Top 10 Things To Do In Paphos

Paphos, located on the southwestern coast of the island of Cyprus, is a popular spot for vacationers with many interesting things to do, including sun-drenched beaches, sea-side restaurants and cafes, great cultural sites, and a lively nightlife.

Near the center of Paphos, you’ll find a long stretch of rocky beach, which also has some sandy spots, located beside a long boardwalk filled with restaurants, cafes, and boutique hotels overlooking the sea. There are also several UNESCO listed archaeological parks filled with Greco-Roman ruins, dazzlingly detailed mosaics depicting scenes of mythology, ancient tombs, and glimpses into daily life long ago.

And if you still need more, there are several interesting day trip options, including beautiful sandy beach areas, the crystal-clear water of the Blue Lagoon in Akamas Peninsula National Park, and Aphrodite’s Rock, a giant rock in the Mediterranean considered the birthplace of the Goddess Aphrodite.

This post covers the top things to see and do in and around Paphos.

Top 10 Things To Do In Paphos

The beaches of Paphos are one of its top tourist attractions, attracting Europeans, Israelites, and others from nearby countries.

There are a variety of beaches in the area, ranging from rocky outcrops to some secluded, sandy spots. As they’re located on the western side of the island, one of the benefits of these beaches is that they offer great sunsets on the Mediterranean.

That said, I personally wasn’t really crazy about the beaches here (maybe I’ve been spoiled by places like Zanzibar and the Maldives where the beaches are amazing). Many people still love coming here though, so read on to see all of what Paphos has to offer and see if it’s right for you.

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Paphos Beach

The main beach in Paphos, near Kato, is Paphos Beach. This mostly rocky beachfront follows the boardwalk. There are also some sandy beaches here, like the beach in front of the Alexander The Great Hotel.

You will find a wide variety of restaurants and cafes towards the northern end of the boardwalk, and multilevel, boutique and luxury hotels overlooking the sea towards the southern end. There are also several water-sport centers offering sea cruises, parasailing, diving, and more.

Don’t miss a walk or drink on the boardwalk at sunset. And make sure to notice the many wild, but very friendly cats stretched out on empty sun chairs watching all the tourists. Cyprus is full of these friendly furry felines. Something you don’t often see on beaches!

Lighthouse Beach

This sandy beach is located north of the Paphos Archeological Park, not far from the lighthouse. It’s also known as Kafos Beach, as kafos means ‘lighthouse’ in Greek.

This little beach has sun beds and umbrellas for rent, as well as a restaurant-bar and a volleyball court. Lighthouse Beach is about a 20-minute walk from Paphos, but worth the effort for the lovely sand and a more secluded beach area.

Coral Bay

Coral Bay, a very popular beach resort area, is located about a 20-minute drive north of the center of Kato Paphos. This sandy strip forms a picturesque crescent, lined with hotels, villas, restaurants, cafes, water-sport activities, and nightlife options. Because of its beauty and surrounding amenities, Coral Bay can get crowded in peak season.

To get to Coral Bay, take Paphos Bus 615 from the Kato Paphos Bus Terminal.

The Blue Lagoon

The Blue Lagoon is a shielded, natural bay with crystal-clear blue water and stunning views in a beautiful, scenic park. It’s located on the west side of Akamas Peninsula National Park, on the northern tip of the Cyprus’s western coast. It’s ideal for a relaxing swim, as well as snorkeling and diving. You can also rent buggies or jeeps to explore the area on land.

If driving, the road to get here can be treacherous in spots, so a 4 x 4 is required. It’s really better to visit by boat. Many boats leave from Latchi Harbor, while some offer transportation from Paphos to the harbor.

You can also get to Latchi Harbor on your own by taking Paphos Bus 645 from the Kato Paphos Bus Terminal to Poli Crysochous. From there, Latchi, where some boat tours start, is a short taxi ride, or 40-minute walk.

The Blue Lagoon is one of the top tourist attractions in Paphos, so don’t be surprised if it’s crowded during peak season.

