Paphos in Cyprus is the 2008 summer holiday destination that ticks all the boxes; golden sandy beaches, endless sunshine, stunning scenery and plenty to see and do. To make the most of your vacation in Paphos, Cyprus, a rental car gives you the freedom to explore when you want and relax when you don’t.
From the moment you step off the plane at Paphos Airport, a pre-booked car rental in Cyprus will really save you money. With no public bus service at Paphos Airport, you can simply collect your keys, walk to your hire car, put your luggage in the boot and be on the highway to Paphos before your fellow travelers have found a taxi.
For over 600 years, Paphos was the capital of Cyprus, and it is a fascinating place to stay. All you have to decide is how close to the sea you want to be! If you love being close to the beach and the action, choose Kato Pafos, the lower part of town near the historic port area. For more peace and quiet, and incredible views of the sea, choose Upper Pafos, or Ktima as it is known. A car rental in Cyprus also gives you the option of renting a villa on the outskirts and driving to Paphos whenever you want; There are large free car parks in both parts of the city.
The first thing you probably want to do on your Paphos vacation is relax for a day or so. Enjoy the beaches or your hotel pool, or take a nice walk along the promenade to the old port area. Here, you can enjoy a leisurely lunch at one of the many harborside restaurants, complete with resident pelicans begging for leftovers! At night, there are plenty of local bars and a surprising number of foreign cuisine restaurants in both parts of Paphos.
Whatever you do, don’t miss the world famous mosaics of Paphos. Feel like a Gladiator extra for a morning, as you stroll through the remains of the ancient Roman city and the five magnificent Roman villas that have been excavated. Here, wealthy Roman owners flaunted their wealth and status by giving their houses the most expensive decoration possible, intricately crafted mosaic floors. Then stroll to the nearby Byzantine castle of Saranda Kolnes, where the kids can let off steam by climbing the ruined battlements.
Now, your rental car in Cyprus is starting to pay off! A short distance north of Paphos are the Tombs of the Kings, incredible rock-cut tombs created during the Egyptian and Roman occupation of Cyprus. Resembling small temples, it’s a fascinating (and bleak) adventure on a hot summer’s day.
With a car hire in Cyprus, all of Western Cyprus is yours to explore from your base in Paphos, whether you love beautiful scenery, sun-kissed beaches, exciting diving, a round of golf or even a strange glass of wine
Beach lovers are spoiled for choice along the stretch of coastline north of Kato Pafos. Choose between the sands of Agios Georgios, Toxeftra, or the beautiful bay of Lara, home to a unique sea turtle conservation project. For an ideal day by the sea, head over the hills to Polis and then on to the pretty port of Latchi. Enjoy a wonderful lunch in one of the seafront fish restaurants, among the best in Cyprus, and then relax on the almost empty local beach.
Latchi is also a great place to learn to scuba dive, and is well worth the drive as you actually learn in a protected marine lagoon, not a pool. Almost all Paphos beachfront hotels also offer diving lessons and morning dives at favorite sites, plus the Dhimitrios wreck for the more experienced.
The Akamas Peninsula, north of Kato Pafos, is one of the last remaining wild places in Cyprus. You’ll need to hire a 4×4 jeep type vehicle to really explore the heart of this rugged landscape, but a normal car rental in Cyprus will still take you places tour buses don’t go! Take your 4×4 to reach Avakas Gorge, the path through banana plantations that leads to the gorge itself, with its streamside pine trees, rare orchids and tree frogs.
If that’s too energetic, take your normal Cyprus hire car up into the hills and look out for signs of local vineyards. These host free wine tastings, where you can sample rustic reds or crisp, refreshing whites, and take a case or two home for later!
There is so much to do that a week’s holiday will never be enough, so book a fortnight and also enjoy the frescoed churches of the Troodos Mountains, the excellent golf courses of Cyrus, the sunset on romantic Aphrodite’s Rock … Ready to book yet?!