All the restaurants that we tried in Hurfeish  (north Israel) were amazing. Everything is of local production. Everything is fresh, the places are clean, quiet, with a homey atmosphere and of course with awesome food. Read about things to do in Hurfeish and lodging .

Druze Pita

On the main road (road 89) there is a sign that says: “Alulid point druze pita”.
From whole wheat flour.
The woman who runs the place is Kochav Pars (Kochav in Hebrew means star). And like her name, she is really a star there. Every morning she makes fresh pitas, labaneh (soft white goat’s milk cheese) , and stuffed grape leaves with rice.

Everything is homemade, and her sister makes the hyssop (spice from herb) . Kochav prepared for us a pita with labane, hyssop and a little bit of spice. We also ordered the stuffed leaves that were excellent. But the pita was WOW. that was the best pita we ever ate. It was crunchy and huge (i ate only half, but i took the other half take with me). People all around the country are coming to eat here and i understand why.

In the winter, the place is covered, and there is a fireplace.
The place is open every day from 08:-21:00 (sometimes even later).
We arrived at this place as part of a tour

 

Sambusak Haarazim

In Hurfeish there are several Sambusak’s places (sambusak: These savory turnover pastries, similar to hand pies, are stuffed with a variety of fillings, from ground lamb or beef to chickpeas to cheese and more).

We decided to try this place: Sambusak Haarazim. I don’t know how the rest of the food is, but i tasted the best sambusak ever. They make everything fresh every day. I tried the cheese sambusak with tomato sauce (called “sambusak pizza”) and Roman tried the lamb sambusak. They both were amazing. They are so delicious and filling. It was so good that we decided to buy 10 sambusaks for take away and put them in our fridge.


Nimer Shawarma

The shawarma is on the main road across from bank “Mercantil”. I was already full from the sambusak, so i just watched Roman eat. He ordered Shawarma in taboon bread. The salads you can put but yourself so it’s nice. Roman said that the shawarma is really good and he was satisfied that they gave him a lot of meat and the taboon bread was thin.

Yarden Bakery

It’s also on the main road. The moment we arrived there,the Knafeh was already finished (Knafeh is a Middle Eastern cheese pastry soaked in sweet, sugar-based syrup). The owner of the place asked us if we want to wait 20 minutes and she will make a new one.

Of course we wanted her to. Meanwhile, we sat and ordered coffee. After 20 minutes, the Knafeh was ready, and she served it to us. The Knafeh was stuffed with fresh goat cheese (the cheese is imported specially from dairy farms). The Knafeh is a true delight.

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Pninat Hahar restaurant

Also on the main road across from the druze pita. Really good middle Eastern restaurant. They have great salads, meat dishes like lamb chops and shish kebab, hummus, chips and good desserts. The restaurant is clean and welcoming, if you are hungry, this is definitely the place to eat lunch.


If you are looking for an idea for a vacation in Israel in a different style, you had better read this post about the Druze hospitality in Hurfeish village in the north of Israel. This vacation isד suitable for families, couples, or friends who want an authentic and fascinating Druze experience.

Hurfeish is a Druze village located in the Upper Galilee. It has a population of 6200, 96% of them are Druze and the other 4% are Christians. The village is quiet and clean. The people there are humble and adorable. It’s filled with interesting sites, holy places, great projects, hiking trails, and delicious food. Map
Read about recommended restaurants in Hurfeish.

Druze lodging in Hurfeish

Yearot Havadi zimmer

Romantic cabin, beautifully designed in Druze style. In the site there are two cabins with huge balconies and a shared Hot tub Spa.
Each cabin has a private bathroom and a second floor (gallery floor) with a bed (so it’s suitable for couples and families as well).

We went to the cabins with another couple and it was amazing. The view from the balcony is breathtaking.
The price per cabin is around 500 shekels and it includes a big Druze breakfast (for every kid it’s 100 shekels extra).

There is an option to also order a Druze dinner and you can buy homemade products like olive oil, jams, and more, we bought the olive oil and apple jam that were great.
Naaman and his family are fabulous hosts and we had an amazing time staying in their cabins. I really recommend it. Naaman’s phone 053-9418709


Annan zimmer in Hurfeish

The zimmer is a big area with four rooms. Three rooms have a double bed, a  single one, and a private bathroom. One more room is a big room with a double bed and a lot of mattresses.
There is a shared equipped kitchen and a huge balcony. A part of the balcony is covered (for the winter). The place is suitable for families, friends, and couples.

The balcony outside has two tables and breakfast is served there.
The view from the balcony is over all the Hurfeish village.
The price for a couple is 400-500 shekels and includes a big Druze breakfast.
There is an option to also order dinner (Druze or BBQ).

Another thing that you can order is a tour with the owner, Hamdan. He is a tour guide and he can take you to a great tour in the village (separate payment). You can book the tour even if you are not staying in his zimmer.
Hamdan and his family were super nice and great hosts. Hamdan’s phone 050-6948590

 

Things to do in Hurfeish

Hiking trail

Hiking in a trail called “shvil habanim” (trail for the boys). It’s a long trail that covers 226 km and passes through 18 Druze villages. The trail in Hurfeish is a small part of it. It’s about 4.5 km. The trail is easy to walk and it’s also suitable for kids. It has several springs and it’s really nice to walk there.

There are other trails you can do that are more difficult (there are several ones signalized with different colors). The trail is not circular, so it’s recommended to leave the car at the end of the trail.


