Destination Guide to Paphos
 
 
Paphos town is strongly connected to Greek mythology and its history. Paphos was the capital of Cyprus under the Ptolemy’s, successors of Alexander the Great, when its harbour was a thriving port and remained Cyprus’s first city for more than seven centuries under Roman rule. It’s said that Aphrodite, Greek goddess of love and beauty, rose from the waves and crashed on its shores.

But returning to the modern day, enjoy a cool refreshing drink, a steaming Cypriot coffee or a mouth-watering meal in one of the taverns, restaurants or bars that dot the scenic harbour side and the luxury hotels along the coastline suit every taste and budget.
Paphos consists of two areas: the coastal resort area (Kato Paphos) and the town itself (Pano Paphos) which is slightly inland.
 
Paphos is very popular with tourists, and especially with English, German and Scandinavian tourists. Among its attractions are its ancient mosaic floors, its beautiful old harbour, its modern hotels and restaurants, situated along the seaside promenade. Other sights include an archaeological museum, the Byzantine castle of Paphos, the Tombs of the Kings, St. Paul’s Pillar and the Temple of Aphrodite (the goddess of love and beauty).
 
The climate of Cyprus makes the summer months a popular time for tourism in Paphos, when temperatures reach easily into the mid 30 degrees Celsius every day. However the cooler winter months make walking and cycling ideal activities, especially further away in the mountains.
The main shopping lane, which runs parallel to the beach promenade, is the ideal tourists' marketplace.
 
 
Paphos Beaches
 
Coral Bay
 
Coral Bay is famed for having one of the most beautiful sandy beaches on the island, and with its sparkling clear waters, safe swimming and sport facilities, it’s not surprising that it’s a favourite with tourists and locals alike. Close by you can find shops, supermarkets, and also restaurants and taverns which serve fresh fish and Cyprus delicacies.

Aphrodite’s Rock (Petra tou Romiou)
 
On the south coast of the island, on one of the most beautiful beaches, lies “Petra tou Romiou” as it’s known in Cyprus, the location where Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty and love, was said to have emerged from the sea. Aphrodite’s Rock is a massive chunk of stone that marks the spot; her birthplace was a place of pilgrimage for the entire Hellenic world.

Paphos Castle
 
Paphos Castle was originally built as a Byzantine fort to protect its famous picturesque harbour, in the 13th century it was rebuilt by the Lusignans and then dismantled by the Venetians in 1570, which were unable to defend it against the Ottomans, who then restored and strengthened it after capturing the island. Since 1935 it has been declared an ancient monument and is now considered as one of the hallmarks of the Paphos region. Just in front of the Castle, on the square, many cultural events take place, and during September each year the Paphos Aphrodite Festival takes place, which presents a different opera each year by famous artists who use the building as scenery.
 
Tombs of the Kings
 
The Tombs of the Kings is spread over a vast area containing impressive underground tombs that date back to the 4th century BC. The Tombs are carved out of solid rock, some being decorated with Doric pillars. Although being tombs of high officials rather than Kings, it was named Tombs of the Kings for the magnificence of the tombs.
 
Lara Bay

Lara Bay is a beautiful remote area with one of the best beaches on the island although the access by a dirt track is quite poor, and it’s advisable to go with a jeep type vehicle, it’s worth it because here some of the finest scenery on the island can be found. Famed for its turtle hatchery where loggerhead and greenback turtles lay their eggs, one of the few places in the Mediterranean where they can still be found, Lara is also home to the Mediterranean monk seal, another very rare species. Beyond the turtle hatchery, the most beautiful beaches with white sand and clear waters can be found, but the water can suddenly get deep and wavy, so swimmers should be careful. The ideal way to reach the beautiful bay is to get a boat from Paphos to Lara so visitors avoid the difficult and time-consuming road trip.

Latchi Beach

Latchi is a small fishing village located on the northern coast of the island. Before becoming known as a tourist area, it was a sponge diving area, until sponge supplies run out. On Latchi’s pebble beach many tourists and locals alike get their suntan and enjoy a swim but swimmers should be careful because the water suddenly deepens, which is perfect for the water sports and scuba diving that are very popular in the area. There are many coffee shops and traditional little tavernas that specialise in seafood close to the beach.
 
Akamas

The Akamas peninsula situated to the north west of Paphos is a unique area with outstanding varied vegetation, wildlife, landscapes and coasts. The number of plant species found here are up to 600, 35 of which are endemic, there are also 168 species of bird, 20 reptiles and butterfly species and 12 mammals.

Akamas also has a rich historical and cultural heritage, according to Greek mythology the area took its name from heroic Akamas, son of Theseus, this is also where Aphrodite and Adonis had their love trysts. The unspoilt countryside, variety of landscape and vegetation make Akamas a real joy for walkers and naturalists.

