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Dusk on the rocky coast near Paphos, the sea flat and pale between low headlands
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PaphosTravel Guide

Cyprus4 stories

Aphrodite's legendary birthplace on Cyprus's west coast pairs UNESCO-listed Roman mosaics and a harbor-front castle with one of the Mediterranean's great table traditions: the long, generous Cypriot meze.

Is Paphos right for you?

When to come

April–June & September–November

Around 31°C by day in August, 17°C in January — recorded at the local weather station.

What it costs

Mid-range. Comfortable without planning around money, expensive if you stop counting.

What we've planned, and who for

No hour-by-hour route here yet — the guides below cover it by subject instead.

Our editors pick it for a trip with children.

Paphos is inGood with childrenDeepest in Europe
When to go
January: around 17 degrees by day, 9 at night, 90 millimetres of rain, wet.
February: around 18 degrees by day, 9 at night, 60 millimetres of rain, some rain.
March: around 19 degrees by day, 10 at night, 35 millimetres of rain, some rain.
April: around 22 degrees by day, 12 at night, 15 millimetres of rain, dry. We recommend this month.
May: around 25 degrees by day, 15 at night, 11 millimetres of rain, dry. We recommend this month.
June: around 28 degrees by day, 19 at night, 2 millimetres of rain, dry and hot. We recommend this month.
July: around 30 degrees by day, 21 at night, 0 millimetres of rain, dry and hot.
August: around 31 degrees by day, 22 at night, 0 millimetres of rain, dry and hot.
September: around 29 degrees by day, 20 at night, 4 millimetres of rain, dry and hot. We recommend this month.
October: around 27 degrees by day, 17 at night, 22 millimetres of rain, dry. We recommend this month.
November: around 23 degrees by day, 13 at night, 58 millimetres of rain, some rain. We recommend this month.
December: around 19 degrees by day, 10 at night, 98 millimetres of rain, wet.
Cold to hot, by dayDry to wetWhen we would go

April–June & September–November

Average daily highs, recorded at Paphos (Paphos International Airport), 1991-2020 normals.

Where this comes from

NOAA (via Wikipedia 'Paphos')

Budget level

Mid-range

Typical cost profile for visitors

Combine it with
  • Antalya, Turkey280 km

    a short hop — comfortable overland · both good in May, June, September · a different price level (mixed)

  • Rhodes, Greece420 km

    half a day's travel · both good in May, June, September · a different price level (mixed)

  • Amman, Jordan450 km

    half a day's travel · both good in April, May, October

  • Cappadocia, Turkey480 km

    half a day's travel · both good in April, May, June · a different price level (mixed)

Plan itWhere to stay in Paphosad · Booking.comTours and tickets
On the map

Finding Paphos

Open in Google Maps Larger map
The stories

Reading Paphos

Charcoal-grilled pork souvlaki skewers served over grilled pita and fries, with sliced tomato, onion-and-parsley salad and a pot of tzatziki.
01
Food

What to Eat in Paphos: A Dish-by-Dish Guide

Halloumi off the grill, Sunday souvla, lamb kleftiko from a sealed clay oven and one of the world's oldest named wines — the Cypriot table, decoded for Paphos.

Cyprus · 2 min
Paphos Castle, the squat honey-coloured medieval fort at the end of the harbour breakwater, seen across the empty stone terraces of the seafront promenade under piled white cloud
02
The List

The essential Paphos bucket list, ranked

Paphos keeps UNESCO-listed Roman mosaics, rock-cut royal tombs and the wild Akamas within an hour of each other; here is the essential list, ranked, and how to plan a trip around it.

Cyprus · 13 min
A rock-cut stairway descending into an underground tomb at the Tombs of the Kings in Paphos, its honey-coloured limestone walls glowing where daylight spills down the worn steps from the opening above
03
Itineraries

Paphos with kids: a family day that actually works

A Paphos day for families built around the midday heat rather than in spite of it: ruins at opening time, a long unapologetic retreat, and shallow water when the light softens.

Cyprus · 11 min
The Kato Paphos seafront at dusk under a violet sky, a lit beach pavilion glowing on the rocks and the white blocks of the seafront hotels standing among palm trees behind the shore
04
Stays

Boutique or grand: where to stay in Paphos

Three versions of Paphos in one town - harbour grande dames, Coral Bay's sheltered water and Ktima's restored old streets - and how to pick the one your trip actually needs.

Cyprus · 11 min
In pictures

Paphos, framed

The rusted hull of the Edro III lying grounded on the rocks off the coast near Paphos under a heavy sky
Photo: Yu Ko / Unsplash
The Cyprus coast near Paphos from the air, sea stacks standing off a curving pebble bay
Photo: Athina Vrikki / Unsplash
Kato Paphos, Paphos
Photo: Secret Travel Guide / Unsplash
Kato Paphos, Paphos
Photo: Datingjungle / Unsplash
Our picks

What we'd do in Paphos

See and do

Eat and drink

  • The meze supporting cast

    Expect taramosalata and tahini dips, koupepia (vine leaves stuffed with rice and minced meat), grilled lountza (smoked pork loin), village salad with purslane, and louvi — black-eyed beans with greens and lemon.

    Read: What to Eat in Paphos: A Dish-by-Dish Guide

Where to stay

Before you go

Practical essentials for Cyprus

Money

Euro (EUR)

Language

Greek and Turkish are official; English is very widely spoken across the south.

Power

Type G, 240V 50Hz

Getting around

There is no railway at all - town and intercity buses are the only public transport, and most visitors hire a car.

Tipping

A 10% service charge is often already on the bill; where it is not, 5-10% is normal.

Tap water

Tap water is safe to drink, though it is largely desalinated and tastes different.

Driving

Left-hand side; EU licences are accepted, and non-EU visitors should carry an International Driving Permit with their national licence.

Emergency

112; also 199

Country-level guidance, checked against official sources. Currency, fares and entry rules change — confirm anything time-critical before you travel.

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