Tour in Hurfeish

You can go independently to each landmark that I will mention, but I think that the tour with Hamdan has added value. Hamdan (the owner of “Annan” zimmer) explains everything: he talks about the tradition, history of each place, and answers every question. The tour is about 2-3 hours and I really recommend it.

D”r ziad dabour visitor center

Ziad, son of a Druze family, was born in the village of Beit Jann in the heart of Mount Meron Nature Reserve which is the largest and richest in medicinal herbs in Israel. His childhood years were spent in the company of his grandfather, a farmer with ties of love to the soil of the Galilee.

A deep understanding of the natural components that contribute to the biochemical and physiological processes of the skin, constitute an inexhaustible resource in the research, development and production of a series of specialty products for the protection, health and the youthful look of the skin.
The center is open Monday-Saturday 10:00-16:00 and the entrance is free

The memorial center for Nabia Marai

The memorial is located across from the visitor center
Nabia Marai was born in Hurfeish. He was the first Druze that was accepted to join the paratroops. And at the moment of his death he was with the highest rank Druze who died during military service.

He was killed in 1996 and six months later the memorial center opened in his brother’s first-floor house. His sister-in-law (Amal) maintains the center voluntarily.
You can visit the center through an appointment with Amal.

Lace makers

In the heart of the village of Hurfeish, resides the Hurfeish Women Center for Traditional arts & crafts.
35 religious women, housewives, assemble for a social gathering and engage together in their common hobby of embroidery and knitting. It is a hobby inherited from their mothers and grandmothers and is passed down in the family from one generation to the next.

The meeting is the result of a touristic cultural and social initiative, designed to promote the status of Druze women and to integrate them in the workforce, while preserving their traditional handicraft and enabling them to help in the household economy.

You can order their products online or come to the place itself and hear about the amazing project and be impressed by their products.
Product prices range from 5 shekels for a hairpin to 1200 shekels for a bed-spread.

 

Nebi Sabalan

He is one of the prophets of the Druze ethnic group. He spread the Druze religion 1000 years ago in Hurfeish. He lived there in a cave. The cave and all the site are considered as a holy place.

The site is located on top of the mountain so the view from there is wonderful. Every 10th of September there’s a pilgrimage to his cave with people all around the world.


Eilat is a great city for a vacation in Israel. You can find a lot of beaches there, great hotels, bars, water activities, attractions, a beautiful promenade, and more.

The brewery

“The brewery” was opened a year ago and the restaurant itself before half a year and I’m glad it did, because this place is awesome and decorated really impressively. All the decoration is with a beer theme. On the side you will see the brewery itself. There are really special beers and in the beginning the waitress served a tray with samples of beers. After tasting the samples you can decide which one you prefer. I loved the ginger beer, but also the rest were tasty (and I’m a person that is not a big fan of beer). The food menu is attractive and the prices are reasonable. We ordered small dishes of beef jerky and fish on toast. Mid dishes of homemade sausage and potato stuffed with a lot of good things and fish in beer with chips. The dishes were excellent and all the flavors matched great with the beer. This place is really awesome.

Opening hours are Saturday-Thursday 14:00 until the last of the customers and on Friday 13:00 until the last of the customers,



5th Avenue

A restaurant-bar in Eilat that was open a year and a half before by Shlomi, one of the owners of Evani beach. The place’s design is modern and impressive.

From 19:00-22:30 the concept of the place is more of a restaurant, and from 22:30-02:00 the place transfers to bar atmosphere (the food menu is the same). We arrived there to hang out and drink cocktails. I ordered a mojito cocktail based on acai, berries, cinnamon and chili (I like spicy cocktails) and Roman(my husband) ordered a cocktail based on cucumber, gin, and lemon.

For desert we had the Mexican hot chocolate with a cold chocolate chili cream and white chocolate ball with passionfruit.  The cocktails and dessert distribution way was in a very high-standard. Shlomi himself served us the desert and he spilled the chocolate cream on the ball until it melted. The service was great and the atmosphere was fun and cool. I

t’s certainly a place that’s worth visiting while you are in Eilat to eat and to hang out. Don’t miss it.
Opening hours 19:00-02:00

 

Barbaris restaurant in Eilat

A Hamburgers restaurant that is very good. The restaurant been open for many years and they even changed their location in order to expand. The thing that I loved about this restaurant is that they have a lot of sauces like garlic with honey, or palm sauce.

We ordered the Entrecote hamburger with garlic spread and lamb hamburger with egg and bacon, and mushrooms on the side. Both of the dishes were excellent. The service was very good and we really enjoyed our dinner there.

Opening hours 12:00-01:00

Mosh beach

Vegetarian food that is surprising and really tasty. We ordered their dish of Sabich (potato, eggplant, egg, and hummus) in a plate and crispy pita breads on the side. And another dish of lentils and also pita breads on the side. The dishes cost around 40 shekels and were very filling. This a great beach to come to eat and to sit with friends or read a book.

Opening hours 08:00-20:00

To read about recommended beaches and things to do click here.

Eilat is a great city for a vacation in Israel. You can find a lot of beaches there, great hotels, bars, water activities, attractions, a beautiful promenade, and more. Read about recommended bars and restaurants in Eilat.

Attractions in Eilat

Stalbet on the water (relaxation pool)

In Stalbet on the water you will find therapeutic pools of sweet water or seawater or salt water.
Usually you can enter the place only if you have booked a treatment or breakfast with entrance to the place. The price ranges are 170-420 shekels depending on the duration of the treatment

The place is open from Monday to Saturday 09:00-23:00.
But beside what I described above there is another option. To come on a Saturday evening 21:30-00:30 and to pay only 70 shekels and then you can use all the pools.

