Paphos: a Family Friendly Heaven for History Lovers
Paphos is as beautiful as its legendary goddess Aphrodite. The supposed birthplace of the goddess of beauty, Paphos is a history lover’s delight of ancient monuments, buildings and temples dedicated to the Maiden. Modern day Paphos is a town of two halves, with the upper section on the hill making up the commercial district, while lower Kato Paphos contains the main archaeological points of interest, as well as most hotels and tavernas.
Lower Kato Paphos has seen some serious investment in recent years, turning the area into a centre for tourism combining hotels, bars and restaurants along a coastal strip a few kilometres long. Included in the development is a new harbour front leading round to the marina, and a long coastal path with amazing views that’s perfect for a morning or evening stroll.
Heaven for history lovers
The ready availability of flights to Paphos has really opened up this corner of
Cyprus, and there’s plenty to see and do for the whole family. History lovers will be enthralled by Paphos Archaeological Park, home to a number of attractions including the House of Dionysos and the House of Theseus, both ruins of large Roman villas famous for their mosaics. The Tombs of the Kings and Pathos Fort are also must-see additions to any itinerary.
Family friendly attractions
For families, Paphos has a wealth of attractions to keep the kids happy including the Aphrodite Water Park. This new water park is a large and impressive centre with plenty of slides so that the kids can burn off some excess energy, as well as wave machines and lazy river rides. Paphos Bird Park just north of the town is a great day out and has a good collection of wildlife in excellent surroundings, with the emphasis more on environmental conservation rather than being a traditional ‘zoo’.
Great regional food
Throughout Paphos, there are plenty of good quality tavernas and restaurants where you can get a real taste of the unique cuisine of Cyprus. Fish plays an important part in the local diet, and while there’s plenty of international food on offer, you really should make sure that you try a traditional Cypriot meze during your stay. This is a selection of regional dishes that you share with friends, giving you a chance to experience a variety of flavours in one sitting.
Cyprus and Paphos in particular has become one of the most popular Mediterranean destinations in recent years, and with so much on offer, it’s not hard to see why!
