Paphos tours range from old town walks and Roman mosaics to day trips across Cyprus, jeep safaris in the Akamas and cruises from the harbour below the medieval fort. See more trip ideas on Greece Tours.
Read on for the top sellers, the city and site tours, the day trips, the nature, mountain, food and sea tours, and how to plan your days in the city.
What are Paphos tours?
Paphos tours are guided walks, city tours, day trips, boat trips and safaris that start in Paphos, the main city of western Cyprus. They cover the mosaics and tombs of the old city, the Akamas coast, the Troodos villages and day trips as far as Nicosia.
Paphos has two faces. Ktima, the upper town, is the main residential district, while Kato Paphos, the lower town by the sea, grows around the medieval port and holds the large hotels and the nightlife.
The district around the city has four resort areas: Kato Paphos, Coral Bay, Latchi and Aphrodite Hills. Hotel pick-ups for Paphos tours cover these resorts.
History sets the tone. In antiquity two places carried the name Paphos: Old Paphos at modern Kouklia and Nea Paphos by the harbour, both capitals of the ancient city-state at different times. The city was European Capital of Culture in 2017.
Paphos tours fall into six groups: walks through the old town, city tours of the archaeological sites, day trips across the island, nature tours in the Akamas, mountain and wine days in the Troodos, and food tours. Our Cyprus tours page sets them next to the rest of Cyprus.
Which Paphos tours lead the bookings?
The Troodos Mountains and villages day trip leads the Paphos tours on GetYourGuide. The trip to the Blue Lagoon, the Akamas and the Baths of Aphrodite, the coastal Land Rover safari, a bus-and-boat Blue Lagoon trip and the turtle snorkelling trip follow.
We ranked the tours that start in Paphos using review counts and starting prices from GetYourGuide and Viator. Day trips into the hinterland lead, ahead of the city tours.
Behind the top five, the Paphos tours on GetYourGuide include a night cruise with a show, a Troodos jeep tour with wine tasting, a Larnaca highlights day with Lefkara and Nicosia, a tour to the highest Troodos peaks and a day trip to the monasteries of Chrysoroyiatissa and Kykkos with Omodos.
Viator mirrors the pattern. Its top Paphos products are a day trip to Aphrodite’s Baths and the Blue Lagoon, a Troodos villages tour, and an all-inclusive food and wine day in the Troodos villages.
City products sit further down. GetYourGuide sells a half-day city tour with entry to the Tombs of the Kings and a private walking tour with a local guide, and Viator sells a food tour of the old town with Cypriot dishes and drinks.
Which walking tours explore Paphos old town?
The Visit Cyprus walking tour of Pafos leads through the fruit and old markets, the Ayia Sofia mosque, the Khan of Ibrahim and the neoclassical centre of Ktima. Private walks with local hosts last 3 to 5 hours, and a half-day walk adds tastings in the Moutallos quarter.
The Visit Cyprus walk shows daily life in the upper town. It visits the fruit market, the old market, the Ayia Sofia mosque and the Khan of Ibrahim, an old inn.
The route then passes the old electricity power plant, the Atticon cultural centre, the Markideio theatre, the town hall square and its neoclassical buildings, before it reaches Moutallos, the church of Agios Theodoros and the ethnographical museum.
The walk starts at 09:15 every Thursday in March and April and from October to December, but not on public holidays. Visit Cyprus asks walkers to reserve at least 24 hours ahead.
Private walks give Paphos tours more freedom. Withlocals sells a 3-hour highlights and hidden gems walk and a 5-hour full coverage city tour, always private, with a host who adapts the route to your wishes, and GetYourGuide lists a private walking tour of Paphos with a local guide.
A half-day walk sold by musement focuses on Moutallos, with its restored lanes, artisan workshops and an Ottoman-era inn, and adds tastings of local produce. Old town Paphos tours like these suit a cool morning before the sun climbs.
What does a city tour of Kato Paphos cover?
A city tour of Kato Paphos covers the archaeological park with its Roman mosaics, the Odeon, the agora, the Forty Columns castle, the harbour fort and the Tombs of the Kings. GetYourGuide sells a half-day city tour with entry to the tombs included.
The mosaics are the highlight. Four large Roman villas, known as the Houses of Dionysos, Orpheus, Aion and Theseus, keep their floors, laid between the 3rd and 5th centuries and preserved for 16 centuries underground. They rank among the finest mosaic floors of the eastern Mediterranean.
The public city lies nearby. The Odeon theatre stands next to the ruins of the ancient city walls, the Roman agora and a building dedicated to Asclepius, the god of healing.
