What to do in Paphos, Cyprus: The best tips
What to do in Paphos, Cyprus: The best tips
Paphos is – together with Larnaca and Limassol – one of the most popular destinations in Cyprus. Are you going on a holiday to Cyprus and are you curious about what to do in Paphos? These are the best tips for places to see and things to do in Paphos during your holiday.
Paphos is a popular destination on the southwest coast of Cyprus. Many archaeological excavations can be found in Paphos and it is not without reason that the city is the archaeological pearl of the country. A big part of the city is even on the UNESCO World Heritage List. This makes Paphos the perfect holiday destination for culture lovers. But also for anyone who comes to realx on the beach or want to enjoy Cyprus’s stunning nature.
The city is a great destination to start or finish your Cyprus road trip.
General information about Paphos
Whether you are going on a road trip through Cyprus or enjoying your holiday in Cyprus, you always make a good choice to spend at least a few days in Paphos. The city is centrally located and from here you can easily take day trips to special highlights of Cyprus. In this article we mainly focus on the most special Paphos sights that you can explore by foot. For this you do not necessarily need a rental car and you do not have to use public transport.
Simply said, Paphos is divided into two parts. The upper part also called Old Town or Pano Paphos and the lower part, Kato Paphos. The lower part is the part that is in its entirety on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
#1. Visit the Tombs of the Kings
The Tombs of the Kings in Paphos is one of the most important Paphos sights. The entrance fee is € 2.50 per person. As soon as you enter you may think that the complex is not much, but when you walk through you will see that the place is beautiful. You will find several royal tombs that you can even admire from the inside. And all this while looking out over the beautiful, blue Mediterranean Sea at the same time.
#2. Edro 2 Ship wreck
When you walk on the beach you cannot ignore a very beautiful sight. There is a shipwreck just off the coast. The ship is the Edro 2 which was en route from Greece to Syria with a load of wood in 1998. The ship is stranded on the rocks off the coast of Paphos and remains there to this day.
#3. Paphos Archeological site
Kato Paphos, the lower part of the city, in its entirety is on the UNESCO World Heritage List and it is the place where you can admire beautiful archaeological excavations. You will find here, among other things, the beautiful mosaic floors. When you take a walk along the coastline of Paphos you cannot ignore these special sights.
#4. Paphos Castle
The castle of Paphos can be found at the harbor of the city. It is not without reason that this is one of the most important sights in Paphos. Originally the fortress dates from the Byzantine era, but it was completely destroyed in the thirteenth century. Fortunately, it was restored years later and you can now – from one of the terraces in the harbor – enjoy a great view of the castle.
Interesting fact: Years ago, the castle was even used as a prison for a while and the English used it for storing salt.
#5. Enjoy a day at the beach
Are you on a holiday in Cyprus and you don’t feel like going out every day? Don’t worry, because in Cyprus the weather is perfectly during most of the year and beaches are always within reach. We were in Cyprus at the beginning of December and even then it was around 20 degrees every day.
Do you want to explore another great beach close to the city? Then take the bus to Coral Bay, known as one of the most beautiful beaches in the area.
#6. Explore the rest of Cyprus from Paphos
The city is not only great as a holiday destination, but its central location also makes it an ideal destination to discover the rest of Cyprus. You can drive to the beautiful Avakas Gorge in half an hour, where you can make a nice hike, you can drive to Larnaca in about an hour and a half and after a good hour you are in the middle of the enormous Troodos Mountains.
Want to rent a car in Cyprus? Then go for Sunny Cars. Here you are always 100% insured and you never have to worry about losing your deductible.
Where to stay
During our road trip we stayed at Princessa Vera Hotel Apartments which is centrally located between the Old Town and Kato Pafos. The hotel features two swimming pools and a bar and an extensive breakfast buffet is included.
Do you have any tips for other awesome things to do in Paphos?