Museums of Cyprus
The exam asks which museum is in which city, and several museums have almost the same name. This chapter sorts them by city.
Nicosia (Λευκωσία)
| Museum | Greek | What / where it is housed | Hook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cyprus Museum | Κυπριακό Μουσείο | State archaeological museum, Mouseiou St | The island's largest and most important archaeological museum |
| Byzantine Museum (Archbishop Makarios III Foundation) | Βυζαντινό Μουσείο (Ίδρυμα Αρχιεπισκόπου Μακαρίου Γ΄) | Inside the Archbishopric complex | Richest icon collection; 6th-century Kanakaria mosaics |
| Cyprus Folk Art Museum | Μουσείο Λαϊκής Τέχνης Κύπρου | Old Archbishopric (15th-century Gothic), next to St John's Cathedral | Founded 1937 by the Society of Cypriot Studies |
| Ethnological Museum | Εθνολογικό Μουσείο (Οικία Χατζηγεωργάκη Κορνέσιου) | 18th-century mansion of Hadjigeorgakis Kornesios, dragoman 1779–1809 | ⚠️ Closed since 1 Sep 2026 until further notice |
| Museum of the Struggle | Μουσείο Αγώνος | Archbishop Kyprianos Sq., near the Archbishopric, opposite the Pancyprian Gymnasium | Relics of the EOKA struggle 1955–1959 against British rule |
| Leventis Municipal Museum | Λεβέντειο Δημοτικό Μουσείο Λευκωσίας | Laiki Geitonia, old town | History of Nicosia from prehistory to today; European Museum of the Year 1991. Free entry |
| A. G. Leventis Gallery | Λεβέντειος Πινακοθήκη | A. G. Leventi St | Art gallery — not the Leventis Museum |
| Fairy Tale Museum | Μουσείο Παραμυθιού | Old mansion, Granikou St, walled city | Opened 2017 |
| Cyprus Police Museum | Μουσείο Κυπριακής Αστυνομίας | Police Headquarters | Founded 1933 as a Criminal Museum |
| Cyprus Postal Museum | Ταχυδρομικό Μουσείο Κύπρου | Laiki Geitonia | Since 1981 |
| Museum on the History of Cypriot Coinage | Μουσείο Ιστορίας της Κυπριακής Νομισματοκοπίας | Bank of Cyprus Cultural Foundation, Faneromenis St | Coins from the 6th century BC |
| Giabra Pierides Collection | Μουσείο της Συλλογής Γεωργίου και Νεφέλης Τζιάπρα Πιερίδη | Bank of Cyprus Cultural Foundation, Faneromenis St | Mycenaean pottery. Not the Pierides Museum (Larnaca) |
| State Gallery of Contemporary Cypriot Art | Κρατική Πινακοθήκη Σύγχρονης Κυπριακής Τέχνης | Stasinou Ave / Kritis St | 20th-century Cypriot painting and sculpture |
| Classic Motorcycle Museum | Μουσείο Ιστορικής Μοτοσικλέτας Κύπρου | Granikou St | Includes bikes of Makarios III's escort |
| Hambis Printmaking Museum | Δημοτικό Μουσείο Χαρακτικής Χαμπή | Ammochostou St | Opened 2019 |
| Pancyprian Gymnasium Museums | Μουσεία του Παγκυπρίου Γυμνασίου | Next to the oldest secondary school (1812) | 12 rooms |
| Ledra Local Archaeological Museum | Τοπικό Αρχαιολογικό Μουσείο Λεδρών | Agios Georgios hill | Opened 2023 |
| NiMAC — arts centre | Δημοτικό Κέντρο Τεχνών Λευκωσίας | Old Powerhouse | Arts centre, not a museum |
Nicosia district, outside the city
| Museum | Greek | What / where | Hook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cyprus Museum of Natural History | Κυπριακό Μουσείο Φυσικής Ιστορίας | Carlsberg brewery grounds, Latsia, old Nicosia–Limassol road | Private: Photos Photiades Foundation. Visits by appointment |
| Idalion Local Archaeological Museum | Τοπικό Αρχαιολογικό Μουσείο Αρχαίου Ιδαλίου | Dali, inside the ancient site | Since 2007 |
Larnaca (Λάρνακα)