Saranta Kolones, the Forty Columns castle, takes its name from the granite columns found on the site, which once belonged to the agora. Byzantine builders raised it at the end of the 7th century to guard the port from Arab raids, and the Lusignans later remodelled it with thick walls, towers and a moat.
The harbour fort has a layered story. It began as a Byzantine fort, the Lusignans rebuilt it in the 13th century, the Venetians dismantled it in 1570 before the Ottoman attack, and the Ottomans restored and strengthened it after taking the island.
Two museums round off Paphos tours of the city: the Byzantine Museum and the District Archaeological Museum, whose finds run from the Neolithic Age to 1700 AD.
How do Paphos tours visit the Tombs of the Kings?
The half-day city tour on GetYourGuide includes entry to the Tombs of the Kings, the rock-cut necropolis north of the harbour. Its underground tombs at times copy the houses of the living, and digs there began in the 19th century.
The name is grander than the history. The tombs held the leading families and officials of Paphos, and the word “kings” comes from their size and quality rather than royal burials.
The builders cut the tombs into the native rock and, at times, shaped them like the houses of the living.
Explorers knew the site for centuries. Richard Pococke wrote the oldest modern account in 1783, Luigi Palma di Cesnola, the American consul, dug there in 1870, and the curator of the Cyprus Museum, Menelaos Markides, led the first scientific excavations in 1915.
Systematic digs followed in the late 1970s and the 1980s under Sophocles Hadjisavvas, who linked Tomb 8 to the Ptolemaic dynasty. Work at the site still continues.
Visit early on Paphos tours that include the tombs. Bring a hat and water, and wear sturdy shoes.
Which early Christian sites do Paphos tours visit?
Paphos tours stop at the pillar where, by tradition, Saint Paul was tied and whipped, at the catacomb church of Agia Solomoni with its 12th-century frescoes, and at the cave monastery of Agios Neophytos near Tala, 15 km north of the city.
The city has a long Christian past, and its catacombs date back to the early Christian period. The pillar of Saint Paul is one of the treasures found near Paphos, and tradition holds that the apostle was bound to it and whipped.
Agia Solomoni is the famous catacomb of the city. It began as a Christian catacomb and still keeps part of its 12th-century frescoes underground.
Agios Neophytos lies 1 km north of the village of Tala, about 15 km north of Paphos. A monk named Neophytos founded it in the 12th century, and the site today works as a museum with two parts: the monastery and the Engleistra, a place of seclusion carved into a natural cave with a small chapel.
The monastery sits 4 km west of Tremithousa, across a steep valley from the Tsiarta mountain, a short drive from the coast. Paphos tours that head north towards Coral Bay or the Akamas can add it on the way.
Dress for these visits. Churches and monasteries ask for covered shoulders and knees, so plan your clothes before Paphos tours that include them.
Which day trips run east from Paphos?
Day trips east from Paphos visit Kouklia, the site of Old Paphos and the sanctuary of Aphrodite, then Aphrodite’s Rock, the ancient city of Kourion, Kolossi Castle and the old town of Limassol. GetYourGuide sells a Limassol tour with Aphrodite’s Rock and a Limassol tour with Kourion and Kolossi.
The coast road east leads straight into myth. Palaepaphos, Old Paphos, lies at Kouklia, where the sanctuary of Aphrodite Paphia was founded in the 12th century BC.
Petra tou Romiou, the rock of the Greek, rises from the sea nearby. Legend calls it the birthplace of Aphrodite, and local lore says that a swim once around the rock brings good luck. Mummy Travels advises water shoes for the pebbly beach and notes a tunnel under the road from the car park.
Further east, the Paphos tours to Limassol pair Kourion with Kolossi Castle. TUI sells a day to the Kourion ruins and Kolossi Castle with a winery visit, and another to the old town of Limassol with an optional visit to the Paradox Museum.
Viator sells a day from Paphos that joins Kourion and Kolossi with local wine traditions, so wine lovers can fold a tasting into the same day.
These east-bound Paphos tours take a full day. The A6 motorway links Paphos and Limassol, which lie about 50 km apart.
What can you see at Kouklia on Paphos tours?
Kouklia holds the ruins of Palaepaphos, Old Paphos, the first capital of the city-state, and its sanctuary of Aphrodite Paphia. It forms one of the three parts of the Paphos UNESCO site, together with Nea Paphos and the Tombs of the Kings.
The village lies on the south coast east of Paphos, and Petra tou Romiou lies within its lands. Palaepaphos was the commercial, administrative and religious centre of the ancient city-state before Nea Paphos took over in the late 4th century BC.
