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Whether you just want to relax by the pool, explore the island of Cyprus or
venture even further to Egypt or the Greek Islands, the choice is yours!
Paphos is situated on the western edge of the island of Cyprus and boasts a
modern holiday resort, plus the historical port. It is ideal for those
looking to mix entertainment with culture. We have suggested just some of
the local restaurants, sites of interest and more adventurous activities
available to you during your stay.
1. Activities and sites of interest
Beaches - Local sites of interest - Paphos activities
2. Eating out and entertainment
Meze - Karaoke - Live music
4. Even further
Out and about in Paphos
Beaches
The nearest beaches are at St Georges, and at Queens Bay, both 3.5
kilometres away.
Coral Bay, located just a ten-minute drive away, benefits from having some
of the most wonderful beaches on the island. Paphos is made for relaxing,
enjoying the coastal atmosphere, with restaurants, bars and plenty of
nightlife.
Local sites of interest
Paphos Medieval Fort: Originally a Byzantine fort built to protect the
harbour, the Paphos Medieval Fort was rebuilt by the Lusignans in the 13th
century, dismantled by the Venetians in 1570 and rebuilt by the Ottomans
after they captured the island in the 16th century.
Paphos Roman mosaics: The mosaic floors of these noblemen's villas dating
from the 3rd to the 5th century AD are considered aean. They depict scenes
mainly from Greek mythology, among the finest in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Tombs of the Kings: Spread over a vast area, these impressive under ground
tombs date back to the 4th century BC. They are carved out of solid rock
with some being decorated with Doric pillars. High officials rather than
kings were buried here, but the magnificence of the tombs gave the locality
its name.
Aphrodite's Rock and birthplace: According to legend, Aphrodite goddess of
love and beauty, rose from the waves in this strikingly beautiful spot. The
Greek name, Petra tou Romiou 'The Rock of the Greek' is associated with the
legendary frontier-guard of Byzantine times Digenis Akritas, who kept the
marauding Saracens at bay with amazing strength. It is said that he heaved
this large rock into the sea destroying the enemy's ship.
Agios Neofytos Monastry is very close to Paphos town. A step back in time
and very spiritual place well worth a visit to explore the monastry and
grounds.
Agios Georgios: offers an idyllic setting to sit and watch the sunset. The
church stands tall overlooking the beautiful small fishing port and beach.
Cyprus College of Art, Lemba, Paphos: the sculptural wall of lemba created
by the Cypriot artist Stass Paraskos and his past students is a must see,
you can also take a tour around the studios to see artists at work.
Paphos activities
There are many opportunities to take a boat trip along the coast from Paphos
Harbour. Glass bottom boat cruises offer you the opportunity to relax on
board whilst viewing the underwater life. Daily deep-sea fishing trips run from Paphos Harbour, a great day out for
all the family. Scuba diving for all levels, Cyprus offers various dive
sites for you to including the Sea Caves site. All manner of water sports
are on offer at Coral Bay from Jet skiing, para sending and speed boating to snorkelling, banana rides and pedalos. The water park in Paphos is also a
fun day out for the whole family. Horse-riding is available locally at George's Ranch, best late in the
afternoon to watch the sunset while you're riding. Paphos has three golf courses within easy reach; the Secret Valley Golf
Club, Tsada Golf Club and Aphrodite Hills Golf Club, click here2help for
more detailed information.
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Eating out and entertainment
paphos-eating Cyprus regional restaurant directory. Review paphos restaurants. Rate paphos restaurants. Paphos Cyprus Restaurants by Cuisine. Paphos restaurant reviews.
Big Brother Tavern in Emba Village by the church. Fancy a bit of banter with
the locals? Go along to see Koulis and Maria who run the tavern and the
coffee shop next door. Maria will cook you a meze in the evenings. If you
let us know or go to see her in advance, she will be better prepared and may
get something special in. There is a menu but the meze is more fun. Take
your phrase book as this is where you will be able to practice the Lingo. Lempa Taverna just down the hill. T:26271451 Their Suckling Pig is the best.