It’s so relaxing and calming. I can’t describe the feeling. It’s like meditation in the water. In the salt water you can float without nothing and in the other pools you can use floatation belts. The place is very romantic. I’m sure the treatments are really good, but if you want to try the pool experience, I recommend you to go on Saturday and check them out. 

The pools are located near the dolphin reef.


Snorkeling

Following the recommendation of our friend from Eilat, we went to do snorkeling in Eilat’s Coral Beach Nature Reserve. He told us that this is the most beautiful place to do snorkeling in, and he was right!! It was absolutely amazing. The waters are so clear and there are impressive reefs and unique fish.

Another thing that is great there is that you have a bridge that you can jump to the water from and you don’t need to walk on the water on all the stones until you arrive to the reefs area.

Opening hours every day 09:00-17:00, on Friday until 16:00.
The entrance costs money but is definitely worth it. 35 shekels for an adult and 21 shekels for a child.
Renting a snorkel mask cost 23 shekels and a deposit of 100 shekels.


Icaemall

A rounded mall. I really liked its shape, ‘cause this way you can see all the shops without a problem. It’s really easy to navigate there and you don’t have to spend time searching for a shop or a restaurant.

In the mall there are a lot of attractions like skating, soccer, golf for kids, 3d movies, a playground, and more.

Unintentionally we arrived there on the same day that there was a national rhythmic gymnastics contest. So, instead of the skating area there was a contest. It was a great event and we enjoyed it very much.
Opening time every day 09:30-23:00



Beaches in Eilat

The beaches that I love the most

Mosh beach

Mosh beach reminds of Sinai beaches. Shanti music and a lot of mats on the beach. There are shaded areas with mattresses and pillows, so it’s very comfortable to lie down and relax there.

Near the restaurant there is an area with tables and chairs and great vegetarian food. We ordered two dishes: one was sabich and the other one was lentils. The dishes cost around 40 shekels and were very tasty. You can spend hours on this beach, reading a book, or hanging out with friends.

Opening time every day 08:00-20:00


Bar beach

If you are snorkeling at Coral Beach Nature Reserve, it’s worth going to the near bar beach.
It’s an organized beach that people go to dive from and it has a great beach restaurant.

We ordered a Greek salad, hummus with calamari, and taramosalata there, everything was delicious and filling. The service was great. We sat on the balcony with a view to the beach and it was awesome.

Opening hours every day 08:00-21:00


Avenue beach

The beach located near the mall “Mul yam”. The beach is organized and clean, with tanning beds for rent and a great restaurant.

The thing that I liked the most about this beach was that most of it has small stones, so you can lie down on a towel on the beach to tan and it’s comfortable and also you can enter the water without stepping on rocks.

The beach is not too crowded and has an excellent atmosphere. It’s just fun to stay there. We ordered a delicious fruit shake from the restaurant. ‘Cause what can be better than a fruit shake on the beach?
Opening hours every day 08:00-22:00


Where to stay

Our favorite hotels:
5-stars hotel: Dan Eilat Hotel
4-stars hotel: Rimonim
3-stars hotel: C hotel


Tips for Eilat:

In Paphos there are many good restaurants, coffee shops and taverns, in this post I will mention the ones that we liked the most.

Restaurants in Paphos

Savvas grill

It’s a local restaurant designed beautifully and with great service. In this tavern we decided to order from the menu and not to take the mezze option. Our friend recommend us to try the kleftiko (a meat dish) he claimed that its’ the best kleftiko he has ever eaten in Cyprus (he lives there).

So Roman (my husband) ordered it and also shared the musaka dish with me. The musaka was great. And for starters we ordered a tomato salad that was very refreshing and dips of hummus, tzatziki, tahini, and taramosalata. They were all good and Roman loved the kleftiko.

Opening hours: every day 17:00-23:00.
Address Akamantos Ave 32, PeyiaN3


Baan Thai kitchen

A homey authentic Thai restaurant. A small restaurant with a Thai chef that makes awesome curry fishes. As a matter of fact, all her dishes are great with flavors from Thailand.

Opening hours:
Tuesday-Sunday 18:00-22:30 Monday it’s closed
Address 5 Lidas Street, Basilica Gardens, Block D – Shop 1-2

Lengo Tavern

Lengo tavern (update 12.2023 – the restaurant is closed)  is a homey tavern with a really fun atmosphere. They have a musician that plays local music. I recommend to go there with a group, because it’s a great place to hang out in the evening and the more the merrier. We went there as a group of 8 people. We booked a table in advance ‘cause this place is very popular.

I recommend to take the meze meal. It’s a tasty meal that is served in the center of the table to share. It’s the only tavern that also serves vegan mezze (the owner’s daughter is a vegan and she convinced him to make a vegan option).

In our table we were 4 people who ordered the vegan mezze and 4 the meat meze.

I ate the vegan mezze and enjoyed every dish they served. They serve many options on the table and each dish was unique. We also ordered wine and beer. The meal is based on the raw materials they have on that day, so every time you go there you will get different menus.

You need to take into consideration that in the meat meze they can serve irregular dishes like a snails dish or a pigeon soup. So if you don’t want to take the risk, just order the vegan mezze. You won’t be disappointed.

