Paphos was the capital of Cyprus in Hellenistic and Roman times, and the whole town is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. You feel it within minutes of arriving: the seafront promenade of Kato Paphos runs past a fort, a harbour of fishing boats and pleasure cruisers, and the gates of an archaeological park whose Roman villas still have their floors — some of the finest mosaics anywhere in the Mediterranean.
Above the coast, the upper town of Ktima is where locals shop and eat, around the covered municipal market and Kennedy Square. Paphos has its own international airport, plenty of hotels in every price range and a mild winter, which makes it one of the easiest places in Cyprus to visit year-round. It is also the jumping-off point for the Akamas Peninsula, Aphrodite’s Rock and the western Troodos villages.
Highlights
- The Paphos mosaics — the Houses of Dionysos, Theseus and Aion in the Archaeological Park.
- Tombs of the Kings — underground tombs carved from the rock, some with Doric-columned courtyards.
- The harbour and Paphos Castle — a small medieval fort at the end of the mole, best at sunset.
- Ayia Kyriaki Chrysopolitissa — a medieval church among the columns of a huge early Christian basilica, with “St Paul’s Pillar”.
- Coral Bay and the sea caves — a sandy beach and a rocky coastline with a stranded shipwreck, north of town.
- Day trips — boat trips to the Blue Lagoon, jeep safaris in the Akamas, and wine villages in the hills.
Quick facts
| Where | South-west coast, Paphos district |
|---|---|
| Currency | Euro (€) |
| Airport | Paphos International (PFO), about 15 km / 20–30 min |
| Ideal stay | 3–4 nights (more as a beach base) |
| Best for | Archaeology, an easy beach break, base for the west |
| Getting around | Kato Paphos on foot; local buses; a car for the Akamas and hills |
How long to stay & where to base yourself
Three or four nights covers the archaeological sites, a boat trip and a couple of day trips; many visitors happily stay a week and use Paphos as a base for the whole west of the island. Stay in Kato Paphos to walk to the harbour, the mosaics and restaurants; choose the hotel strip towards Chloraka or Yeroskipou for big resort hotels on the shore, or Coral Bay for a sandy beach. Ktima, the upper town, is cheaper and more local but less convenient for the seafront.
