Things to do in  Paphos

With slides, drops, and a wave pool, Paphos Aphrodite Waterpark is among the city’s top attractions. Even the names of the rides hint at adventure—try the Free Fall, Kamikaze, or Cannon Drop before relaxing on the Lazy River. Visitors with small kids will find plenty of fun at the family-friendly Mini Volcano and Mini Bubble.

Set on an isolated beach, the Lara Bay Turtle Conservation Station presides over the shelled creatures who come here every year to nest. Devoted conservationists keep an eye on the green and loggerhead turtles, safeguarding the eggs and young hatchlings and educating the public on the turtles’ plight.

According to Greek legend, Aphrodite, the goddess of fertility and love, watched her lover, Adonis, die in her arms here in this freshwater natural pool. Set beneath a tumbling waterfall and surrounded by verdant greenery, the site also features a statue of the two mythical lovers, which is said to boost the fertility of those who touch it.

A looming stack of rocks standing proud off the southwest coast of Cyprus, the UNESCO-listed Rock of Aphrodite, or Petra Tou Romiou (Rock of the Greek), is one of the island’s most famous landmarks and the birthplace of Aphrodite, the goddess of love, according to Greek mythology.

Spread along the southwestern coast of Cyprus, the sprawling Tombs of the Kings are eight excavated tombs dating back to the third century BC. Around 100 Ptolemaic aristocrats are estimated to have been buried there, along with a substantial trove of jewels and personal effects, long since pillaged by grave robbers.

Opened in 2003, the Pafos Zoo, outside Paphos (or Páfos), Cyprus, is a sprawling, 25-acre center for wildlife conservation. Spend a day here seeing animals from around the world, from giraffes and lemurs to bats and water monitors. The zoo is particularly well known for its extensive collection of birds.

A top attraction in Paphos, Paphos Archaeological Park is home to some of Cyprus’ most important historic ruins. Visit this sprawling open-air museum—a UNESCO World Heritage Site that stretches along the coast near Paphos Harbor—to see a number of ruins dating to the late Roman period, plus a few that are even older.

Founded in 1159 by Cypriot saint and writer Neophytos, the Agios Neophytos Monastery is among Cyprus’s most striking religious buildings, carved into a mountain rock just north of Paphos. Though a small number of monks live here, the main attraction for visitors is the museum, full of religious manuscripts, garments, and other artifacts.

Pilgrims flock to this 2,000-year-old pillar, where St. Paul was said to have been tied up and whipped as punishment for preaching Christianity. Despite initial resistance from the Romans, Governor Sergius Paulus was eventually won over by the apostle, making Cyprus one of the world’s early adopters of Christianity.

A highlight of Paphos Archaeological Park, the House of Dionysos is the largest of four Roman villas, nicknamed the Mosaic Houses for their elaborate floor mosaics. The mosaics, painstakingly crafted from limestone tiles, date back to the second and third centuries AD and remained hidden until a local farmer discovered them in 1962.

Once famous for its sacred gardens, dedicated to the Goddess Aphrodite, these days the sleepy village of Geroskipou is best known for its production of lokum, the age-old Cyprian sweet known elsewhere as Turkish delight. It’s also a great place to soak up some local atmosphere, with interesting old sites and a lovely beach.

At Tsangarides Winery, on the edge of Lemona village, vineyards cover the lower slopes of the Troodos Mountains and surround its neat stone cellar. Bottles and casks of full-bodied reds and dry aromatic whites are stored in the cellar, while outdoor terrace seating is the ideal place to enjoy samples, snacks, and the rustic hillside scenery.

Often overlooked by ruin-hungry travelers, Fabrica Hill is strewn with ancient remnants, including a Hellenistic pebble mosaic, a network of quarry caves, and a Roman theater carved into its southern slope. The summit provides stunning views out across Kato Paphos, Paphos Archaeological Park, and the Mediterranean beyond.

Large, open terraces surround the tiny stone beach at Paphos Municipal Beach, also known as the Paphos Municipal Baths. Unlike the open sand beaches farther down the coast, this small beach in the heart of Kato Paphos features wooden decks for sunbathing and a small break in the rocky coastline for entering the water to cool off.

Originally built in the fourth century, this early Christian basilica was destroyed during Arab attacks in the seventh century, and another church was built on the site in the 13th century. Though only remnants of the original survive, the foundations and scattered columns give an impression of scale, while mosaics showcase the artistry involved.