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Paphos castle in evening light on the harbour mole, bronze sculpture on the rocks below

20 minutes by car

Paphos old town and harbour

Paphos is about 20 minutes from the villas, with a harbour, medieval castle, old town and UNESCO-listed archaeological park.

Paphos has two main areas. At sea level, Kato Paphos includes the harbour, fishing boats, waterfront restaurants, the medieval castle on the mole and the archaeological park immediately behind it. Up the hill, Ktima is the old town, with a covered market, shops and residential streets.

The archaeological park contains Roman villas, including the House of Dionysos. Their floor mosaics were laid in the second and third centuries and still retain much of their colour. The site has UNESCO World Heritage status. Nearby, the Tombs of the Kings are rock-cut chambers set into the ground above the sea.

Worth knowing

  • Very little shadeThe park has very little shade and can be extremely hot by midday in summer.
  • Time and terrainA visit can take half a day. The site is large and involves a lot of walking on rough ground.
  • The Tombs are separateA different site a short distance north, with its own entrance and ticket.
  • ParkingTreat the old town and harbour as separate stops; they are not a short walk apart. Allow time to park for each area or check the local bus between them.

The neighbourhood

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