The sanctuary was the heart of the cult. Founded in the 12th century BC, it drew worshippers of Aphrodite, and the nearby sea stack carries the legend of her birth.
Much of the old city still lies under the ground, and the Cyprus Department of Antiquities manages the excavations that continue there.
Paphos tours to Limassol and Aphrodite’s Rock pass the village, so Kouklia fits into an east-bound day without a separate trip.
Can you see Nicosia, Larnaca or Famagusta on a day trip from Paphos?
Yes. GetYourGuide sells a Nicosia and Lefkara guided tour, a Larnaca highlights day with Lefkara and Nicosia, and a Larnaca and divided Nicosia sightseeing tour from Paphos. Viator and TUI add Famagusta days with Salamis and the Varosha ghost town.
These are the longest Paphos tours. They cross the island to the capital and the east coast in one day, so expect an early start and a late return.
Nicosia is the draw: a capital divided between south and north, with an old town ringed by Venetian walls.
Lefkara, the lace and silver village of the Larnaca hills, joins two of the routes.
Famagusta is the farthest goal. Viator sells a day tour from Paphos to Famagusta, its ghost town and ancient Salamis, and TUI sells a Famagusta city tour with Salamis and Varosha.
Check the crossing rules with the operator before you book any of these Paphos tours that visit the north.
Which nature tours start in Paphos?
Nature tours from Paphos head for the Akamas peninsula, the Avakas Gorge, Lara Bay and the Blue Lagoon by jeep, quad, bus or boat. A private Withlocals day adds the sea caves and a hike to a viewpoint called Mundigo Top, with Cypriot food.
The Akamas is the wild side of the district. Paphos tours reach it by coastal Land Rover safari, by bus and boat via Latchi, by quad or buggy from Coral Bay, or on foot through the Avakas Gorge.
Our Paphos jeep safari page covers the 4×4 routes in detail, while the Paphos Blue Lagoon tour page weighs the boat, coach and jeep options for the lagoon.
A slower option comes from Withlocals. Its 7-hour Coastal Chronicles day explores the rural coast of Paphos, visits the sea caves and climbs to Mundigo Top for views over the island, with traditional Cypriot food along the way.
Bananas grow on the way north. Kissonerga, about 8 km from Paphos on the road to Coral Bay, lies among banana plantations in the area known as the Ktima Lowlands, and jeep Paphos tours stop there for a look.
TUI adds an off-road Akamas peninsula tour, and isango sells a jeep safari to the Akamas from Paphos. For families, isango also sells admission to the Paphos Zoo, and TUI sells entry to the Aphrodite Waterpark with transport.
Which Paphos tours go into the mountains?
Mountain Paphos tours climb to the Troodos villages, the highest peaks, Kykkos Monastery and Omodos, and certain tours add a wine tasting. GetYourGuide sells the Troodos villages day trip, a peaks tour to the top of the range, and a Chrysoroyiatissa, Kykkos and Omodos day.
The Troodos day trip from Paphos is the top seller of the city, a guided day among the mountain villages of the range.
Smaller formats fill the gaps. Withlocals sells a private 4×4 day that combines Aphrodite’s Rock with the Troodos, isango sells a Treasures of Troodos tour from Paphos town, and Viator lists a Paphos day to Mount Olympus and its monasteries.
Wine routes start close to the city. Musement sells a Paphos hills wine tour with an olive oil farm and a historic monastery, and a culinary tour that combines Vouni Panayia Winery with tastings in Amargeti and crafts in Geroskipou.
Our Troodos Mountains tour page goes deeper into the range, and our Troodos wine tour page covers the wineries of the foothills.
Which food tours run in Paphos?
Food tours in Paphos include the Withlocals 10 Tastings of Paphos, a 3-hour walk with ten tastings and drinks, the Viator food tour of the old town, a musement walk with local produce in Moutallos and a gourmet day in the villages.
The 10 Tastings walk covers the city on foot with a food host. It runs for 3 hours and moves from sweet to savoury, with drinks along the way.
Viator sells a Cyprus food tour of the old town of Paphos with Cypriot dishes and drinks, and the musement half-day walk adds tastings of traditional produce in the Moutallos quarter.
The gourmet day goes out of town. It leaves Paphos for the Troodos villages and samples wine, sweets, smoked meats, jams and loukoumi at producers on the route.
Sweets sit at the heart of local food. Geroskipou, just east of the city, makes loukoumi and holds a protected geographical indication for it, the only place in the world with that status for the sweet.
Food Paphos tours suit an evening or a slow morning, and they pair well with a day at the sites, since the tastings take place in the same streets.
