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- Destinations
- Europe
- Cyprus
- Paphos
Paphos
The city of Paphos on the southwest coast of Cyprus was the
capital of the island in Roman times, and dates from 1400 BC.
Legend has it that the city is built on the spot where the Greek
Goddess of Love, Aphrodite, was born. The city also has many
connections to and relics from early Christianity. Over the
centuries it has survived numerous foreign incursions and raids,
and even a devastating earthquake in the 4th century. It lost out
to Larnaca as a major port in the Middle Ages and experienced a
decline during the British colonial period when development of this
part of the island came to a standstill.
Today, however, Paphos is reviving on the strength of tourism
and government investment in infrastructure such as dams, roads and
airport. Private initiatives have also resulted in a boom in the
construction of hotels, apartments and villas. The city has become
a popular seaside resort with a large population. The Ktima section
of the city is the main residential area, while Kato Paphos is the
playground of holidaymakers, built around the medieval port with
its numerous luxury hotels, tavernas and entertainment venues.
Information & Facts
Climate
Paphos enjoys a warm Mediterranean climate, with sunny, warm
summers and short mild winters when the weather is comparable to a
pleasant European spring. In summer temperatures are comfortable
without too much humidity. Towards the end of the brief winter
season, in late January and February, snow falls on the nearby
mountains and it is possible to make a ski-trip and take a dip in
the blue sea all on the same day. Paphos guarantees more than 340
sunny days a year.
Getting Around
Paphos has a reliable and inexpensive bus system that connects
Kato Paphos and the upper town. Hiring a car is a good way to
explore the surrounding areas, but the main parts of town can be
easily navigated on foot. Municipal taxis are available and tend to
be reasonably priced, servicing Paphos and its surrounds, although
it is recommended that these are hailed rather than pre-booked as
drivers tend to turn on meters when leaving to pick up passengers.
For the more adventurous, hiring a scooter can be an exciting way
to explore Paphos, but it is worth noting that accident rates are
very high.
Language
The majority of Cypriots speak Greek, and a small
percentage speaks Turkish. The Greek Cypriot dialect differs from
mainland Greece. English, German and French are spoken in tourist
areas.
Money
The currency was changed to the Euro (EUR) on 1 January 2008.
Major credit cards are accepted at most establishments. Money and
travellers cheques can be exchanged at banks, open from Monday to
Friday. There are ATMs spread throughout the island, operating 24
hours a day.
Time
GMT +2 (GMT +3 from the last Sunday in March to last Sunday
in October).