Cyprus - Paphos
An archaeological delight with some amazing Roman ruins but there is more to Paphos, a popular holiday destination.
Paphos is a town divided in two but not in the political sense of Nicosia but geographically with the upper, hilly, part of the town being home to the commercial and residential area, whilst the lower part of the town is home to the major archaeological sites and the tourist resort.The Government have invested a great deal of time and effort, not to mention money, in improving the lower town, including a delightful promenade.
Paphos small enough to explore on foot, although the hilly upper town may be too much for some to explore on foot. Having said that busses in the town and surrounding area are ridiculously cheap and frequent in town. A single journey costs only €2.00, regardless of distance travelled and €6.50 will buy you a day ticket offering unlimited travel in the entire area.
The town can get very hot and humid in the summer months with temperatures in the thirties Celsius and humidity frequently hitting 90%, in the winter months temperatures are bearable without getting cold.
The Paphos Archaeological Park is a UN World Heritage Site is an amazing place to visit and is still being excavated. As you initially approach the site it looks like a load of waste ground but hidden amongst the grounds are some amazing excavations and they are fascinating even if you are not a great history lover.There are monuments dating back to prehistoric times, the ruins of a castle remaining as they fell following an earthquake in 1222 but the highlights are the remains of four Roman villas, all with spectacular, preserved, mosaic floors.
One of the man attractions is the lighthouse, built by the British and not the Romans. Admission to the park is a modest €4.50 and as a non-historian I found more than enough to keep me occupied and interested for a good few hours. A word of warning though, take plenty of water in with you as there is nowhere to purchase water or drinks once inside.
Also inside the park is the Odeon – a Roman theatre which is in pretty good condition and, occasionally, performances still take place here.
The Tomb Of The Kings doesn’t actually house any royal tombs but many of the carved tombs found here would be fit for a king. There are many hand carved tombs here, most of which were the final resting places of the local wealthy residents. Most of the tombs were plundered many years ago but the carvings are spectacular and awesome. Eight tomb complexes are currently open to the public with more being excavated. Admission is again very modest at €2.50 and like the Archaeological Park the site is a World Heritage Site.The third archaeological site worth mentioning is the Ayia Kyriaki Chrysopolitissa, built on the site of a small church destroyed in a earthquake in 59AD. In the grounds there is a pillar where it is reputed St Paul was flogged.
The harbour is home to a modest marina and has been renovated with some lovely walkways and even a boardwalk along one side. Home to many restaurants it’s a delightful place to while away a few hours.For those not interested in archaeology there is the Paphos Bird Park and Zoo north of the town €19.50 for adults, €12.50 for children, whilst in the summer the Aphrodite Water Park, at the far end of the hotel strip is a good place to cool down, although it’s not cheap €36.00 for adults and €20.00 for children.
Eating out is easy in Paphos with everything from the well known international fast food outlets through to five star top cuisine and everything in between.
Paphos is a great base for a holiday. The beaches in the town itself are not brilliant but a few miles north is Coral Bay which has an expansive sandy beach and is a resort in its own right, albeit very touristy. The hotels along the coast in Paphos itself tend to be resort types with swimming pools and small private beaches of varying quality.In the upper town there is a traditional market, although it does tend to be geared towards the tourist. If you prefer modern brand shops then the Kings Avenue Mall is for you in a modern air conditioned building.
If you don't fancy hiring a car there are plenty of excursions from the resort.
Prices quoted correct as at June 2026
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