Which Paphos tours take to the sea?
Sea-based Paphos tours leave the harbour for glass-bottom trips, turtle snorkelling, barbecue cruises, sunset sails and night cruises with shows and fireworks. Latchi, to the north, serves the boats to the Blue Lagoon.
The harbour of Kato Paphos is the starting point. The turtle snorkelling trip with sea scooters ranks among the top Paphos tours on GetYourGuide, and the night cruise with a dance show follows close behind.
Our Paphos boat trip page lists the cruises one by one, from the glass-bottom boats to the fireworks nights.
The Blue Lagoon is a separate trip. It lies about 50 km from Paphos, its boats sail from Latchi, and the Paphos tours that go there combine a coach or a jeep with the boat.
Families with young children can mix the two: a short glass-bottom trip from the harbour one day and a full Blue Lagoon day later in the week.
Which Paphos tours suit a short stay?
Short Paphos tours include the half-day city tour with the Tombs of the Kings, the 3-hour Withlocals walks, the 3-hour food walk, the 90-minute glass-bottom boat trips and an express afternoon quad ride to the Adonis waterfalls.
Half-day formats fit around a beach holiday. The city tour covers the lower town in a morning, and the private Withlocals walks of 3 hours fit an afternoon in the old town.
The sea gives the shortest options. The glass-bottom boats leave the harbour on 90-minute runs with a swim stop, so they fit before lunch.
Adventure fits in too. An express afternoon ride by quad or buggy heads for the Adonis waterfalls, and a sunset cruise fills the early evening.
Save the full-day Paphos tours, such as the Troodos, Nicosia and Blue Lagoon days, for a longer stay, or pick the one that matters to you and book the short tours around it.
Which Paphos tours run in winter?
Paphos has the gentlest winter temperatures on the island, so city walks, site tours, jeep safaris and Troodos days run in the cool months. The Visit Cyprus walk runs from October to December and in March and April, while the sunset boats stop at the end of September.
Winter suits the land. The mosaics, the tombs and the old town are easier to enjoy without summer heat, and the Visit Cyprus walk of the old town runs on Thursdays from October to December.
Jeep safaris carry on. Eco Tour Adventures runs its 4×4 days all year round, and the Troodos tours from Paphos meet snow on the high ground in a normal winter.
The sea quietens. The St. Raphael sunset cruise sails only until the end of September, so check the dates before you plan a cruise in the cool months.
Spring brings flowers and mild days, and the Visit Cyprus walk returns in March and April, which makes spring a comfortable season for Paphos tours of every kind.
How do you plan Paphos tours?
Base yourself in Kato Paphos, Coral Bay or Ktima, book tours with hotel pick-up, and check the cancellation rules. Reserve the Visit Cyprus walk 24 hours ahead, dress modestly for churches, and leave a free day between long trips.
Your base sets the pick-up for Paphos tours. Kato Paphos holds the hotels and the harbour, Coral Bay lies north of the city, and Ktima, the upper town, keeps the markets and the old quarter.
Getting around is easy. The Kato Paphos Harbour bus station sits close to the harbour and the archaeological park, so the harbour sites are easy to reach on foot.
Know the booking terms. Withlocals refunds private tours cancelled up to 7 days ahead and lets guests reschedule, while TUI and musement refund tours cancelled at least 24 hours before the start.
Pace the week of Paphos tours. The day trips to Nicosia, Famagusta and the Troodos are long, so alternate them with a city walk, a food tour or a boat trip.
Paphos tours with church visits need covered shoulders and knees, and the gorge and jeep days need sturdy shoes, water and sun protection.
What do travellers ask about Paphos tours?
Which Paphos tours sell in the largest numbers?
The Troodos villages day trip, the Blue Lagoon and Akamas trip, the coastal Land Rover safari and the turtle snorkelling trip.
Can you walk around Paphos on your own?
Yes. The lower town sites sit close together, and Visit Cyprus runs a guided walk of the old town on Thursdays in season.
Are there private Paphos tours?
Yes. Withlocals and GetYourGuide sell private walks and private day tours with local hosts.
Do Paphos tours go to Nicosia?
Yes. Day trips from Paphos combine Nicosia with Lefkara or Larnaca.
How long are Paphos tours?
A glass-bottom boat run takes 90 minutes, a city walk 3 hours, and the Troodos, Nicosia and Blue Lagoon trips take a full day.
Which Paphos tours suit families?
The glass-bottom boat trips, the Aphrodite Waterpark, the Paphos Zoo and a jeep safari to the Blue Lagoon.