Located on the south-west tip of the island of Cyprus, Paphos is by far the most popular resort on the island with UK holidaymakers. Surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea, this purpose built resort of Kato Pafos stretches east from the small port and Ktima Pafos is the ‘old town’ where you will find neoclassical buildings and lively markets. Holidays in Paphos are ideal for people of all ages and all interests. Paphos offers a variety of accommodation to suit all budgets but it is worth noting that most of the accommodation along the Kato Pafos resort strip closes down from January right through to the end of March. The beachfront hotels are separated from the sea by a pedestrian and cycling way.

Paphos

Most of the resort coastline is rocky with a number of sand and gravel coves. For better beaches you will need to travel further afield (about 2 miles) to Yeroskipou beach which although it has a shingle shore, it does have a sandy base under the water. You will find a couple of beach bars and cafes here but beware of the night-time nude bathers (mainly gay bathers) in the summer, especially when there is a full moon! There is a pedestrian and cycling way that runs from Kato Pafos harbour to the edge of Yeroskipou which gives easy access to the whole of the shoreline. Read more »

The beautiful island of Cyprus is fast becoming a golfer’s paradise. Here on the island the ideal Mediterranean climate makes golf a game that you can enjoy all the year round, especially on your last minute holidays.

The island has three international standard 18-hole golf courses all set in tranquil surroundings away from the busy tourist resorts. All of the courses are located in the Paphos area on landscaped hills that are easily accessed from the surrounding areas. Read more »

The Thanos Hotels are a long standing family business who understands the difficulties faced by parents when it comes to travelling with youngsters.

New for the 2012 season, they have launched the Twilight Zone Interactive Babysitting as an alternative to babysitting at the Almyra Hotel and the Annabelle Hotel in Paphos.

Aimed at children over 3 years of age, the Twilight Zone is available from 19:00hrs to 23:00hrs, three nights a week between April and October with prices starting from €18 for one child for up to two hours. Read more »

Date …. Sunday 4th December
Place …. Aphrodite Hills Resort Village Square

Located near Paphos in the southwest of Cyprus, the Aphrodite Hills Resort offers five star facilities and services including an 18-hole

Christmas in Cyprus

championship Golf Course and Golf Academy, Tennis Academy with multi-surface courts, a Greco-Roman retreat spa and an exclusive Beach Club. The resort overlooks the area where it is said Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love, emerged from the sea. At the heart of the resort is an enchanting Village Square with restaurants, bars, shops and stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea. If you are lucky enough to be on your family holidays to Cyprus at the beginning of December Read more »

The Elea Golf Club in Cyprus has announced its golf-course designed by six-time major winner Sir Nick Faldo will open this autumn.
The par-71 course will be at the centre of the Elea Estate Paphos, which comprises of Luxury villas and apartments, a boutique hotel and spa facilities, beside the Mediterranean Sea.
“This golf course certainly has the potential to play a pivotal role in establishing this part of the world as a leading European golf destination,” said Faldo. “When we designed the golf course at Elea Golf Club we decided to put the emphasis on thoughtful, rather than big-hitting, golf and there are plenty of strategic riddles for the golfer to explore and unravel over all 18 holes.”
The course has been designed to allow partridges, birds of prey, butterflies and lizards to continue living around the course.

Love golf?  Book your direct holidays to Cyprus and enjoy this ecologically friendly course and surroundings.

This review has been supplied to us by our reader John White

“As funds were a bit short last year we booked this hotel for our cheap summer holidays. We weren’t expecting the ritz but were pleasantly suprised by the hotel. The hotel was right on the beach which made it easy as we have 2 children who would have spent all day, every day there, it was that good and of course the beach bar kept me happy! However we did manage to drag them away as there were plenty of places to visit in the Paphos area and after all it was our holiday as well!
Our family room was large and clean and the hotel staff, who all seemed to be multi-lingal, were really helpful, not only with hotel questions but also with help on where to visit etc.
Our holiday was for bed and breakfast, breakfast wasn’t too good (passable) but we didn’t eat in the hotel restaurant as we went out in the evenings to one of the many local restaurants, so i can’t really comment on what the food was like for main meals.
Certainly be going to this hotel again and would reccommend it to others, especially those with kids.”