| Museum | Greek | What / where it is housed | Hook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pierides Museum | Μουσείο Πιερίδη | Pierides family home (1815), Zinonos Kitieos St | Oldest private museum in Cyprus; Bank of Cyprus Cultural Foundation |
| Larnaca District Archaeological Museum | Αρχαιολογικό Μουσείο Επαρχίας Λάρνακας | Kalograion Sq. | Finds from Kition, Choirokoitia, Tenta |
| Larnaka Municipal Museum of Natural History | Δημοτικό Μουσείο Φυσικής Ιστορίας Λάρνακας | Municipal Garden of Larnaca | Run by Larnaca Municipality; reptiles, birds, fossils, Cyprus donkey |
| Larnaca Medieval Museum | Μεσαιωνικό Μουσείο Λάρνακας | Larnaca Castle, end of Foinikoudes | Castle rebuilt by the Ottomans 1625, later a British prison |
| Pattichion Municipal Museum – Historical Archives | Παττίχειο Δημοτικό Μουσείο Ιστορικού Αρχείου Λάρνακας | Europe Sq., 1881 colonial buildings | Limassol has a museum with the same name |
| Agios Lazaros Byzantine Museum | Βυζαντινό Μουσείο Αγίου Λαζάρου | Cells of the church of Saint Lazarus | Icons of Larnaca district |
| Kyriazis Medical Museum | Ιατρικό Μουσείο Κυριαζή | 1927 mansion | History of medicine |
Larnaca district
| Museum | Greek | Where | Hook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Museum of Traditional Embroidery and Silversmith-work | Τοπικό Μουσείο Παραδοσιακής Κεντητικής και Αργυροχοΐας | House of Patsalos, Pano Lefkara | Opened 1988 |
| Kallinikeio Municipal Museum | Καλλινίκειο Δημοτικό Μουσείο Αθηένου | Athienou | Icons by the monk Kallinikos Stavrovouniotis |
| Olive Museum | Μουσείο Ελιάς | Anglisides | Next to a ~700-year-old olive tree |
| Folklore Museum "Kostas Kaimakliotis" | Λαογραφικό Μουσείο «Κώστας Καϊμακλιώτης» | Aradippou, 1901 mansion | Silkworm displays in spring |
Limassol (Λεμεσός)
| Museum | Greek | What / where it is housed | Hook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cyprus Medieval Museum | Μεσαιωνικό Μουσείο Κύπρου (Κάστρο Λεμεσού) | Limassol Castle | Legend: Richard the Lionheart married Berengaria here (1191) |
| Cyprus Theatre Museum | Θεατρικό Μουσείο Κύπρου | Panos Solomonides Cultural Centre | In Limassol, not Nicosia; opened 2012 |
| Carnival Museum | Μουσείο Καρναβαλιού Λεμεσού | Same centre (Panos Solomonides) | Limassol carnival costumes and parade |
| Limassol District Archaeological Museum | Αρχαιολογικό Μουσείο Επαρχίας Λεμεσού | Near the Municipal Gardens | Founded 1948; maintenance works since May 2025 |
| Limassol Municipal Folk Art Museum | Δημοτικό Λαογραφικό Μουσείο Λεμεσού | Agiou Andreou St | Since 1985 |
| Pattichion Municipal Museum – Historical Archives | Παττίχειο Δημοτικό Μουσείο – Ιστορικό Αρχείο Λεμεσού | Old District Officer's residence | Same name as the Larnaca one |
| Old Carob Mill | Ο Παλιός Χαρουπόμυλος | Behind Limassol Castle | Built 1900; carob machinery |
Limassol district
| Museum | Greek | Where | Hook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cyprus Wine Museum | Κυπριακό Οινομουσείο | Erimi, 13 km west of Limassol | Not in Omodos |
| Kourion Local Archaeological Museum | Τοπικό Αρχαιολογικό Μουσείο Κουρίου (Επισκοπή) | Episkopi village | ⚠️ Closed from 1 Aug 2026 for upgrade works |
Paphos (Πάφος)
| Museum | Greek | What / where it is housed | Hook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paphos District Archaeological Museum | Αρχαιολογικό Μουσείο Επαρχίας Πάφου | Griva Digeni Ave | Opened 1964, new display 2020 |
