15 Best Things to Visit in Paphos (Cyprus)

You can be sure that if you go to Paphos in western Cyprus, the mythical birthplace of Aphrodite, you will see a lot of old archaeology. The mosaics of Roman villas in Kato Paphos, a historic city by the water, are still as brilliant now as they were when they were first installed. In Paphos, where you can indulge in meze and enjoy the variety of wines that are grown in the hills to the east of the town, you can be sure that you’ll eat and drink well. A zoo, a water park, and an almost infinite number of beaches are available for the little ones. The finest things to do in Paphos are listed below.

Paphos Archaeological Museum

This museum shows how people lived in western Cyprus from the Neolithic era to the 18th century. The artifacts on display were unearthed from up to 15 different archaeological sites, including the prehistoric towns that existed before modern Paphos and the nearby town of Kouklia. The collection of coins that were struck in Paphos thousands of years ago will give you a strong sense of place. After looking at the Ancient Greek artifacts, you can admire the beautiful Roman marble statues. The Bust of Aphrodite is one of the most famous of these statues. Each room in the museum reflects a different period in the history of the region.

Chrysorrogiatissa Monastery

This monastery was built in the 12th century and is in the foothills of the Troodos Mountains northeast of Paphos Town. It is beautiful on its own, and it also has a museum of Byzantine art. The icons of Christ and the Virgin Mary, which are lacquered with gold and silver, are among the beautiful works of hagiographic art created by the monastery. An all-silver statue of the Virgin Mary can be found in the museum’s collection. The monastery’s setting in the Paphos Forest, looking out over hillsides covered in cedar and cypress, contributes to its allure.

Sit down to a Meze

Throughout most of southern Europe, meze refers to an appetizer or something to accompany a glass of wine. In Cyprus, mezes is a big dinner, and it is often served as part of a party or get-together. In tavernas, delicious dishes are served in a specific order, starting with bread and dips like tahini, taramosalata, humus, and skordalia and ending with olives. Then you’ll move on to grilled and raw seafood and veggie meals. Prepare yourself for grilled halloumi cheese and a range of meat dishes, such as keftedes (meatballs) and loukaniko (pork sausages), as well as grilled kebabs, chicken, and lamb chops, if you decide to order a meat meze.

Troodos Mountains

You might always go to the Troodos Mountains for a change of scenery. It contains Mount Olympus, Cyprus’ tallest peak, and is the island’s greatest range. In the foothills of the range, terraced vineyards and olive groves are connected by laughing streams and surrounded by deciduous forests. As you climb higher, you’ll reach pine-forested peaks where you can ski in the winter. Keep an eye out for Troodos’ UNESCO-listed Byzantine churches and monasteries if you’re looking for culture. From the outside, these medieval buildings may not look like much, but on the inside, they have the most amazing paintings.

Paphos Zoo

Christos Christoforou, a local businessman and animal collector, once kept a menagerie and an aviary in his home. At the turn of the century, Christoforou decided to open his zoo to the public so that he could show off his collection and teach people about how to protect animals. The zoo is located in a manicured area with gardens and ponds and is home to a variety of animals, including monkeys, giraffes, tigers, white lions, kangaroos, and meerkats. The bird section may be the most interesting because it has more than 200 species, including many raptors.

Akamas Peninsula

You may take a day excursion from Paphos to a stunning area of the island. Less than an hour’s drive north along the coast is Akamas, which has never been developed due to its arid terrain of peaks and gorges. As a result, a third of Cyprus’ indigenous plant species are found here, creating a wealth of natural beauty. Akamas is a significant location for loggerhead and green turtle nesting in the Mediterranean. At the quiet Lara Beach, you can swim or just lay out in the sun. You can also see where green turtle hatchlings are allowed to get into the water.

Horseback Riding

There are plenty of activities available in Paphos for families traveling with children who want to spend some time away from the beach. A horseback ride or pony trip is a choice that will be well-liked. Nearby, there are stables like the Eagle Mountain Ranch that offer trips into the beautiful Mediterranean landscape just outside of Paphos. Couples might go for an evening ride to watch the sun set off the island’s western shore, or they could saddle horses for an overnight adventure and camp out among the fragrant olive groves and pine scrub.

