occupied |
| Limassol | Λεμεσός | Limassol | Free |
| Larnaca | Λάρνακα | Larnaca | Free (a small part occupied) |
| Paphos | Πάφος | Paphos | Free |
| Famagusta | Αμμόχωστος | Paralimni* | Large part occupied |
| Kyrenia | Κερύνεια | Kyrenia | Fully occupied |
*The city of Famagusta is occupied, so the temporary center is Paralimni (Παραλίμνι).
❓ How many administrative districts are there in Cyprus?
→ 6
❓ Which district is fully occupied by Turkey?
→ Kyrenia (Κερύνεια)
City population (2021 census)
| City | In Greek | Population | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nicosia | Λευκωσία | 356 358 | Only the free part |
| Limassol | Λεμεσός | 258 283 | Largest port |
| Larnaca | Λάρνακα | 153 824 | Main airport |
| Paphos | Πάφος | 100 753 | Cultural capital |
| Free Famagusta | Ελεύθερη Αμμόχωστος | 51 483 | Rural area + resorts |
Total in the Republic of Cyprus: 920 701 people (2021 census)
— Greek Cypriots: 737 196
— Foreign residents: 183 505
❓ Which city is the largest by population?
→ Nicosia
❓ Which city is the second largest?
→ Limassol
Alternative names of cities
Cypriots often use different names for the same places. This can be confusing — but you will be asked about it in the exam.
| Official | Alternative | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Λευκωσία (Nicosia) | Χώρα (Chóra) | “Chora” = “town, capital” |
| Λεμεσός (Limassol) | Λεμεσσός | Spelling variant |
| Αμμόχωστος (Famagusta) | Βαρώσια (Varosha) | Ghost-district inside the city of Famagusta (not an alternative name for the whole city) |
❓ Which city is also called Chora (Χώρα)?
→ Nicosia (Λευκωσία)
Why “Chora”? In Greek tradition, the main town of an island or region was simply called “Chora” — “the town”. This is how locals call Nicosia, especially in the villages.
Characteristics of the cities
Nicosia (Λευκωσία / Levkosía)
Status: Capital of the Republic of Cyprus
Uniqueness: The only divided capital city in the world. The Green Line runs right through the centre.
What is here:
- Presidential Palace
- Parliament (Βουλή των Αντιπροσώπων)
- All ministries
- Old town within the Venetian walls
Special feature: No access to the sea — the only landlocked city in Cyprus.
Limassol (Λεμεσός / Lemesós)
Status: Economic center, largest port
Character: The most cosmopolitan city. Many expats, international companies, nightlife.
What is here:
- The country’s main port
- Wine Festival (September)
- Carnival (February–March)
- Limassol Castle (Richard the Lionheart was married here)
Nearby: Kourion, Amathus, British base Akrotiri
❓ In which city of Cyprus is the archaeological site of Amathus (Αμαθούς) located?
→ Limassol
Larnaca (Λάρνακα / Lárnaka)
Status: Transport gateway of the country
What is here:
- Main international airport (LCA)
- Finikoudes seafront (Φοινικούδες) — “little palms”
- Church of Saint Lazarus (the very one who was resurrected)
- Salt lake with flamingos
- Hala Sultan Tekke mosque
History: Ancient city of Kition (Κίτιον) — homeland of the philosopher Zeno, founder of Stoicism.
Paphos (Πάφος / Páfos)
Status: Cultural capital. The Archaeological Park of Paphos is a UNESCO site (since 1980).
What is here:
- Archaeological Park with mosaics
- Tombs of the Kings
- Airport (PFO)
- Petra tou Romiou (Πέτρα του Ρωμιού — Aphrodite’s Rock) nearby
Character: Calmer, touristic, many British retirees.
❓ In which region of Cyprus is the Akamas peninsula located?
→ Paphos
Famagusta (Αμμόχωστος / Amóchostos)
The city of Famagusta itself is occupied. The Varosha district is a ghost town since 1974.
