Tombs of the Kings, Paphos: A Visitor's Guide to the Rock-Cut Necropolis

Of all the ancient sites in Paphos, the Tombs of the Kings is the one guests come back talking about. It is not a ruin you look at from behind a rope: you walk down stone steps into underground courtyards cut out of the solid rock, surrounded by columns, with the sea a few hundred metres away.

The site is about 2.5 km from our house in Kato Paphos, a few minutes by car or taxi, so it is an easy half-day out.

What the Tombs of the Kings are

The Tombs of the Kings are a large necropolis, or city of the dead, of monumental underground tombs carved into the rock. They belong to the ancient city of Nea Paphos. The oldest tombs go back to the late 4th century BC, when the city was founded, the most monumental ones to around the 3rd century BC, and the cemetery stayed in use into Roman times.

Together with the rest of ancient Paphos, the site is on the UNESCO World Heritage List, inscribed in 1980.

Were kings really buried here?

No. Despite the name, no kings were buried here. By the time the tombs were cut, the old Cypriot kingdoms had already ended under Ptolemaic rule. The tombs belonged to high officials and the local aristocracy, and it was their size and splendour that earned them the royal name.

What to see

Several tombs copy the houses of the living: burial chambers open off an open courtyard, the atrium, ringed by Doric columns or square pillars, all cut from one piece of rock. The design is often compared with tombs in Alexandria in Egypt.

The tombs are numbered, and a few are worth looking out for:

• Tomb 3 has a sunken courtyard surrounded by Doric columns and has been restored. It is the classic picture of the site.
• Tomb 4 is reached down a flight of steps, and has square pillars on one side instead of columns.
• Tomb 5 is one of the largest, about five metres deep, with an atrium surrounded by twelve pillars.
• Tomb 8 is different: instead of an open courtyard it has a central block of rock, and dates from around the 1st century BC to the 1st century AD.

Opening hours and tickets

According to the official Cyprus tourism site (last updated in 2024), the site is open every day:

• from 16 September to 15 April, 08:30–17:00
• from 16 April to 15 September, 08:30–19:30

It is closed on Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and Orthodox Easter Sunday. The listed entry price was €2.50, but prices change, and some recent sources quote a higher figure, so check before you go. An audio guide is available.

Tips for your visit

• There is almost no shade. In summer, go when it opens or in the late afternoon, and take water and a hat.
• Wear proper shoes. The paths and steps are uneven rock.
• Allow one to two hours. The site is bigger than it looks from the entrance.
• Access is limited. Wheelchair users can only view the tombs from above.
• Combine it with the coast. The site is on Tombs of the Kings Road, on the way to Coral Bay, so it fits easily into a beach day. Our guide to Coral Bay has the details.

Getting there from Villa Nadezda

The entrance is on Tombs of the Kings Road, north of Kato Paphos harbour. From our house it is about 2.5 km, so a few minutes by car or taxi. Paphos town buses also stop at the Tombs of the Kings bus station nearby.

If you are planning a few days of sightseeing, our list of five must-visit attractions near the villa covers the harbour, the castle and the mosaics. You can also see the house or check dates for your stay.