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General Description of Paphos
Paphos is a colourful, relatively modern little town, blessed with a particularly mild climate as a result of warm sea breezes from the W. Covering an area of around 16 sq mls in all, the town is really split into two: Kato Paphos and Paphos Town. Kato Paphos, on the coast, is the principal holiday area and centres on an attractive little harbour whose picturesque, open-air restaurants line the quayside where bright fishing boats and pleasure craft are moored. Along the sea front are many pavement cafes, bars, restaurants and souvenir shops. It is also the centre of modern tourist development, which has somewhat spoilt the overall effect. 2 mls inland is Paphos Town, or Kima, as it is known to the locals. The town is full of hustle and bustle, and its hilly, narrow streets can get choked with traffic at peak times – parking is impossible – but is well worth looking around on foot. The spread-out resort of Coral Bay is some 8 mls N of Kato Paphos and its 2 large sandy bays has already attracted hotels, aparthotels and extensive holiday villages. The road leading out of Kato Paphos to the SE, towards Plaz Beach, has also been developed as a tourist area with plenty of modern hotels and apartments, as has the "Tombs of the Kings" road which links Coral Bay with Kato Paphos. This road is single-lane each way so be prepared for heavy, slow-moving traffic if venturing out on a Fri or Sat night.
Market/Suitability
Middlemarket, good for families. Very popular with the British market but also attracts a large number of German visitors and a few Danes.
Location/Contact
Location: In the SW corner of Cyprus. 95 mls SW of the capital, Nicosia. 90 mls W of Larnaca. 9 mls NW of Paphos international airport.
Position: The main tourist area, Kato Paphos, has developed around a sheltered harbour, while the older settlement of Paphos Town is set atop a hill about 2 mls N. The surrounding countryside is mainly rocky, hilly open land.
Dialling Code: 26
Website: www.vtourist.cy.net/paphos/
Accommodation
Mainly 3- and 4-star hotels situated in Kato Paphos centre. Many modern 4- and 5-star hotels are situated directly on the beach, although it is wise to check the quality of the beach when booking; many "beachfront" hotels only have access to rocky coves with perhaps a smattering of sand. A number of holiday "villages" exist in the Coral Bay area.
Beach
There are 4 municipal beaches in the Paphos area, but much of the shoreline is actually rocky. Coral Bay, 8 mls N, is considered the most attractive beach, being sandy with shallow water. Plaz Beach, 4 mls SE, is sandy. A number of hotels have man-made beaches along their shorelines.
Shopping
The main shopping area and markets are situated in Paphos Town and range from typical crafts to larger, more sophisticated department stores. Best buys are leather, handicrafts, pottery, silver, gold and embroidery.
Entertainment
Daytime: shopping and bargain hunting; aquarium; water park; Archaeological Museum; Byzantine Museum; Mosaics of Paphos at House of Dionysos (Kato Paphos); Tombs of the Kings; water sports including jet-skiing, parasailing, pedalloes, snorkelling, diving and fishing.
Nightlife: innumerable lively bars, tavernas, British pubs, discos, a cinema, a bouzouki club and a few nightclubs; several of the hotels have their own nightclubs, often with live bands.
Eating Out
Plentiful restaurants, cafes and snack bars in Paphos and towards Polis, 20 mls to the N. Ranging from good fish restaurants to pizzerias and burger joints as well as traditional fare.
Public Transport
Frequent bus service along the coast road to Coral Bay, operating from early morning till late evening during the main season. Taxis operate 24 hrs.
Local Excursions
Half day: Cyprus Night (evening at local village taverna). Full day: Baths of Aphrodite; Limassol; Nicosia; Troodos Mountains; boat trip to Coral Bay, unspoilt Lara Bay and Akamas Peninsula; jeep expedition in the Akamas area.
Serving Airports
Paphos International (PFO)
Flight time from the UK: 4 hrs 15 mins
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 ALBUFEIRA, ALGARVE | | BAVENO, ITALY | | BENALMADENA, COSTA DEL SOL | | BENIDORM, COSTA BLANCA | | CALPE, COSTA BLANCA | | COSTA TEGUISE, LANZAROTE | | DUBLIN, IRELAND | | FUENGIROLA, COSTA DEL SOL | | FUNCHAL, MADEIRA | | FURNAS, AZORES | | HAMMAMET, TUNISIA | | IXIA, RHODES | | KALATHOS, RHODES | | KILLARNEY, SOUTH WEST IRELAND | | LA GOMERA, CANARY ISLANDS | | LAGOS, ALGARVE | | LIMASSOL, CYPRUS | | LLORET, COSTA BRAVA | | LOS GIGANTES, TENERIFE | | MACHICO, MADEIRA | | MAGALLUF, MAJORCA | | MARIA ALM, SALZBURGERLAND, AUSTRIA | | PAPHOS, CYPRUS | | › 4* Avanti | | › 4* Imperial Beach | | › 4* Pioneer Beach | | PLATJA DE ARO, COSTA BRAVA | | PLAYA BLANCA, LANZAROTE | | PLAYA DE LAS AMERICAS, TENERIFE | | PORT EL KANTAOUI, TUNISIA | | PORT ERIN, ISLE OF MAN | | PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC | | PRAIA DA ROCHA. ALGARVE | | PUERTO DE LA CRUZ, TENERIFE | | PUERTO RICO, GRAN CANARIA | | QAWRA, MALTA | | RIVA DEL GARDA, ITALY | | SALINA BAY, MALTA | | SCHLADMING, AUSTRIA | | SEEFELD, AUSTRIA | | SELVA, ITALY | | SOLL, AUSTRIA | | SOUSSE, TUNISIA | | STRESA, ITALY | | TAVIRA, ALGARVE | | TORREMOLINOS, COSTA DEL SOL |
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