Adonis Baths
 
Adonis baths, at a two level waterfall, is a beautiful little paradise which is well worth visiting. This is where Adonis the lover of Aphrodite used to bathe, according to Greek mythology. Here you will have the opportunity of swimming and swing from a rope into the refreshing mountain waters. And for those of you with a bit more daring you can jump from the top of the waterfalls!
 
Saranta Kolones

Saranta Kolones is the ruin of an ancient castle located just north of Paphos harbour.  When translated Saranta Kolones actually means castle of the 40 columns which is quite fitting considering that the castle itself was originally built using 40 ancient granite pillars. 
 
It is thought that the castle itself was built at the end of the 7th century and would have been used to protect the harbour and Paphos city from Arab invasions although many reports also state that the Lusignan’s built this castle at the beginning of the 13th century.  It is most likely that both accounts are true and the original castle was remodeled by the Lusignan’s. 

Byzantine Museum

The Byzantine museum has a fascinating collection of objects, including captivating Byzantine icons from the Byzantine period from the 12th to the 18th century.

Paphos District Museum

At the Paphos District museum you will find an interesting and attractive collection of antiquities from the Paphos region dating back from the Neolithic Age to 700 Ad.

Ethnographical Museum

The ethnographical museum offers an interesting and sensational private collection of objects dating from the Neolithic age to the present day.

Paphos Mosaics

One of the most historic sites on the island are the Mosaics of Paphos, located near the harbour in Kato Paphos, they are considered among the finest mosaics in the Eastern Mediterranean. They mainly show scenes from Greek mythology, dating from the 2nd to the 5th century AD, they are still in excellent condition.
 
House of Dionysus
 
The House of Dionysus was a roman villa dating back to the 2nd century AD. The characteristics of this restored roman villa are the mosaic decorations and the mythological compositions mainly depicting scenes from Greek mythology. Its name “House of Dionysus” is due to the many representations of Dionysus, the god of wine. It was a private house with over 40 rooms, believed to have belonged to a member of the Roman class or a wealthy Paphos citizen.
 
The House of Theseus
 
The House of Theseus mosaics can be found close to the House of Dionysus and also date back to the 2nd century AD. Interesting geometrical decorations and mythological representations make it a worthy place to visit, especially for the “Theseus killing the Minotaur” mosaic and the “Achilles birth”.
 
The House of Orpheus
 
The mosaics of the House of Orpheus date back to the 3rd century AD and are located to the west of the House of Theseus. There are three mythological representations worth seeing, the “Hercules and the Lion of Nemea”, the “Amazon” and the “Orpheus and his lyre”, where the mythical poet is featured playing his lyre surrounded by birds and animals.
 
Paphos Odeon

This small 2nd century Odeon was entirely built of well-hewn limestone blocks, with seats for about 1200 spectators it is now used for musical and theatrical performances. Nearby are the remains of the Roman Agora (an ancient marketplace), the remains of the ancient city walls and a building dedicated to the ancient god of medicine, Asklipeios.

Folk Art Museum

Situated in the traditional Yeroskipou village, the folk art museum can be found in a 19th century traditional house of historical and architectural importance. The house of Hadjismith, as it’s also known in Cyprus, has been greatly enriched and the conservation of exhibits is a continuous task, the intention of the museum is to inform the visitors of the values of the recent past.

Paphos Aquarium

The aquarium is located in the heart of down town Paphos and gives visitors the chance to admire the impressive array of colourful fish from oceans, seas and rivers around the world and provides an extraordinary undersea setting. The fish are divided into 72 spacious environmentally friendly tanks, which even includes a tank with crocodiles. The Paphos aquarium is a great outing for all the family, with an excellent restaurant that has a picturesque view and all the exquisite of fish on show, visitors are assured of a good time.
 
Aphrodite Waterpark
 
With the largest number of facilities and attractions in Cyprus, the biggest family rafting ride in Europe and virtually guaranteed sunshine for every one of its opening days, it's no wonder that Paphos Aphrodite Waterpark attracts over 100,000 visitors each year. Young or old, swimmer or not, there's something here for everyone and everyone's here for fun! - A cool way to spend a hot day - At the Paphos Aphrodite Waterpark!
Whether you're looking for pulse-pounding excitement, slippery challenges, relaxing activities and sunbathing, or a combination of all three, there's something for everyone at Aphrodite Waterpark.
 
Restaurants
 
There are a number of excellent restaurants in Paphos serving delightful food. The beach promenade offers a wide range of both international and local cuisine restaurants. A number of these restaurants cater for all tastes and no matter what type of food you are after; there is a restaurant in Paphos to suit.
 
Nightlife

Paphos is great location for nightlife and entertainment. There are lots of places to go in the Paphos nightlife. Are you a club lover? MyKey2Cyprus recommends you take a visit to Bar Street where the most popular bars and clubs located. You can find many bars that play different music; rock, rap, pop and jazz.