Tombs of the Kings in Paphos — Ptolemaic rock-cut necropolis by the sea
Five hundred meters from the sea, on the north-western coast of Paphos, someone carved dozens of tombs into the soft limestone cliff. Not royal in the literal sense — as no Cypriot king lies here — but royal in architecture. Monumental, surrounded by colonnades, with courtyards for above-ground cults, with staircases descending into dark underground corridors. And free, if you enter in the evening — as the park closes late in the summer and many tourists enter after the ticket office closes.
Basic Information
GPS: 34.7705° N, 32.4049° E. The necropolis is located near the road Tombs of the Kings Avenue, 2 km north of the tourist center Kato Paphos.
Opening Hours:
- Summer (May–August): 8:30 AM–8:00 PM
- Spring/Autumn: 8:30 AM–5:30 PM
- Winter: 8:30 AM–4:30 PM
Tickets:
- Adult: 2.50 EUR
- Discounted (students, seniors): 1.25 EUR
- Children under 12: Free
Getting There: From the center of Kato Paphos (Harbour area): 20-minute walk along the promenade or by bus 10 (check the current schedule). From the center of Paphos (Mouttallos area): taxi 10–15 EUR.
History of the Tombs
The Tombs of the Kings were used from the 3rd century BC to the 3rd century AD — from the Ptolemaic era (when Egypt and Cyprus were under the same ruler) through the Roman era to the early Christian period.
No kings were buried here. Members of the higher administrative and merchant class were buried here: Ptolemaic officials, wealthy merchants, local aristocrats. The name "Tombs of the Kings" comes from local oral tradition and the impressive architecture — rock-cut, monumental, worthy of a king even if not necessarily built for one.
Unique Feature: Some of the tombs are modeled on Egyptian sepulchral architecture — chambers hollowed out in the ground, accessed by stairs, surrounded by Doric and Ionic style columns. This is the Egyptian "hypogeum" style transferred to Cypriot limestone.
Architecture and Layout of the Site
The site covers approximately 2 km² of coastal terrain. Inside: over 100 tombs of various sizes, grouped in "numbers" from 1 to 8 (main tombs) plus many smaller ones.
Tombs numbered 3 and 4 are the most important and best preserved:
Tomb No. 3: Courtyard surrounded by a Doric colonnade. Stairs to an underground chamber. Side chambers (loculli) for sarcophagi. One of the best examples of Ptolemaic funerary architecture outside of Egypt.
Tomb No. 4: Larger, with an atrium (central courtyard) and columns. Visible traces of frescoes on the walls (most destroyed by tomb robbers in antiquity).
Tomb No. 8: The most monumental, with a large atrium and several levels of stairs descending downwards. Later used as a Christian church (traces of an altar visible on the wall).
View of the Sea from the Necropolis
The tombs stand on a cliff 10–25 meters above sea level. The courtyards of the tombs open towards the sea — a deliberate architectural choice (mors ad mare — death looking at the sea). The view from the edge: Paphos harbor and the lighthouse to the south, the open sea to the west.
At sunset: the columns of the tombs catch the orange light, the shadows fall into the atriums, the sea takes on a golden glow. This is one of the best photographic moments in western Cyprus.
Visiting with Children
The Tombs of the Kings is exceptionally suitable for children over 6 years old:
- You can enter the tombs (no closed doors)
- Descending into dark chambers is an exciting adventure (bring a flashlight!)
- The space around the atriums is large — you can run around
- The area is open, not crowded
The underground chambers have a low ceiling in places — watch your head (adults especially).
Combining with the Paphos Archaeological Park
The Tombs of the Kings are located 2 km north of the Paphos Archaeological Park (Mosaics of Paphos), which is also on the UNESCO list as the tombs. One day allows you to visit both:
- Morning: Archaeological Park with mosaics (House of Dionysus, House of Theseus) — 2–3 hours
- Afternoon: Lunch near the old harbor of Kato Paphos
- Afternoon: Tombs of the Kings — 1.5 hours
- Evening: Sunset from the Tombs cliff + dinner on the waterfront
Ticket to the Archaeological Park: 4.50 EUR separately (or combo with Kourion and other sites).
Night Visit (after official closing)
Although the park closes at the times indicated, the fence is not secure — many photographers come out after dark for long exposures with flashlights on the columns. Technically, this is entering without a ticket, but in practice, staff do not patrol the area after closing.
Legal alternatives: The Department of Antiquities (tel. +357 26 306 217) occasionally issues permits for nighttime photography sessions for professionals.
Shops and Restaurants near the Necropolis
At the main entrance: Small souvenir shop, guides. No restaurants on site.
Nearest restaurants: Around the harbor of Kato Paphos (2 km south) — dozens of options from pizza to Cypriot meze. Prices: 8–25 EUR per dish.
Hotels in Kato Paphos near the Tombs of the Kings on CyprusBooker — filter "Paphos", option "near UNESCO sites". Many guesthouses and small boutique hotels near the Harbour Area.