Paphos: what to see, where to stay and how to get around

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Paphos was the Roman capital of Cyprus, and the governors and rich citizens of that city covered their floors with mosaics that are among the finest in the Mediterranean. The whole town is on the UNESCO World Heritage list, and this walk crosses its ancient core by the harbour. It takes about three hours, mostly in the sun. Start at opening time, and end at the castle with a drink by the water.

A short history of Paphos

Two places bear the name: Old Paphos, with the sanctuary of Aphrodite, who according to myth rose from the foam by the nearby rock, and Nea Paphos, the new city founded on the coast at the end of the 4th century BC. In the Roman period Nea Paphos was the capital of Cyprus, and according to the Acts of the Apostles Paul converted the governor Sergius Paulus here. In 1962 a farmer ploughing his field discovered the mosaics of the House of Dionysus, and since then entire Roman villas have been uncovered here. In 1980 the ancient city was declared a World Heritage Site, and in 2017 Paphos was a European Capital of Culture.

The ten best sights in Paphos

1
Paphos Archaeological Park
The mosaics are the reason to come to Paphos; start at opening time, there is no shade
2
House of Dionysos
The richest mosaic floors of the park, under a roof
3
Roman Odeon
A small restored theatre inside the park, beside the lighthouse
4
Tombs of the Kings
Underground tombs cut in rock with columned courtyards; bring a torch
5
Agia Kyriaki and St Paul's Pillar
A medieval church among Roman ruins, and the pillar of the Paul tradition
6
Paphos Castle
Small fort at the end of the harbour pier; roof view at sunset
7
Palaipaphos, Kouklia
The ancient sanctuary of Aphrodite, 20 minutes east
8
Agios Neophytos Monastery
A hermit's painted cave in the cliff beside the monastery
9
Byzantine Museum
Icons from the Paphos district churches
10
Paphos District Archaeological Museum
Finds from the whole district, from Neolithic to Roman

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What is an audio walk?

Tours in Paphos →

A guide in your headphones: open the walk on our site, walk from stop to stop, and at each one your phone tells its story. No guide, no group, and free. This is the first walk in Paphos:

Free walking tours in Paphos

City of mosaics

Paphos Harbour · A pelican has been the harbour's mascot for decades, walking among the café tables and the fishing boats. The harbour itself was the port of Roman Paphos, the capital of the island.
Paphos Castle · A Byzantine fort guarded the harbour first, the Lusignan kings rebuilt it, and the Venetians pulled it down in 1570 so the Ottomans could not use it. The Ottomans built the present fort in 1592; each September it is the stage of an open-air opera festival.
House of Dionysos · A farmer ploughing his field found the first mosaics here in 1962. One floor tells the story of Ikarios, who learned winemaking from Dionysos and gave wine to shepherds — the first wine-drinkers, who thought they had been poisoned.
Roman Odeon · The small theatre was built in the 2nd century AD and seated about 1,200 people. It has been restored and is used again for summer concerts and plays.
St Paul's Pillar · Acts 13 tells how Paul preached in Paphos and won over the Roman governor Sergius Paulus. Local tradition adds that before that he was tied to this pillar and given thirty-nine lashes.
Fabrica Hill · The low hill is honeycombed with chambers carved into the rock in Hellenistic and Roman times, probably as quarries and storerooms. Part of its slope was cut into an ancient theatre.

Aphrodite and the upper town

Modern Paphos has two parts: Kato Paphos by the sea, and Ktima, the upper town where people actually live and shop. This route starts with Ktima's market and museums, then drives east to the place where Aphrodite was worshipped for over a thousand years and the rock where myth says she was born. Half a day, with the museums in the hot hours. Finish at Petra tou Romiou for the sunset.

Paphos Municipal Market · Ktima, the name of the upper town, means 'estate' — it grew as the inland settlement while the harbour town below declined. The covered market at its centre sells produce downstairs and crafts and souvenirs around it.
Ethnographical Museum · The museum fills a private house in the upper town with the everyday objects of village Cyprus — tools, costumes and kitchen pots — and its garden holds a rock-cut tomb from the Hellenistic period.
Byzantine Museum · The museum gathers icons from the churches of the Paphos district, among them one of the oldest icons found on the island. Seeing them close up is easier than in dim village churches.
Paphos District Archaeological Museum · The collection runs from Neolithic tools to Roman glass, and includes clay hot-water bottles shaped to fit parts of the body, used in Roman medicine.
Palaipaphos, Kouklia · This was the most famous sanctuary of Aphrodite in the ancient world. She was worshipped here not as a statue but as a black conical stone, which is now kept in the site's museum.
Petra tou Romiou · Hesiod's version of the myth has Aphrodite born from the sea foam and carried ashore in Cyprus, and this rock is the place tradition points to. The name means 'rock of the Greek', after a legend of the hero Digenis.