Cynthia Beach Hotel

Cynthiana Beach Hotel

The Cynthiana is situated in an exotic environment, right on the beach. The hotel is within easy reach of Kato Paphos, with it’s picturesque harbour, medieval fort and fascinating archeological sites.

Accommodation
All 230 rooms have private facilities, hairdryer, air conditioning, satellite tv, radio, direct dial telephone and a balcony.  

Cynthia Beach Hotel Pool

Facilities
2 restaurants, 3 bars, snack bar, 3 swimming pools (2 outdoor freshwater, 1 indoor freshwater heated), 2 outdoor freshwater paddling pools for children, souvenir shop, internet access, 24 hour front desk with currency exchange, doctor on call 24 hrs, baby sitting service available on request, safety deposit boxes.

Activities
Volleyball, table tennis, floodlit tennis court, gym, sauna, aqua aerobics, scuba diving.

Paphos is situated on the west coast of Cyprus, 94 miles southwest of Nicosia, 84 miles west of Larnaca and 6 miles from Paphos International Airport.

Paphos Castle

Paphos is ideal for beach holidays, historic sightseeing, UNESCO World Heritage listed attractions, natural attractions including the Paphos Forest, the Akamas Peninsula and the Troodos Mountains, lively nightlife, good restaurants and luxury hotels.

The best time to visit Paphos is from May to October when the days are hot and sunny, and the sea lovely and warm. During July and August the temperature often reaches 34C.

Dining in Paphos has everything from British pub fare, Italian and Chinese to Lebanese, Indian and Mexican cuisine alongside the more traditional Cypriot tavernas. There are also lots of fast-food establishments, including fish and chip shops!

Paphos is an ideal resort for families with sandy beaches, lots of watersports, boat trips and a range of land based sporting activities including hikking in the Troodos Mountains and Jeep Safaris.

Paphos Aphrodite Waterpark

At the Paphos Aphrodite Waterpark you will find one of the biggest family rafting rides in Europe, white-knuckle waterslides, wave pools and fast and lazy rivers.

 
There are lots of small stretches of pebbly beach located next to the waterfront hotels of Kato Paphos but the main sandy Municipal Beach is centrally located.
Faros Beach is a quieter beach, and along with the Municipal Beach has been awarded EU blue flags for cleanliness.

Coral Bay

Another blue flag sandy beach is found at Coral Bay, 8 miles north of Paphos.

Ruins that date back to the 12th century BC, crumbling fortresses, ancient tombs and Roman remnants can be found around Paphos. Amongst the resort’s most popular attractions are the intricate mosaics of Nea Paphos, the Tombs of the Kings and the Archaeological Museum.

The Troodos Mountains, about an hours drive from Paphos, are a  full of hiking trails, green forest and wild sheep. Between November and March the area is covered in snow, so providing ski slopes and cross-country runs.
To the northwest of Paphos is the Akamas peninsula which is another great area for hiking in the summer.

Troodos Mountains

For evening entertainment there are Irish bars, Cypriot tavernas, sophisticated hotel bars and stylish cocktail lounges, and clubs.

Paphos is a treasure trove of ancient archaeological sites and mesmerising historical architecture. Here in Paphos modern beach resorts combine with spectacular heritage.

Medieval Castle Paphos

Medieval Castle of Paphos
This ancient fortress was built by the Byzantines to guard Paphos harbour and was restored and strengthened in the 13th century. The structure was destroyed by the Venetians in 1570, but rebuilt once again by the Turks. Together with the Saranta Kolones, the Medieval Castle provided a formidable obstacle to any sea invaders and is today, one of the most iconic symbols of Paphos. The ramparts offer spectacular views and the square in front of the castle is the venue of many traditional festivals.

Tombs of the Kings

Tombs of the Kings
This impressive network of tombs was constructed from the 4th century BC. The entrances feature magnificent Doric pillars, with the tombs themselves being carved out of solid rock. The name ‘Tombs of Kings’ is a little misleading, as it is high ranking officials rather than royalty that are buried here.

Odeon Theatre
This ancient and magical amphitheatre is one of the most famous in the world despite its tiny size. It was erected in the 2nd century and is still in use to this day, hosting a variety of summer music concerts and performing arts productions.

