Are you a fan of city trips and hiking? Then the city tour through Paphos in Cyprus is just right for you. Discover Roman mosaics, ancient royal tombs and the winding old town. You can find all the information and GPS data below.
Whether you want to visit the House of Dionysus , Lighthouse Beach or the ancient royal tombs - this walking tour through the city of Paphos, located on the west coast of Cyprus, combines all the highlights the city has to offer.
Between Roman mosaics and royal tombs
The Archaeological Site of Nea Paphos
Nea Pafos (New Pafos) is, ironically, the name of the extensive archaeological site of the ancient city of Pafos, founded in the late 4th century BC. Today it is best known for its fascinating collection of intricate and colourful mosaics based on ancient Greek myths.
Lighthouse Beach is the perfect place for a (swimming) break.
The UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Royal Tombs
comprises a series of well-preserved underground tombs and chambers used by the inhabitants of Nea Pafos during the Hellenistic and Roman periods, from the 3rd century AD. Despite the name, the tombs were not used by kings, but owe their title to their magnificent appearance, which was strongly influenced by ancient Egyptian tradition, which believed that tombs for the dead should resemble houses for the living.
The seven excavated graves are scattered over a wide area.
The most impressive is tomb number 3 with an atrium surrounded by columns.
The two extensive archaeological sites are a real stroke of luck. Not only do they attract visitors from all over the world with their exposed Roman mosaics and necropolises, but the best thing about them is that they are located in the middle of the booming holiday town and have been spared from development. At the end of the tour, you can explore the winding old town around the church of Agios Kendeas with its many restaurants and cafés.
Click on the first picture to start the photo gallery
Key Facts about the Walking Tour through Ancient and New Paphos in Cyprus
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Walking time : 6:00 h (with sightseeing)
Altitude : 450 m up and down
Length : 13.3 km
Accessible by public transport?
Pafos has a well-developed public bus network.
Want to stop off along the way? There are many restaurants and cafes in Paphos. Lighthouse Beach is a particularly nice place to take a break.
GPS data: I have uploaded the GPS data for the hike to the Outdoor Active website
Start and end point: Bath of Aphrodite, 24 m.
Directions & Parking: If you don't live directly in Paphos, you will find several parking spaces at the harbor. For example here .
Hiking guide: Rolf Goetz: Cyprus – South & North, The most beautiful coastal and mountain hikes , Rother Bergverlag, 2023.
Further information and links
The Visit Cyprus website provides useful information on accommodation, events and activities.
Here you can find all my blog posts about Cyprus
WEATHER
Cyprus has an intense Mediterranean climate with long, dry summers (from mid-May to mid-October) and mild winters (from December to February). Cyprus is blessed with sunshine. Even in December and January there are six to eight hours of sunshine per day. In the summer months, however, the average is 11.5 hours!
February to May and September to October are the best months for hiking
ARRIVAL
Lufthansa flies nonstop from Munich to Paphos once a week. Ryanair flies twice a week from Memmingen.
If you want, you can offset the CO2 emissions of your flight, for example through Atmosfair.
CARDS
The publisher Kartographos has three hiking maps at a scale of 1:25,000: Tróodos, Tóchni, Akámas.
EQUIPMENT
For most hikes, light hiking shoes or trail running shoes are sufficient. For the Avakas Gorge, hiking sandals and hiking poles are helpful. Take enough refillable water bottles with you.
SLEEP
Pafos is a good starting point for hikes on the west coast.
We stayed at the Paphos Garden for three nights. The hotel isn't super modern, but it's centrally located, cheap and perfectly fine. My tip: There are different room categories in different buildings. Take a look at the room beforehand.