The mezze meal cost 17 euro per person (it’s nothing compared to the amount and quality of the food), and the bottle of wine cost 14 euro, and was excellent (I loved the white wine).
A local experience you have to try

Opening hours Monday-Saturday 19:30-23:00, Sunday it’s closed.
Address: Zappeiou 1 Str

Pingouino Cafe Lounge Bar

A restaurant on the promenade with cheap prices and a great view of the sea. This restaurant is a good option for breakfast or lunch.

We ate lunch there. I had a fresh apple juice and quinoa salad with avocado which was a light and great meal. Roman ordered a plate with fried mushrooms, potato, and more with beer. Our friend ordered hamburger. We sat in the balcony with a great breeze. It was so relaxing and tasty. It’s a good option for a restaurant on the promenade.
Address
Poseidonos Ave



Wagamam

A Japanese restaurant in the King Mall in Paphos. Usually I don’t like restaurants in the mall because they don’t have the best atmosphere to eat in, but this is a great restaurant. Once you enter it, you forget that you are in the mall. They have a rich menu with many options. All the dishes that we ordered were very good. A noodle dish, ramen soup, bun stuffed with bbq meat. We were 5 people and everyone enjoyed the meal.

Opening hours:
Everyday 12:00-22:00
First floor in the King’s Avenue Mall

Omikron brunch

A great coffee shop that has a really cool design (the owner is also an interior decorator). They have great coffee. They also have a recommended pancake dish. If you want to drink a good coffee with a pastry or eat a good breakfast, this is a great place to go to

Opening hours
Every day 07:00-22:00
Address: 25 Martiou

Zorbas bakery

It’s a 24/7 bakery that has great chocolate-chip cookies, a lot (!!) of cakes, pastries, cookies, and whatever dessert you can think of. If you want a nightly snack or simply a desert, or even buy a cake of occasion (birthday, anniversary, etc.) this is the bakery to go to.

Address: they have 3 branches in Paphos
Hellados Ave 81
Apostolou Pavlou Ave
Akamantidos, 13


Since May 2021, we have been living in Cyprus. Although we reside in Limassol, we visit Paphos quite often—sometimes for vacations and sometimes just for a fun day out. Even before moving to Cyprus, we had vacationed in Paphos several times, and each visit brought new attractions and experiences we hadn’t discovered before.

Paphos is a coastal city in the southwestern part of Cyprus, located on the Greek side of the island. It’s a great destination for a summer holiday and a perfect winter getaway, especially if you rent a car and explore the surrounding areas.

Looking for recommendations on things to do in Paphos with kids? Check out my post on Top Things to Do in Paphos with Kids.
Searching for a good restaurant? Take a look at my guide on Recommended Restaurants in Paphos.
Not sure where to stay? Read my Hotel Recommendations for Paphos to help you decide.

Yacht cruise in Paphos

During one of my vacations with Roman in Paphos, it was his birthday, and I decided to look for a fun attraction that we hadn’t done yet in the city. That’s when I saw that there were various types of cruises available in Paphos. I looked up companies offering cruises and found Paphos Sea Cruises, which had good reviews and an adult only yacht cruise. Since we’ll soon be parents, I thought this was a good opportunity to enjoy the quiet and go for a relaxing cruise.

The cruise left the port at 10:00, but it’s recommended to get there an hour early and get good seats (The seats aren’t reserved). We got seats on the third floor of the ship and realized afterwards this isn’t recommended for those who suffer from seasickness, or pregnancy. If you have a tendency for sea sickness, you’re better off sitting downstairs, which is what we did after the first stop. We just brought a chair to the side of the yacht where it was shaded and enjoyed the sea breeze. If you want to sit there, there’s no need to come early, unless you want to grab a tanning bed.

The cruise consisted of two stops. At first, we stopped at Coral Bay Beach for an hour and a half with the option of snorkeling, kayaking or just floating with a long sponge noodle floater, and there was also a lunch break with a buffet. Then we continued sailing for another twenty minutes and stopped at the stunning Sea caves, this time for an hour during which we could snorkel, kayak or swim. We also enjoyed a fresh fruit dessert there with watermelon, pineapple and melon, and some cakes.

We returned to the port around 16:00, and Roman and I agreed this was a great attraction. We had a good time and were very pleased with the company’s service.

This particular cruise costs 89 euros and is an “all included” package. The package includes transportation to and from the hotel, a glass of champagne upon arrival, a beach towel, a light breakfast, a fancy yacht with a maximum of 55 people on board, a buffet lunch, and an open bar with alcohol and light drinks.

Yacht cruise in Paphos - Traveling outside the box

 

 

Adonis Baths

During one of my vacations with Roman, we decided to go explore the villages in Paphos, starting at Chloraka village and moving on to Tala, where we stumbled upon a sign pointing towards Adonis Baths. We were in Paphos three times before, and had never heard of them until then, so we decided to check it out.

The drive was on a dirt paved road through the mountains. It was a bit rough, but suitable for any type of vehicle (Ours was a small automatic car which barely made the ascents, but it was fine). It’s about a half hour drive on an unpaved road, but it was worth the effort to find this gem in the mountains. There’s a 9 euro entrance free per person, there are two natural pools with waterfalls.

My recommendation is visiting early in the day, in the middle of the week if possible, so it’s less crowded. The water is really cold, so take note. (For example, I only dipped my feet in, but Roman enjoyed swimming in them). There’s also a museum there (We didn’t find it particularly exciting) and a food stand with sandwiches, coffee and more… There’s also a tanning bed area. By the baths is a tavern for anyone looking to have lunch there.

 

Oniro by the sea restaurant

I found a recommendation for Oniro by the sea. A restaurant with an amazing view of an abandoned ship and water caves.