| Ecclesiastical Museum of the Metropolis of Paphos (former "Byzantine Museum of Paphos") | Εκκλησιαστικό Μουσείο Ιεράς Μητροπόλεως Πάφου | Central square of Geroskipou | Oldest icon in Cyprus (Agia Marina). Closed for maintenance |
| Ethnographic Museum of Paphos | Εθνογραφικό Μουσείο Πάφου | 1894 stone house | Private, since 1958 |
| Geroskipou Folk Art Museum | Μουσείο Λαϊκής Τέχνης Γεροσκήπου | "House of Hadjismith" (18th c.) | Museum since 1978 |
| Marion-Arsinoe Archaeological Museum | Τοπικό Αρχαιολογικό Μουσείο Μαρίου-Αρσινόης | Polis Chrysochous | Opened 1998 |
| Byzantine Museum of Arsinoe | Βυζαντινό Μουσείο Αρσινόης | Peristerona (Paphos) | Large icon collection |
| Palaipafos Archaeological Museum | Τοπικό Αρχαιολογικό Μουσείο Παλαιπάφου | Lusignan manor, Kouklia | At the Sanctuary of Aphrodite site |
Paphos district — Laona and Akamas villages
| Museum | Where | Hook |
|---|---|---|
| Inia Lara Turtle Museum | Ineia | The turtles of Lara beach on Akamas |
| Regional Museum of Akamas Rural Life and Traditions | Drouseia | Has a crafts training centre |
| Akamas Avifauna and Flora Visitor Centre | Kathikas | Information centre, not a museum |
| Akamas Geology and Palaeontology Information Centre | Pano Arodes | Information centre. There is no "Templar museum" on the Akamas museum list |
Famagusta, free area (Ελεύθερη Αμμόχωστος)
| Museum | Greek | What / where it is housed | Hook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thalassa Municipal Museum | Δημοτικό Μουσείο «Θάλασσα» Αγίας Νάπας | Ayia Napa | Replica "Kyrenia II" of the 4th-century BC Kyrenia ship |
| Paralimni Municipal Museum of National History | Δημοτικό Μουσείο Εθνικής Ιστορίας Παραλιμνίου | Paralimni | Greece and Cyprus 1821–1974. Not natural history |
| Paralimni Folkloric Museum | Λαογραφικό Μουσείο Παραλιμνίου | 19th-century house | Also used for civil weddings |
| Deryneia Folk Art Museum | Μουσείο Λαϊκής Τέχνης Δερύνειας | Deryneia | Farm tools |
| Avgorou Ethnographic Museum | Εθνογραφικό Μουσείο Αυγόρου | 1921 house | Carved furniture, costumes |
Troodos villages
| Museum | Greek | Where | Hook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kykkos Monastery Museum | Μουσείο Ιεράς Μονής Κύκκου | Kykkos Monastery (Nicosia district) | Icons, manuscripts, antiquities |
| Pedoulas Byzantine Museum | Βυζαντινό Μουσείο Πεδουλά | Pedoulas (Marathasa) | Since 1999; icons by the painter Minas |
| Fikardou Rural Museum | Αγροτικό Μουσείο Φικάρδου | House of Katsinioros, Fikardou | The whole village is a protected Ancient Monument |
| Cyprus Railway Museum | Μουσείο Κυπριακού Σιδηρόδρομου | Old station of Evrychou (Solea) | Only railway museum in Cyprus; railway 1905–1951 |
| Museum of Byzantine Heritage | Μουσείο Βυζαντινής Κληρονομιάς Παλαιχωρίου | Palaichori | Church art of the village |
| Troodos Environmental Information Centre | Κέντρο Περιβαλλοντικής Ενημέρωσης Τροόδους | 200 m west of Troodos Square (Limassol district) | Visitor centre of the Department of Forests, not a museum |
⚠️ Don't confuse
| Topic | ❶ | ❷ |
|---|---|---|
| Natural history | Larnaka Municipal Museum of Natural History (Δημοτικό Μουσείο Φυσικής Ιστορίας Λάρνακας) — Municipal Garden, Larnaca town; municipal | Cyprus Museum of Natural History (Κυπριακό Μουσείο Φυσικής Ιστορίας) — private, Photos Photiades Foundation, Carlsberg grounds, Latsia, near Nicosia |
