Visiting Lefkara: A Cypriot Village
Visiting a village for a look into traditional life in Cyprus is a must when visiting the country. The most popular village to see crafts like lace and silver making is Lefkara, as it’s just a 40-minute drive from Larnaca.
Lefkara village was adorable and had hints of the villages and towns I’ve been to in Italy: small streets, flowers hanging all around, and cafes around a central square.
The name Lefkara means “white rocks,” a nod to the color of the surrounding rocks on the mountainside. Although the exact founding of the city is unknown, the first instance of the village appeared in written record in 1134 when Saint Neophytos the Recluse identified the village as his birth town. It is said that Leonardo da Vinci visited Lefkara in the late 16th century as a guest of the Queen of Cyprus, Catherine Cornar, and bought a big tablecloth embroidered on all sides, which was later donated to the Milan Cathedral. Read more about the history of Lefkara.
There are plenty of things to do in Lefkara, and you can even spend the night for a slow-living experience. The town mainly caters to tourists. We visited in June 2022 and there were barely any other tourists around, which made it feel more like a hidden gem to us.
You probably just need 3 hours to wander around, plan to get lunch afterward.
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How to get to Lefkara Village
Drive— We rented a car during our Cyprus trip as it was affordable and were able to drive. Parking is tricky and the roads get extremely narrow in spots. Follow the “Parking” signs around town to get a spot. Go the same way back if you can to avoid a new road that could be too tiny for your car.
Bus—Use Cyprus by Bus website to plan your route. Use the search function to determine the stop closest to you in Larnaca. You can get off in Lefkara at Lefkara Square.
Taxi—I don’t suggest heading to Lefkara by taxi. It will be expensive, and you won’t have a way back unless you pre-arrange for the driver to stay there.
What to do in Lefkara
Visit the Church of the Holy Cross, which dates back to the 14th century, for views over the surrounding countryside. There are many other churches around Lefkara. Check them all out here if you’re interested.
Wander all the streets and you’ll come across tiny, beautiful alleyways with hanging flowers and rustic elements. Don’t miss the balcony and free books near the Da Vinci Stone House.
Visit the Nicolaides Winery Shop, a family-run winery that also has soaps and teas. The family here was so sweet. Two cousins gave a background of their family history and their winery. I bought some tea, and my sister bought soaps. There is no Google Map location for it, but it’s located somewhere here.
Walk into the Lefkara Courtyard Art shop, which is also next to a pair of painted angel wings where you can take your pic for Instagram. Also visit Jacki’s Art Studio.
There is a museum of “Local Ethnological Museum of Traditional Embroidery and Silversmith-work” located in Lefkara. However, it was not open when we visited.
Lefkara’s specialty lace and silver
Lacemaking in Lefkara village goes back to the 14th century. The lace designs are influenced by the ancient Greek and Byzantine geometric patterns. The lace is handmade using four basic elements: the hemstitch, cut work, satin stitch fillings, and needlepoint edgings. It is still the main occupation of women in Lefkara.
Check out the local shops that specialize in Lefkara handmade lace and silver jewelry.
The silver jewelry in Lefkara is like intricate lacework in itself. The jewelry is made of fine silver wire that is shaped into pieces.
The silver and lace shops are all somewhat similar. From what we experienced, the husband does the silver work, and the wife does the lacemaking. Most of the lace items are decorative tablecloths. There are some napkins that could make an easy gift or souvenir.
Where to eat around the village
Sit on the patio at Platia Coffee Shop and people watch over a fresh fruit juice or coffee.
Look out for the traditional “honey balls,” which are like tiny donuts, at Lefkara Square. According to our local friend, this guy makes the best honey balls in the country!
We didn’t eat here, but the most popular restaurant on Sunday was “Στου Ρουσιά.” The menu looks great!
Alternatively, you can visit Lefkara on a foodie tour with Cyprus Taste Tours. You may visit Lefkara or another similar visit on the tour, depending on the season, and visit several wineries as well! We didn’t get a chance to visit a winery but I wish we had the time.
Where to stay in Lefkara
Although we visited Lefkara on an afternoon trip, there are several traditional houses that operate as boutique hotels around the village. Some that stood out to me are:
Tips when visiting Lefkara
Some shops in Lefkara village take cards but many of the smaller shops only take cash so you may want to bring €20 with you to buy some honey balls and perhaps some tea or soap.
Because the village is so tiny, it’s difficult for Google Maps to capture all the shops and places. Most of the streets do not have street names on Google Maps. Just trust that you’ll find all the shops and restaurants as you wander around.
Got any tips for visiting Lefkara village? Let me know in the comments!