Wine Tours

The many hours of sunshine each year and the calm breezes that come in from the Mediterranean make the circumstances suitable for producing wine grapes at higher elevations inland. Paphos could be your home base for a trip to this part of the island where wine is made. Laona, in the north, is where the indigenous Xynisteri vine produces some amazing white wines. Or, you could go to Vouni Panagias and Ambelitis in the countryside, which are also known for Xynisteri and Mavro, a red grape that makes great rosé wines in the milder climate.

Kato Paphos Archaeology Park

This wonderful site near the harbor is the kind of place where you might easily lose hours wandering about. Although there are prehistoric constructions here, Roman ruins are the most well-known ones. There are mosaics that show stories from Roman mythology in the ruins of four villas from this time. All four villas date to the year 100. The Tombs of the Kings are an underground burial complex that dates back 1500 years and is supported by unbroken Doric columns. The Ancient Odeon, a tiny stadium from the same era that is currently used by the town as a performing venue, also dates back to that time.

Hit the Beach

The best way to relax after visiting historic sites and monasteries is to spend a day at the beach. Along the more than 50 kilometers of coastline in the Paphos area, there are 27 beaches, and 12 of them have been given the Blue Flag for being clean and well-equipped. The ones between Paphos Town and Cape Drepanon are the nicest for tourists. A kilometer or two beyond this point, on the route to Lara, are several excellent, protected natural beaches. So, in undeveloped bays, travelers who are ready to go a little further can find ideal privacy.

Aphrodite Water Park

The biggest attraction of its sort on this side of Cyprus, Aphrodite Waterpark is a family favorite for those long summer days. There are 17 rides and attractions in total, providing something for both young children and older children. For those looking to get their hearts racing, there are four high-speed plunges available, including Racer, where you compete with your buddies to see who can reach the bottom of the tube ride first. Lazy River is a mile-long float that is calmer and brings you right back to your sun lounger as it passes waterfalls and fountains.

St. Paul’s Pillar

One of the most important pilgrimage sites in Cyprus is this one. If you were concerned with self-preservation in 45 AD, it wasn’t a good idea to try to bring Christianity to places that didn’t want it. Paul the Apostle went to Paphos to try to get the ruler to stop being a pagan. In return, he got 39 lashes. You can find the pillar on which the saint was chained for his punishment on the grounds of Panagia Chrysopolitissa, a beautiful Orthodox and Anglican church built on the foundation of an old basilica. In the midst of two millennia’s worth of ruins, which also include some beautiful mosaics, the pillar has deteriorated over time but is still standing.

Aphrodite’s Rock Brewing Company

The west half of the island has been making beer for thousands of years, despite the fact that beer and ale may not immediately come to mind when you think of Cypriot cuisine. This craft bar and microbrewery, the first on the island, lies on a rise outside of Paphos. It has imported English brewing traditions to produce a variety of real artisan ales. Weekdays at 14:00, you can take a tour of the brewery or have a meal and a hand-crafted beer using spring water from the area.

Go underwater

Everyone from beginners to experts can dive in Paphos, and Cyprus is one of the best places to dive in all of Europe. The warm water, which is between 16 and 27 degrees, is why there are so many diving companies in Paphos. Off the coast of this area, there is a lot of marine life, old shipwrecks, and beautiful underwater landscapes with steep cliffs and valleys. Undersea Walkers is a company that lets people walk on the seabed without having to learn how to swim.

Medieval Castle of Paphos

This building’s history has been particularly rocky as it guards the harbor’s mouth. On this spot, there was once a Byzantine fortification, which the Lusignans, who in the 1200s controlled a lot of land in the Mediterranean, improved. The Venetians destroyed the original bastion, but when the Ottomans took over Cyprus, they built the castle that is still there today. A few hundred years ago, this squat, rectangular structure housed prisoners and acted as a salt storage facility. Today, it serves as a cultural landmark and the city’s symbol.