Planning a trip with children in Paphos, Cyprus

Cyprus is a paradise for families with children: endless sandy beaches, a variety of entertainment, a unique climate, the friendly attitude of the local population, a high level of security and a variety of fresh fruits almost at any time of the year. Cypriots adore children – they are allowed literally anywhere and everything on the island. In any cafe, a child will be patted on the head, almost always offered some kind of additional bonus (free tea or juice, fruit or sweets).

Paphos

An example of an excellent area to travel to with kids in the country is Paphos City. It is located in the southwest of Cyprus, and the resort is the administrative centre of the Paphos region.

The city is fairly well connected and travel to nearby major towns and cities looks like this:

• 151km to Nicosia

• 68km to Limassol

• 134km to Larnaca

• 179km Ayia Napa

• 188km Protaras

Modern Paphos is divided into two parts. The upper one is located on a hill, where the city administration and markets are situated. In a word, it’s the centre of business and trade in the area. The lower part, called Kato Paphos, is a coastline with restaurants, hotels, attractions and a rocky beach. There are also two districts further away: Coral Bay and Akamas. These are the areas that are the best for families with children, and the beaches there are much nicer – plus it’s easy to walk to the centre and the embankment. In fact there are a variety of advantages for families with children living in Paphos:

• Small-scale picturesque bays, beautiful views, lots of greenery and secluded beaches. In Paphos itself almost all the beaches are pebbly, but if you rent a villa, they all have their own beaches with loose sand. Villas to rent can be found on the Cyprus Villas website.

• Easy access – Paphos has its own airport, where charters and regular flights from all over the world fly. It can be easily reached from other cities in Cyprus by municipal buses and minibuses, or by taxi.

• It is convenient to move around the city on foot with children or with a stroller, as the city is relatively small and the roads are well kept.

• It’s peaceful and quiet – there are practically no nightclubs here, and those that exist and those there are are not teeming with young people and do not disturb the peace of other vacationers.

• There is a high level of medical care that will be covered by travel insurance that will save the budget and the nerves. There are many possible options for providers, but British insurance company Globelink (https://www.globelink.co.uk) is a good place to start when planning a trip.

• There are beautiful archaeological sites (right in the city, near the port, visitors will find an archaeological park with the ruins of an ancient city, as well as an ancient necropolis – very interesting for school-aged children.

• There are a huge number of cafes and restaurants

Weather and climate

The climate in Paphos is Mediterranean, which means that the summers are long, warm and dry. Winter at the resort is mild, but it will be cold for swimming; it snows every few years. On the whole it stays relatively warm though, and the average annual temperature is 18.7°C.

As earlier as May, it’s possible to plan a vacation, but it is in May and June, when the air temperature stays between 24 and 28°C, that most families find the weather optimal. July and August bring exhausting heat, and in September, the temperature returns to a comfortable range. From then on, September and October are good options for a holiday with the babies in Paphos. In the first half of autumn, the daytime temperature reaches 26 to 28°C, but the sun is no longer so scorching. By the end of October, the rains begin, and with them a cold snap usually arrives. 

When the thermometers on the beach show 25°С, I certainly feels like a good idea to freshen up in the sea. In May the water temperature in Paphos will be only about 20°С, whereas in the winter the sea water will cool down to 16-17°С. Residents of Cyprus open the swimming season only in late May or early June.

At this time there is a holiday called Kataklysmos (meaning “flood” in Greek), and it’s celebrated it in a special way: they pour water over each other and swim in the sea.

By the beginning of summer, the sea temperature reaches 23°С, which is suitable for even toddlers to be dipped in. From July until about September the water off the coast of Paphos heats up to 25-26°C, and in October one can still swim safely: the water maintains a temperature of about 24°C. By November the rains will hit, and the sea temperature will drop to 21°С.

