Paphos

With year round sunshine, bath temperature seawater, sandy beaches and a relaxed ambience it is no surprise that the Cypriot resort of Paphos is booming. Throw in cooling sea breezes, some of the finest Greek relics and Roman mosaics anywhere in the world, relaxing spas, a lively nightlife scene, luxury hotels and decent restaurants and Paphos' myriad charms are hard to resist. If that isn't enough, many of Cyprus' stunning natural attractions, including Paphos Forest, the Akamas Peninsula and the Troodos Mountains, are close to the resort. When it comes to holidays, Paphos, with its sandy beaches, first-class resort facilities and UNESCO World Heritage listed attractions, comes up trumps at any time of year.

From April to November Europeans flock to Paphos for its sunshine and warm temperatures. Child-friendly accommodation, bars and restaurants appeal to holidaying families, though singles and couples are welcome year round. In the mild winter months Paphos tends to attract older visitors looking to escape harsh winters further north.

Paphos is on the west coast of Cyprus. 151km (94 miles) southwest of Nicossia; 135km (84 miles) west of Larnaca; 10km (6 miles) from Paphos International Airport.

Paphos has two distinct parts. Kato Paphos (Lower Paphos), where the resort's accommodation and its most important archaeological sites are located, overlooks the Mediterranean and the old harbour. Just over a mile inland Ano Paphos (Upper Paphos) boasts a few small museums and is Paphos' urban centre.

In addition to snatched stretches of often pebbly beach located next to the waterfront hotels of Kato Paphos, the resort also boasts the centrally located and sandy Municipal Beach. Faros Beach often proves a quieter option. For the best beach you need to hop on a bus to Coral Bay, a lovely sand beach 13km (8 miles) north of Paphos.

Ruins that date back to the 12th century BC, crumbing fortresses, ancient tombs and stunning Roman remnants secured Paphos a place on the coveted UNESCO World Heritage list back in 1980. Today the intricate mosaics of Nea Paphos, some of the most impressive in the world, and the voluminous Tombs of the Kings are amongst the resort's most popular attractions. The Archaeological Museum (Griva Digeni 43) sheds more light on centuries of intriguing history.

Paphos is an ideal resort for families with sandy beaches, a smorgasbord of watersports, boat trips and a host of land based sporting activities. The waterslides, wave pools and fast and lazy rivers at the Paphos Aphrodite Waterpark  (off Poseidonos Avenue, Kato Paphos) (website: www.aphroditewaterpark.com) thrill kids and big kids alike.

Shopping in Paphos is an eclectic experience with tacky souvenir shops standing alongside craft boutiques, tourist markets and the Debenhams department store. Good quality hand woven Cypriot lace, unique paintings and pottery are traditional souvenirs worth seeking out. If you need a new pair of glasses Paphos also has myriad opticians where frames and lenses are considerably cheaper than they are in the UK. Stock up on Cypriot wines, local spirits and cheap cigarettes in the resort's supermarkets.

In a bustling resort overflowing with Irish bars, Cypriot tavernas, sophisticated hotel bars and stylish cocktail lounges, you will be spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing where to drink after dark in Paphos. The resort also boasts a handful of decent clubs guaranteed to keep you partying through the night at the height of summer. Two of the best are Starsky & Hutch (Agiou Antoniou) and Space (Agiou Antoniou).

Paphos has a diverse dining scene, which incorporates everything from British pub fare, Italian and Chinese to Lebanese, Indian and Mexican cuisine alongside more traditional Cypriot tavernas, eateries dishing up epic meze feasts and swish hotel restaurants. The resort also has plenty of fast-food outlets and fish and chip shops.

Kato Paphos (Lower Paphos) is the bustling heart of the resort, and is connected to Ano Paphos (Upper Paphos) by bus. Local buses are also useful for popping around the resort, and further afield to destinations like Coral Bay. Intercity services to Limassol and Nicosia leave from Ano Paphos. Taxis are plentiful. To really explore Cyprus you'll need to hire a car.

Driving an hour northeast of Paphos brings you to the Troodos Mountains, a natural wonderland of hiking trails, lush forest and other indigenous fauna and flora; look out for wild sheep. Between November and March the area is blanketed in snow, with locals and holidaymakers taking advantage of the ski slopes and cross-country runs of the Troodos Ski Centre - the most southerly in Europe. To the northwest of Paphos the Akamas peninsula is another great spot for a summer walk.

Be pampered at the Elysium Hotel's ultra-luxurious Opium Health Spa (Queen Verenikis Street) (website: www.elysium.com.cy). Individual treatments and wonderfully named packages, like Aphrodite's Secret Fountain of Youth and Heavenly Bliss, offer rejuvenating facial and body treatments, as well as hot-stone massage and body wraps.

Paphos International Airport (PFO)