The free part of the district includes the main resorts of Cyprus:
| Place | In Greek | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Ayia Napa | Αγία Νάπα | Clubbing capital, youth |
| Protaras | Πρωταράς | Family holidays, beaches |
| Paralimni | Παραλίμνι | Temporary administrative center of the district |
❓ To which district does Ayia Napa belong?
→ Famagusta (Αμμόχωστος)
Kyrenia (Κερύνεια / Kirínia)
The most beautiful port city of Cyprus — but under occupation since 1974.
What used to be there: picturesque harbor, castle, Pentadaktylos mountains behind it.
Now: controlled by the "TRNC", many Turkish settlers.
Villages and localities by district
In the exam they often ask: “In which district is [village] located?” Here are the main ones.
Paphos District (Πάφος)
| Place | In Greek | What is important |
|---|---|---|
| Polis Chrysochous | Πόλις Χρυσοχούς | Small town on Chrysochou Bay, gateway to Akamas |
| Pegeia / Peiya | Πέγεια | Popular with expats, near Coral Bay |
| Latchi | Λατσί | Fishing harbor near Polis |
| Geroskipou | Γεροσκήπου | “Holy garden”, near the town of Paphos |
| Kissonerga | Κισσόνεργα | Coastal village north of Paphos |
| Tala | Τάλα | Village in the hills above Paphos |
| Polemi | Πολέμι | Wine-producing village |
| Pano Panagia | Πάνω Παναγιά | Birthplace of Makarios III |
| Lempa / Lemba | Λέμπα | Neolithic settlement, artists |
❓ In which district is Pegeia (Πέγεια) located?
→ Paphos
❓ From which village did Makarios III come?
→ Pano Panagia (Πάνω Παναγιά), Paphos District
Limassol District (Λεμεσός)
Coast and suburbs
| Place | In Greek | What is important |
|---|---|---|
| Amathus | Αμαθούς | Archaeological site |
| Agios Tychonas | Άγιος Τύχωνας | Resort area |
| Pissouri | Πισσούρι | Village and beach in the west of the district |
| Episkopi | Επισκοπή | Near the British base Akrotiri |
| Kourion | Κούριον | Ancient city and theatre |
| Kolossi | Κολόσσι | Crusader castle |
| Erimi | Ερήμη | Cyprus Wine Museum |
Troodos Mountains (in Limassol District)
| Village | In Greek | What is important |
|---|---|---|
| Prodromos | Πρόδρομος | Highest village (1 380 m), coldest in winter |
| Amiandos | Αμίαντος | Former asbestos mine, now eco-tourism |
| Platres | Πλάτρες | Mountain resort, Kalidonia and Millomeris waterfalls |
| Omodos | Όμοδος | Wine-making, Monastery of the Holy Cross |
| Agros | Αγρός | Production of rose water |
| Pelendri | Πελένδρι | Painted churches |
| Lania | Λανιά | Artists’ village |
| Zoopigi | Ζωοπηγή | Mountain village |
❓ Where is the village of Amiandos (Αμίαντος) located?
→ Limassol District, Troodos Mountains
❓ Which village has the lowest temperatures in winter?
→ Prodromos (Πρόδρομος)
Nicosia District (Λευκωσία)
| Village | In Greek | What is important |
|---|---|---|
| Kakopetria | Κακοπετριά | “Evil stone”, mountain resort |
| Galata | Γαλάτα | UNESCO painted churches |
| Fikardou | Φικάρδου | Museum-village (abandoned but preserved) |
| Kalopanagiotis | Καλοπαναγιώτης | Monastery of St John Lampadistis (UNESCO) |
| Pedoulas | Πεδουλάς | Church of Archangel Michael (UNESCO) |
| Peristerona | Περιστερώνα | Five-domed church |
| Tamassos | Ταμασσός | Ancient city, copper mining |
Larnaca District (Λάρνακα)
| Place | In Greek | What is important |
|---|---|---|
| Pyla | Πύλα | Only village in the buffer zone where Greeks and Turks live together |
| Choirokoitia | Χοιροκοιτία | Neolithic settlement (UNESCO) |
| Lefkara | Λεύκαρα | Famous lace and silver (UNESCO — intangible heritage) |
| Kition | Κίτιον | Ancient city (now part of Larnaca) |
| Stavrovouni | Σταυροβούνι | Monastery on a mountain (men only) |
| Pervolia | Περβόλια | Coastal village |
| Kiti | Κίτι | Church Panagia Angeloktisti (built by angels) |
❓ Which village is famous for lace and silver?
