A lot of Cyprus monasteries are hard to get to but this one is just a few kilometres from Paphos along a good road. The car park area has a decent-looking cafe and the whole site is well tended. You could find the landscaping and varied planting interesting in itself and not have to pay any entry fee. The cliff face with the original carved sanctuary is fascination. There is a small fee to enter this section and it is rewarded with some beautiful original sacred artwork. I don't think this is a 2 to 3 hour visit. Just over 1 hour is plenty.

Definitely well worth a visit to this beautiful and peaceful monastery. Sadly the museum was closed when we went but we were able to go into the magnificent church and to admire the rich colours of the frescoes which are hundreds of years old. As an added bonus, there are plenty of very friendly monastery cats who are willing to accompany you on your visit.

We came here as part of exploring the mountains of Cyprus in our hire car. In arrival there is a car park with a gift shop and another shop selling local wines, olive oil, honey, olives and produce from the monastery gardens however this had closed for lunch (12:45) by the time we’d finished the monastery. The monastery itself is centred around a Greek Orthodox basilica containing impressive carvings, illumination, frescos and ornamentation. Note that photography and videography is not allowed inside the church. Please respect other people’s sacred religious places and adhere to the rules (one lady during our visit felt the rules did not apply to her). This is a working monastery, not a museum, so the cells are occupied by the monks, however those you see around the site are pleasant and friendly. There is a small museum down some steps near the peaceful cloister garden containing religious artifacts and relics from the history of the monastery, including hand written books, sanctuary doors, chalices and crosses with some of the finest historical filigree work on the island. Even if you are not particularly religious, the craftsmanship and provenance of these items is impressive and an important part of the islands cultural religious history. Entry to the museum (€5 pp) also grants you access to an older worship side hewn into the rocks of the gorge, featuring stunning frescoes and clearly a very old and sacred site. Again, can I just implore you to not touch the walls as the oils from your hands will damage the paint - the last of the chambers has evidence of scummy people carving their names into medieval wall paintings, utterly ruining the irreplaceable historical context. The site is peaceful with plenty of mature pine trees for shade, and benches dotted around to allow you sit quietly and contemplate. Most other visitors to the site tend to be quiet and respectful of the place, which is a refreshing change from the bustle down by the coast. As a final note there are stray cats roaming the grounds who are very friendly and will say hello and do not scratch or bite, but be aware that all stray cats on the island may carry ticks or fleas. Won’t do you much harm to say hello and give them a tickle, but maybe don’t get them too close to any loose clothing. Overall one of the highlights of our trip to Cyprus and would go again.

If a couple of hours in a tranquil landscape is your thing, this is for you. Don't expect a lot from the museum. It is a collection of artefacts but not much information about the history at all, unless you buy the €5 book. The garden area, though, is beautiful, peaceful, and tranquil and made it worth the visit.

A wonderfully peaceful trip to visit the monastery. To visit the church carved out of the rocks and frescos and the museum will only cost you €2! Beware they only accept cash but if you buy something from the gift shop they will accept the receipt. The church which is currently in use is stunning and you can light a candle. The museum is definitely worth a look. Outside of the monastery is a cafe which serves reasonably priced food and drink.

Such a lovely place to visit, very tranquil! The museum was cool to look around! You can also go into the church however I made the mistake of going in shorts and a tank top so had to wear a dress to cover up that they have at the entrance, my bad!