Mousaka and Pork chop follow close behind. All the traditional cuisine is
offered here with a cosy real fire lit in the winter months in the centre.
Viva Cyprus, opposite Almera Hotel along the Harbour Road. T:26936032
Andreas and staff create a friendly atmosphere. The menu is at very
reasonable prices and we recommend the set meal at about £7. A variety of
meals including traditional is offered and the sweet trolley is to die for
but will you have room?
Adelaida Restaurant, opposite Almera Hotel along the Harbour Road. T:2622282
Very good value. Try the set menu which offers a good selection of starters,
main, and desert. And select a bottle of wine free between 2 with your meal
for about £8. We recommend the salmon.
Argo in the Bar Street Area. T:26933327 Traditional feel, good value, worth
trying. Closed winter.
Kings Aproditie's, Tombs of the Kings. T:26941917 Traditional food and live
traditional music and dancing.
Raffles, Tombs of the Kings. T:26947484 One of the more expensive
restaurants but you won’t be disappointed. Excellent service and food.
Agapinor Steak House, Bar Street. T:26244752 Good steak specials.
Tea for Two, Tombs of the Kings. T:26937895 Also in town. Just like it's
name. Proper teapots. Variety of English food. Good for lunches. Cheese on
toast, and cheese and pineapple salad recommended.
Periklis Village Tavern, Nata Village. T:26423344. M:99467079 Closed
Mondays. Fancy a trip up the hills? Sundays are good (popular and you may
have to book) when a buffet is offered with eat as much as you like - salad,
meat, potatoes, bread, fruit. Good value at about £8
Kyrenia Beach Restaurant, Avdimou Bay, Episkopi, Limassol. T:25211717
M:99679451 Closed winter. Sotiris and Iris serve hearty meals and we often
go there for there famous pies, Steak, chicken or fish. Good menu and good
food. Best for daytime trip as you can stroll along the mile of golden sands
afterwards. Take a towel and have a paddle.
Scorpios Tavern in town in front of the market on the corner. T:26934971
Recommend Monday nights for live music, entertainment and meze. Closed
Sundays.
Relax eat in or take away, Kato Paphos, near bar street. Recommend chicken
curry. Traditional food and wine at very good prices.
Railway Inn, English pub, Chloraka. Anna does the best fish and chips and
service with a smile. Very cosy frequented by English. Quiz nights.
El Paso, on the way to Coral Bay. Good T-bone steaks.
Moulia Fish and Chips, Tombs of the Kings. Very popular. Also 2 in Kato
Paphos. Eat in or takeaway.
Pizza Hut, Tombs of the Kings. Lovely for those pizza moments. Eat in or
take away.
Kentucky Fried Chicken, Harbour Road. Succulent and good value.
Entertainment
The Sixties Bar, Bar Street, Kato Paphos. n and John run this successful bar
with an abundance of sixties memorabilia. Worth a call just to see. But I
guarantee you will stay longer as the atmosphere brings people back night
after night. Karaoke (with another John) on Wednesdays, Fridays and
Saturdays. Good fun night and good sing along atmosphere with sixties music
(mainly). Also quiz nights.
St Georges Hotel, bottom of the hill. T:26951000 Wedneday night is Karaoke
night with Rocky. See St George's notice board for other entertainment.
Aloe Hotel, Harbour Road. Rocky does Karaoke on Thursday nights. Good
entertainment.
Paphiesa Hotel, Kato Paphos. Karaoke with Mike and Kate on Thursdays. Good
atmosphere
Karlena's Restaurant, Karaoke Saturday night
Kikos Bar, Coral Bay. Karaoke Fridays and Wednesdays with Mike and Kate.
Good holiday atmosphere.
Arithea Restaurant, Coral Bay. T:26622368 Karaoke with Mike and Kate on
Saturdays. George also serves food.
