Paphos

The site includes the Agora (Roman marketplace), the remains of a Frankish castle destroyed by an earthquake in 1222, and the ancient Odeon, a first-century amphitheatre. The highlight is a visit to the stunning Roman mosaics which were discovered by accident in the 1960s. Subsequent excavations revealed a number of Roman houses with spectacular mosaic floors, depicting scenes from ancient mythology.

Phone:

+357 26 94 02 17

Opening hours:

June-Aug 8am-7.30pm, Sept-May 8am-6pm

Address:

Kato Paphos

Ideal for a family visit, this place is home to the largest collection of birds and animals in Cyprus. Deer, antelope, gazelles, raccoons, giraffes, giant tortoises and monkeys are some of the 24 animal species represented while there are no fewer than 124 bird species, all collected by nature lover Christos Christoforou who devoted three years to building the park.

Phone:

+357 26 81 38 52

Opening hours:

Apr-Sept 9am-8pm, Oct-Mar 9am-5pm daily

Address:

Ayios Georgios, Peyia village

No kings were ever entombed here but the grandeur and scale of this large burial site for local nobles and dignitaries earned it its name. An elaborate third century BC necropolis cut out of the rock, with columns around underground courtyards and visible nooks for bodies and offerings to the dead, it is a fascinating place, reminiscent of similar sites in Egypt.

Phone:

+357 26 94 02 95

Opening hours:

June-Sept 8.30am-7.30pm, Oct-May 8am-5pm

Address:

Off Tombs of the Kings Road, north-west of Kato Paphos

Perfect for a cool drink and a spot of people-watching, the harbour area is famed for its colourful fishing boats on the water, its fish restaurants, tavernas and cafés on the quay, and its small fort, which is all that remains of a much earlier castle dating from 1391. In later years it was used as a prison and a salt store.

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Opening hours:

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Address:

Kato Paphos

Paphos was once a centre of worship of Aphrodite, the ancient Greek goddess of love. This favourite photo spot is where, according to one myth, Aphrodite first set foot on Cyprus. It is also connected to another ancient story, that of medieval warrior Dighenis Akritas who is said to have hurled the rock (Petra Tou Romiou means ‘Rock of the Greek’) against Saracen raiders in the 9th century.

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Opening hours:

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Address:

Off the Paphos-Limassol highway

Close to the fishing harbour of Latchi to the north of Paphos, this romantic-sounding grotto contains a pool of icy water supplied by a perennial spring. Local legend has it that Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, used to bathe here and that the water had special rejuvenating powers ensuring that her skin remained soft and ageless.

Phone:

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Opening hours:

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Address:

Latchi, Polis

This wonderfully maintained old house was converted into a private museum by local archaeologist George Eliades who discovered the Roman mosaics at Kato Paphos. The ground floor is divided into several ‘mini museums’ featuring a bedroom, kitchen, farm implements and ceramics. Upstairs are coins, artefacts and furniture exhibits. Throughout, you get a real sense of the Cypriot lifestyle of a bygone era.

Phone:

+357 26 93 20 10

Opening hours:

Mon-Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 9am-1pm

Address:

1 Exo Vrysi Street

Named after Akamas, the son of Trojan War hero Theseus, this area of outstanding natural beauty, great biodiversity and ecological significance, is arguably the last remaining unspoilt part of Cyprus. Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace have campaigned hard for it to be declared a national park but big business interests have successfully opposed it for many years. See it while you can.

Phone:

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Opening hours:

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Address:

Akamas Peninsula

This traditional but most unusual taverna serves some of the best Cypriot food you’ll have ever tasted. There’s no menu – every day the cook prepares dishes based on the freshest produce he can find and serves them as a meze (lots of small courses, cold and hot). For those who enjoy spending hours over a meal, this is the place to come to.

Phone:

+357 26 96 31 76

Opening hours:

Tue-Sun noon-3.30pm, 7.30pm-11pm

Address:

Yeroskipou, Paphos

With the largest number of facilities and attractions in Cyprus, the biggest family rafting ride in Europe and virtually guaranteed sunshine every day it’s open, the Aphrodite Waterpark attracts more than 100,000 visitors a year. There's something here for everyone, from pulse-pounding excitement and slippery challenges to more relaxing activities and simple sunbathing. Fast food, snacks and a children’s adventure playground complete the experience.

Phone:

+357 26 81 34 27

Opening hours:

May-June 10.30am-5.30pm, July-Aug 10am-6pm, Sept-Oct 10am-5pm

Address:

Kato Paphos