On the east side of Akamas Peninsula National Park is Aphrodite’s Baths, where according to mythology, Aphrodite was bathing when Adonis spotted her while hunting and fell in love. It is noted as a tourist attraction while visiting Paphos, but doesn’t have the best reviews, so I only mention it here briefly. If you’re really into mythology and can combine it with a trip to the Blue Lagoon, it would be worth it.

If you want a tour of both, I recommend this one: From Paphos: Akamas Highlights and Blue Lagoon Relax Day. It includes pickup from your Paphos hotel, a stop at Aphrodite’s Baths, swimming in the Blue Lagoon, and more.

Note: Learn more about the Blue Lagoon on the east side of Cyprus in my post on Ayia Napa.

Aphrodite’s Rock, or Petra tou Romiou

South of Paphos is another incredible thing to do, called Aphrodite’s Rock. According to legend, this is the birthplace of the Goddess Aphrodite, where she rose from the waves and was escorted to the beach on a shell.

This area is also known as Petra tou Romiou, which means “Rock of the Roman” due to another legend. According to this legend, a hero named Basil threw a rock from the Troodoos Mountains to keep the Saracens from invading.

The beach here is heavily pebbled, so it’s a bit challenging to walk or sunbathe on, but still definitely worth it for the scenic views. Yet another legend here is that if you swim around Aphrodite’s Rock three times, you will find your true love. That said, the waves and currents are quite strong, so it is not recommended to try (such irony!).

There’s a sandwich/gelato/souvenir shop across the street from the beach with restrooms, as well as a cafe with stunning views on a hilltop nearby. It’s a bit of a walk up the hill (quite a bit), but a lovely place to eat and admire the view. The people in the cafe are really nice too as they offered me a ride down when they learned I walked up in the heat. Of course, I tipped them well…

How To Get To Aphrodite’s Rock

To get to Aphrodite’s Rock take Paphos Bus 631 from the Kato Paphos Bus Terminal. Make sure to look at the return bus options when you select your bus to Aphrodite’s Rock as they’re not evenly spaced. This way you can ensure you have the amount of time you want here. If you just want to take photos, you only need a half an hour, but if you want to swim or eat, you may want several.

If you want to take a tour to Aphrodite’s Rock instead, I recommend this one: 100% Cyprus – Tour to Troodos mountains and villages (From Paphos), which also adds in a visit to the Troodos Mountains, a waterfall, a Monastery, and a winery, all for a very reasonable price.

Paphos Archeological Park

Located in Nea Paphos, or New Paphos, this incredible archeological park is another of the top things to do in Paphos. UNESCO listed in 1980, it contains the remains of an ancient Greek and Roman city. This was the new city, the capital of Cyprus, built between the 4th century BC and 2nd century AD by King Nicocles who was the last King of Palaipafos.

This sprawling complex has many sites, so expect to spend a few hours walking around (preferably not in the heat of the day). The top attractions in the Park include the following.

House of Dionysos

This lavish, UNESCO listed villa gets its name from several exquisite mosaics of Greek God Dionysos. A quarter of this 21,000 ft² (2,000 m²) home contain remnants of intricate, pebbled, mosaic floors. In addition to images of Dionysus, there are scenes from mythology, scenes of hunting, and more.

The house, built in the 2nd century, and destroyed and/or abandoned around the 4th century. They think it was due to damage from earthquakes.

House of Theseus

The House of Theseus was also built in the 2nd century AD. It was occupied until the 7th century. Researchers think this palatial building, with over 100 rooms, was the home of the Roman Governor of Cyprus.

The name of the house, Theseus, comes from the round mosaic above which showcases the mythical duel between Theseus and the Minotaur. It’s one of the oldest mosaics in the house.

There are also columns standing outside this house.

House of Aion

The House of Aion is the smallest villa here. It has an incredible, large Roman mosaic floor showing 5 different scenes. The scene below shows the birth of Dionysos.

House of Orpheus

This villa of the House of Orpheus is named after the mosaic of Orpheus. It dates to the 2nd and 3rd centuries. The details of the mosaic show him surrounded by beasts that are listening to him play on his lyre.

I’m not sure how I managed not to get a photo of the actual mosaic. I think it was covered with rocks to protect it from the sun (as some mosaics are here). Hopefully they build covers for all the mosaics in the near future for protection.