What to do with kids in Paphos

Family vacations in Paphos tend to fall during the warm season, which means that any day can be considered suitable for walking. And although this resort cannot be called green, it will not be difficult to find a place to take a child for a walk. The most pleasant thing, of course, is walking by sea.

Palm trees grow on the Paphos embankment, the aromas of Mediterranean cuisine emanated from the many restaurants, loved ones buy gifts crowd around the souvenir stalls and the atmosphere is just what a holiday should feel like.

There an ancient fort, which can be climbed, with cannons aimed towards the sea, and an anchor that has turned into a monument to ships. In addition, the promenade will lead visitors to the harbour, where excursion boats depart regularly.

There are also some options further afield:

• Aqua-park of Aphrodite
  There are 23 slides and several more pools at the aqua-park, with lots of entertainment for the little ones and several restaurants. The children’s rides are calm and safe, but the water park is pretty large, and it is open-air, so it is not ideal during the day for little ones prone to burning.
  Admission for adults is €30, children from three to 11 years old enter at €15-16, and children under three go free.

• Bird park
  This park features aviaries with pink flamingos, toucans, cranes, owls and 63 species of parrots! The staff arrange colourful parrot shows in a miniature amphitheatre that delight the little ones. The park is also home to giraffes, antelopes, raccoons and camels, and is located about 25 minutes from the centre of Paphos.
  Tickets to the park cost €15 for adults and €8-9 for children.

• Akamas peninsula
  The peninsula is a national reserve and is under the protection of UNESCO. It is very unspoilt, with few roads or civilisation, and there are beautiful grottoes, caves and forests, which are only accessible by Jeep via dirt roads. The area is populated by giant turtles, rare butterflies and reptiles, and there are also the baths of Aphrodite, where, according to legend, the goddess met her beloved Adonis. It’s possible to swim there, but the water is pretty cool. It’s an hour’s drive from the centre of Paphos to the peninsula, and one for the older children.

• Aquariums
  These are 72 small aquariums with tropical and Mediterranean fish, as well as crocodiles.

• Paphos Zoo
  While vacationing with children in Paphos, it’s worth taking time to go to the zoo – and it is located next to the Coral Bay beach. More than 200 species of animals live here, from curious marmots to lazy lions, starlings to parrots, and nimble lizards to hulking crocodiles. In addition, the zoo has a lot of greenery, so it’s a great place to spend time with children in the fresh air.

• Ostrich farm in Pissouri
  Here children can see ostrich nests, hold eggs in their hands and meet real ostriches.

Those planning to visit Cyprus in July or August will surely ask themselves what to do in Paphos with family during the hours when people need to hide from the sun. Here, closed entertainment centres for children come to the rescue. For example, fun awaits the kids in the Kids Kingdom and Cosmic World playgrounds, as well as in Ithaki amusement park, where, in addition to attractions and slot machines, there is a mini golf course.

Beach holidays in Paphos

A beach holiday in Paphos is decidedly a good idea, but with one caveat: the best beaches are located outside the tourist area.

Fortunately, any of them can be easily reached by city buses, in order to sunbathe in a truly picturesque place, on the sandy coast where the Mediterranean sea calmly rolls by.

There are fun and unforgettable guided walks for the whole family in Paphos, and in most cases it’s safe to wander unguided along the coast. Many beaches of Paphos and its surroundings are marked with blue flags (a mark of environmental quality, safety and accessibility). From mid-April till the end of October, the coast is kept in perfect condition, despite the fact that admission to all beaches is free.

Within the city limits, the beaches are mainly rocky and pebbly. The city beach of Paphos is the nicest, but it is not suitable for a vacation with kids: the rocky bottom and deep water are prohibitive. More convenient for swimming are the beaches of St George, Vrisoudia A and Pharos. But close to Paphos, in the village of Geroskipou, there’s a very cozy pebble and sand beach. It is protected from storms by breakwaters, and the sea is always warm and calm. There is also a pleasant green area nearby, so it’s easy to while away a whole day in Geroskipou.

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