Ultimate Paphos Itinerary & Travel Guide (+ Map)
TL;DR
Paphos is where you can explore ancient tombs in the morning, swim in crystal-clear water by afternoon, and reach wild coastlines and mountain villages on a day trip – and our guide shows you exactly how to do it right.
Planning a trip to Cyprus and wondering if Paphos is actually worth your time? We get it. With limited days, you don’t want to waste time on average attractions. We explored Paphos independently (and without a car) to figure out what genuinely delivers: the Tombs of the Kings, the mosaics at Paphos Archaeological Park, long coastal walks, and easy day trips to places like the Akamas Peninsula and the Troodos Mountains. This is the guide for travellers who want more than just a resort stay!
Paphos Travel Guide
Paphos Cyprus Map
Is Paphos Worth Visiting?
Is Paphos worth a visit? Yes!
The history here feels immersive – you can walk through the Tombs of the Kings, stand among the ruins of Paphos Archaeological Park, and then be swimming in the sea an hour later. Few places blend archaeology and laid-back seaside atmosphere this seamlessly.
Paphos is also a smart base: You can reach the coastline of the Akamas Peninsula with the famous Blue Lagoon, and the cooler mountain villages of the Troodos Mountains – even without renting a car.
Where We Stayed in Paphos
We actually tried three different accommodations around Phphos, but our favourite was Leonardo Plaza Cypria Maris Beach Hotel & Spa, which – while it was certainly not high-end – was very reasonably priced. We actually paid less than we would on a typical day with a nice dinner and a night out.
How to Get to Paphos
Paphos has an international airport with connections to many European cities.
Regular buses connect Paphos with Cyprus’s other airport in Larnaca.
How to Get Around Paphos
Paphos is a lovely place to walk around, with pleasant streets and scenic seaside walks.
There’s also a decent bus system that connects all the major points of interest, such as the airport, the harbour, and the old town.
12 Best Things to Do in Paphos
1. Paphos Marina and Paphos Fort
Paphos Marina is not only where the boat tours leave, but it’s also a nice place to wander around for a bit. It is lined with restaurants (which are on the pricier side, to be honest).
At the tip of the marina sits the Paphos Fort with a colourful history as a fort and prison under many administrators. Although it's Paphos' main landmark, we suggest that you save your time and money to enter it because there isn't much to see.
2. Paphos Coastal Path
The Paphos coastal path provides a lovely seaside walk – with occasional works of art – all the way from the airport almost to Coral Bay.
This is also a nice way to get to the Tombs of the Kings.
3. Tombs of the Kings
No, the picture below is not from Egypt, it’s from the Tombs of the Kings which can give you proper Indiana Jones vibes. The necropolis is a UNESCO World Heritage site and was our absolute favourite place in Paphos. The underground tombs date back to the 4th century BC and are thought to have been the burial sites of aristocrats (though not kings, as the name suggests). You can climb down many of the tombs and explore to your heart’s content.
4. Paphos Archaeological Park & Paphos Lighthouse
Paphos Archaeological Park, or the Archaeological Site of Nea Paphos, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that features several Roman villas, well-preserved mosaic floors, an amphitheatre, an early Christian Basilica, the Byzantine Saranda Kolones Castle, as well as some smaller sites. The Paphos Lighthouse is also in this area.
5. Paphos Old Town
Paphos is split into two parts: the harbour area, Kato Paphos, and Ktima Paphos on a hill. Make sure to explore both the more touristy Kato Paphos area with its archaeological sites and the Ktima area, the old town and centre area.
Wander the small alleys, keep your eyes open for street art, shop for souvenirs at Paphos Market, and check out remnants of its Ottoman past like the Hamam and the mosque.
History lovers can visit the Paphos Archaeological Museum close to the old town.
6. Chrysopolitissa Complex
Tucked into the heart of Paphos, Panagia Chrysopolitissa Church stands on layers of history – quite literally. The church was built above the ruins of what was once the largest early Byzantine basilica in Cyprus in the 13th century.
Within the same compound, you’ll find St. Paul’s Pillar. According to tradition, this is where Saint Paul was tied and flogged before the Roman governor Sergius Paulus ultimately converted to Christianity.
As you wander through the site, look down – you’ll spot fragments of the original colourful mosaic floors, still beautifully preserved in places.
7. Fabrica Hill
The Fabrica Hill area is a serious hidden gem. It's scattered with caves, catacombs and hidden churches, which you can all visit for free – there's even an amphitheatre. Get your inner Indiana Jones going and explore to your heart's content – there will be hardly any other tourists.
