A coastal city steeped in mythology, Paphos is made up of two parts – the Old Paphos, said to be the birthplace of the goddess Aphrodite, and the New Paphos, a bustling, modern harbour town. Not many places can be classed as an all-rounder destination, however, this south-west corner of Cyprus blends golden coastlines and a family-friendly resort with a world of history lying just behind it.
A landscape dotted with ancient churches, monasteries, tombs and baths is just waiting to be explored, and colonial neighbourhoods are like a step back in time. Paphos is a city so rich in culture that a holiday there will always be one to remember, whether you’re a beachgoer or a history buff!
Catacombs, medieval baths and the UNESCO-listed archaeological site are all touching distance from our luxurious villas in Paphos, an incredibly romantic harbour town where history comes to life.
Discover the Oliver’s Travels way, where style and character define every handpicked villa in Paphos. Our destination experts curate unique homes in beautiful locations that are perfect for families and guaranteed to ‘wow’.
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Paphos has long been a popular holiday destination, and while the hustle and bustle of the palm-fringed seafront and harbour have put this coastal city on the map, it’s the timelessness and rich culture that makes the biggest impression. You’ll find sugar-white and golden beaches fringing the shores, backed by mountainous scenery, sprawling vineyards and lush forests. Catacombs, Byzantine monasteries, ancient churches and medieval baths share the landscape with mountain villages, colonial neighbourhoods and resorts.
Our Paphos travel guide dives further into this sun-soaked city.
The foodie scene of Cyprus is a delectable fusion of Middle Eastern, Turkish and Greek cuisines with a traditional Cypriot spin. Fresh seafood on the coast, sharing platters of mezze in local tavernas, and grilled souvlaki, all draw on the local produce. There are also a handful of great local wineries, owing to the vineyard-carpeted hillsides – these make for an idyllic afternoon trip.
Boasting the longest coastline in Cyprus, one of Paphos’ main draws is its beaches. From Blue Flag beaches perfect for families, to wild coves and picturesque bays for the intrepid and curious, you’ll always find a beautiful place to lay your beach towel. Greek mythology doesn’t just lay inland either, you’ll find beaches dedicated to the goddess of love, Aphrodite, too.
Read our blog for our list of the five best beaches in Paphos.
Paphos isn’t just about beach lounging and water-sports though, with dramatic mountainous scenery, cycling and hiking trails weave their way across its hillsides. The Akamas Peninsula is a protected nature reserve, and well-known for its dreamy boat trips and thrilling safaris. Hike to the top of Mount Olympus of the Troodos Mountains for stunning views of the island and Mediterranean, go wine-tasting in a mountain village, dive for shipwrecks or explore the impressive archaelogical sites.
There’s so much to do, you could easily have a jam-packed itinerary if you wanted to! We pulled together a list of the top 10 things to do in Paphos.
The array of things to do across its contrasting landscapes makes it perfect for large groups with multiple tastes, and the fact it's warm year-round (even at Christmas!) means you can take advantage of the weather for a half-term holiday.
From the old town of Ktima and the modern harbour of New Paphos, to the colonial villages wrapped around hillsides and the palm-fringed seafront of Kato Paphos, this corner of Cyprus is the perfect blend of old and new.
Whether you’re looking for a villa by the beach, a family-friendly resort in the Aphrodite Hills or a stylish villa with a private pool, our collection of holiday homes in Paphos can have you as close, or as far away, from the action as you’d like!
Check out our top nine towns and villages in the city below.
Lara Bay is a must-visit for its nesting loggerhead and green turtles. The Lara Bay Turtle Conservation Station helps to protect the animals and the area from over-tourism.
Peyia is situated at the southern end of the Akamas Peninsula, on the hills, sloping down towards Coral Bay – a lively resort on the shores of the Med. The main beach is regarded as one of the best beaches in Cyprus, and great for families due to its Blue Flag status. You’ll also find a handful of other picturesque beaches and bays, and Avakas Gorge, a beautiful nature attraction.
The Akamas National Park is an expanse of gorges, rich flora and fauna, sandy bays and lush valleys on the west coast of Cyprus. Exotic wildlife can be spotted in these parts, and it’s perfect for outdoor adventures as its home to nature trails, the baths of Aphrodite and the paradisical Blue Lagoon.
Built in the mythical birthplace of the goddess of Aphrodite, Old Paphos is steeped in rich history. This charming district village will have you stepping back in time with its Byzantine church (Panagia Odigitria), pilgrimage site from the ancient world, Sanctuary of Aphrodite and local art scene.
Two resorts rolled into one, these island villages benefit from a lovely harbour, golden beaches and great diving schools. Lying next to the Akamas Peninsula, you can easily hike one of the trails from the area to look out over the coastline.
The sleepy village of Pissouri is in the Limassol district, with a great Blue Flag beach where you can go kayaking and paddleboarding. The village centre boasts a fabulous foodie scene too, drawing on local bounty (vineyards, veg farms and fishing) served in family-run eateries.
A charming small village settled 350m above sea level, Choulou is built on its cultivation of local produce such as grains, olives and fruits. With only a small number of inhabitants, a couple of tavernas and coffee shops - this village is sure to give you a taste of authentic Cypriot life.
Paphos is a small city and relatively easy to get around – until recently, it was actually a traffic-free zone, but they’ve changed this to help tourism. You’ll find the infrastructure has improved since then, making way for public transport and cars.
You can fly straight into Paphos to The Paphos International Airport, and it takes about 4.5 hours to fly from the UK. Airlines servicing Paphos include Ryanair, Jet2, easyJet and British Airways, so it’s a very accessible holiday destination.
While it’s not generally needed, you can hire a car to get around Paphos – which could be particularly useful if you’re planning on doing a lot of sightseeing. You’ll be able to find car rental companies at the airport, or you can pre-book as most have websites that enable you to do this.
There are rural and urban buses connecting tourists to many parts of Paphos – the KEMEK bus lines are well connected, and while they can be cheap, they can also be irregular and inefficient.
You can get service taxis or private taxis while in Paphos – we recommend getting a private taxi because service taxis will be shared by other passengers.
Paphos is an easy place to get around by foot, however, if you’re wanting to zoom around a few sites then by bicycle is one of the best ways – it’s scenic and will get you from A to B, sometimes better than a bus would!
