Paphos is a city of 70,000 on the southwest coast of Cyprus and one of the most mythologically and archaeologically significant places in the Mediterranean — the birthplace of Aphrodite (according to Greek mythology, she rose from the sea foam at the Petra tou Romiou rock, 15 km east of the city), the location of an extraordinary UNESCO archaeological park with 4th-century CE Roman floor mosaics (the finest in the Eastern Mediterranean), and the first port of call for the Apostle Paul on his first missionary journey to Europe (Acts 13) where he converted the Roman Governor Sergius Paulus in 46 CE, making Cyprus the first country to be ruled by a Christian governor. The UNESCO Paphos Archaeological Park holds four exceptional Roman villa complexes — the House of Dionysus, the House of Theseus, the House of Aion and the House of Orpheus — each with floor mosaics of mythological scenes (the rape of Ganymede, the triumph of Dionysus, Theseus killing the Minotaur) preserved in extraordinary condition. The Paphos Fort at the harbour (originally Lusignan, rebuilt by Ottomans in 1592), the Tombs of the Kings (4th century BCE necropolis carved from the rock, where Macedonian-style underground tombs have Doric columns carved directly into the limestone) and the Byzantine castle of Saranda Kolones (destroyed by earthquake 1222) form additional layers of 2,700 years of continuous habitation. Paphos was designated European Capital of Culture in 2017, and its coastal position (long sandy beaches at Coral Bay, Latchi and the Akamas Peninsula nature reserve) make it the most complete leisure-and-culture destination in Cyprus.
The 4th-century CE floor mosaics of the House of Dionysus (14 mosaic panels depicting Greek mythology including Dionysus, Icarus, Narcissus and the first wine-making scene), the House of Theseus (the only known mosaic of the first bath of Achilles) and the House of Aion are among the finest Roman mosaics in existence; the park is entirely outdoors on a clifftop above the sea.
🎫 Book tickets via GetYourGuideThe Lusignan-then-Ottoman fort (1592) at the end of the Paphos harbour breakwater is the city's most photographed building — the harbour itself still functions with fishing boats and tourist boats for coastal excursions; the fish tavernas around the harbour serve fresh sea bream (tsipoura), octopus and calamari with Commandaria wine.
🎫 Book tickets via GetYourGuideThe UNESCO-listed underground necropolis (4th century BCE to 3rd century CE) of Doric-column rock-cut tombs was used by the Macedonian aristocracy of Nea Paphos — despite the name, no kings are buried here (the high status of the tombs led to the popular name); the carved colonnaded courtyards in the living rock are extraordinary.
🎫 Book tickets via GetYourGuideTraditional Cypriot meze: grilled halloumi, tahini, taramosalata, loukanika sausages, souvla (large pieces of pork or lamb on a spit), afelia (pork in red wine and coriander seeds) and pourgouri pilaf (cracked wheat) at one of the harbour-front tavernas that overlook the fort and the sea.
The sea stack at Petra tou Romiou (15 km east of Paphos) is where Aphrodite/Venus rose from the sea foam according to Greek mythology — the limestone rock in the turquoise bay with its gravel beach is one of the most beautiful coastal landscapes in Cyprus; sunset is the traditional time to visit for the colour of the sky and sea.
🎫 Book tickets via GetYourGuideThe Akamas Peninsula (50 km north of Paphos, 4WD required for interior roads) is Cyprus's most pristine natural area — sea turtle nesting beaches (loggerhead and green turtles at Lara Bay, May–August), endemic plant species and the coastal Adonis Trail; the Avakas Gorge (accessible on foot) has towering limestone walls.
🎫 Book tickets via GetYourGuideThe natural freshwater pool surrounded by fig trees at the northern tip of the Akamas (accessible by boat from Latchi harbour) is where Aphrodite is said to have bathed — the pool and the nearby coastal trail to Fontana Amorosa (Fountain of Love) are the most atmospheric mythological sites in Cyprus.
🎫 Book tickets via GetYourGuideThe tiny fishing harbour of Latchi (25 km north of Paphos, on the Akamas coast) has some of the finest seafood restaurants in Cyprus — fresh sea bass (lavraki), red snapper (fagri), and karavolous (land snails fried in olive oil with rosemary) with Paphos Dry white wine from the SODAP winery.
The ancient sanctuary of Aphrodite at Old Paphos (Kouklia, 15 km east) was the most important temple of Aphrodite in the ancient world — pilgrims came from across the Mediterranean; the sanctuary remained in use continuously from 1200 BCE to 400 CE; the conical sacred stone (representing Aphrodite before her human form was standardised) is in the on-site museum.
🎫 Book tickets via GetYourGuideThe Crusader castle (15 km east of Paphos) was the headquarters of the Knights Hospitaller and the centre of production of Commandaria wine — the sugar and wine production of the Kolossi estate was a major revenue source for the Crusader kingdoms; the castle tower gives views of the vineyards that produced the wine drunk at the Table of Honor at crusader feasts.
🎫 Book tickets via GetYourGuideThe Hellenistic-to-Roman city of Kourion on the clifftop above the Mediterranean (30 km east of Paphos) has a 2,000-seat theatre used for performances today, a House of Eustolios (4th-century CE Christian villa with fine mosaics), the Sanctuary of Apollo and panoramic views from the cliff edge 70 m above the sea.
🎫 Book tickets via GetYourGuideCoral Bay (8 km north of Paphos) is the finest sandy beach near the city — the sunset over the Akamas Peninsula from Coral Bay with a glass of Commandaria (the world's oldest documented wine, produced since 800 BCE) is the ideal Cyprus farewell.