The Odeon, or Theater

The Odeon is a 2nd century theater located by the ancient agora. It once held about 1,200 spectators.

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Saranta Kolones Castle

Saranta Kolones Castle, or 40 Columns Castle, is one of the newer ruins here, built in the 7th century to protect the port and city. This fortress is a little out of the way from the rest of the sites, which is apparently how I missed it completely. Website photos of it look amazing and reviews say it’s worth the walk, so make sure to look for it.

How To Get To The Paphos Archeological Park

The Paphos Archeological Park is easy to access, just a short walk from the Paphos Boardwalk near the Castle below.

If you would prefer to do a tour of the Paphos Archeological Park, I recommend this one: Half Day Guided Walking Tour In Paphos, which include this park and the Tombs of Kings (below).

Medieval Castle of Paphos

The Medieval Castle of Paphos was originally a 10th century Byzantine Fort, although it’s been rebuilt multiple times. Most recently, it was restored by the Ottomans in the late 16th century. Today it’s a tourist attraction with various exhibits for a small entry fee.

There’s also an annual festival here, called the Aphrodite Festival. This is an international artist festival that takes place on the square in front of the castle.

Even if you don’t enter to see one of its exhibits, it’s worth a walk to the end of the boardwalk to see the castle. It’s especially pretty at night, when it’s accented by lights.

Agia Kyriaki And Saint Paul’s Pillar

Also known as Chrysopolitissa Bascilica, this was one of the first and biggest bascilicas built in Cyprus. The ruins you see today are from the 13th century, built over the original 4th century structure.

The church was built here as, according to legend, Saint Paul was flogged here for preaching before the island was converted to Christianity. You will know Saint Paul’s pillar as it will have a sign at the base of it.

This church is located close to the Kato Paphos Bus Terminal. Before visiting, make sure to verify it is open, as it was closed when I was here.

Tombs Of Kings

The Tomb of Kings is a fascinating, ancient necropolis with multiple burial sites from the 3rd century BC to 4 AD. They’re carved into the bedrock in a large area that sites on the edge of the the sea. This place is called the Tombs of Kings, but not because royalty is buried here, it’s named for the stateliness of the tombs, some of which are remarkable.

The more spectacular tombs have underground, rectangular rooms resembling homes with atriums lined with columns. At one time, the walls were covered with frescoes. It’s believed these tombs were influenced by ancient Egyptian tradition, when it was believed houses for the dead should reflect houses of the living.

A little outside of the city, don’t miss visiting this UNESCO Heritage site as it’s one of the top tourist attractions in Paphos. This necropolis is large enough to spend a couple of hours exploring, preferably not in mid-afternoon, when the heat will be at its peak.

How To Get To The Tombs of Kings

This site is located about 1.25 miles (2 km) north of Kato Paphos on Tombs of Kings Avenue. Free parking is available. If using public transportation from Kato Paphos take Paphos Bus 615 towards Coral Bay. Ask the driver where to exit for the Tombs of Kings site.

If you would prefer to do a tour of the Tombs of Kings, I recommend this one: Half Day Guided Walking Tour In Paphos, which also includes the Paphos Archaeological Park.

Agiou Antoniou Street, Paphos

Agiou Antoniou is the party street in Paphos, with a variety of bars and dance clubs that come alive at night and stay open late. This street was once lined with many more, but post-COVID, many of the buildings are closed, boarded up, and graffitied. The rest, however, remain open and busy, especially on a weekend evening.

However, if nightlife is really what you’re looking for, I suggest staying on the eastern side of the island. Ayia Napa is the party hot spot of Cyprus, plus, the beaches there are nicer. Larnaca is known as a party destination too, but the beaches are not as nice.

Where To Stay In Paphos

It’s best to stay close to the boardwalk and beaches of Paphos, called Kato Paphos. The area known simply as Paphos is the main city and about a 45-60 minute walk to the boardwalk area.

I could not find any budget options in Kato Paphos that get excellent reviews, and I try to only recommend those that get the absolute best reviews and are relatively close to the boardwalk/beaches. I did stay in a dorm that was a 2-minute walk to the beach, but I cannot recommend it as it was not clean and the owner was not nice. After this, I moved to Phaedrus Living below, which was much nicer. 

