PAPHOS, CYPRUSWhether it’s lying on the sandy beaches, making a splash at the waterpark, or spending your leftover euros in the shops, there’s lots to do in the lively city of Paphos…
My trip to Paphos was courtesy of On The Beach Holidays, and my entry to Aphrodite Waterpark and Paphos Archaeological Park were both free of charge as part of my press trip. All words are my own.
When you consider the collection of clear, sandy beaches, the labyrinths of ancient history to explore, the lively towns and bars (not to mention the all year round sun!) it’s no surprise that Paphos is one of the most popular Cyprus resorts no matter what time of year you visit.
I experienced Cyprus for the very first time this year myself, and I can safely say it was the ideal place to go on holiday – lots of sunshine, plenty of cocktails, stunning hotels by the sea, numerous things to see and do and a gorgeous back drop to go with it all. Whilst I didn’t get chance to do absolutely everything I wanted (holidays just fly by don’t they?!), I definitely gave it a good go.
Here are seven things you can get up to with a week in Paphos…
Spend the afternoon at Coral Bay Beach
Paphos boasts a large number of beautiful golden beaches. Amongst them is Coral Bay, a popular choice for the beach lovers and the one I happened to stop at on my trip to Paphos this year. The long stretch of sand is sat beneath limestone cliffs and met by clear blue seas which stretch at far as the eye can see, perfect for wasting the day away with a book, some paddling, and some watersports if you’re feeling particularly adventurous.
[/column][column]
[/column][/column-group]
Sip cocktails in the Paphos bars
Dotted around Paphos and scattered on the seafront, there are a number of bars, pubs and clubs which buzz until late into the night. It’s a crime to go on a sun holiday and not have a cocktail. (Sex on the Beach is my drink of choice, in case you’re wondering…) The cute little bars on the seafront were my personal favourites – a chilled out relaxed atmosphere, the warm sea breeze blowing by every few minutes and an enjoyable hustle and bustle as people shopped, ate and had fun around us.
[/column][column]
[/column][/column-group]
Get cultural at Paphos Archaeological Park and Tomb of Kings
Filled with stunning mosaic floors and beautiful crumbling monuments all set against a beautiful backdrop of the sea, both Paphos Archaeological Park and Tomb of Kings are the perfect places to visit for sightseeing and a tonne of Instagram worthy photos. With entry being just €4.50 and €2.50, both attractions are incredibly affordable and you can easily spend hours in them; but please wear appropriate footwear. I made the error of wearing sandals whilst walking around for 5 hours and the blisters were not pleasant…
[/column][column]
[/column][/column-group]
Waste away an afternoon on the harbour
After a long day walking around the the Archaeological Park during our week in Paphos, we found ourselves settling down in a café on the harbour and spent the rest of the afternoon there. With everything from restaurants to boat parties, souvenir shops to sea views, and family attractions to bars and pubs, all accompanied with an uplifting hustle and bustle, the Paphos harbour is truly a treat for the eyes and the mind.
[/column][column]
[/column][/column-group]
Make a splash at Aphrodite Waterpark
Regardless of whether you’re 5 years old or 55 years old, there’s something for everyone to make a splash at the Aphrodite Waterpark. With a multitude of slides, rides and pools, you can have tonnes of watery entertainment here and even grab yourself some yummy food and drink whilst you’re at it. The lazy river and the wave pool were my particular favourites when it came to the rides. Lazing about in a rubber ring doing nothing except bobbing along catching a tan? Yes please!
[/column][column]
[/column][/column-group]
Spend your spare euros in the shops
If you’re looking for somewhere to do a bit of shopping in Paphos, you won’t struggle to find a place or two to spend your euros. Down on the harbour are a number of cute souvenirs shops with everything from keyrings to towels to ornaments to clothing, whereas a short bus journey will take you to Kings Avenue Mall which holds a number of familiar shops such as MAC, M&S and Tommy Hilfiger, along with food and entertainment. Even without the spare euros to spend, the shops are well worth a mooch around.
Grab a tan with lots of sunbathing
Quite naturally, a large portion of my holiday was spent lazing around on the sunbeds at our hotels. With warm weather and sunshine all year round, Paphos is the ideal place to settle down, get comfortable and catch some rays and vitamin D. Whether you’re on a sunlounger around the pool, strolling around the various sights and shops, lying back on a beach towel on the sand, or sat in a café watching the world go by, you can guarantee you’ll get yourself a pretty tan and a healthy glow.
[/column][column]
[/column][/column-group]
Despite not getting to experience everything single thing I wanted to during my stay in Paphos (I’m especially gutted I didn’t get to go to the zoo… it’s an excuse to go back, right?!), I definitely made the most of my time and had the most amazing week of sunshine, sights and sipping cocktails.
Urgh I need a holiday. I love sightseeing so the archaeological park looks incredibly interesting to me! Cyprus has never been a place that I’ve thought about going but I might add this to my list after looking at your amazing photos!
Sian x
http://theenglisheverygirl.blogspot.co.uk/
Photos are stunning, I’ve never been to Paphos but I need to!
http://www.denajayne.co.uk
xo
These photos are gorgeous!