Paphos Cruise Ship Port Guide, Cyprus

Paphos port sits on Cyprus’s southwestern coast, and it’s really a working harbour for fishing boats and yachts that happens to take the odd cruise ship, not a purpose-built cruise terminal. Ships calling here anchor offshore and tender passengers in, so this guide covers what that means for your few hours ashore, and how Paphos stacks up against Limassol, the island’s main gateway.

Paphos Port at a Glance

Port Paphos, as some itineraries call it, isn’t Cyprus’s main cruise gateway and never claims to be. The Cyprus Ports Authority classes it as a passenger, fishing and leisure port, and it sits well down the pecking order behind the country’s main port when it comes to cruise traffic.

• Managed by the Cyprus Ports Authority, alongside the Old Port of Limassol and the fishing shelters of Zyghi and Latchi
• A tender port, ships anchor offshore and small boats bring passengers to the harbour front
• Home to a small marina and a fisherman’s shelter with space for around 300 boats
• Visited mainly by smaller luxury ships and megayachts rather than the large liners

Where Is Paphos Port in Cyprus?

Paphos Harbour sits on the southwestern tip of the island, right up against the old town, with Paphos Castle marking where it ends. It’s a short hop from Paphos International Airport, and roughly 50 km west of Limassol along the A6 motorway.

The harbour itself runs just over a mile, from Posidonos Avenue down to the castle, an easy enough walk if your ship tenders you in here.

Do Cruise Ships Go to Cyprus, and Where Do They Dock?

Yes, Cyprus is a regular stop on Eastern Mediterranean itineraries, though most of that traffic funnels through one port, and it isn’t Paphos.

• New Limassol Port, Cyprus’s main passenger and cargo port, and the country’s real cruise gateway, where large ships dock alongside rather than tender
• Paphos Harbour, a small tender port for smaller luxury ships and megayachts, without a dedicated cruise pier
• Small fishing shelters at Zyghi and Latchi, and the Old Port of Limassol, none of which take cruise passengers

Limassol took 106 cruise ships and around 109,000 passengers in the most recently reported year, according to the Cyprus Hoteliers Association (Pasyxe), and cruise calls have been climbing back since the pandemic knocked the industry flat. Eurostat’s maritime passenger figures also show Cyprus posting one of the steepest drops in cruise passengers of any EU member state during that slump, which tells you the island is still a smaller player than its Mediterranean neighbours, not a headline destination.

How Ships Call at the Port of Paphos

There’s no purpose-built cruise pier here, so ships anchor in open water and tender passengers straight into town. Guides can’t agree on how significant Paphos really is as a cruise stop either, some call it a plain yacht and fishing harbour, others list it as an occasional call for small luxury ships.

There’s talk of a dedicated cruise pier as part of a wider marina study, though nothing’s confirmed yet. Until then, tenders depend on sea conditions, and a bit of swell can delay or shorten your time ashore with barely any warning.

The fix is simple enough, don’t plan your first shore activity down to the minute. Build in a bit of slack after your scheduled tender time in case the crossing takes longer than the timetable promises.

Cruise Destinations in Cyprus Compared

Cyprus itineraries in the Eastern Mediterranean often pair a call here with ports covered in our guide to Mediterranean cruise ports in Turkey, or with other small-ship stops such as Sarandë’s tender port in Albania, where ships anchor and shuttle passengers ashore in much the same way.

Getting Around: Transport for Cruise Passengers in Cyprus

• Land by tender near the town centre, the old town and harbour promenade are within walking distance
• If your booking or transfer involves Limassol instead, it’s roughly 50 to 60 km away along the A6 motorway, with driving time estimates ranging from around 45 minutes to just over an hour depending on the source and traffic
• There’s no direct bus from Paphos Airport to Limassol port, the closest public option is the 613 bus via Karavella Bus Station, which takes about two hours, so a pre-booked taxi or private transfer is the faster fallback if you’re tight on time
• From the harbour, local bus 615 runs to the Tombs of the Kings

Things to Do Near Paphos Harbour

• Kato Paphos Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with Roman villas, mosaics and the remains of the Temple of Aphrodite
• Tombs of the Kings, around 2 km north of the harbour, reachable by bus 615 or on foot
• Paphos Castle, at the western end of the harbour front
• Akamas Peninsula hiking trails, further out and better suited to an organised excursion
• Coral Bay beaches, a popular stretch of coastline nearby

A coastal path runs up behind the harbour, past the castle, to the Tombs of the Kings, about 3.3 km and roughly 40 minutes on foot, with uneven ground in places. Supportive walking shoes make a lot more sense than sandals if you’re tackling it in the heat.

The archaeological park in particular has almost no shade across its Roman mosaics and ruins, so pack a reef safe sunscreen, especially if you’re planning to cool off at Coral Bay afterwards.

Money and Practical Tips

• The euro is the official currency across Cyprus, having replaced the Cypriot pound
• ATMs operate around the clock in Paphos and the other main resort towns, including Limassol and Larnaca
• Card payments are widely accepted in the old town, but keep some cash for smaller cafes near the harbour

Common Questions

Is Paphos a cruise ship port?

It’s classed as a passenger, fishing and leisure port, and it mainly welcomes smaller luxury ships and megayachts rather than the big liners. Most large cruise ships dock at Limassol instead.

Do cruise ships anchor and tender at Paphos?

Yes. There’s no dedicated cruise pier, so ships anchor offshore and tender passengers into town, weather and sea conditions allowing.

How far is Paphos from Limassol port?

Around 50 to 60 km along the A6 motorway. Estimates for the drive vary depending on who you ask, anywhere from roughly 45 minutes to just over an hour, depending on traffic.

What currency is used in Paphos?

The euro, same as the rest of Cyprus. ATMs in the town centre run around the clock.

Can I walk to the Tombs of the Kings from the harbour?

Yes. A coastal path behind the castle covers about 3.3 km, roughly 40 minutes on foot, and bus 615 also runs there from the harbour if you’d rather save your legs.

Is there a bus between Paphos Airport and Limassol port?

Not directly. The 613 bus via Karavella Bus Station takes about two hours, so a taxi or private transfer is the quicker option if your time ashore is limited.

What’s at Paphos Harbour Itself?

A small marina, a fisherman’s shelter, Paphos Castle at the western end, and around a mile of promenade running between the castle and Posidonos Avenue.

Do cruise ships go to Cyprus at all?

Yes, Cyprus is a regular Eastern Mediterranean cruise stop, though Limassol handles the large majority of calls, not Paphos.

Why Trust About2Cruise

This guide was pulled together from Cyprus Ports Authority information, cruise industry reference sources and published transport data, and we cross-checked it for consistency rather than taking any single source at face value. Our approach to researching and fact-checking cruise port guides is to flag it up where sources disagree, as they do here on exact transfer distances and on just how significant a cruise stop Paphos is, rather than smoothing over the gaps.