Paphos, Cyprus – Overview & Photo Diary

Well we are back on British soil and I am fully ready to embrace the autumn winter season. Give me all the pumpkins, fireworks, jumpers and Christmas magic – I can’t wait! That being said I just wanted to do a little round up of our holiday to Cyprus, so I thought I would put together a quick overview of all the best bits and a little photo diary.

Booking the Holiday

We have been to Paphos in Cyprus before; around 5 years ago. We absolutely loved it then and this time when we started looking at holidays we just wanted somewhere hot, reasonably priced, lots to do and of course the best food. Over the years I have been on a few different European beach holidays and we just knew it would be the best safe option that wouldn’t disappoint. We booked flights, hotel and transfers all through OnTheBeach and they have been the best value for money each time we have been. 

Cyprus in late September was so much hotter than I had ever expected. We booked to go end of September, beginning of October and I did have a little panic at one point that maybe it wouldn’t be that warm. I could not have been more wrong. The lowest temperature during the 10 days we were there was 28 degrees!! Perfect for a little last minute sun before the winter.

Cyprus has so much to see and do! The first time we went we ticked off loads of things on the tourist to do list. This time round we found completely new things to do and didn’t repeat anything. As we came to the end of the holiday, I realised there was still more for us to do and places for us to visit. The country has so much to offer.

Food & Drink

As I said we knew the food was amazing in Cyprus and Greek food is one of our favourites. It was so good that I have put together a separate post just for our favourite places to eat. However, here is a sneaky photo of an epic burger that I had one lunchtime at Christos Grill in the old town. Also if you are looking for the best ice cream or sorbet, then I highly recommend Gelamo Gelato Café in the harbour near the Medieval castle.

Days Out

This time round one of our favourite trips was to Paphos zoo. It’s a slightly smaller zoo compared to those that we are used to in the UK, but it was still a great day out. We felt as though we had the whole zoo to ourselves. We didn’t struggle to see the animals or bump into people all day. One of my favourite parts about the zoo is that they had various interactive stations, such as feeding the giraffes or the elephants. There is an additional fee for these, but it’s still reasonably priced. Our entrance tickets were around €16 each and there is free transport from Coral Bay.

The best part of the day was the parrot show (no additional fee). We went into a small amphitheater and sat patiently waiting for the display, which was really good. Both presenters were English and gave us lots of information about each of the species being displayed and showed us how intelligent they were. At the end of the display they announced a little surprise. A barn door opened and the second presenter said “come on then”. Next thing I knew there was a baby tiger bounding along like a big puppy! We then had the opportunity to feed him and have a photo (€20). It was a once in a life time opportunity and I am so glad we were able to do it. Just to note, all of the additional fees go towards helping that group of animals. 

Other great days out involved Coral Bay, which I think is one the best beaches in the area! Jeep safaris were also a fantastic all day excursion and a great way to see things such as the Baths of Aphrodite and more. There are also excursions to other towns such as Limassol if you fancy exploring further afield.

Transport & Getting Around

Public transport in Cyprus is amazing. We decided not to hire a car this time (mainly because I quite enjoy not having to drive, as normally I drive a lot at home). Instead we bought bus tickets that allowed us to jump on and off all day and in all directions as much as we liked for a week (€20 each). I certainly don’t think you need a car to get around unless you would like to explore places further out from the Paphos area or if you have a big family perhaps.

Cyprus is such a beautiful place to visit and I could not recommend it enough! There is something for everyone of all ages, different budgets and interests. You can sit by a pool for 10 days and soak up the sun and beautiful environment or you could be out and about exploring somewhere new every day and enjoying all the culture the beautiful country has to offer.

Have you ever been to Cyprus before? I’d love to hear what you thought or if you would love to go, so please leave me a comment below.