It’s a great Mediterranean seafood restaurant with a wonderful view. It’s recommended to reserve a table in advance, so you can sit in the first row facing the sea. We didn’t book one, but after we arrived at around 15:00, a table in the first row became available within about 15 minutes.

We ordered two salads – I had a mango, avocado and jumbo shrimp salad and Roman got a ceviche salad with salmon, they were both excellent (At about 12 euros each). We chose to split a main dish, a special dish of linguini with jumbo shrimp – it was perfect (I can only hope they have it on the menu when you’re there).  Roman had a passionfruit cocktail (About 9 euros for a cocktail) and I had a non-alcoholic cocktail of ginger and almonds (About 6 euros for a non-alcoholic cocktail). The cocktails were of really high quality, we enjoyed them immensely. This restaurant is highly recommended, regardless of the view. View included (For the sea caves and the abandoned ship), I think this is a must when visiting Paphos. You can spend hours just looking out and taking photos of the magnificent sights.

 

Oniro by the sea restaurant , Paphos - Traveling outside the box

Old Town in Paphos

The old town of Paphos offers a peaceful and authentic experience. Among the narrow alleys, you’ll find local shops, quaint restaurants, and cafes. Once, we even booked a room in the heart of the old town and spent the night there with Maya to experience Paphos differently, not just staying at an all-inclusive hotel by the sea. We stayed in a lovely and affordable apartment at a place called Rooms – Unique Staying in Paphos Centre.
For breakfast, we went to Piedra All Day Cafe Lounge Bar, which we enjoyed. In the afternoon, we wandered the streets and even found a small playground, then stopped for coffee at Cafe Nero, which has a stunning view.

Update from April 2025:

During our vacation in Paphos, while staying at the Sofianna Hotel (featured in the recommended hotels in Paphos post), we visited several excellent spots in the Old Town, and I thought I’d share:

Covered Souvenir Market – Open every day until 5:00 PM, with many souvenir shops and local products. The market was renovated three years ago and is colorful, pleasant, and really inviting for a stroll. Directions

Campo De Fiori Café – A charming café with a sea view and a fun atmosphere. We ordered coffee, a cocktail, and hot chocolate – everything was excellent! We also tried Japanese cheesecake – opinions were divided: I liked it, Roman didn’t, and the girls devoured it and asked for more. Directions.

Stephanie’s Rose Café – An Instagram-worthy café all in pink, with flowers and hearts in every corner. They offer a variety of beautiful and impressive desserts. Directions.

Mount Sinai Pizzeria – Even though we were staying at an all-inclusive hotel, we just had to try it – and honestly? It was delicious. The girls also finished it all. Directions.

Souvenirs market
Souvenirs market
Souvenirs market
Rose Cafe
Rose Cafe
Campo de Fiori Cafe
Campo de Fiori Cafe
Campo de Fiori Cafe

Fun Segway tour

We took a Segway tour with Paphos Segway Tours company. We were a group of eight and had two super nice guides, Liam and Callum.
After all the group members had arrived, we went outside for an instruction on the Segways.

During the tour, we went through several interesting sites on Paphos, stopping at each one while the guide told us about the place.
We rode along the sea a lot – it was really relaxing and I didn’t want the tour to end.

The company has longer, special tours for those already experienced with Segways. Maybe next time we’re In Paphos we’ll try one of the advanced tours.
I wrote about the tour in detail in a post about the segway tour.

 

Wine tastings

About a 30-minute drive from Paphos center there’s a great winery that offers wine tastings for visitors, Tsangarides winery. From the moment we arrived, we fell absolutely in love with the place. The area is very idyllic and the design itself is very pretty as well. We sat outside and the owner, Angelos, brought 4 kinds of wine for us to try – White, Rosa, red and organic.

In addition to that, he served us some cheese and grapes as well. We chatted a lot and found him to be a really charming and humble person. At one point, a group of Hungarian journalists showed up and he gave them a tour of the winery, which we joined in on.

The winery produces as many as 300,000 bottles a year. It was really interesting learning about the wine making process – we really like drinking wine and touring wineries. If you come as a couple or a small group the tastings are free. A larger group would have to pay 5-euros per person, which is a purely symbolic price.

We enjoyed the winery and meeting Angelos very much. If you like wine I think this is a wonderful experience for those staying in Paphos.

 

 

 Archaeological site Paphos

Near the harbour, there is a big archaeological site. It may sound boring to you, but Roman (my husband) and I were surprised for the good. First of all, there was an amazing brewing (we visited in the spring) and it was so beautiful to wander around there and to see all those flowers. Aside from the flowers, the site itself is impressive.

There are ruins and mosaics and you can walk for at least 2 hours there to see everything. There is also a castle near the site (outside of it but close). We had a great time there and the weather was very good, so it was completely great.

An entrance ticket costs 4.5 euro
Opening hours: every day 08:30-17:00

 Paphos zoo

This is a large, kid-friendly zoo with a variety of fun activities. Although I’m personally not very fond of zoos, there are some interactive experiences for children, such as feeding the fish and watching a short parrot and owl show (about 15 minutes). The show is suitable for children who can sit quietly, as movement can startle the owls, which fly right above the audience. Additionally, you can feed the lemurs for an extra 5 euros per person, or participate in feeding a Bengal elephant for an additional 50 euros for a group of up to 5 people.
The average time to spend there is 3 hours.

The show hours are 12:00, 14:30, and 17:00
Opening hours: every day 09:00-18:00

Link to purchase tickets for the zoo

 Indoor local market

A great local experience. If you want to buy unique souvenirs this is definitely the place to visit and it’s worth checking it out even if you don’t plan on buying anything.

