On Friday the 5th June 2026 we walked back down to the seafront and followed this to reach Venus Beach that we planned to visit today.
We pass a white Pergola at the end of Aginoros, these pergolas with seating are much appreciated on the seafront.
The seafront is well landscaped as the hotels that are adjacent clearly maintain them, we are sprayed with a water sprinkler as we pass by. But in this heat it was welcomed.
Looking behind us we have views back to the lighthouse and the path we walked along last night.
The Paphos Lighthouse (built in 1888) is a 20-meter tall, whitewashed beacon situated on Paphos Point in southwestern Cyprus. Located inside the UNESCO-listed Paphos Archaeological Park, the fully automated tower guides ships with a flash visible from 17 nautical miles away.
Further along the path we stumble across a shrine built on the rocky shore.
Positioned along the popular Paphos Coastal Broadwalk/Path. It is a traditional Orthodox roadside shrine, often used by fishermen or travellers to pray and honour saints.
We finally reach Venus Beach , where we plan to relax for a bit and swim/snorkel in the sea.
It is a very clean and well maintained beach and you can see how this beach has been carefully designed with rocks lined up in the sea acting as wave breakers. There are plenty of sun loungers and parasols available, we pay €10 for 2 beds and a parasol.
Soft sand and crystal clear waters this beach is perfect.
We had a snorkel and saw a few fish, they disappeared whenever the phone was out to film!
I swam back out after I left George on the sunbed, he isn't a strong swimmer. I swam out to the other side of the artificial reef and it was a little roughly this side. But wow huge shoals of fish and another that was swimming inches from my face around the reef. Google showed these fish to be Blue Yellow Parrotfish and Rainbow Wrasse.
We bought some drinks from the beach bar and relaxed. You can also order drinks and food from the sunbed and it is delivered to you.
After a few hours relaxing, we left the beach, used the showers up above, then walked over to Lidl's to buy a few bits and caught the 615 bus back to the apartment.
After a rest we walked back to the Tomb of the Kings Bus Station and caught the 618 bus to the Old Town for a look about.
Paphos Old Town, locally known as Ktima, is the historic city centre perched on a cliff roughly 2 km inland from the coastal Kato Paphos. It features restored neoclassical buildings, vibrant street art, a traditional market hall, and cliff-edge cafes offering sweeping views of the Mediterranean.
We pass the Agios Kendeas, a Greek Orthodox church on Thermopylon Road.
Agios Kendeas, located on Thermopylon Road, is a cherished, urban Greek Orthodox church in the heart of Paphos Old Town. Built in 1923, the church reflects traditional Byzantine architecture and is dedicated to St. Kendeas (also spelled Candace), a local Cypriot martyr.
Sadly the doors were locked as the interior pictures shown online look amazing!
We continue to stroll around the old town and popping in and out of shops.
Walking on we reach another impressive church.
It is the Ex Church of Agia Sofia on Namik Kemal.
The Ex Church of Agia Sofia, or Djami Kebir, is a notable historical site located in Paphos, Cyprus. Originally a church, it represents significant architectural and cultural heritage, showcasing the region's Byzantine influences. The structure features distinctive elements typical of religious buildings from its time. Today, it attracts visitors interested in history, culture, and architecture, making it an important landmark in the area. While it has religious significance, it also serves as a testament to the region's rich cultural tapestry.
Next to the church is one of many cat feeding stations in the town and of course loads of cats.
Paphos is famous for its massive population of stray cats, which reportedly outnumber the island's human residents. You will see these friendly felines lounging around ancient ruins, relaxing at hotel complexes, and begging for scraps outside local restaurants.
After strolling through a indoor market we exit out onto Nicodemou Milona and walk over to the viewpoint with sweeping views the the harbour, sea and across Paphos.
We stop in a Café for a drink as it is so hot.
We walk across the road and over to The Sitting Girl Statue.
The sitting girl statue you are referring to is officially titled "The Girl with the Sparrow". Created by acclaimed local Cypriot artist Yiota Ioannidou in 2018, the bronze sculpture depicts a young girl sitting in a prim, cross-legged posture with her hands cupped open, historically designed to hold a sparrow.
The sculpture was originally crafted with a small bronze sparrow resting inside the girl's outstretched hands, intended to look like she was feeding local birds. Visitors should note that the sparrow has been stolen by vandals. Despite the local authorities attempting to replace the bird, the replacements were also taken. As a result, you will see the girl sitting with empty, cupped hands.
Beyond the statue we take the lift down to visit the Hammam Baths.
The Ottoman Hammam (Loutra) in Paphos is a beautifully restored 16th-century stone bathhouse located near the old town market. While it no longer operates as an active, steaming Turkish bath for treatments, it is a protected heritage site and cultural centre that costs just €2.50 to visit.
The Ottoman baths of Paphos are also known as Hammam, Loutra and Turkish baths. They are from the Medieval times. It is a stone built structure, with a stone vault. It is a typical bath of the Ottoman era and consists of three main rooms: a reception area, then a second room where visitors used to undress and finally the main baths.
The Ottoman baths were in use until 1950. Despite this, they are an UNESCO listed heritage site. Its full restoration was completed in 2015. Nowadays, the Hammam is another monument that reveals the rich and diverse history, heritage and culture of Paphos and Cyprus.
We catch the bus back to the apartment for a siesta before heading back out later.
That evening we headed back out and down to the Sunset point by Elysium a short walk from the apartment.
The sunset here is just spectacular, George admitted he had never just sat and watched a sunset so it was an extra special moment.
Here another cat was content to sit with us as we watched the sunset.
In the distance is the Shipwreck of Dimitrios II.
The MV Demetrios II is a rusting, iconic cargo shipwreck resting 500 metres off the coast of Chloraka in Paphos, Cyprus. Built in 1964 and sailing under a Honduran flag, the vessel ran aground during severe storms on 23 March, 1998, while transporting timber from Greece to Syria.
We walked back to the apartment and pass a man in a field tending to his goats.
