We’ve visited Paphos twice now, both times with Poppy in tow.
The city of Paphos is on the west-coast of Cyprus and is a mix of British tourist hot spots and greek mythological heritage sites. It’s actually rumoured to be the birth place of Aphrodite, the Greek Goddess of Love.
Paphos was named the European Capital of Culture for 2017 and there are plenty of reasons why. It’s a great place to visit during the October Half-Term, the temperatures are perfect at that time of year, it not as expensive as Dubai and is a perfect alternative destination for those wanting some winter sun.
It’s a fantastic place to visit with children and as we’ve been a couple of times now, I decided to put together this Paphos City Guide to include all the things that we did in Paphos that we’d recommend.
When to Visit Paphos
Cyprus has the longest summer in Europe, the early season starts in April and we have visited in May and October and both times the temperature has been perfect.
The temperature in Paphos is between 25 – 28 degrees in October which makes it perfect for children, and with a slightly older Poppy, we discovered the holy grail that is the kids club (holiday game-changer).
We were in Paphos for a friend’s wedding, (it’s a very popular destination wedding venue in Europe) which meant that we met up with friends for the whole week and and discovered some new places, so here they are.
Where to Stay in Paphos, Cyprus
1. The Almyra
Ask any of my friends and they will tell you that the hotel I love in Paphos the most is The Almyra. Opened in 2004 as part of the Thanos Hotel Group, which also includes the nieghboring Annabelle hotel, and is easily the most chic place to stay in Paphos.
The guests are mostly Brits and many of them have children – I know a few people who always stay at this hotel when they visit Paphos and it’s easy to see why. The Almyra Hotel is sleek and sophisticated, the staff are friendly and the facilities for children are great without being overbearing.
The hotel has an amazing location on the seafront. It’s only a short walk down to Paphos Harbour but far away enough not to be in the thick of it all in the evenings and makes for a more peaceful location.
The Almyra is recommended by both Smith & Families (Mr & Mrs Smith) and Kuoni and the decor is modern and sleek (which is my favourite) with a charcoal, tan and white colour palette. It has an amazing adults-only infinity pool which is perfect for having time with just the grown-ups.
Be warned that the standard rooms at The Almyra don’t come with a veranda or balcony, making that room a no-go for me. I also don’t think that this is highlighted enough in any of the travel agent publications. If you’re travelling as a family, I’d suggest going for a Garden Terrace – the rooms open up onto a garden that the children can play on or that you can sunbathe on. One of the things I love about travelling to warmer climates than the UK is having the balcony or veranda doors open to the room and letting a breeze come in – it’s not something we can do very often at home!
The spa at The Almyra has an amazing offering of treatments and is where I had one of the best facials I’ve ever had – the therapists attention to detail was second to none. With treatment rooms looking over the med – it was a stunning experience I won’t forget in a hurry. It’s no surprise that the spa get booked up quickly. Try the express facials if you’re short on time, you won’t be disappointed!
Louis Ledra Beach this is a good 4-star all-inclusive hotel and I think one of the best hotels in Paphos of its kind for families. The pathway that runs along the seafront and connects all of the hotels on that side of the island to the main harbour runs through this hotel.
Louis Ledra Beach is one of the only hotels that has good sand at the end of it. Some other hotels have rocks which means you can’t get out to the water, but this isn’t the case at Louis Ledra.
The rooms are spacious and if you’re travelling as a family, a Family Room with sliding doors is the best option as it can comfortably sleep 2 adults and 2 children with the sofas turning into beds and the sliding doors separating the children sleeping area from the master bed.
The Aphrodite Water Park is a 10 minute walk away which makes Louis Ledra a good option too.
3. Constantinou Bros Asimina Suites
If you’re looking for a luxurious holiday away from the children, then I can recommend the Constantinou Bros Asimina Suites, it’s a 5 star, adults-only hotel and you can tell – the peace and quiet here was just amazing!
The Most Instagrammable Places in Paphos
Muse Café
This is hands down the best restaurant in Paphos for me, you won’t find it unless someone has told you about it, as its tucked away from the harbour and up in the hills. You will need to drive or take a taxi and its about 20 minutes drive from the Paphos Harbour winding up to the top of the mountain. But the views are well worth it and it makes for an amazing photo for the ‘Gram – great drinks and great food – try to get a table at the edge of the mountain for the best views.
Tomb of the Kings
This is a must visit for anyone wanting to experience some culture whilst on holiday. Paphos itself has Byantine Monasteries and amazing archaeological sites and The Tomb of the Kings is one of them.
The Tomb of the Kings is Paphos’ most impressive site, the site contains well preserved underground burial grounds and tombs used from Hellenistic periods to Roman period from 3rd century BC to 3rd Century AD. The deep dug crypts and well-preserved tombs are such a sight and Poppy thoroughly enjoyed it.
Wear closed-toe shoes as it’s quite desert-like and dusty. Children love exploring the site and the culture-vultures amongst you will love how different this part of Paphos is. Plus its only about 3 Euros to get in and isn’t very far away from all of the action.
The name ‘Tombs of the Kings’ reflects the majestic-like appearance of the tombs themselves rather than the blue-blood of the people buried there. They are so well-kept, it really is a sight to behold.
For more information about Paphos: www.visitcyprus.org.cy
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