Places to visit in Paphos

Paphos is a coastal city located on the southwest coast of Cyprus, an island nation in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Known for its rich history and archaeological significance, Paphos is both a popular tourist destination and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its subtropical Mediterranean climate, characterised by long, warm to hot summers and mild winters is appealing to many visitors. This blog post will give you ideas of things to do in Paphos and its surrounding areas.

If you’re looking for luxurious 5 star accommodation in Paphos with options for all inclusive then I highly recommend Mare Paphos and Olympic Lagoon Resort Paphos.

Archaeological Park of Kato Pafos (Paphos)

Situated towards the end of the harbour is Paphos archaeological park where there are sites and monuments from the 4th century BC to the Middle Ages. You could easily spend a couple of hours exploring the area, reading about the history and climbing up to the lighthouse. There is extremely limited shade in the park so make sure you take water and suncream.

Archelogicial Site of the Tomb of the Kings

This site is a further 15 minute walk away from the harbour covering about 32.7 hectares and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980 as part of the Paphos Archaeological Park.

The site features impressive underground tombs carved from solid rock, many adorned with Doric columns and frescoed walls. Contrary to its name, the tombs were not the final resting places of kings but of high-ranking officials and aristocrats from the Hellenistic and Roman periods, dating from the 4th century BC to the 3rd century AD.

Paphos Castle

Entrance to the castle is only €2.50 and allows you to read about the history and climb to the top for views of the harbour and sea. Nothing particularly exciting but pretty cheap!

Church of Agia Kyriak

Less than a 10 minute walk from harbour is this small, historic Greek Orthodox church dedicated to Saint Kyriak. At present there is a walkway preventing a clear view of the ruins and mosaics.

Drink and eat overlooking the harbour:

We had a couple of drinks at Ta Mpania which had tables right by the harbour and was a great place to relax. Muse Cafe Bar and Moorings Cafe also have gorgeous views.

Coral Bay

Coral Bay Beach is located around 20 minutes from Paphos centre and only 10 minutes from the bus stop outside Mare Paphos. It is renowned for its 500-meter stretch of golden sand and calm, shallow waters and it offers amenities such as sunbeds, umbrellas and showers.

Places to visit near Paphos

We were considering hiring a car in Cyprus (especially as they drive on the same side of the road as the UK) to visit more of the island but ended up staying more local. Places that were on my list were:

• Akamas Peninsula National Park
• Blue Lagoon Tour from Latchi (although you can book from Paphos)
• Avakas Gorge Nature Trail
• Troodos Mountains
• Limassol

You can also visit Paphos Old Town and quaint surrounding villages from the harbour using local buses. We were told about Cholou (which has a winery) which you can visit from bus route 639 and Pano Pagnia from bus route 637.