Paphos Cyprus Day Two - 5th June 26

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.

Paphos, Cyprus Day One-4th June 26

On Thursday the 4th of June 2026 George and I left home at 4am and drove to London Luton Airport to catch our 0710 hours flight to Paphos, Cyprus.

After a four and a half hour flight, we landed in Pafos International Airport and we were quickly through customs, collected our luggage and we were outside to catch the 612 bus. It was there outside as we got out, but the bus was full and we couldn't get on. Its about another hour for the next bus and at least 31 euros for a bolt cab. A driver of a Easyjet coach that took package deal passengers to their hotels approached us and offered a ride for 10 euros each, cheaper than a cab, obviously this money was going straight in his pocket but was a perfect solution for us!

 

A short while later we we dropped off across the road from our apartment. We walked across and was met by Kleopas the owner of Ocean Blue Apartments and showed us around the apartment and we were then settled in quickly.

Comfortable Accommodation: Ocean Blue Apartments in Paphos City offers a garden and terrace with free WiFi. Each apartment features air-conditioning, a balcony, and a private bathroom.

Modern Amenities: Guests enjoy a minimarket, family rooms, and free on-site private parking. Additional amenities include a kitchenette, washing machine, and sofa bed.

Prime Location: Located 8 km from Paphos International Airport, the property is close to Kefalos Beach (9-minute walk), Kings Avenue Mall (less than 1 km), and Tombs of the Kings (11-minute walk). Scuba diving is available in the surroundings.

We left the apartment to walk down to the local beach to our apartment. 

We reach Harry's Cove and the Elysium Hotel short pier.

Harry's Cove is a picturesque cove in Cyprus that impresses with its unique rock formations and beautiful landscape. The place is famous for its jagged cliffs and dynamic coastline, where the sea has carved fascinating caves into the rocks.

The bay offers several vantage points from which to admire the boundlessness of the sea and amazing sunsets, as well as a small beach for swimmers.

We catch the 611 bus from the Tomb of the Kings Bus station down to Paphos Harbour.

Paphos is a coastal city on the southwestern coast of Cyprus, globally renowned as the mythical birthplace of Aphrodite. It seamlessly blends a rich history with a modern Mediterranean lifestyle, offering visitors a mix of UNESCO World Heritage archaeological sites, pristine Blue Flag beaches, and a bustling, vibrant harbour.

We stop at The Wooden Pub  on Poseidonos Avenue just off the seafront.

We have a chicken Gyros each and I have a local beer 'Restless Pilsner' by Radical Way Brewing from Nicosia made wit Mandarina Bavaria, Saaz and Ariana hops and George had a local Cypriot Militsa Strawberry and Lime Cider from Nicosia.

We walk up into the harbour for a look about.

Paphos port is one of the most ancient ports in Cyprus. It is found on the south west coast of Cyprus. It was the King Nikoklis, who was the last of the kings in Paphos, who had the original port constructed in 320BC.

The new port is actually in the same place as the old port was. The new port was done in order to improve the natural anchorage of the city. This was done by building 2 new breakwaters that make an inner basin within the existing protected area of the port. The port played an important role in the foreign trade as the new port was designed to have 3 anchorages to help with this. One anchorage for the foreign trade, another for smaller vessels for local trade and the third for warships visiting the area.

The prominent bronze statue just steps from Paphos Castle is called Sol Alter (often colloquially referred to as a "mermaid" or "siren" statue by visitors). It was sculpted in 2017 by local artist Yiota Ioannidou.

It depicts a young, reclining woman gazing out toward Petra tou Romiou (Aphrodite's Rock).

The sculpture pays homage to Aphrodite. The figure represents a young woman aspiring to mirror the beauty and essence of the Goddess of Love and Beauty.

We walk over for a visit to Paphos Castle just a two and a half euro entry fee.

Standing grandly at the west end of the town’s harbour, Pafos (Paphos) Castle (Medieval Fort) was originally a Byzantine fort built to protect the harbour, and was rebuilt by the Lusignans in the 13th century, but then dismantled by the Venetians. The Ottomans rebuilt it in the 16th century when they conquered the island. What survives today is the 1592 Ottoman restoration of the western Frankish tower with its Venetian additions. An inscription above the only entrance of the castle bears witness to this restoration.

The main part of the castle is a big square tower that has an enclosed courtyard in the middle. The ground floor consists of a central hall with small rooms on each of its two long sides, which were used as prison cells during Ottoman Rule. There are 12 battlements on the roof, which received a corresponding number of cannons. The Ottomans removed the cannons in 1878, when they handed over the administration of the island to the British, who used the castle as a salt store until 1935, when it was declared an Ancient Monument under the Antiquities Law.

Climbing to the top offers panoramic views over the Mediterranean Sea, the bustling Paphos Harbour, and the nearby archaeological park. 

The large square in front of the castle frequently acts as an open-air venue for cultural festivals and world-class opera performances, such as the annual Paphos Aphrodite Festival.

Once out of the Castle we walk back along the front and pass the famous Pelican Restaurant and its Pelican.

The venue opened in 1957 as a small coffee shop and eatery named "Aphrodite" to serve local fishermen and dockworkers.

In 1967, an exhausted wild pelican washed ashore at the harbour after a grueling migration flight. Local fishermen nursed it back to health at the café. The bird recovered, refused to leave, and became an overnight celebrity.

Due to the immense fame of the bird—affectionately named Kokos—the restaurant changed owners and was renamed The Pelican Restaurant in 1969. Tragically, the original "Grandpa Koko" passed away in 1972 after being hit by a vehicle.

Over the decades, a succession of pelicans have maintained the tradition. A highly famous predecessor arrived in 2004 and lived for over 25 years before passing away peacefully of old age in 2021.

Today, a younger female pelican named Kokos continues the legacy. The owners emphasize that she is completely wild, uncaged, and free to fly anywhere around Paphos, but she chooses to return to the harbour restaurant because she considers it her home.

We catch the 611 bus back to the apartment for a nap, we later headed back into the harbour.

We had a look around both tired after todays early start we walk the coastal boardwalk back to the apartment. Much cooler now, we enjoy the views and the sea breeze.

We are back at the apartment for the night, looking forward to seeing more tomorrow as a new day starts.