Things to do
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Paphos Archaeological Park
Mosaic floors from Roman houses lie under shelters at the edge of the harbour, the finest of them in the House of Dionysos, where hunting scenes and myth panels survive in coloured stone. The site also holds an odeon, an agora and a lighthouse. Shade is scarce and the walking is long, so early morning suits it.
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Paphos Castle
A squat Ottoman block on the harbour mole began as a Byzantine fort, was rebuilt by the Lusignans and then blown up by the Venetians before the Ottomans raised it again. Inside, the rooms are bare and the interest is the roof terrace over the fishing boats. It takes twenty minutes, and doubles as the stage for the September open air festival.
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Akamas Peninsula
Wild headland at the island's northwest tip, roadless in parts, with gorges, sea caves and the Blue Lagoon reached by boat or on a rough track. Walking trails from the Baths of Aphrodite climb into juniper scrub above the sea. A standard hire car will not survive the track to Lara Bay, where green turtles nest in summer.
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Coral Bay
Sand curves between two headlands north of the town, sheltered enough for swimming with small children and backed by a strip of tavernas and hire shops. Loungers fill the centre of the bay by mid morning in July and August, while the quieter ends sit below the low cliffs. Buses run along the coast road from Paphos harbour.
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Petra tou Romiou
Sea stacks stand off a pebble beach on the road toward Limassol, at the spot Cypriot tradition names as the birthplace of Aphrodite. Swimming is possible when the water is calm, though the stones are hard and the current runs strong. A viewing area above the bay gives the classic angle, and sunset draws coaches.
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Tombs of the Kings
Underground chambers cut into coastal rock carry Doric columns and peristyle courtyards, an unusual borrowing of house design for the dead. The name overstates the occupants, who were Ptolemaic officials of high rank. The site is open and exposed, with uneven steps down into the tombs, and a hat matters more than a guidebook here.
