Take a Trip to Paphos

Located on the southwest coast of Cyprus,Paphos is a city that has plenty to offer. Though less well known than some other resorts on the Mediterranean island,Paphos has been rapidly growing in popularity.

This was once the Roman capital on the island and a number of Roman sights can still be seen in and around the city. These include the impressively restored Acropolis.

Paphos attracts visitors who are looking for more than the average beach holiday. The resort does boast some fine beaches,but the historic setting means that there is much more to see here than you might expect. As you walk through the city streets,or venture into the nearby countryside,it’s possible to get a feel for the real Cyprus.

Tourism is undoubtedly of great importance to the Cypriot economy,but a traditional way of life still exists here. That mixture of modernity and tradition helps to make the island such a fascinating place to visit at any time of year. Possibly unsurprisingly,so many visitors are enchanted by Paphos and the rest of Cyprus that they decide to stay for longer than they had originally planned.

With property prices cheaper than many western European locations,properties in some areas have been bought by foreign nationals who want to take advantage of the excellent quality of lifestyle that can be experienced on this island.

If you enjoy pastimes such as sports,hiking,walking and water sports then you’ll find that the Paphos region of the island is a perfect place to spend time,whether you are visiting for a few days or intending on joining those who stay for considerably longer. While you are on the island,do make the effort to spend some time away from the typical tourist trail. There’s much more on offer here than the hotels with their tempting swimming pools.

Experiencing the real Cyprus can be enchanting.

Visiting the Resort of Paphos

My first to Cyprus was to be to the resort of Paphos (Pafos),on the island’s south-western coastline. Having never been to the island before,I was keen to see how it compared to the media images.

Here in the UK,we’ve been bombarded by images of revellers in the popular Cypriot resort of Ayia Napa. Once a quiet sleeping village,Ayia Napa has started to hit the headlines for a number of reasons.

The resort has,over the course of the past ten or fifteen years,been building up a reputation as one Europe’s more lively locations.

Popular with many because of its thriving dance scene and nightlife,others feel that things have been getting out of control. While some refer to Cyprus as rivalling the island of Ibiza,others see this comparison in negative terms.

Travelling to the opposite end of the island,I had my doubts about whether Paphos would be the ideal location. Would it look like the entry in the guidebook,or would it be similar to its better known rival?

As I made my way from Paphos Airport to the resort,I was relieved to see that the other tourists were of a variety of ages. Some were travelling as a family,others as groups of friends.

Everyone seemed happy to be on holiday,but I would describe my fellow travellers as being cheerful,rather than rowdy.

Fortunately,these first appearances were to hold true throughout my stay. The resort of Paphos is a bustling,rather charming town.

There’s clearly plenty to do in the evenings,with a range of bars,restaurants and nightclubs. Fortunately,this social side of the town is present for those who enjoy it,but can be easily avoided by those looking to enjoy a rather quieter stay.

I was charmed by Paphos and also pleasantly surprised. Cyprus is a relatively large island and I was wrong to imagine that all of its resorts would be the same.

It appeared to me that Paphos and Ayia Napa were worlds apart.