| Folk art vs ethnology (Nicosia) | Folk Art Museum — Old Archbishopric | Ethnological Museum — Kornesios House (closed since 1 Sep 2026) |
| Byzantine | Byzantine Museum — Archbishopric, Nicosia | Ecclesiastical Museum of Paphos — Geroskipou (the former "Byzantine Museum of Paphos") |
| Medieval | Cyprus Medieval Museum — Limassol Castle | Larnaca Medieval Museum — Larnaca Castle |
| Pierides | Pierides Museum — Larnaca | Giabra Pierides Collection — Nicosia |
| Theatre, Carnival | Both in Limassol (Panos Solomonides Centre) | — not Nicosia |
| Leventis | Leventis Municipal Museum — history of Nicosia | A. G. Leventis Gallery — art |
| Pattichion | Larnaca | Limassol |
| Hambis printmaking | Nicosia (2019) | Platanisteia village, Limassol district (the original) |
| Carob | Old Carob Mill — Limassol town | Pasteli museum — Anogyra village |
Keys for the natural-history pair:
- "Δημοτικό … Λάρνακας" = Larnaca, municipal.
- "Κυπριακό …" = Latsia, private.
- Paralimni's museum is National history (Εθνικής Ιστορίας), not natural (Φυσικής Ιστορίας).
- The Folk Art Museum is also called "Ethnographic Museum of Cyprus" on visitcyprus. It is still the Old Archbishopric one.
📍 In the exam: The Municipal Museum of Natural History, housed in the town's Municipal Garden, belongs to the Municipality of …
Answer: Larnaca.
🧠 How to remember: a rule per town
| If the museum is… | Most likely | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| "Main", "Cyprus", "state", about the Church or EOKA | Nicosia | Cyprus Museum (archaeological), Byzantine, Folk Art, Ethnological, Struggle, Leventis, Police, Postal, State Gallery, Fairy Tale Museum |
| About festivals and the stage | Limassol | Theatre, Carnival, Medieval (in the castle), Carob Mill; nearby the Wine Museum (Erimi) |
| Old and private, a fort, the town garden | Larnaca | Pierides (oldest private), Medieval (in the fort), Municipal Natural History (in the Municipal Garden) |
| About the sea | Ayia Napa | "Thalassa" (θάλασσα — sea) with the Kyrenia II ship |
| In a village | the village's product | Lefkara — embroidery and silver · Erimi — wine · Anogyra — pasteli · Anglisides — olive · Fikardou — rural life · Evrychou — railway · Ineia — sea turtles |
Exceptions: every district has its own district archaeological museum, and the Paphos Ecclesiastical Museum (formerly "Byzantine") is in Geroskipou.
What to remember for the exam
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Largest archaeological museum | Cyprus Museum, Nicosia |
| Oldest private museum | Pierides Museum, Larnaca |
| Municipal Museum of Natural History (Municipal Garden) | Larnaca |
| Cyprus Museum of Natural History (Photiades) | Latsia, Nicosia district |
| Byzantine Museum (Makarios III Foundation) | Archbishopric, Nicosia |
| Folk Art Museum | Old Archbishopric, Nicosia |
| Ethnological Museum | Kornesios mansion, Nicosia |
| Museum of the Struggle (EOKA) | Nicosia, near the Archbishopric |
| Leventis Municipal Museum | Nicosia |
| Fairy Tale Museum | Nicosia |
| Theatre Museum, Carnival Museum | Limassol |
| Limassol Castle | Cyprus Medieval Museum |
| Larnaca Castle | Larnaca Medieval Museum |
| Wine Museum | Erimi (Limassol district) |
| "Thalassa" (Kyrenia II ship) | Ayia Napa |
| Embroidery and silver museum | Pano Lefkara |
| Railway Museum | Evrychou |
| Sea turtle museum | Ineia (Paphos district) |
| Free entry | Cyprus Museum, Leventis Municipal Museum |