Paphos Archaeological Park
Paphos Archaeological Park is one of the narrated stops on the self-guided Paphos audio walking tour in Gingerguide. Plan about ~120 min here. Press play at the spot for its two to three minute story, or ask the AI guide anything about it.
- Type ruins
- Suggested visit ~120 min
- Paphos Paphos guide
About Paphos Archaeological Park
The ruins of the ancient capital of Cyprus, a UNESCO site by the sea famous above all for its superb Roman floor mosaics, with grand villas, a theatre, an agora and a ruined fortress.
The Paphos Archaeological Park covers much of the ancient city of Nea Paphos, founded in the late fourth century BC and capital of Cyprus through the Hellenistic and Roman ages. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site inscribed in 1980, and its glory is its Roman floor mosaics, among the finest in the Mediterranean. Four grand villas, named by their excavators the Houses of Dionysos, Theseus, Aion and Orpheus, keep intricate mosaic floors of the third to fifth centuries AD, mostly of Greek myths.
Beyond the mosaics lie a restored second-century odeon that still hosts performances, a vast Hellenistic agora, and Saranta Kolones, the 'Forty Columns', a ruined fortress thought to have guarded the port, later rebuilt by the Lusignans and wrecked by the earthquake of 1222. A white lighthouse of 1888 stands over it all. Polish archaeologists have dug here since 1965, and the site is still being uncovered.
Did you know? Nea Paphos was founded in the late fourth century BC and was capital of Cyprus through the Hellenistic and Roman ages; its ruins form part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site inscribed in 1980.
How long should you spend at Paphos Archaeological Park?
Plan about ~120 min at Paphos Archaeological Park. That is enough to take it in and hear its narrated story; stay longer if it grabs you. The tour is self-guided, so there is no rush.
Is Paphos Archaeological Park worth visiting?
Paphos Archaeological Park is one of the 13 sights the Gingerguide team researched and narrated in Paphos, so it earns a place on a self-guided walk. Its story explains why it matters, and you can ask the AI guide anything the story leaves open.
Nearby stops in Paphos
Sources and further reading
Where to check the facts about Paphos Archaeological Park and read more:
Day 1 of the Paphos in 2 days itinerary →
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Hear the story of Paphos Archaeological Park
Preview the Paphos tour free in the Gingerguide app.