CY
Paphos
A harbour town of Roman mosaics, rock-cut tombs and the legendary birthplace of Aphrodite
A harbour town of Roman mosaics, rock-cut tombs and the legendary birthplace of Aphrodite
Roman villas, including the Houses of Dionysos, Theseus, Aion and Orpheus, have some of the finest floor mosaics in the Mediterranean. The park also includes an odeon and a Byzantine castle.
Entry was about €4.50 at the time of writing; bring water and a hat.
Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0
Large underground tombs cut into the rock from around the 4th century BC, some with Doric columns. Despite the name, they held local nobles rather than kings.
Photo: Seainme, CC BY-SA 4.0
A small fort guards the harbour, which is the focus of evening strolls and boat trips.
Photo: Alan Samuel, CC BY 2.0
About 25 km east of Paphos, this sea stack is where legend says Aphrodite rose from the waves.
The pebble beach shelves quickly and can have strong waves.
Photo: SashaCoachman, CC BY-SA 3.0
Try meze, kleftiko, grilled octopus and halloumi. Inland villages serve traditional dishes and local wine.
Harbour restaurants are scenic but pricier; places a few streets back are often better value.
Cyprus has two international airports, Larnaca and Paphos. There are no trains; intercity buses link Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca, Paphos and Ayia Napa, and car hire is common. Paphos Airport is about 15–20 minutes by road from the town, with buses to the harbour.
Buses link Kato Paphos with the upper town (Ktima) and Coral Bay. Cyprus is in the EU but, as of late 2026, not yet a full member of the Schengen area, so expect passport or ID checks on arrival.
Cyprus uses the euro (€); the Turkish lira is the main currency in the north, but euros are widely accepted there. Traffic drives on the left, and sockets are the UK three-pin type.
Prices are approximate; check current rates.
Ancient sites and coast.
See the mosaics in the archaeological park in the morning, then the harbour and castle.
Visit the Tombs of the Kings, then drive to Aphrodite’s Rock for sunset.
Take a boat or 4×4 trip to the Blue Lagoon on the Akamas peninsula, or visit the Baths of Aphrodite near Polis.
🛂 Entry rules: Cyprus and the EU’s new systems
Cyprus is in the EU but not yet in the Schengen area, so the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) isn’t used at its borders and passports are still stamped.
ETIAS (not yet running): a €20 online travel authorisation for visitors who don’t need a visa, such as UK, US, Canadian and Australian citizens. It hasn’t started and no start date has been confirmed, so nobody can apply yet; ignore websites that offer to “pre-register” you for a fee.
ETIAS will cover Cyprus when it starts.
Official information: EU: Travel to Europe (EES & ETIAS) · Reviewed September 2026
Archaeological sites have little shade; go early.
A Department of Antiquities pass covers several sites if you visit many.
A car makes it easier to reach Akamas and villages.
Take care swimming at Aphrodite’s Rock in rough weather.
Quick answers for planning time in Paphos.
Yes, its archaeological sites are on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
About 15–20 minutes by road.
About 25 km east of Paphos on the road to Limassol.
About €4.50 at the time of writing; check current fees.
April to June and September to November.
English is widely spoken, but translation helps with Greek and Turkish signs.
Free
Planning a wider trip? Our Cyprus travel guide covers getting there, costs, when to go and more.