There are many shops with souvenirs, bags, wallets, statues, and more, at decent prices. Although it’s not a big market, the selection is pretty big and we saw souvenirs there that we didn’t see in other places.

You can park the car in a parking place (there is a yellow sign on the way that shows you where it is). At the parking there is also a small market with fruits and vegetables (we bought fresh kiwi, mango, and strawberries there that were very good) and from there you can climb the stairs.

In the market there is also a small shack that sells iced coffee and hot coffee for euro and a half.
Opening hours Monday-Saturday 08:00-14:00, on Sunday it’s closed (the shifts are changing but it will be open at the hours I mentioned).
A direction map

Hang out in the port

Paphos Harbour serves as a central tourist port in Cyprus, primarily for cruises and boating. The harbour area features restaurants, cafes, and tourist shops, making it a popular spot for leisure. Additionally, there are water activities such as sailing, fishing, and yacht tours. The harbour is located a short distance from the city center, offering easy access to tourist activities.

Tombs of kings

Underground tombs from the 4th century. It turns out that kings are not buried there, but important people such as the military general of Alexander the Great. The tombs are impressive, and the name of the place attracts many tourists. The area itself overlooks the sea, making it a very nice place to visit and explore.

We’ve visited there several times, both on our own and with the girls, and honestly, we’ve always enjoyed exploring the place, but it was even more fun with the girls.

Entrance ticket costs 2.5 euro.
Opening hours every day 08:30-17:00
And in the summer 08:30-19:30

Joulietta Homemade Chocolate store

We are not big chocolate fans, but when we found this homemade chocolate store, we had to try it – Joulietta Chocolatier Patissiere. There are many flavors and you can even watch how they make the chocolates one by one.

In the summer they also do chocolate workshops. The seller, as well as the owner and chocolates maker, was nice and she let us try the cherry chocolate which was good.

We decided to take takeaway to our hotel. We chose the cappuccino and caramel flavors and we ate them in the hotel’s bar’s balcony with a coffee 🙂 it was very delicious.

Kings Avenue Paphos Mall

The mall includes a wide variety of fashion stores, jewellery, electronics, and more. Additionally, it has a diverse food court with restaurants and fast food outlets. There is a Japanese restaurant we enjoyed (check out my post on recommended restaurants in Paphos). The mall also has a large play area for kids and a cinema that shows both children’s and adult movies in English.Opening hours: every day 10:00-20:00; on Sunday it opens at 11:00

 Bicycle trip

Along the main road there is a long bicycle trail. It’s very fun to rent bikes and do a bike trip with them or use them as transportation.

Other things to do in Paphos, that we didn’t try, but they looked nice

And there are other attractions like a fishing tour, jeeps tours, and more. You can book them from your hotel or from agencies. We saw several agencies along the port

Questions and Answers about Paphos

I receive quite a few questions on social media and email about Paphos, so I decided to gather here the recurring questions with clear answers.

Do I need to rent a car in Paphos?

If you’re planning a relaxing beach holiday, you can get by without a car, using taxis or buses for transportation. However, if you want to visit sites outside the city, such as Lara Beach, the Agios Neophytos Monastery, or Venetian Bridges, it’s highly recommended to rent a car – even with the opposite driving (steering wheel on the right, like in the UK).

Special offer for blog followers: I recommend renting a car from Cosmos Rentals, and I received a 10% discount coupon for online bookings from the owner. To book directly through Cosmos Rentals (don’t forget to use the coupon code at checkout: trvbox). For more information on car rentals in Cyprus.

Which area is recommended for a hotel in Paphos?

The harbor area is the most central, with restaurants, cafes, bars, shops, and proximity to the Kings Avenue Mall. Coral Bay area is ideal for those seeking beautiful sandy beaches with hotels and more peaceful vacations. Another option is Lower Paphos (Kato Paphos), where there are hotels close to key attractions like the Royal Tombs and famous mosaics.

Is there a water park in Paphos?

Yes, the Aphrodite Waterpark is a large and recommended water park, usually open from April to October. It’s located about a 10-minute drive from the harbor and features slides, a wave pool, and kids’ play areas.

Link to buy tickets for Aphrodite Waterpark – Tickets can be reserved for free in advance, with a free cancellation option up to the day before.

What kind of electrical sockets are in Paphos?

Cyprus uses G-type sockets (like in the UK) with three prongs in a trapezoidal shape. You can buy an adapter in most supermarkets or convenience stores, and many hotels offer adapters at the reception.

Which beaches are recommended in Paphos?

Nightlife in Paphos – Where to go?

Unlike the lively Ayia Napa, Paphos nightlife is quieter, focusing on stylish bars with a pleasant atmosphere and stunning views. You can start the evening with a meal by the water in the harbor area, and then continue to one of the many bars along the promenade.

For those seeking more lively entertainment, Agiou Antoniou Street – also known as the “Bar Street” – offers plenty of pubs, bars, and clubs, where you can hop from one place to another and enjoy different styles. This street is especially popular with tourists, but for a more local vibe, you’ll find authentic tavernas in the old town.

Recommended bars and clubs in Paphos:

Is there a casino in Paphos?

Yes, there is a small casino in Paphos – C2 Pafos – Cyprus Casinos, which only has slot machines and no gambling tables. The largest casino in Cyprus, City of Dreams Mediterranean, is located in Limassol, and it is the biggest casino in Europe.

How to get to Paphos?

