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The quaint seaside town of Paphos, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, sits on the southwest coast of Cyprus. Paphos has a lovely town centre and an impressive history as the birthplace and focus of the worship of Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love.

 

Paphos has an impressive harbour and a pleasant, yet modern, town centre which provides hours of enjoyable exploration, shopping and dining. However, the most interesting features of the town are the fascinating ancient sites. One of the most impressive is the underground Tombs of the Kings dating from the 4^th century BC.

 

Paphos’ most important historical attractions are arguably the incredible mosaic floors found in the villas of many 3^rd century noblemen. The floors depict scenes from Greek mythology and are considered among the finest in the Eastern Mediterranean.

 

Other ancient sites worth seeing include Paphos castle, a Byzantine fort perched beside the harbour, and Saranta Kolones, a Lusignian fortress which was destroyed by a massive earthquake in the 13^th century. Paphos is also home to several Byzantine, archaeological and ethnographical museums which contain excellent collections.

 

Due to its small size, Cyprus is ideal for exploring by car. The island provides a full range of scenic landscapes, picturesque villages and historical sites. The nicest beaches, along with most of the luxury resorts and quaint fishing villages lie along the coast near Larnaca and Limassol. An important port town and tourist resort, Limassol is packed with taverns, restaurants and lively nightspots. Outside the town of Lemesos, the restored Kolossi castle makes for wonderful escape from the bustle of the towns and is nestled among vineyards. The main site of interest in this area is Curium, one of Cyprus’ best archaeological sites.

 

Paphos has more than enough diversions to keep you busy and entertained. The endless stretches of fine beaches will help with relaxation, and the resorts offer plenty of entertainment while keeping Paphos’ ancient character intact. One of the best ways to relax is simply sitting at one of the quiet waterfront bars and watching life trickle by.

 

Paphos has its own international airport, which handles flights from most European cities as well as a number of destinations in the Middle East and North Africa. Taxis and car hire are readily available at the airport. Ferries arrive at the port town of Limassol from Athens, Crete, Rhodes and Patmos, as well as Israel.