Panereti Hotel, Coral Bay. Karaoke with Mike and Kate on Mondays and
Wednesdays.
Island wide activities
The Troodos mountain villages, Troodos square and Platres are beautiful
sights all year round. The Troodos stretches across the centre of Cyprus and
reaches up to 1,952 meters at Mount Olympos, it is truly spectacular; a
rugged but easily accessible region brimming with 12th and 14th century
frescoed churches, winemaking villages and pine forests. The natural beauty
of the area varies with the seasons; in winter, a soft blanket of snow
covers the highest areas for several weeks offering ideal skiing conditions
in February on Mount Olympus. In summer, the cool, pine-scented mountain air
offers relief from the intense inland heat, while autumn is the ideal season
for hiking along the numerous trails that lead you off the beaten track,
into the green heart of Cyprus.
Polis, Latchi and the baths of Aphrodite: The quieter area of Polis offers
traditional Cypriot Tavernas and shopping with the long stretch of beach at
Latchi and many fish restaurants. Further on the Baths of Aphrodite offers
nature trails, visit to the baths and hiking along the untouched coastline.
Lefkosia (Nicosia) the capital city of Cyprus is the last remaining divided
city with a rich history discovered from the observatory offering you a
panoramic view of the city and it's dividing line. Cultural sites, galleries
and museums are plentiful and shopping is a must! You can take a trip to the
occupied Northen Cyprus, Kyrenia - but remember your passport!
The Avakas Gorge is a spectacular sight well worth a visit. A picturesque
walk through the natural gorge offers plenty of plant, bird and animal
spotting with the Last Castle taverna offering a well deserved refreshment
after the trek through the gorge.
The Akamas peninsular, an area of outstanding natural beauty, offers you a
completely unspoilt view of the Cyprus landscape, you can hire a 4x4 to
explore the area or join one of the jeep safari organised excursions.
Agia Napa, Protaras, Famagusta on the Eastern edge of the Island are easily
reachable from Paphos only a couple of hours drive. Fig Tree Bay and Nissi
beach offer a relaxing coastal experience whilst the bars and restaurants
provide an exciting nightlife.
Even further
During your stay in Cyprus you may want to venture further, to Africa. You
can fly to Egypt in the morning and return by night! Flight duration: 55
minutes. Alternatively, the mini cruises run from April until the end of
October offering you a 3 day getaway.
Sailing from Limassol to Port-Said, driving through the cultivated desert
to Cairo - home to 18 million people and the largest city of the African
continent. The first stop is the Giza Plateau and the only remaining Wonder
of the Ancient World, the Great Pyramids of Giza. Continuing down the valley
to visit the guardian of this mortuary complex, the mighty Sphinx. Watching
the passage of time and men in centuries of silence, its enigmatic
expression is a mystery yet to be unravelled.
The next stop is the Papyrus
Institute where the science of paper-making of reeds, an art first
discovered by the ancient Egyptians, is demonstrated. Continuing downtown to
the Banks of the River Nile where a luxurious cruise boat awaits to sail
down the same timeless waterway traversed by Pharaohs, Queens and Nobles
thousands of years ago. Sit back, relax and enjoy a sumptuous buffet lunch
in elaborate interiors as you glide past Cairo's waterfront landmarks. For
your entertainment, a folkloric presentation and belly dancing will be
performed during lunch. Your last stop is at Tahrir (Liberty) Square, the
heart of downtown Cairo. We visit the National Archaeological Museum and
acquaint ourselves with Egypt's ancient history, spanning a period of over
50 centuries! The Museum is the repository of the world's largest and
richest collection of Egyptian Antiquities, amongst them the priceless
collection of King Tut-Ank-Hamon. Return to Port Said at the conclusion of
your visit. This is truly in one in a lifetime excursion!
There are also many other cruises available from Cyprus including the Greek Islands, Lebanon, Syria and Israel.