→ Lefkara (Λεύκαρα), Larnaca District
Famagusta District (Αμμόχωστος)
Free part
| Place | In Greek | What is important |
|---|---|---|
| Ayia Napa | Αγία Νάπα | Clubs, beaches, youth tourism |
| Protaras | Πρωταράς | Family beaches |
| Paralimni | Παραλίμνι | Temporary administrative center |
| Deryneia | Δερύνεια | Viewing point over Famagusta and Varosha |
| Sotira | Σωτήρα | Ancient churches |
| Liopetri | Λιοπέτρι | Fishing village |
| Frenaros | Φρέναρος | Traditional village |
❓ To which district does Protaras belong?
→ Famagusta
Occupied part
| Place | In Greek | What is important |
|---|---|---|
| Famagusta (city) | Αμμόχωστος | Occupied, including Varosha |
| Salamis | Σαλαμίς | Largest ancient city of Cyprus |
| Karpas | Καρπασία | Peninsula, Monastery of Apostle Andrew |
Kyrenia District (Κερύνεια) — fully occupied
| Place | In Greek | What is important |
|---|---|---|
| Kyrenia | Κερύνεια | Picturesque port, castle |
| Bellapais | Μπελλαπαΐς | Gothic abbey |
| St Hilarion Castle | Άγιος Ιλαρίων | Crusader fortress on a mountain |
| Buffavento | Βουβάβεντο | Castle in the mountains |
| Lapithos | Λάπηθος | Ancient city |
Capes and peninsulas
| Cape | In Greek | District | Why it is important |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Greco | Κάβο Γκρέκο | Famagusta | Southeastern point of free Cyprus, national park |
| Cape of Apostle Andrew | Ακρωτήριο Αποστόλου Ανδρέα | Famagusta (occupied) | Extremity of the Karpas peninsula |
| Akamas | Ακάμας | Paphos | Protected peninsula in the west |
| Cape Drepanon | Ακρ. Δρέπανον | Paphos | Near Paphos airport |
❓ Where is Cape of Apostle Andrew (Ακρωτήριο Αποστόλου Ανδρέα) located?
→ On the Karpas peninsula, Famagusta district (occupied)
Karpas Peninsula (Καρπασία / Karpasía) is the long “finger” in the northeast of the island. It is fully occupied. The Monastery of Apostle Andrew, a pilgrimage site, is located there.
Bays
| Bay | In Greek | District |
|---|---|---|
| Chrysochou Bay | Κόλπος Χρυσοχούς | Paphos |
| Morphou Bay | Κόλπος Μόρφου | Nicosia (occupied) |
| Famagusta Bay | Κόλπος Αμμοχώστου | Famagusta (partially occupied) |
| Larnaca Bay | Κόλπος Λάρνακας | Larnaca |
| Episkopi Bay | Κόλπος Επισκοπής | Limassol |
What to remember for the exam
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| How many districts | 6 |
| Fully occupied | Kyrenia |
| Chora is | Nicosia |
| Amathus — district | Limassol |
| Akamas — district | Paphos |
| Ayia Napa — district | Famagusta |
| Protaras — district | Famagusta |
| Pegeia / Peiya — district | Paphos |
| Polis Chrysochous — district | Paphos |
| Amiandos — where | Troodos (Limassol District) |
| Coldest village | Prodromos |
| Lefkara — famous for | Lace and silver |
| Lefkara — district | Larnaca |
| Cape of Apostle Andrew | Karpas (Famagusta, occupied) |
| Cape Greco — district | Famagusta |
| Choirokoitia — district | Larnaca |
| Pyla — what is special | Greeks and Turks live together |
| Homeland of Makarios | Pano Panagia (Paphos) |
| Capital | Nicosia (356 358 people) |
| Second city | Limassol (258 283 people) |