North to the Akamas

North of Paphos the coast grows wilder as it heads for the Akamas peninsula, the last large stretch of undeveloped coast in Cyprus. On the way are royal-looking tombs, a hermit's cave painted in the 12th century, white sea caves and a ship stuck on the rocks. This route ends in a narrow gorge, so allow a full day. Swim at Coral Bay in the middle of it.

Tombs of the Kings · No kings were buried here: the tombs, cut into the rock from the 4th century BC, belonged to the officials and rich families of the city. Their grandeur, with Doric columns around sunken courtyards, gave them the name.
Agios Neophytos Monastery · In 1159 the hermit Neophytos carved himself a cell in this cliff, the Enkleistra, and in 1183 it was painted; one fresco shows Neophytos himself being carried to heaven by archangels. The monastery grew up around his cave.
Coral Bay · Despite the name there is no coral reef; the bay is a sweep of fine sand between two rocky headlands. A Late Bronze Age settlement, Maa-Palaiokastro, was excavated on the headland at its northern end.
Sea Caves · The waves have cut arches and caves into the white limestone cliffs here. On calm days people jump from the rocks, but there are no lifeguards.
Edro III · The cargo ship Edro III ran aground on these rocks in a storm in December 2011, and it has stayed there ever since. It has become one of the most photographed sights on this coast.
Avakas Gorge · The Avgas stream has cut a narrow gorge through the limestone, and at its tightest the walls almost touch overhead. A rare plant, Centaurea akamantis, grows only on these cliffs and nowhere else in the world.

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Getting to Paphos and getting around

Paphos International Airport · 15 minutes from Kato Paphos; summer flights from Israel and low-cost Europe
Kato Paphos Harbour bus station · Local buses along the coast and to Coral Bay start here
Karavella bus station · Intercity buses to Limassol and Nicosia, in the upper town

Cheap eats in Paphos

Paphos eats Cypriot — souvlaki, halloumi, meze — but with a sweet speciality of its own: loukoumi from Geroskipou, the village on the town's edge. Kato Paphos by the sea is full of tourist restaurants; the upper town, Ktima, is cheaper and more local. A kosher café serves the many Israeli visitors. Prices are in euros.

Kosher Sabbando · Kosher café in Kato Paphos; coffee and light meals, about €5-12
Sparta · Souvlaki and gyros in pita near the harbour, about €4-7
DonerXpress · Doner kebab wrap, quick and filling, about €5-8
Zorpas bakery · Halloumi pies, koulouri and sandwiches, about €2-5
Lavash · Bakery with flatbreads and pies, about €2-5
Paphos Municipal Market · Fruit and loukoumi from the stalls, a few euros

Museums in Paphos

Paphos Archaeological Park · Mosaics of four Roman villas; at least two hours
Paphos District Archaeological Museum · From Neolithic tools to Roman glass
Byzantine Museum · Icons of the Paphos churches
Ethnographical Museum · Village life of old Cyprus in a family house
Palaipaphos, Kouklia · The sanctuary of Aphrodite and its museum

Nature and day trips near Paphos

Avakas Gorge · About 3 km into a narrow gorge; closed after heavy rain
Sea Caves · Limestone arches and clear water
Coral Bay · Fine sand and shallow water
Petra tou Romiou · The rock of Aphrodite at sunset
Paphos Harbour · Sunset walk along the pier

Things to do in Paphos with kids

Paphos Zoo · Big zoo with bird shows; half a day
Aphrodite Waterpark · Slides and pools, summer only
Tombs of the Kings · Stairs down into real underground tombs
Paphos Castle · A fort on the pier with a roof to climb
Coral Bay · Easy sandy beach with facilities

Where to eat in Paphos

Hondros Taverna · Long-standing Cypriot taverna in Kato Paphos
Pelican · Fish restaurant on the harbour, named after its famous resident
Bacchus · Taverna dinner in Kato Paphos
Minas Tavern · Grills and meze
Theo's · Fish by the water

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Frequently asked questions about Paphos

What is there to see in Paphos?

The top sights in Paphos are Paphos Archaeological Park, House of Dionysos and Roman Odeon. The full list on this page has 10 sights, each with a photo and a short note.

How many days do you need in Paphos?

Three to four days are enough to see the best of Paphos without rushing, including at least one walking tour.

Is there a free walking tour in Paphos?

Yes. sleepntrip has 3 free audio walks in Paphos, with no guide and no group: your phone tells the story at every stop. The first one: City of mosaics.

How do you get to Paphos and get around?

The main ways are Paphos International Airport, Kato Paphos Harbour bus station and Karavella bus station. Full details are in the transport section on this page.

Where to stay in Paphos, and for how much?

sleepntrip shows only rooms in Paphos that meet nine conditions: a good location, high guest scores, cleanliness, and a price of up to $80 a night for two. Pick your dates and see what is free.

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