PAPHOS
Area: Cyprus


Location:
SW corner of Cyprus. 95 miles SW of Nicosia; 90 miles SW of Larnaca. Paphos international airport 9 miles E.

Telephone code from UK:
357 26

Website:
http://www.cosmosnet.net/azias/cyprus/c-tour.html

Position:
The main tourist area, Kato Paphos, has developed around a sheltered harbour, while the older settlement of Paphos Town is set atop a hill about 2 miles N. The surrounding countryside is mainly rocky, hilly open land.

Description:
Paphos is a charming, colourful little town, blessed with a particularly mild climate as a result of warm sea breezes from the W. The town is really split into two: Kato Paphos and the old town of Paphos. Kato Paphos, on the coast, is the principal holiday area and centres on an attractive little harbour whose picturesque open-air restaurants line the quayside where bright fishing boats and pleasure craft are moored. Along the seafront are many pavement cafes, bars, restaurants and souvenir shops. It is also the centre of modern tourist development which has somewhat spoilt the overall effect. Two miles inland is the old town of Paphos, or Kima, as it's known to the locals. The town is full of hustle and bustle, with its narrow streets totally unsuited to any form of four-wheeled transport but well worth a visit on foot. The tiny resort of Coral Bay is some seven miles N of Kato Paphos and its sandy beach has already attracted hotels, several aparthotels and holiday villages. The "Tombs of the Kings" road which links Coral Bay with Kato Paphos has also been developed as a tourist area with plenty of modern hotels and apartments, as has the road leading out of Kato Paphos to the SE, towards Plaz Beach. Paphos centre and some outlying tourist areas may be subject to disruption and noise from roadworks as the town's public utilities are improved.

Suitability:
Middlemarket, good for families.

Accommodation:
Mainly 3- and 4-star hotels situated in Kato Paphos centre. Many modern 4- and 5-star hotels are situated directly on the beach. A number of holiday "villages" around Coral Bay area.

Shopping:
Main shopping area and markets situated in Paphos Town. Ranging from typical crafts to larger more sophisticated stores including Marks & Spencer and Co-op. Best buys are leather, handicrafts, pottery, silver, gold and embroidery.

Beach:
There are four municipal beaches along the Paphos shoreline, but Coral Bay, seven miles N, is considered the most attractive, being sandy and having shallow waters. Plaz Beach, four miles SE, is sandy. A number of hotels have man-made beaches along their shorelines.

Entertainments:
Daytime: shopping and bargain hunting. Aquarium. Water park. Archaeological Museum; Byzantine Museum; Mosaics of Paphos at House of Dionysos (Kato Paphos); Tombs of the Kings. Nightlife: innumerable lively bars, tavernas, English pubs, discos, a cinema, a bouzouki club and a few nightclubs. Several of the hotels have their own nightclubs, often with live bands.

Eating:
Plentiful restaurants, cafes and snack bars in Paphos and towards Polis, 20 miles to the N. Ranging from very good fish restaurants to pizzerias, burger joints and traditional fare.

Public-transport:
Frequent bus service along coast road to Coral Bay, operating from early morning till early evening during main season. Taxis operate 24 hours.

Local-excursions:
Half day: Cyprus Night (evening at local village taverna). Full day: Baths of Aphrodite; Limassol; Nicosia; Troodos Mountains; boat trip to Coral Bay, Lara Bay and Akamas Peninsula; Akamas Expedition, an adventure to NW tip of Cyprus by jeep.