Paphos Cyprus – The all year resort

Paphos in Cyprus is one of the few tourist areas on the island that remains open during the winter months of the year. It may have something to do with all the places of interest that are close to Paphos town or within an easy coach ride. The Troodas Mountains, for example, are only an hour from the resort. Paphos is also connected to all the other major coastal resorts in Cyprus and to the capital Nicosia by a modern motorway network. This may explain why Paphos has experienced so much growth in recent years both in terms of tourism and as a driver city. There is also little doubt that development will continue at a pace for quite some time to come, not just in the town itself, but throughout the Paphos area.

Visitors return to Paphos in Cyprus year after year despite the fact that the resort has no actual beach. There are some lovely beaches further along the coast at Coral Bay, but apart from some shale, Paphos itself has no beach. The resort area is based around the pretty harbor with its waterfront cafes and trendy restaurants where you can relax with a drink looking out over the beautiful Mediterranean ocean. At the edge of the harbor is a small medieval fort and it is worth going up to enjoy the view from the top of the tower. A short walk from the Paphos Lighthouse is the ancient Roman amphitheater which has been restored and now hosts summer concerts. Imagine sitting there on a warm summer evening in the exact spot where the crowds watched gladiators fight to the death.

Further up the hill are the excavated remains of several villas, including the house of Dionysus with its incredible mosaic floors that have survived for some 2,000 years. Also of interest and within a couple of miles of Paphos Harbor are the Tombs of the Kings. A burial ground carved into the bedrock dating to around the 4th century BC. No actual kings were ever buried there, but they earned the name kings’ tombs because they were deemed fit for purpose. Visitors to the site can enter the tombs (they are empty) and explore them as they wish. Closer to the city center, in a fenced off area on Apostolou Pavlou Avenue (St Pauls Avenue), is the royal pillar where the Apostle Paul received 39 lashes for preaching the gospel. However, once flogged, the governor converted to Christianity and Cyprus became the first Christian state in the world.

If you are looking for good food and a lively night out, Paphos can offer you both in equal amounts. There is a street that runs parallel to the main street called “bar street” and it has a very apt name. There are some excellent restaurants offering cuisine to suit all tastes, including some fabulous houses flambé where the meat is cooked right at your table. How’s that for freshly cooked food? Once you’ve eaten your fill, there are plenty of trendy bars to enjoy a nice relaxing drink or even a few nightclubs if that’s what floats your boat. The stores also stay open late, so you might even indulge in a bit of retail therapy while you head out for dinner. Cyprus enjoys over 320 days of beautiful sunshine each year, so you may want to go to bed early and recharge your batteries for another hard day soaking up the sun.

With so much to offer the discerning tourist, it’s no wonder people come back to Paphos again. The other great thing about Paphos is golf. In fact, Paphos is the golf center of Cyprus with no less than three excellent clubs and several top-class hotels right on the courses. With the beautiful climate of Cyprus, Paphos is a golfer’s dream come true in more ways than one. You don’t have to worry about the weather ruining your game and you can walk directly from your hotel onto the green. If you have never vacationed on the island before, perhaps you should take a look at Paphos, Cyprus.