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Voykit pocket guide · Cyprus
Paphos
Πάφος
Choose Paphos over Limassol if Roman mosaics and the Akamas coastline matter more to you than a working city and nightlife: two nights covers the archaeological park, with a hire car for the peninsula.
Paphos sits on Cyprus's west coast, and its town and ruins together form a UNESCO World Heritage site. The archaeological park holds some of the best-preserved Roman mosaic floors in the Mediterranean, and the Tombs of the Kings — an underground necropolis cut into rock — is a short walk away. Beaches and the wilder Akamas peninsula are the other main draws.
- Country
- Cyprus
- Local name
- Πάφος
- Best months
- Apr–Jun and Sep–Nov: warm without the peak-summer heat, and quieter at the archaeological sites
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (regularly above 35°C (95°F), and the archaeological park has almost no shade)Jul–Aug (regularly above 95°F (35°C), and the archaeological park has almost no shade)
- Stay
- 2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- The euro (EUR) is used in the south; the north uses the Turkish lira, though euros are often taken.
- SIM and data
- In the south, Cyta, Epic and Primetel sell prepaid SIMs with passport ID; EU roam-like-at-home applies to EU SIMs.
- Emergency
- General emergency (police, fire, ambulance) 112 · Police direct line 199
- Plugs
- Types G · 240 V · 50 Hz · British three-pin sockets; bring a UK adapter if you come from continental Europe or the Americas.
- Tipping
- Tavern or restaurant: About 10% if no service charge; check the bill first.; Café: Leave the coins.; Taxi: Round up.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: €1–2 per bag or night.; Guide or boat crew: €5–10 a person for a day.
- Water
- Tap water in towns is treated and generally safe, but much of it is desalinated and many residents drink bottled water; mountain villages vary — ask.
- Toilets
- Western toilets everywhere; in older buildings and villages paper goes in the bin, not the bowl. Beach toilets at Blue Flag beaches.
Get in
By air
- PFO · Paphos International
- About 15 km (9.3 mi) from the centre; bus or taxi, roughly 20–30 minutes — check the current operatorAbout 9.3 mi (15 km) from the centre; bus or taxi, roughly 20–30 minutes — check the current operator
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Language, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Local buses and taxis cover Kato Paphos and Coral Bay, but a hire car is the easiest way to reach Akamas, the Blue Lagoon and the hill villages inland.
See and do
Known for
- Paphos Archaeological Park's Roman mosaic floors
- Tombs of the Kings rock-cut necropolis
- Kato Paphos harbour and medieval castle
- Akamas peninsula hiking and the Blue Lagoon
- Aphrodite's Rock (Petra tou Romiou) along the coast road
Sleep
- Kato Paphos
- Harbour, ruins and restaurants, walkable to the archaeological park.
- Coral Bay strip
- Beach hotels a short drive or bus ride from Kato Paphos, better for a beach-focused stay.
Language
Greek in the south and Turkish in the north, each with a strong Cypriot dialect. English is a legacy of British rule until 1960 and is spoken by most people you will deal with. Signs are bilingual Greek–English or Turkish–English.
- Place names differ by side: Kyrenia/Girne, Famagusta/Gazimağusa, Morphou/Güzelyurt. Maps may use either.
- Using northern place names in the south, or southern ones in the north, is noticed; neutral English names are safest.
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and a smile; friends and family kiss on both cheeks; avoid: Being brisk — small talk first, business second
- Hospitality: Accept a coffee or a sweet when offered in a village; it is part of the visit; avoid: Refusing everything; one small taste is enough
- The Cyprus issue: Listen if people bring it up; many have family stories from 1974; avoid: Offering opinions on who is to blame
- Churches: Light a candle if you wish (small donation), keep voices low; avoid: Shorts, bare shoulders and flash photography
- Dress in town: Casual but covered; shirts on away from the beach; avoid: Swimwear in shops, villages and churches
- Time: Relax: meals and meetings run slower than in northern Europe; avoid: Rushing a waiter for the bill — ask for it when ready
- Naming: Use the English or local name of the side you are on; avoid: Using Greek names in the north or Turkish names in the south in a pointed way
Scams and watch-outs
- Cars drive on the left.
- Some tavernas and smaller sites reduce hours or close outside Apr–Oct; check ahead in shoulder season.
- The archaeological park has little shade; sun exposure is strong even in spring and autumn.
- The Akamas peninsula's unpaved tracks need a 4x4 or careful driving in a standard hire car; check rental terms before heading off-road.
Low crime risk; the practical hazards are sun exposure at the ruins and rough tracks on the Akamas peninsula.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Paphos yet. Suggested stay: 2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Paphos Archaeological Park's Roman mosaic floors
- Tombs of the Kings rock-cut necropolis
- Kato Paphos harbour and medieval castle
- Akamas peninsula hiking and the Blue Lagoon
- Aphrodite's Rock (Petra tou Romiou) along the coast road
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Visit Cyprus: www.visitcyprus.com/
- Wikivoyage — Paphos: en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Paphos
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/paphos). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.