Paphos
A smart little resort steeped in history and legend.
The delightful market town of Paphos stands on a hilltop overlooking the coastal plain below, where it’s pretty little harbour is the focal point for a thriving holiday resort.
Smart modern hotels and apartments have sprung up all along the coastline, with all the restaurants, shops, bars, nightclubs and other facilities you need for a great sunshine getaway.
The harbour lined with open-air cafes and tavernas is guarded by small, moated 16-th century fortress, which together with the local pelican has become one of the most photographed features of Paphos. There’s no beach as such in resort, although several of the large hotels have created man-made sandy coves and bathing platforms and the sea is warm and crystal clear. A short bus or car journey away you’ll find lovely sand and pebble beaches at Yeroskipou and Coral Bay, and of course a sun-bed by the pool is always a civilised option for working on the tan.
Nightlife in Paphos is generally laid back, centred around the resorts hotels and restaurants, although there are smart music bars and discos if you simply can’t wait to get on that dance floor.
The Romans (who knew a good thing when they saw it!) chose Paphos as their island capital, and it’s so rich in archaeological treasures that UNESCO simply added the whole area to its World Cultural Heritage List.
Don’t miss some of the finest mosaics in the Eastern Mediterranean in the House of Dionysos, or the mysterious Tombs of the Kings, carved into the rock in the 4th century BC.
A few kilometres to the East of Paphos stands Petra Tou Romiou, a vast croppy outcrop on a wild deserted shore marking of the legendary birthplace of Aphrodite, and close by at Palea Paphos there’s a temple dedicated to the love goddess herself, dating from 1500BC.
Wonderful classical sites, great scenery, comfortable hotels with great service and a relaxed atmosphere – its no wonder that this friendly corner of Cyprus is such a firm favourite with holiday makers.
