Brilliant day trips from Paphos Cyprus that you must do in 2023
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Sun-drenched beaches, sparkling sea, cultural sights and rustic tavernas – Paphos is a dream destination In Cyprus.
But did you know there are many brilliant day trips from Paphos, where you can explore beyond the city?
The city of Paphos is on the southwest coast of Cyprus and is surrounded by charming traditional villages, picturesque lagoons and historical sights.
It’s easy to book excursions from Paphos to the most popular sights, and in this detailed guide, I’ll show you how to book the best day trips in Cyprus.
Brilliant day trips from Paphos Cyprus
In this bumper guide, we’ll take you on a journey to ancient ruins, introduce you to local flavours, and immerse you in the natural wonders of this sun-soaked island.
From historic villages to pristine beaches to rugged mountains and serene vineyards, we’ll reveal unique adventures that will give you an appreciation for Cyprus’ diverse offerings.
How to book Paphos tours
While Paphos offers a treasure trove of attractions, the surrounding region has countless destinations and attractions waiting to be explored on day trips.
From ancient ruins to pristine beaches and captivating cultural experiences, this guide will walk you through searching for and booking day trips from Paphos, ensuring you make the most of your Mediterranean adventure.
Book Cyprus Day trips online
Popular tours that depart from Paphs can sell out quickly, so I recommend booking with reputable companies like Get Your Guide, Viator and Tripadvisor in advance.
GetYourGuide partners with local experts and knowledgeable guides who provide valuable insights into the history, culture, and off-beat places.
These experts enhance your Cyprus travel experience by offering unique perspectives and historical context.
Review and Ratings
Always check reviews and ratings of day trips and tours on platforms like TripAdvisor to ensure the operator’s reliability and the quality of their services.
Look for feedback on the professionalism of guides, the condition of vehicles, and the overall experience.
Ready to book?
Based on extensive travels in Cyprus, here are my personal recommendations for brilliant day trips from Paphos that you will love.
Discover the Akamas Peninsula
Located on the western tip of Cyprus, the Akamas Peninsula is one of the island’s undeveloped and beautiful parts. It’s also one of the most popular excursions from Paphos.
Stretching over 230 square kilometres, the Akamas Peninsula remains one of the last unspoiled regions in the Mediterranean. It is a haven for biodiversity, with rare and endemic flora and fauna.
Exploring the area typically requires an off-road tour, a keen sense of adventure, and tolerance for dirt tracks and potholes.
Typically, on an Akamas tour, you’ll visit the impressive Avakas Gorge, Lara Beach—home to the Turtle Conservation Project, and the Baths of Aphrodite.
It’s a fantastic way to cover much ground and learn more about the island. Many Akamas tours depart from Paphos, so you can easily get a tour from your hotel.
Discover the Laona Valley region
Another amazing day trip from Paphos is the Laona Valley region, home to some of the prettiest villages in Cyprus.
This area is roughly located between Polis Chysochous and the Akamas Peninsula.
You can rent a car from Paphos and take a self-guided tour around traditional tavernas, wineries, pretty villages and incredible natural beauty.
I loved whizzing past the mountainous views and taking some snaps of the scenery and the charming traditional villages.
Laona Valley Villages
Some of the prettiest villages in the Laona Valley region include:
- Inia
- Droushia
- Kathikas
- Pano
- Kato Akourdalia
The Laona Valley region is covered by rustic Cypriot vineyards, known as the Laona-Akamas wine route.
Wine lovers should call into some of the region’s vineyards to sample some magnificent local vinos.
You can book a Regional Wineries Tour with Wine Tastings that departs from Paphos and visit small, privately owned wineries to learn more about the winemaking process.
Cyprus Blue Lagoon boat trip
The Blue Lagoon is one of the most popular Cyprus day trips and is located on the Akamas Peninsula’s rugged coastline.
This pristine natural wonder is known for its crystal-clear azure waters, unspoiled beauty and excellent snorkelling opportunities.
To truly appreciate the Blue Lagoon, take a boat tour from Paphos, which offers swimming and snorkelling options.
Blue Lagoon Cyprus snorkelling trip
Beneath the surface of the Blue Lagoon lies a vibrant underwater world to explore.
Book a Blue Lagoon boat trip and dive beneath the waves to see a kaleidoscope of marine life, including colourful fish, sea turtles, and vibrant coral formations.
Knowledgeable local guides will take you to the best snorkel spots where you can float above an underwater paradise.
One of the Blue Lagoon’s most remarkable features is its exceptional water clarity. With visibility extending up to 30 meters (100 feet), you’ll be able to clearly see fish, corals and sponges.
