Tombs of the Kings

The Tombs of the Kings sit on the coast just north of the harbour in Paphos, a large necropolis where the wealthy of the Hellenistic and Roman city were buried from the 4th century BC onward. No royalty was actually buried here. The name comes from the grand scale of the tombs, which were cut straight into the soft coastal rock.

The site forms part of the wider Paphos Archaeological Park area on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The most striking tombs are built around open sunken courtyards ringed with Doric columns, imitating the houses of the living. You walk down stone steps into each one and move through chambers cut deep below ground level, with the sea visible just beyond the cliff edge.

What to expect on a visit

The ground is uneven and there is little shade, so the walk between tombs is exposed. Allow time to descend into several of them, as the layouts differ widely, from simple caverns to the colonnaded peristyle tombs that give the place its reputation. Interpretive signs explain the burial customs and the families who used the site.

• The necropolis lies a short drive or long walk north of Kato Paphos harbour.
• It pairs naturally with the city's other ancient sites and with a stop at Coral Bay further up the coast.
• The mythical sea stack of Aphrodite's Rock lies east toward Limassol.

Wear sturdy shoes for the rock-cut steps, bring water and sun cover, and come early or late in the day to avoid the heat on the open ground.