8. Paphos Beach
If you don’t want to stay at the beach closest to you, here are the best beaches in and around Paphos:
- SODAP Beach/Vrysoudia Beach
- Sandy Beach
- Coral Bay Beach
- Geroskipou Beach
- 615 to Coral Bay.
- 611 to Waterpark.
We have written a full blogpost about the 16 best Paphos beaches if you want more details:
Travel Guides
16 Best Paphos Beaches with Map
The best (sandy) beaches IN Paphos – including the best beach hotels in Paphos Cyprus.
Carina
9. Day Trip to the Blue Lagoon
The Blue Lagoon Cyprus bus & boat tour is one of the quintessential things to do in Cyprus. If you only book one tour in Paphos, make it this one.
A Blue Lagoon excursion combines coastline sightseeing, crystal-clear water, mythology, and wine – all in a single, well-organised day.
Highlights
- Edro III Shipwreck & Sea Caves
- Boat cruise to the Blue Lagoon
- Baths of Aphrodite
- Latchi fishing village
- Local winery visit
10. Day Trip to the Troodos Mountains
Another day trip that we loved is the day trip to the Troodos Mountains. It’s by far the best way to see Cyprus’ mountain heartland without a car.
Highlights
- Kykkos Monastery
- Chrysoroyiatissa Monastery
- Holy Cross Monastery
- UNESCO-listed Omodos village
We have written a full review of our Troodos Mountains tour:
11. Scuba Diving
We went Scuba diving with Cydive as certified divers and had a great time. For beginners, they also offer a Discover Scuba Diving Half-Day Tour, which we highly recommend. How often do you get the chance to discover an ancient underwater Roman harbour?
12. More Day Trips from Paphos
If you don’t travel around Cyprus, we highly recommend day trips to other cities like Limassol & Kourion or Nicosia.
There are so many more great things to do in and around Paphos that we have written a full blog post about the 10 best day trips & tours from Paphos:
Where to Eat in Paphos
Here are our favourite restaurants and bars in Paphos
Harbour Area/Kato Paphos
- The Windmill was our favourite spot to have meze in Kato Paphos. The restaurant is quite touristy, but the food was delicious, and the service was lovely.
- If you're looking for a more local experience, try Minas Tavern just down the road.
- Ta Mpania has some lovely ocean views, but we recommend going only for drinks and not for food.
Old Town/Ktima Paphos
- As the old town is set on a hill, you'll find plenty of places with a great view. Muse is very trendy and expensive, but the views are amazing.
- Souvlaki Livadias has the best Souvlaki we tried in Cyprus, and trust us, we tried a lot.
- Boulevard Bistro Wine Bar has some lovely Cypriot wine.
How Many Days in Paphos Do You Need
Paphos was our favourite city in Cyprus. We recommend spending at least three days exploring to see the highlights of the city and its surroundings. Feel free to add more days – and more beach time!
Here’s our full 10 day Cyprus itinerary, including 3 days in Paphos:
Paphos Itinerary
Here’s how we would spend three days in Paphos:
Day 1: Explore Paphos
Check out the highlights in Paphos, like
- Paphos Marina and Paphos Fort
- Paphos Archaeological Park & Paphos Lighthouse
- Paphos Coastal Path
- Tombs of the Kings
- Paphos Old Town
If you still have time and energy, head to
- Fabrica Hill
- Chrysopolitissa Complex
Day 2: Day Trip to Blue Lagoon
Take the quintessential Blue Lagoon tour that includes
- Edro III Shipwreck & Sea Caves
- Boat cruise to the Blue Lagoon
- Baths of Aphrodite
- Latchi fishing village
- Local winery visit
Day 3: Day Trip to the Troodos Mountains
Head to the Troodos Mountains and check out highlights like
- Kykkos Monastery
- Chrysoroyiatissa Monastery
- Holy Cross Monastery
- UNESCO-listed Omodos village
Paphos Tips
ATMs in Paphos
There are loads of Euronet ATMs dotted around the harbour area of Paphos. If you want to avoid their fees, you have to make your way towards the more local areas of the city.
Supermarkets in Paphos
We loved Sklavenitis Kato Paphos. They sold everything we might possibly want to buy.
Internet in Paphos
The internet in our accommodation worked well. For mobile data, we just used our regular German SIM card, as Eu roaming regulations apply in Cyprus.
If you don’t have a European SIM card, check out Airalo for an eSIM.
Is Paphos Safe
Paphos is about as safe as other European seaside resorts.
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