Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Paphos?
Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Paphos?
Most visitors spend three to five days in Paphos when visiting. The ancient town offers so many things to see and explore, so you'll want to take full advantage of the limited time you have. Highlights include the beaches, the museums and landmarks, the food, and the beautiful scenery.
Paphos is a city on the island of Cyprus. It has a long running history which you can learn about by visiting the Paphos Archaeological Park. The city also has wonderful beaches and amazing food.
Do you have one or two days to visit Paphos? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.
Is one day enough time in Paphos?
One day is generally not enough time to lounge on the beach, browse through museums, taste delicious cuisine, and admire the wonderful scenery in Paphos. A shorter schedule may leave you with a sense of urgency to enjoy popular activities such as the beaches, the museums and landmarks, the food, and the beautiful scenery. To genuinely appreciate the highlights of the ancient town, a more lengthy visit is typically recommended. Many tourists opt for at least 3 or as many as 5 days here. After all, The popular town of Paphos has many activities and attractions for visitors. However, if you're working with limited time, we have some great ideas for making the most of your stay below.
How to spend a day in Paphos
The beautiful beaches await you in Paphos, so spend the day (or several, if you can) relaxing on the sand or swimming in the water. Many people head to the area specifically for the beaches. This region has the longest coastline of any region in Cyprus, but keep in mind that some of the best beaches are found outside of the main tourist areas. However, they most are usually accessible by city bus with many remote stretches found along the Akamas Peninsula. Within town the beaches are often rocky and pebbly.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Standard 50HP Self-drive Private Boat Hire in Latchi ($151)
- Luxury 70HP Self-drive boat hire in Latchi ($187)
- Blue Lagoon Cruise with sightseeing departing from LATCHI HARBOUR. Postcode 8840 ($22)
The culinary scene in Paphos is world famous, and draws visitors from around the globe. Make sure you spend time enjoying breakfast, lunch, and dinner at some of this town's best restaurants. And consider a food tour, too. Many are either a half day or just a few hours, so you can fit one into your schedule easily. Food is a huge part of the culture and family life in the area. The cuisine is influenced by the surrounding areas and you'll see similarities to Greek, Turkish, and Middle Eastern cuisines. Popular dishes include koupepia (vine leaves stuffed with a filling called gemista), souvlaki (a meat and salad filled pita), and makaronia tou fournou (a pasta dish made with halloumi and béchamel sauce).
The public transit in Paphos is fast and efficient. Over the course of a few days, you should be able to explore the town quite easily and affordably. It's possible to get around by city bus to most places. Buses connect many touristy areas such as Kato Paphos, Tombs of the Kings, Chloraka, Kissonerga, Coral Bay and Paphos Center.
Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Paphos?
As a popular town, Paphos offers a large number of activities and attractions for visitors. Given only a weekend, you will likely find yourself hurrying to lounge on the beach, browse through museums, taste delicious cuisine, and admire the wonderful scenery. To truly savor all that the town boasts, a more generous amount of time is advisable. Many travelers opt for at least 3 or as many as 5 days to thoroughly relish the wonders of the town. However, if your schedule is tight, we have a handful of recommendations for making the most of your visit.
Paphos, Cyprus
How to spend 2 days in Paphos
If you have more than a weekend (two to three days) in Paphos, you'll appreciate the added time for everything the town has to offer.
Paphos is known for it's world-class museums and famous landmarks, so make sure you spend at least a day exploring at one or more of the most appealing. The area is well known for its impressive archeological ruins, many of which are found at Paphos Archaeological Site. Other impressive sights include the Tombs of the Kings, the Chrysopolitissa Basilica & St. Paul's Pillar, Agia Paraskevi, and Paphos Fort.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Guided Tour of Limassol with Kourion and Kolossi Castle ($55)
Paphos is known to be such a beautiful destination, so just exploring and taking it all in should be one of the top things to do on your list. The area is known for its world-renowned archeological ruins, stunning beaches, and beautiful outdoor setting.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Standard 50HP Self-drive Private Boat Hire in Latchi ($151)
- Luxury 70HP Self-drive boat hire in Latchi ($187)
- Latchi to Blue Lagoon Glass Bottom+slide Boat Tour ($25)
More Info
If you're looking for more information about Paphos, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.
Some of the links on this website are sponsored or affiliate links which help to financially support this site. By clicking the link and making a purchase, we may receive a small commission, but this does not affect the price of your purchase.