Petra tou Romiou

Best Things and activities to Do in Paphos, Cyprus

Whether you travel to Paphos and Cyprus in the spring, summer, fall or winter, your holiday will not be complete without getting a glimpse of the local culture and the countless attractions of our beautiful island. At Paphos Segway Tour we love exploring, but even more we love telling our guests what are the best things to do in our picturesque city of Paphos, and Cyprus.


Best Things to Do in Paphos

The Akamas peninsula wildlife forest

Akamas is an area of great natural beauty, and it is the only undeveloped area in the island. Its uniqueness is centered on its precious ecology and the diversity of flora and fauna living in this relatively small area is truly impressive. The areas breathtaking surroundings include valleys, gorges and wide sandy beaches, everything unspoiled from human touch. Our top recommendations of things to do in Akamas is certainly to visit Lara Bay, the Blue Lagoon, the Avakas Gorge and the Baths of Aphrodite.

Lara Bay

Lara Bay is famous for its soft golden sandy beach and for its crystal clear waters. The beach is protected under the turtle conservation plan since it is both a Green Turtle and Hawk’s Bill turtle breeding ground (both of which are endangered species). You can visit Lara by driving to Pegia and then to Agios Georgios. A 4×4 vehicle is necessary to reach this beautiful and virtually deserted beach.

The Blue Lagoon

The Blue lagoon is probably the most popular place of Akamas and thousands of people visit it every year. It is quite an adventure to get there, but the crystal clear, Caribbean blue waters in this small bay are so clear that you can see all the way to the underlying seabed! This is probably the best place in the whole of the island for swimming and snorkeling

The Avakas Gorge

This impressive gorge is a certain must see if you visit Cyprus and more specifically Paphos. The trail leading through the gorge is roughly 2,5 kilometres long with sheer rocks on both sides reaching up to 260 feet in height, with the narrowest point being 10 feet wide. Views are breathtaking and deep inside the gorge you will encounter rare plants and flowers, reptiles, immense cliffs and even wild mountain goats.

The Baths of Aphrodite

The “Baths of Aphrodite” is an area in the Akamas between Polis and Cape Arnaouti. It derived its name from a small grotto shaded by an old fig tree, in the waters of which, legend has it, the goddess Aphrodite used to bath. According to mythology, this is where she met her lover Adonis and they were instantly bewitched by each other’s extraordinary beauty.

Paphos Wine Villages

A trip to Cyprus wouldn’t be complete without a journey of wine discovery, tasting the numerous award wining wine varieties that the island has to offer. Cyprus has been making wine for the last 5000 years, mostly thanks to the warm Mediterranean climate of the island. There is a stronghold of traditional wine making with an excellent choice of local wine varieties such as Xynisteri and Maratheftiko that are Cyprus true signature.

Panagia Village

This mountainous picturesque village owes its name to the many churches and monasteries, within the village, which are dedicated to Virgin Mary (Panagia). Adding to that Archbishop Makarios III, the first president of the Republic of Cyprus, was born in Panagia and his house was turned to a beautiful museum definitely worth a visit. Built of stone in an area of wild, mountainous character with steep slopes, this small beautifull village has so many things to offer. From an abundance of beautifully built rock & limestone churches, to the famous and picturesque monastery of Panagia Chrysorroyiatissa, and then to journey of wine tasting in the famous wineries of the village, Panagia is certainly guaranteed to excite everyone.

Kathikas Village

Famous for its vineyards Kathikas is ideally situated between Paphos and Latsi. This pretty village built of stone is set on top of the low hills of the Paphos Mountains and it is surrounded by vines and is renowned for the quality of its grapes. A visit to some of the small family owned wineries located in the villages is a must do. Additionally don’t miss a visit to the limestone built church in the village square, the Organic & Biological Museum, as well as having a meze dinner in one the villages local restaurants.

Kallepeia Village

The village of Kallepeia is so well known for its beauty, that its name actually derives from the Greek word of the same meaning. Today Kallepeia preserves many of its old, authentic features such as the stone built houses with the large courtyards, the great number of pitchers, clay pots and earthenware jars, the stone built wine-press, the abundance of marble rocks (of the area) most impressively seen on the Monastery of the Holy Cross which is built entirely out of marble. Of great importance is also the old church of Ayios Georgios (St. George). The surrounding area is overgrown with rich vegetation, plantations and vineyards and lends itself to beautiful walks to the numerous small family owned wineries that would be more than happy to open their doors to visitors.

The Paphos Archaeological Park

One of the best, if not the best archaeological site in the island. Being a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Kato Paphos archaeological park offers an abundance of monuments from prehistoric times to the Middle Ages, while most remains date to the Roman period. The major attraction is the marvellous mosaic floors of four Roman villas each named after a greek god/semi god of the greek mythology that best resembles the representations of the mosaics. Other important monuments include the Paphos ancient Odeion (amphitheater), the Agora (marketplace), and the “Saranta Kolones” (Forty Columns) Fortress which was the original fortress of Paphos.

The Tombs of the Kings

Tombs of the kingsSpread over a vast area, these impressive underground tombs date back to the 4th century BC. These tombs were actually tombs of high officials and wealthy citizens of Paphos rather than Kings but they are so grandeur and magnificent that they named them Tombs of the Kings. The tombs are carved out of the naturally occurring solid rock, and some of them are decorated with Doric pillars. A definite must see in Paphos.

Coral Bay

Coral bay is definitely one of the best sandy beaches of the region. It is located in Pegeia Village just before the entrance to the Akamas wildlife forest. The area bursts with life during the summer, with many restaurants and cocktail bars located in close proximity.

Sea Caves by Coral Bay

This unique location of excellent natural beauty, geological and biological interest, is characterized by the existence of coastal formations, caves, and stone lodges. The sea caves were created by thousand of years of corrosive action of the sea creating a great mosaic of unparalleled natural scenery. Highly recommended for photography lovers.

Petra tou Romiou – Also known as Aphrodite’s Rock

The “Petra tou Romiou“area is one of the most beautiful coastlines in Cyprus, where, according to mythology, Aphrodite the Goddess of Beauty, was born & rose from the foams of the waves. The Greek name “Petra tou Romiou” (“the Rock of the Greek”) is associated with the legendary Byzantine hero, Digenis Akritas, who, according to local legend, kept the marauding Saracen Arabs (7th-10th centuries) at bay with his amazing strength. With one hand he was said to have grabbed hold of the Kyreneia mountain range thereby forming “Pentadaktylos”, the Five Finger mountain, while with the other hand he heaved a huge rock and tossed it into the sea at the Saracens who were trying to land. The rock still remains and thus gave the region its name. Petra tou Romiou Beach is one of the most visited tourist attractions and landmarks on the entire island. The magnificent scenery consists of two large rocks, lusciously golden sand, beautifully shaped pebbles and refreshing blue waters. In combination with the mythological legends, this constitutes a special and historic spot to visit.