Explore Choirokoitia village
The pretty village of Choirokoitia is an archaeological landmark and Neolithic settlement that is another impressive UNESCO World Heritage Site in Cyprus.
The Neolithic settlement of Choirokoitia, occupied from the 7th to the 4th millennium B.C., is one of the most important prehistoric sites in the eastern Mediterranean.
You can wander around several old churches, including the Byzantine church ‘Panagia tou Kambou’, and absorb the history and culture of this dural Cypriot village.
Choirokoitia is around an hour’s drive from Paphos but if you don’t have a car, Intercity Buses operates a bus from Pafos to Choirokoitia Neolithic Settlement 4 times a day. Tickets cost €5 – €7 and the journey takes 2h 5m.
Basket weaving Choirokoitia
A popular activity in Choirokoitia is a traditional basket weaving workshop at the residence of local artist Petros Nicolaou.
You can watch an engaging demonstration of this traditional Cypriot handicraft inside a fully restored 1903 stone-built house.
Petros will explain how this tradition is passed down through the generations as well as demonstrate some of the techniques used to create these beautiful baskets.
You can also purchase a decorative basket as a fabulous souvenir or as a gift for a loved one.
Making traditional halloumi
As well as basket making, visitors can also try their hand at preparing traditional halloumi and soft cheese.
Making authentic halloumi involves several steps that Petros talks you through.
I’m not sure I have the confidence to try it at home, though. I have a reputation for being an enthusiastic rather than accomplished cook.
After your halloumi making, you can kick back and eat the finished product with a cup of traditional Cypriot coffee in their picturesque courtyard.
It’s a relaxing way to spend a few hours and pick up some knowledge of local Cypriot culture.
Discover history at the Kourion archaeological site
Historic Kourion is located on a hillside just outside of Limassol. This impressive city-kingdom has a beautiful ocean backdrop and has huge historical significance for Cyprus.
It was one of the most powerful city kingdoms of ancient Cyprus, dating back to the 8th century BC.
It’s an incredible place to wander around to soak up some history. It also offers several Instagrammable spots for photographers.
If you book a guided tour of Kourion, you’ll get a lot more out of the experience, as they will be able to fill you in on the site’s rich history.
Theatre of Kourion
The centrepiece of this site is the magnificent Greco-Roman theatre. It was first constructed in the 2nd century BC and extended in the 2nd century AD.
The sun-drenched theatre has a capacity of 3,500 seats and is still used today for various cultural and theatrical events.
Drink Cypriot wine at Omodos Winery
The quaint village of Omodos is located in the geographical region of the wine-making villages of Cyprus, around an hour from Paphos.
This traditional village produces a large volume of high-quality local wine. Wine tasting is an absolute must here!
Make sure to visit ‘Linos tou Charilaou‘, a medieval wine press that has been converted into a museum. Here you can learn more about traditional winemaking techniques.
You can also have a smashing hour or so sampling local wines and playing with the many cats that wander in and out of the building.
Omodos village things to do
There are several other wineries in the area, including Zenon Winery who produce several award-winning wines such as the famous shiraz-maratheftiko.
There’s also a small museum on-site as well as the opportunity for wine tasting.
If you are able to stand after wine tasting you can also have a wander around this pretty village gazing at sites such as the monastery of the Holy Cross.
There are many shops selling trinkets and souvenirs as well as Georges traditional Bakery.
At this bakery and deli, you can taste local products such as cakes, bread and nut brittle.
Paragliding in Latchi
Imagine gliding through the air with the most beautiful blue skies and ocean views.
Paragliding in Latchi is an experience that’s not to be missed, especially because you can do a double-town parasail and experience dreamy views with your loved one.
When you go parasailing in Latchi, you’ll be strapped into a harness and slowly raised by mechanical winch up to a height of around 200 metres.
Latchi is a small fishing harbour and marina that’s around 45 minutes away from paphos.
It’s known for its watersports, beaches and marina restaurants that overlook the water.
I would definitely recommend doing paraglifging there as the views are incredible and its really reasonably priced.
Visit the lace shops of Pano Lefkara
Pano Lefkara is around an hour and 20 minutes drive from Paphos. This pretty Villiage is famous for its lace and silversmithing and is a popular tourist hotspot in Cyprus.
You could spend hours wandering around the rustic alleyways of this traditional village.
The houses here are really pretty, they were the homes of artisans and merchants and often then have dreamy, vine-filled courtyards and plant pots. It’s an Instagrammer’s dream here for photography.