Since there are not many budget options that get great reviews, I’m adding a link to Paphos City so you can look for yourself and see if something looks appealing to you. With this link on Paphos City, you will also see multiple options under Phaedrus Living (which I really liked). I suggest sorting by distance to the beach.

The reviews for these affordable and splurge places are excellent.

Affordable

• I stayed in Phaedrus Living Seaview Studio Suite Lighthouse 52, which is a 1 bedroom suite with a sofa bed and kitchenette. It features city and sea views from the balcony. It’s a 1-minute walk to the boardwalk. It’s really small, so I would not recommend it for more than 2 people, but it was clean and comfortable.
• Regency Boutique Hotel Holiday Suites offer studios with balconies in the heart of Paphos. There’s also a pool, and a bar. It’s about a 7- omits walk to the boardwalk and beach areas.

Splurge

• Elysium is a 5-star hotel adjacent to the King of Tombs. There are balconies with either mountain or sea views. It’s a little farther from the main boardwalk, but looks very nice and gets great reviews.
• Constantinou Bros Asimina Suites Hotel is an elegantly appointed 5-star hotel with balconies or patios. Some have sea views and some have land views. There are also 2 outdoor swimming pools.

How To Get To Paphos

Fly

Paphos has an international airport, Paphos International Airport (PFO). It’s located 4 miles (6.5 km) southeast of Paphos city. It’s the second largest airport in Cyprus after Larnaca airport.

Bus

From the Paphos airport, take the Paphos Bus 612 to Kato Paphos, which is the beach area, or the Paphos Bus 613 to Paphos city center (inland). Both buses will be in front of the terminal. The ride is approximately 25 to 30 minutes.

Self-Drive

Self-driving is the best way to see all the highlights of Cyprus, as they’re scattered all over the country. The only issue is that you need to make sure your accommodation has parking.

Driving is done on the left-hand side of the road, so make sure you’re OK with that first. The general rule for an International Driving permit in Cyprus is that if your license is in a Latin or Greek alphabet, you do not need one, but talk to your rental car company about this to make sure.

If you plan to cross over into the Turkish side of Cyprus, know that most rental car companies only insure the vehicle on the side you rent the car from. This means you may not be able to cross the border with it.

Final Thoughts on Paphos

Paphos is a mix of good and bad, and although I enjoyed it, I probably would not come back. It’s an interesting place to stay if you want a beach vacation paired with the other sites on this end of the country, or you want beaches with sunsets. But honestly, the beaches here are not that great. If I came here solely for a beach vacation, I would be disappointed. Yet many do come here and enjoy it.

On top of this, the town of Paphos is a bit run down, with many buildings closed up. And if you don’t have a car, using the bus to see the sites here can be very frustrating. It’s slow, and I found that the bus drivers on the west side are not the friendliest.

And actually, I found most people in Paphos that deal with tourists on a daily basis to not be too friendly. Not everyone though! I did run into some people, that were very nice and helpful. They were just the exception and not the rule (like the hotel staff person that found my credit cards in the parking lot and tracked me down to get them to me. Thank you!).

To be quite honest, I found that the beaches on the east coast, and the people working there are much (much) nicer. They, however, don’t have the the Blue Lagoon, Aphrodite’s Rock, the dazzling Roman mosaics at the Archeological Park, or the Tombs of Kings.

Ideally, it’s best to stay in multiple places to experience Cyprus, or have a car to drive around and see it’s highlights.

Want To See More Of Cyprus?

Cyprus, the third largest island in the Mediterranean, offers a variety of beautiful beaches, intersting history, fascinating ruins, and lovely landscapes.

To see all the highlights of this unique island, it’s best to rent a car and zoom around to see the highlights in Ayia Napa, Limassol, Larnaca, Protaras, Nicosia, and their nearby sites. I’ve listed them all in one place in Top Tourist Attractions of Cyprus.

I also created a Travel Guide for Cyprus to see the highlights, as well as how to get around, safety concerns, visa details, money matters, and more.

Safe Travels!

Julie

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading the top tourist attractions in Paphos. If you have a question, or want to drop me a note, please do so below.