Promenade walks, Italian food, the Blue Lagoon and beautiful weather
We arranged a short 3 night trip to Paphos in Cyprus where we flew from Newcastle Airport to Paphos which took just over 4 hours. We took the local bus 612 to our hotel, Kefalos Beach Tourist Village.
Kefalos Beach Tourist Village comprises of 249 beautiful apartments situated right on the beach front with spectacular views over the sea. The apartments have all the culinary facilities you would require for your holiday meaning you can save money enjoying some cosy meals in your apartment. This is also extremely helpful for families with children.
Although you have the facility to cook in your apartment, there is no need to as the beach village offers a buffet restaurant serving breakfast and dinner and two a la carte restaurants Divine Breeze located in the resort and Divine Peak, a short walk from the resort.
You can also indulge in the on-site spa services, enjoy the hotel entertainment and for families, there is a kids room and playground. The resort also host special occasions in their grounds such as weddings. How incredible to have your wedding right on the beachfront!
The resort is spacious and has all of the facilities you need for the perfect holiday as a couple, with friends or with children. It is also suitably located where you can stroll along the promenade and take the short walk to one of Paphos' main attractions, Tomb of the Kings.
Tomb of the Kings is a large necropolis site and you can explore for only 2 euros 50 cents per person. The tombs are well-preserved and you can enter the underground tombs and chambers. You can spend 1-2 hours exploring the tombs but be aware that they are extremely open and exposed so pack that suncream!
Continue along the promenade and enjoy the beautiful views along the coast. You can then return to your hotel and bask in the sun for the afternoon before dinner.
In the early evening we walked from the beach resort to Paphos Old Town which took approximately 30 minutes. In the old town you can visit the market offering local produce, appreciate the architecture and peruse the shops. Head to Beeroom for a pre-dinner drink in this quirky craft beer bar before having dinner at Vitro Osteria.
You may not be considering Italian food when you're planning your trip to Cyprus but Vitro Osteria should not be missed. This open and airy restaurant offers freshly made pasta and pizza recipes which are to die for. We enjoyed an incredible burrata starter with rocket, tomatoes and freshly baked rosemary bread followed by squid ink fresh pasta dishes. The meal ended with the Vitro Osteria signature, the tiramisu. You cannot visit this restaurant without sampling the tiramisu and trust me, you won't be disappointed. The restaurant is also open for brunch and throughout the day for food and cocktails.
Day two involved joining EOS tours on their Blue Lagoon tour. We were collected at 8:40am close to our resort and first visited the EDRO 3 shipwreck site and the sea caves. The ship was travelling to Rhodes in 2011 when it experienced some difficulty in stormy weather. Now this is a popular attraction to visit in Paphos.
The next stop was the Latchi Harbour where we boarded a large boat to take us to the Blue Lagoon. On board there is the opportunity to purchase food and drink but top tip, ensure you bring cash with you as it is no card on board. You will sail for 30 minutes or so before reaching the Blue Lagoon and will then have the opportunity to swim in the crystal clear waters. After your swim you will be offered a complimentary drink from the captain of either a white wine or an orange juice.
You will head back to the Latchi Harbour where you will have the opportunity to catch some lunch. I would recommend leaving the harbour where the boat stops and walking 5-10 minutes in the direction away from the harbour to Yialos Beach Grill House. We had two incredible pittas from here jam-packed full of chicken, halloumi, fresh salad, tzatziki and yogurt. It was delicious.
Now back of the bus you will be driven to the last stop of the day, the Baths of Aphrodite in the Akamas botanical garden. It is a short 5-10 minute walk to reach the baths. There isn't a lot to see and do here so this is a quick stop before heading home for the day. A thoroughly enjoyable tour all round.
Get your discount from your EOS Tour here:
Dinner was spent at the Divine Breeze restaurant at Kefalos Beach Tourist Village. If you time your table for sunset you can enjoy stunning views over the sea which creates the perfect romantic setting. The menu includes a blend of local and international cuisine and the service is sublime. You can choose from a wide range of dishes and extensive wine list to compliment each course. Make sure you sample this restaurant during at least one of your nights in Paphos.
Our final day was spent visiting the Paphos archaeological park of Kato Pafos. The site is 4 euros 50 cents per person and is said to be one of the most important sites of Cyprus. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the monuments in the park date back from the 4th century BC to the Middle Ages. Awe at the intricate mosaic floors of four Roman villas and learn about the history of greek mythology.
Paphos is a beautiful city and offers the perfect balance between a beach resort and city break. We are not 'bake in the sun for a week' people but that is not to say we don't like catching a tan and when visiting Paphos you have the option to laze around and enjoy your resort but also visit some incredible sites and learn about greek and cypriot history. We will definitely be revisiting Paphos in the future.
Best sights to see in Paphos:
Aphrodites rock
Adonis bath waterfalls
Paphos old town
Promenade
Castle and archeological park
Awakes gorge
Blue lagoon