Must-seeUNESCO
Tombs of the Kings
Part of the UNESCO site “Paphos”; no kings were buried here
The story
This is an ancient necropolis, that is, a cemetery, by the sea north of the walls of Nea Paphos. It was cut into the rock in the Hellenistic period, according to the Department of Antiquities in the third century BC, and people were buried here until the early fourth century AD. No kings were buried here: kingship in Cyprus had already been abolished at the end of the fourth century BC. The tombs belonged to high officials and nobles of the Ptolemaic era and their families. The Ptolemies were the dynasty that ruled Egypt and Cyprus at the time. The name comes from the tombs’ grandeur: most of them have an underground courtyard open to the sky, surrounded by Doric columns or pillars. The Department of Antiquities began systematic excavations in 1977. The necropolis is part of the UNESCO site “Paphos”, inscribed on the list in 1980.
No kings were buried here. These are tombs of nobles and high officials, called “royal” for their grandeur. The necropolis is in Kato Paphos (Paphos District) and, together with the mosaics, is part of the UNESCO site “Paphos”.
Visiting
According to the Department of Antiquities website, open every day: April 16 to September 15 from 8:30 to 19:30 (last ticket at 19:00), September 16 to April 15 from 8:30 to 17:00. Admission is charged; check the price and holiday hours before you go. The ticket office and grounds are wheelchair accessible, but then the tombs can only be seen from above.
Sources
- Department of Antiquities, Cyprus — Tombs of the Kings (history, excavations, opening hours)
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre — Paphos (No. 79), inscribed in 1980; the necropolis is named as part of the site
- Deputy Ministry of Tourism — official guide to Cyprus 2026 (in Greek)
- Hallouminati — Archaeological Sites, “In the exam” section (exam preparation, not an official source)
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