Set apart from the lower town and main tourist area, this historic old quarter offers a more laid-back vibe as well as several cultural attractions. 

Although it is just 2 miles (3 kilometres) from the main seafront tourist area, Paphos City Centre or Ktima as it is known locally, feels a world away. Take a stroll around this charming and laid-back part of town to see elegant, colonial-era constructions and the modern commercial centre of town, as well as historical and cultural attractions including a mosque, a Turkish bath and a couple of worthwhile small museums.

Ktima is the perfect antidote to travellers looking to escape the busier, livelier and more tourist-heavy district of Kato Paphos or Lower Paphos. Wander around the atmospheric lanes of the old Turkish Quarter or Moutallosas it is also known. Pause for a coffee in a café with a harbour view on Pafiasafroditis Street. See if you can spot the town’s mosque, which is also located in this neighbourhood.

While you’re here, browse the edible goods on offer at the municipal market. The “agora” as the locals call it is where Paphos residents go to shop for groceries.

This part of town is also packed with historical and cultural attractions. Inspect the 15th-century frescoes depicting episodes from Jesus’s life at the Byzantine church of Agia Paraskevi. Consider stopping by the Paphos Archaeological Museum. Explore the exhibits displaying treasures uncovered from the local area, ranging from Neolithic times up to the medieval era.

For even more history, head for the Ethnographic Museum. The museum, occupying a historic old town house, is devoted to Cyprian life and culture through the ages. The Byzantine Museum, meanwhile, displays icons, most of which are from the 7th to 18th centuries.

With its many narrow lanes and its relatively small size, Paphos City Centre is best explored on foot. If you don’t want to walk uphill to get here, ride a local bus from the harbour instead.