Paphos
A harbor town on Cyprus's southwest coast, Paphos suits travelers who want Roman-era mosaics, rock-cut tombs and a swim within the same day.
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Paphos is a town on the southwest coast of Cyprus, an island in the eastern Mediterranean. Its old harbor at Kato Paphos is lined with cafes and a medieval fort, and a short walk away is the Paphos Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visitors come for the Roman-era mosaics in the House of Dionysus and the Tombs of the Kings, a burial ground cut into bedrock. Aphrodite's Rock, a sea stack on the coast east of town, is tied to the myth of the goddess's birth from the sea.
Paphos suits travelers who want history on some days and beach time on others. Sandy and pebbled beaches line the coast, and the Akamas peninsula to the northwest is a protected national park with wild coastline and walking trails. Summers are hot and dry, and the sea is warmest in late summer. Spring and autumn are milder for walking between sites. Plan at least two days for the main sights, and add a day for the Akamas or a boat trip.
Paphos in five
- Rent a car for the coastCyprus drives on the left. Buses cover the town and harbor, but Aphrodite's Rock and the Akamas are much easier to reach by car.Getting around Paphos
- Get an eSIM before you landCheck roaming prices with your home operator first. An eSIM set up before the flight means maps work from the arrival hall.Phones and eSIM
- Fill the tank before the Akamas roadThe Akamas has few gas stations and rough side tracks. Fill up in Paphos or Polis Chrysochous before you head north.Getting around
- Visit the Tombs of the Kings before middayThe site is open ground with little shade, so the heat builds fast in the afternoon. Go in the morning and carry water.
- Choose a base in Kato Paphos or the old townKato Paphos has most of the hotels and the harbor, while the old town is quieter. Coral Bay suits a beach stay but needs a bus or taxi to reach town.Where to stay in Paphos
Things to do in Paphos
See all attractions in Paphos
Need to know
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Entry
- Visa-free short stays for many passports; check before you fly Read more
- Emergency
- 112 for police, fire and ambulance
- Tipping
- Not required; small tips and rounding up are common
- Time
- UTC+2; UTC+3 in summer with daylight saving
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryRain14 rainy daysHigh16°Low12°Wet, mildJanuaryRain
Mixed
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 134 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, mild
- FebruaryPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh16°Low11°Wet, mildFebruaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 59 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, mild
- MarchClear7 rainy daysHigh17°Low13°Rain, warmingMarchClear
Mixed
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 52 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rain, warming
- AprilClear4 rainy daysHigh20°Low15°Warm, dryAprilClear
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 19 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, dry
- MayClear3 rainy daysHigh23°Low19°Warm, dryMayClear
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 14 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, dry
- JuneClear1 rainy dayHigh27°Low22°Hot, dryJuneClear
Good
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 2 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, dry
- JulyClear0 rainy daysHigh30°Low25°Very hotJulyClear
Mixed
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 0 mm
- Rainy days
- 0
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Very hot
- AugustClear1 rainy dayHigh30°Low25°Very hotAugustClear
Mixed
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 1 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Very hot
- SeptemberClear1 rainy dayHigh28°Low24°Warm seaSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 3 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm sea
- OctoberClear3 rainy daysHigh25°Low21°Mild, dryOctoberClear
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 20 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, dry
- NovemberClear7 rainy daysHigh22°Low17°Rain returnsNovemberClear
Mixed
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 57 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rain returns
- DecemberPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh18°Low14°Wet, mildDecemberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 136 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, mild
Average daily high and low in Paphos, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Paphos
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
22
- Feels like
- 22°
- Humidity
- 71%
- Wind
- 11 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 3%
Paphos
10:36 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today25°18°3%Monday: Cloudy. High 25°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Tue24°18°3%Tuesday: Partly cloudy. High 24°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Wed22°17°38%Wednesday: Rain. High 22°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 38%.
- Thu22°17°6%Thursday: Cloudy. High 22°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 6%.
- Fri21°16°15%Friday: Clear. High 21°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 15%.
- Sat22°15°3%Saturday: Clear. High 22°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Sun22°13°5%Sunday: Clear. High 22°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 5%.
Updated 10:16 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Day trips by train
- Aphrodite's Rockabout 30 to 40 minutes by carThe rocky coast where the legend of Aphrodite is set, reached by the coast road.
- Akamas peninsulaabout 1 hour by car to Polis ChrysochousWild coast and gorges with few facilities; go with a car and a full tank.
- Troodos villagesabout 1 to 1.5 hours by carMountain villages and Byzantine painted churches in the hills above Paphos.
Before you go to Paphos
Rules for Paphos, checked
- Cyprus drives on the left. Check driving rules and license requirements for your country on the official travel advice page before you rent.Source
- Photography near military sites and the UN buffer zone is restricted. Keep your camera away from them and ask before you shoot near fences or posts.
- Dress modestly in churches and monasteries, covering shoulders and knees, and take off hats and sunglasses inside.
- Taking stones, pottery or other finds from archaeological sites is an offense. Leave everything where you found it.
- If you carry a large sum of cash into or out of the EU, declare it at the border using the cash declaration form. Check the threshold on the official travel advice page.
Paphos FAQ
Is Paphos worth visiting?
Yes, for the Roman-era mosaics and the Tombs of the Kings. Paphos works well as a base for a Cyprus trip, and the old town alone takes about a day.
How many days do you need in Paphos?
Two days covers the old town, the mosaics, the Tombs of the Kings and the harbor. Add a third day for Aphrodite's coast or the Akamas, which need a car.
Do you need a car in Paphos?
Not for the harbor and old town, which you can walk. You do need one for Aphrodite's Rock, the Akamas and the mountain villages of Troodos, or you can book a tour instead.
How do you get from Paphos airport to the town?
By airport bus or taxi. The getting around guide lists the bus lines and the taxi options from the airport.
When is the best time to visit Paphos?
April, May, September and October have warm days that suit sightseeing. July and August are very hot, and most rain falls between November and March.