There are direct flights with Ryanair to Paphos. Another option is to fly to Larnaca and then drive to Paphos, which takes at least an hour and a half. You can also take a taxi or bus from Larnaca Airport to Paphos.

The less recommended option is to fly to Larnaca and then travel to Paphos. However, if there are no direct flights to Paphos, flights to Larnaca may be necessary. In that case, the most affordable way would be to rent a car, as taxi fares can be at least 120 euros one way.

Where to stay in Paphos?

We’ve stayed at several hotels in Paphos. We loved the Olympic Lagoon Resort – a 5-star all-inclusive hotel, Minthis Golf Resort – a stunning golf hotel in the mountains, and the Louis Ledra and Louis Breeze hotels. But there are many other great hotels in Paphos, and I’ve written about them in detail in my post: Recommended Hotels in Paphos.

Where to buy a SIM card for Paphos?

I recommend eSIM, an electronic SIM, and I recommend the Airalo company. I was very satisfied with their user experience (easy-to-follow instructional videos for SIM card operation), and everything worked perfectly.

For blog followers, there’s a 15% discount code for Airalo to purchase an eSIM – use this link to redeem the discount. The code is already included in the link and will appear at checkout.

Guided Tour or Custom Itinerary in Cyprus – Hot Recommendation!

If you’re planning a trip to Cyprus, I highly recommend Roni Schwartz! A Cyprus resident who takes care of everything – private tours with a certified guide (the guide is fluent in English/Russian), very professional and pleasant, who will take you on a perfect 8-9 hour tour day. Roni plans a personalized itinerary, tailored to your preferences, and ensures you’ll see all the places you want. It’s also suitable for larger groups, and everything is done in a comfortable and luxurious vehicle.

Contact Roni for a guided tour in Cyprus

Want to explore independently?

No problem! Roni also plans customized itineraries (minimum 3 days) so you can experience Cyprus at your own pace, exactly how you like.

Contact Roni for a customized independent itinerary in Cyprus

There’s also a special benefit! If you book any of Roni’s services and mention that you came through my blog, you’ll receive a special surprise!

Paphos is an excellent city for a beach vacation with plenty of attractions. It’s most enjoyable during the summer months, allowing you to enjoy beach activities like water sports, pools, the water park, and the sea. However, you can also find things to do in the winter months.

I hope this post has been helpful. If it has, I would love to hear your comments, and if you have any more questions, feel free to ask them in the comments or contact me on my blog’s social media pages: on Facebook and Instagram.

Looking for more information about Paphos? I have additional posts on Paphos and Cyprus on my blog.

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The photos that will make you want to visit Tel Aviv, Israel

Beautiful Beaches


Amazing restaurants (with cuisines of all around the world)


Read more about great restaurants in Tel Aviv

Jaffa old City



Local Markets



Read about restaurants in HaCarmel Market

Tel Aviv City


Incredible Graffiti


 

More Posts about Tel Aviv

Larnaca is a beautiful city with many local restaurants, good cocktail bars, and nice sites to visit.
I think it is worth visiting the city for two-three days.
It’s also recommended to rent a car to explore the city and its surroundings.

Recommended restaurants in Larnaca

To Sieradiko

To Sieradiko is really great local restaurant. We enjoyed our dinner there. We chose the mezze meal (testing meal of traditional dishes). They serve dish after dish to the table and it was about 14 dishes and the price was very cheap. It cost 11 euro [er person for a lot of really filling and quality food.

We ordered also 2 glasses of wine and for dessert we ordered tea and a creme cake. The service was excellent and every dish was very good. You can also order dishes from the menu and not choose the mezze meal. But I do recommend to try their mezze because it was really delicious.

 

Peroutsios kabab

A small restaurant on the road that many locals eat lunch there.
If you are in the mood for a filling, cheap meat dish, then this is the place to go to. You can choose the dish on a plate or in pita bread.

A dish of sausages  actually consists of 4 homemade sausages that cost 5 euro. I ate only 2 because I was full already.
I recommend you to also choose a local beer 🙂

Opening hours Monday-Saturday 09:00-21:00 and Sunday 10:00-15:00
Address
17 Louki Akrita, Larnaca

 

Fiesta cafe

A great option for breakfast or a light lunch. It’s a small restaurant that serves toasts with a lot of toppings and baked potato also with many options for toppings. The owner is a very nice English guy that puts great effort in every dish. I really liked my toasts and also the potato. Everything is fresh and has been cut on the spot and not in advance. The prices are cheap.

Opening hours Monday-Saturday 07:00-21:00 on Sunday it’s closed
Address Lordou Byros 24

Across from Fiesta cafe there is a great place for gyros

It’s one of the best gyros I ate in Cyprus. You can order it in a small or large pita bread or on a plate. It’s served with vegetables, yogurt and French fries. I chose the chicken, and Roman (my husband) ordered the pork. Both were good but I think the chicken was more special and was spiced well. The cost was 5 euro for a small Pita (which is actually pretty big) and 6 euro for a large pita

 

Alasia cafe restaurant

Along the promenade there is a cozy, homey restaurant Alasia cafe restaurant  with a beautiful view to the beach. If you want a good coffee with pastry, then this is definitely the place for you. They serve a homemade ricotta pastry called Pourekta. It’s so good. And also the coffee was good. We haven’t tried the food but after tasting their pastry I’m sure the food they serve will also be great.