You can also take a guided tour of Lefkara with an expert guide to learn more about this historic village.
Lefkara lace shops
Lefkara is home to Cyprus’s traditional embroidery which called “lefkaritiko”.
The traditional hand-made lace produced in Lefkara is now included in the UNESCO Representative List of ‘Intangible Culture Heritage of Humanity’.
The work is incredibly intricate and large pieces can take years to create.
I recommend visiting a traditional lace shop to learn more about this craft. You will also be able to purchase some beautiful lace pieces.
Pano Lefkara is a very popular place with tourists. To make the most of your time there I would suggest visiting very early in the morning, or perhaps visit Cyprus in the off-season?
It will be a lot less crowded and the temperatures will be a lot cooler for wandering around this small village.
Have a beach day at Coral Bay
Soak up the sun at the popular Coral Bay, a touristy beach in the Peyia municipality, just 6 km north of Paphos.
You can easily get a local bus to Coral Bay. Just get the 615 bus from Kato Paphos Harbour to Coral Bay.
You can spend an entire day relaxing and swimming in the sandy 500-metre-long Coral Bay Beach and enjoy the clean waters and lazy pace.
There’s also a range of useful facilities on the beach, including sunbeds, toilets, showers and changing rooms.
Snacks and drinks are available from the small beach cafe; you can even grab a few cold beers to enjoy on the beach.
As a British person, this is somewhat of a revelation, normally we can’t be trusted with booze on the beach.
Avakas Gorge
Avakas Gorge is around 16km from Paphos at the start of the Akamas Peninsula.
This scenic limestone-clad gorge has been carved out of the limestone over 1000s of years by the stream that still flows today.
Trekkers will love this picturesque walk, passing pools of water, plants and the occasional goat.
The entire route Avakas Gorge is just under 11km including walking back to the start point.
The gorge walk is a mixture of scrambling and walking, so it does require a reasonable level of fitness to do the walk.
A good way of seeing the gorge is to book an Avakas Gorge excursion from Paphos.
This way you’ll be able to explore the gorge with a professional guide and have hotel pick up and drop off.
Take a day trip to Limassol
On the southern coast of Cyprus, Limassol offers a rich tapestry of history, pristine beaches, and a thriving modern scene.
This Mediterranean gem seamlessly blends ancient charm with contemporary marina and swish hotels.
The Limassol Marina is popular with upscale restaurants, chic boutiques, and swanky yachts.
Paphos to Limassol is an easy 45-minute journey by public transport and only costs a few euros.
Explore Limassol by bike
When you get to Limassol, why not hire a bike and explore the pretty Limassol Marina on two wheels?
You can easily rent a bike with the Nextbike App, a public bike-sharing system.
You can register, rent and return bikes using the app and start exploring the marina for just a few Euros.
Once you have picked up your bike, cruise along the purpose-built cycle paths that hug the waterfront and enjoy beautiful ocean views.
If you need a little rest after biking, I recommend stopping at the Cafe Nero on the waterfront, for a coffee and cake.
Explore Limassol Marina
The newly developed Limassol Marina is an impressive sight as you cycle along; numerous flats, shops, restaurants and bars are all highly modern and swish.
There are also plenty of places to stop and take a photo in Limassol. One of my favourite places was the little pier where you can watch locals fish.
If you visit Cyprus in the winter, stunning seaside places like Limassol aren’t overly crowded.
This means you can easily rent a bike in Limassol and explore the area without masses of tourists everywhere.
Fun Paphos day excursions
From historic sites, pretty villages, wineries, paragliding, boat trips and beach excursions.
There is a huge amount of things to do near Paphos that can really enhance your Cyprus holiday.
What do you think of my list of Paphos day trips? Are you planning any days trips in Cyprus? Let me know in the comments below.
Planning your trip to Paphos
Ready to book your trip to Paphos? Use these awesome travel resources to get you started:
- Search for the best flight deals with Skyscanner
- Search for the best hotel deals on Booking.com
- Get the best travel tips with a travel guidebook
- Book an Airbnb and have £25 towards your first booking
- Get the best destination recommendations from TripAdvisor
Check out all the best travel resources on my bumper travel resources page!
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Portia has spent years traversing the globe and having many misadventures. She now works as a freelance travel journalist, editor of Pip and the City and hosts the Travel Goals Podcast. She specialises in adventure travel, destination guides and city breaks. Her work has appeared in The Times, National Geographic and Lonely Planet. She can normally be found hiking, swimming outdoors in icy waters, or drinking coffee in bougie cafes.
