Paphos is the most elite tourist resort on the island of Cyprus. It is also the cultural and historical center. In ancient times Paphos was for a long time the capital of the island, but today it is just a beautiful ancient city. Pathos consists of two parts - the upper and lower city. The upper town is actually the administrative center of Paphos. In upper town you can visit many interesting buildings. The lower town is located along the coast with many different restaurants, bars, discos, various entertainment centers. And in this part of Paphos there are also a large number of attractions.

Paphos is an ideal base for vacaton because you can easily get to a stunning sandy or pebbly beaches or go for a jaunt to the nearby ancient ruins when you are in the mood for history lessons. Throw in an abundance of excellent restaurants with excellent Cypriot wines and food that will delight you and charming open-air cafes, world-class hotels, and an exciting nightlife scene and you have the perfect holiday destination on the island.

Paphos is included in the official UNESCO list of cultural and natural treasures of the world heritage because of its ancient ruins and has been selected as the European Capital of Culture for 2017 along with Aarhus.

What can you see and do in Paphos? We have singled out some of the best activities and the biggest attractions that will appeal to every tourist who chooses Paphos for their summer vacation in Cyprus.

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Paphos Castle

The castle was built in the XIII. A century. Over the centuries it was rebuilt several times and served as a fort, prison and warehouse. Today, the square in front of it is a venue for cultural events such as the Aphrodite Festival

Paphos Water Park

A few kilometers from the city is the most popular entertainment center of Cyprus - water park "Aphrodite". Here you will find a large number of extreme slides for adults and children. A special children's section has been built for children, where there is also a children's pool with waves, a pirate ship and even a volcano. Your safety is taken care of by professional rescuers, and in case of need they will always help the employees of the station ambulance.

Aquarium

In the city center there is an aquarium. The aquarium has a 72 large tanks, which are created with using the most advanced technology. Each tank has a special lighting that emphasizes all the beauty of the interesting inhabitants. You can observe a rich collection of various freshwater and marine fish there.

Beaches

There are quite a few pebbly beaches located near the hotels along the coastline. But if you love to take long lazy strolls along the shore, the sandy Municipal Beach is a good alternative for you. Other popular locations include the celebrated and bustling Coral Bay Beach as well as the pebbly Agios Georgos Beach known for its mouthwatering restaurants and the splendid Byzantine Church at the background.

The beach of Petra tou Romiou is also worth mentioning for the striking massive boulders jutting out of the water and the long-standing legend that the spectacular area is the birthplace of the Greek Goddess Aphrodite. But, if you are looking forward to enjoying some peace and quiet at the beach, you better hop on a 4×4 vehicle to get to the ruggedly beautiful Lara Bay and the idyllic atmosphere it offers.

Not far from Poseidonos Street there are two urban beaches, Bersudia A and B. Both are sandy, and from Beach B there is a beautiful view of Paphos Castle.

Town’s lighthouse

If you need a break from the beaches, you can explore the wide array of historical attractions in Paphos. You can start at the town’s lighthouse where the 2nd century Acropolis is located nearby. The best time to visit the ruins is during the summer to catch captivating performances taking place on the very stage of the restored Roman Odeon here.

Mosaics of Paphos

Be sure not to missed the Mosaics of Paphos at the archaeological site of the ancient Roman villas near the harbour. The vibrant montage of myths beautifully painted on marble floors makes this area a favourite not only for the history buff but also for the lovers of art.

Agia Solomoni

Finally, fans of the morbid can check out the eerie underground catacombs of Agia Solomoni. You will be greeted by a massive tree adorned with cloth pieces – aka sacrifices for good health and well being – tied to its branches. What is remarkable about these catacombs is the dramatic combination of frescoes and graffiti on their walls as well as the fact that they are literally whittled from the inside of Fabrica Hill where they are located.

Make sure you are with someone when braving an exploration of the crypts because the area is really dark and eerie.

Tombs of the Kings

This underground necropolis was built in the third century BC, the tombs were once decorated with frescoes and wall frescoes, which speaks of their size. The tombs are interconnected by narrow passages, stairs and wells, which are quite dangerous for passage. Some tombs look like small palaces

The most interesting tombs are hidden in the depths of caves, in dungeons. In these tombs, Christians fleeing persecution drew messages on the walls. The architecture enthusiast will surely marvel at the precision of the brilliantly carved-out stone tombs, their stately pillars and painted walls.

Kato Paphos Archaeological Site

The archeological sites of Kato Paphos date from the time of the Roman Empire. Here you will find a collection of amazing artifacts, many of which are extremely well maintained. There is an amphitheater where you can sit in the same places where Roman senators sat more than a thousand years ago.

Here is the castle of Saranta Colones, although a ruin, it can give you an idea of the size and scope of Roman architecture. The only remaining elements of the castle are the arches, which shows how solid and quality the construction was at that time.

It is worth visiting both the house of Aion and the house of Theseus. Each of them was built between the third and fifth centuries of the new era. The wall paintings inside are some of the best preserved that you will see from this time period.

Aphrodite's bath.

It is located on the Akamas Peninsula. It is a small freshwater reservoir. According to legend, Aphrodite bathed here and met her beloved Adonis in the same place. It is believed that swimming in this place will preserve youth and beauty however swimming here is forbidden.

Above the bath there are two arranged paths - Aphrodite and Adonis. Their approximate length is 7 kilometers. There is a pebble beach nearby.

If you decide to take the Aphrodite pool, be sure to take a walk through Akamas Park. Its western part is known for the Avakas canyon, and in the eastern part is Lara beach, where rare species of sea turtles are bred and kept.

Bird and Animal Park

A zoo called the "Bird and Animal Park." Initially it was a small private collection of animals, but now is the largest in all of Cyprus.

Eleouthkia Park

Another green oasis worth seeing in Paphos is Eleouthkia Park, located 11 km from the city near Anarita Airport. This botanical garden contains a collection of 50,000 plants.

The natural area of 20 thousand m2 is divided into 13 sectors that represent the climate zones of the planet.

Palaepaphos

Near Petra tou Romiou is Palaepaphos, one of the most famous places of pilgrimage in the ancient Greek world. Here are the ruins of the temple of Aphrodite, which date back to the 12th century BC. The temple was one of the most important places of Aphrodite’s cult and pilgrimage of the ancient world until the 3rd to 4th centuries AD. The museum, located in the Lusignan manor, houses artifacts from the area

Ayios Neophytos

Northeast of Paphos is the monastery of Ayios Neophytos (St. Neophyte), which contains some Byzantine frescoes from the 12th and 15th centuries. century. The painted Emba Church is nearby.

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