Address: 38 Pigiale Pasa Ave

The point

You can go there for breakfast to try the eggs benedict or pancakes, or you can go there to eat lunch or dinner or to drink a beer. It’s one of the most popular restaurants; it’s packed all the time with locals and tourists. They have a party vibe and it’s a modern place

Opening hours 08:00-01:00.
Address Ermou Square

Recommended bars in Larnaca

Old market

A very modern, high-class cocktails bar. The atmosphere is awesome and the cocktails are really good. They also offer cigars in their menu. So, if you want a whisky with a cigar, you can have that.

Opening hours every day 17:00-02:00. The kitchen is closed at 23:00
Address
51 Kleanthi Kalogera Street


The block

Across from old market there is another great cocktails bar called The block.
Address
Kleanthi Kalogera 53

Art cafe 1900

If you are more of a beer fan, there is Art cafe 1900, a bar that offers a big variety of beers and also good food

Opening hours: every day 18:00-02:00
Address
6, Stasinou Street, Larnaca, Cyprus

If you are visiting Cyprus and are in the mood to travel, I really recommend you to rent a car and to drive to awesome places. Cyprus is full of nature reserves, which are beautiful villages where you can spend days exploring,

The big advantage of travelling in Cyprus, is that this is a pretty small island, so the distances are short from one place to another. You can reach a lot of places even if you travel only for a few days.

Driving there on the opposite direction can be a little bit intimidating, but you will get used to it pretty fast. If it’s still frightening to you, then you can travel there by taxies or buses.

No matter where you land, if it’s Larnaca, Paphos , Limassol and Nicosia, you can reach every place that I mentioned here in maximum 2.5 hours by car.

Akamas

Located about one hour driving from Paphos.
In the west part of Greece, Cyprus, Akamas is one of the most spectacular landmarks in the island of Cyprus for people who want to see nature.

The reserve is beautiful and there are a lot of walking trails, and also an amazing blue lagoon. The reserve is about 260 kms. You can find there are many types of animals.
The Aphrodite trail is considered to be the most difficult trail there is because it involves an uphill climbing in order to reach the top. But the view from there is so awesome that it is definitely worth it.

There are also easier trails, like to the lagoon.
Another cool option in the reserve is to rent a bagi and to travel with it. So even if you are less in the walking mood, you will have another option there to do.

The entrance is free. In the entrance there is a map that shows the types of trails and distances.
Aphrodite’s trail duration is about 4-6 hours and you can do a longer trajectory if you add the blue lagoon to it.

This reserve is a great place for people who are looking for treks in Cyprus.
If you are hungry after travelling there, you can eat in the restaurant in the entrance. They have a varied menu and reasonable prices

Bridge Tzelefos

Beautiful Venetian bridges located 440 m in Pafos forest. They are located on the way up to Troodos Mountains so it’s worth visiting them on the same day that you are travelling to Troodos Mountains. The bridges are located at an about one hour drive from Limassol to Pafos, and from Larnaca about one hour and a half.

Gefiri tou Tzelefou is the biggest stone bridge that was built in Cyprus.
You can travel between the bridges by car or by foot. In the first bridge there’s an option to climb up the hill to a viewpoint. About 10-15 minutes climbing up by feet.

When we came to the bridges there were many photographers who took pictures of them because there are really beautiful.

Troodos mountains

The largest range of mountains in Cyprus. On the mountains there are many villages, monasteries, churches, of which nine of them and one of the monasteries were announced as a World Heritage Site by the Unesco Organisation.

Troodos Mountains are very popular among tourists and in the winter  there’s a small ski site which has four elevators.
So if you are travelling in winter to Cyprus and want to see snow you can go there.

But Troodos Mountains are worth visiting all year long because they are full of picturesque villages, restaurants, taverns, coffee shops, stalls, and shops. The most famous is the Omodos village. About one million tourists visit it per year. In the village they produce wine and every August they have a festival there. You can visit the Afames monastery and enjoy the best atmosphere in the taverns

You can also visit the Platres village and eat there in a nice restaurant called “Skylight:
Address F825, Pano Platres, Cyprus

Nicosia

If you want to do some shopping or visit a modern city full of trendy restaurants, coffee shops, branded shops, and historical sites, Nicosia is a city worth seeing.

We ate in a very good vegetarian restaurant. We ordered laganne and kish and they were very delicious. The name of the restaurant is Inga’s Veggie Heaven.

Opening hours: Tuesday- Saturday 09:00-17:00
Address: 2 dimonaktos
I recommend this restaurant even if you are not vegetarian.
There are also coffee shops where you can play backgammon

Old city Limassol

In the old city you can visit in an impressive castle and enjoy wandering around in a great place with a unique atmosphere and great coffee shops, restaurants, and bars.

We stayed in a great hotel there called “Mediterranean Hotel Beach”
In order to read more about Limassol visit my post “Vacation in Limassol”.

Lefkara village, Larnaca and natural reserve in Ayia Napa

Lefkara village is a picturesque village that is famous for its lace industry. You will see many lace shops there as well as restaurants and coffee shops.

Cape Greco is an amazing natural reserve that is suitable for easy hiking and picnics, and also just for relaxing and to enter the clear blue water.

The entrance is free.
Larnaca is a harbour city with great cocktail bars, restaurants, and historical sites.
We stayed in an apartment hotel called Elenore Hotel, which was cheap, clean, and in a great location.
To read more about Lefkara, Larnaca and Cape Greco visit my post “Larnaca things to do”

We have had an amazing time in New York and I decided to write the itinerary we followed for 3 days. Every day was posted originally as a separate post but I merged them all into the first one to make it easier for you to read: part 1