Paphos mosaics

Mosaics
Paphos is famed for its collection of ancient mosaics, located in five great ‘houses’ dating from the Roman era, situated in the Paphos Archaeological Park. The House of Dionysus is a good starting point for a mosaic tour, with its perfectly preserved collection of mosaic decorations and the mythological compositions dating back to the 2nd century AD. Dionysus, the God of Wine, is depicted in many of the house’s mosaics. Nearby, the contemporaneous House of Theseus has some excellent geometrical mosaics as well as mythological ones including ‘Theseus Killing the Minotaur’ and ‘Achilles Birth’. The 4th century AD House of Aion has more wonderful mythological mosaics, as do the House of Orpheus and House of Four Seasons, both of which date from the 3rd century.

Pillar of St Paul

Pillar of Saint Paul
Saint Paul visited Paphos in 45 AD in an attempt to convert the ruler of the time to Christianity. He was successful in his efforts, but not before being tied and whipped to this otherwise unremarkable lump of stone. The Pillar of Saint Paul is one of several popular stops for pilgrims who come to see the religious sites of this early bastion of the Christian faith.

Temple of Aphrodite
One of the most important religious sites of the ancient world was the Temple of Aphrodite, located amid the Sanctuary of Aphrodite in Kouklia, several kilometres east of Paphos. Although the site is now in ruins, it still attracts many pilgrims and tourists who explore the ancient 12th century BC remains. Excavations at the site uncovered numerous important artefacts which can be viewed in the Lusignan Manor.

Baths of Aphrodite

Baths of Aphrodite
Just outside of Paphos are the Baths of Aphrodite, where it is said the goddess Aphrodite would take a bath in a cave. Located on the Akamas Peninsula, the area is filled with spectacular natural beauty, and there are delightful trails and beaches to explore. The baths are almost 50kms north of Paphos, near the city of Polis.

Museums
Paphos has a couple of great museums, although many of the best artefacts have been whisked away to Athens. The highlight is the Paphos Archaeological Museum, which features hundreds of priceless artefacts dating from Neolithic times to the 18th century. Most of the artefacts here are finds from local excavations, although some come from other archaeological digs from across western Cyprus. The most popular exhibits are the tombstone from Mario and the marble statues of Aphrodite and Asklepios. The Byzantine Museum has many stunning artworks including rare icons and other religious artefacts of the era, collected from churches in and around Paphos. The highlight of this museum is the lovely Virgin Eleousa, an icon from the Monastery of St Savvas tis Karonos. The Ethnographical Museum, formerly known as the Folk Art Museum, is home to a private collection of thousands of items documenting the local archaeology, history, folk art and literature. The collection was amassed by Mr George Eliades and is displayed at his house on Exo Vrysi street. The displays are a great primer for anyone intent on exploring the small villages that dot the coastline and mountain regions surrounding Paphos.

Agapinor Hotel

The Agapinor Hotel is situated in the west coast of Paphos, offering panoramic views. The Hotel is superbly situated in the centre of Paphos Town, with panoramic views of the West Coast and hospitable staff, offering an ideal place for a holiday. The Hotels location is ideal for shopping and sightseeing, with the local Market & Bazaar, District Museum, Public Gardens and Town Hall just a few minutes walk away.

Kato Paphos with it’s beaches and bars and the Harbour, which is ringed with tavernas, is only 3km away, about 5 minutes by car. A short distance away is Land of the Kings, the House of Theseus & Dionysos and Saint Paul’s Pillar. Bus stops are situated directly outside the Hotel and 200m away there is a bus service that will take you to, Kato Paphos and Coral Bay, which is about 13kms away.

The Hotel’s Facilities include 24 hour Reception, currency exchange, WIFI,Swimming Pool, Children’s Pool, Restaurant, Coffee Shop, Café/ Bar with Sun Terrace, Pool Bar (summer only), book exchange, multipurpose conference room, 2 elevators, private parking area and shops accessible from the street outside.

The distance to Paphos International Airport is approximately 11 km.

My Opinion
I loved this hotel. Food was really good and all staff were very friendly and helpfull. We didn’t have any children with us but i don’t think there is much here for younger children to do,  this hotel is more geared for the older person (we are in our late 30′s). Anyway we had a great time and will definately be returning for another holiday.