Paphos Cyprus Guide
Although Paphos in Cyprus is more commonly known as a holiday destination and one that offers pleasant subtropical temperatures all year round, Paphos also has much more to offer its visitors than just sunshine!
Situated on the South West Coast of the island of Cyprus, Paphos itself has plenty of history dating back over eight thousand years and as a result, provides a wide range of things to see and do. Paphos really does have something for everyone and whether you are looking for a sun drenched holiday, a holiday with a bit of culture and history or simply a mix of both, you won’t go wrong with visiting Paphos Cyprus.
The ancient history of Paphos and its surrounding towns and villages all hold great value for people with an interest in archaeology, history and culture. In fact, Paphos has been officially listed in the ‘UNESCO’ list of cultural and natural treasures of the world’s heritage.
Paphos And Aphrodite
It has to be said that one of the main figures in the history of Paphos was the Goddess of Love ‘Aphrodite’. Paphos and its coastline was said to have been the birth place of the Greek Goddess and her birth created a large cult following of worshippers for centuries after. Even to this day, Aphrodite still plays a large part in the history and tourism of Paphos and the many sites linked with the Goddess attract visitors from all around the world.
A Brief History Of Paphos Cyprus
The history of Paphos is a rich and turbulent one and is said to date back over 8000 years to the Neolithic period. It is believed that this is the time when Paphos was first in inhabited and evidence of this can been seen in the many palaces, theatres, villas and fortresses that can be found in and around Paphos today. These remains provide great historic value and are thought to be regarded as some of the best in the world in terms of helping understand architecture of this time.
The history and archaeology of Paphos Cyprus spans through many different periods and in Paphos there are certainly traces of the Stone Age, Hellenistic period , Roman and Byzantium times, as well as modern architecture to be seen. Paphos is definitely a treasure trove of great history that is just waiting to be explored.
As you explore Paphos, you will find the marks that have been left from Ptolemies, Romans, Greeks, Turks and the Venetians and these can been seen as you visit the many attractions in Paphos.
Greco-Roman Times
In Greco-Roman times Paphos was the capital of the island and it was made so by the successors of Alexander the Great. In those days, Paphos Harbour was a thriving port and was the main port for the island of Cyprus for many centuries. Throughout this period, many structures were erected and many can still be enjoyed today, a list of which can be seen on the following page: Things To See And Do In Paphos
Modern Day Paphos
Paphos now has two areas and these are the ‘Old’ town and the ‘New’ town, which is known as Kato Paphos. The new town of ‘Kato’ Paphos is the central area for tourists and is mainly located along the sea front, the harbour and along the coast road. This is where you will find the majority of the hotels, apartments, shops, cafes, bars and nightlife in Paphos. The old town of Paphos does have bars and restaurants and also has the more traditional shops, buildings and café bars that you would associate with the Cypriot lifestyle and culture.
Paphos now consists of four municipalities which are: Paphos, Yeroskipou, Peyia and Polis Chrysochous.
Paphos Cyprus Nightlife
The main nightlife area in Paphos is known as ‘Bar Street’. Bar Street is situated behind the main coastal road and has plenty of bars and clubs to choose from. You can read more about the nightlife in Paphos on the following page: Paphos Nightlife
Paphos Cyprus Beaches
Paphos has a number of beaches to choose from along its coastline and 12 of them have been awarded the Blue Flag. There are also many private beaches that are owned by the hotels along the coast which offer guests peace and quiet from the main beaches. To read more about Paphos Cyprus Beaches, please visit the following page: Paphos Beaches
Things To Do In Paphos Cyprus
You will never be short of things to do in Paphos no matter what age you are. There is certainly something to do for everyone whether it is simply sitting by the pool, relaxing on the beach or walking along the coast road and the harbour front. Paphos has certainly embraced the growth of its tourism and has invested a lot of time and money into ensuring that there is entertainment for everyone of all ages. The water park in Paphos (Paphos Waterpark) is certainly a big attraction with children and is a great day out for all the family. A trip to Paphos zoo will keep you entertained for hours and if you are a keen golfer, you can now enjoy a round or two at one of the golf courses in Paphos.
As we mentioned earlier, Paphos is steeped in history and has a great deal of archaeological sites to visit as well as museums, churches and monuments. We have created a page that lists a number of the top attractions in Paphos and things to do in Paphos. If you would like to visit this page, please click on the following link: Things To Do In Paphos
Paphos Weather
Paphos enjoys a subtropical Mediterranean climate, which means that it has very hot humid Summer and mild Winters. Paphos has four seasons throughout the year and if you would like to read more about the seasons and weather in Paphos Cyprus, please click on the following link: Paphos Weather