Paphos villa holidays - activities & sights

Passed over by golfers a few years ago, Cyprus is fast becoming a popular golfing spot, largely due to recent development and its superb year-round climate. If you're keen to experiment or enjoy a few rounds, there are three stupendous, world-class courses on the island, all within easy reach of Paphos. The newest is Aphrodite Hills, a glorious 18-hole course and academy, spread out on two plateaus above the Mediterranean. Just north of Paphos is the island's oldest course, the 18-hole Tsada, set amid the grounds of a monastery and to the east of the city, is the prestigious 18-hole Secret Valley Club, located in a lush green valley. Guests are recommended to hire a car.

Twitchers will love Cyprus! Located on a migration route between Europe and Africa, the island attracts large numbers of travelling birds - about 200 different species - and is home to a vast array of resident birds, making it a paradise for birdwatchers. The pine-clad Troodos mountains are home to Griffon vultures, whilst the island's salt lakes, which fill in winter, play host to over 10,000 pink flamingoes, making for a spectacular sight. Cyprus also boasts two homegrown species, the Cyprus Pied Wheatear and the Cyprus Warbler. Between April and September you may be lucky enough to spot such beautiful species as the colourful bee-eater and golden oriole. Take your binoculars!

Whether you're a beginner or expert, Cyprus is a wonderful place to dive, thanks to its warm seas and the surprising underwater world hidden around its coast. What's more, the waters are transparent, so you'll see everything in larger-than-life clarity and colour. All the main resorts have clubs offering PADI diving courses and equipment rental to get you started, and once you're out there, there's the chance to view an amazing diversity of marine life, from bright, soft coral to turtles, stingray, tuna and barracuda. More advanced divers will love the many caves, rock walls and tunnels, and the opportunity to explore the famous wreck of the Zenophobia, a huge ferry that sank off Ayia Napa.

Cyprus boasts some great beaches including Coral Bay (Paphos), Dasoudi Beach or Governor's Beach (Limassol), Nissi Beach (Ayia Napa), Fig Tree Bay (Protaras) and Latchi Beach.

If you fancy a change of scenery and have energy to spare, the Troodos mountains in the centre of Cyprus are great for walking and an invigorating day out. Although they reach nearly 2,000 metres in height at the dramatic Mount Olympus, the lower hills, studded with terraced vineyards and charming villages, are ideal for more leisurely exploration. Higher up, the cool, pine-forested slopes are more suitable for hiking and walkers can follow four woodland trails promoted by the Tourist Office - Artemis, Atalante, Kaledonia and Persephone. It's not just the stunning scenery that brings people here: the Troodos range plays host to numerous of Cyprus' monasteries and ornate churches, including the much-visited Kykkos Monastery.

The Roman ruins at Kourion near Limassol are regarded as the island's most spectacular archeological site. Dating back to the 2nd century, they enjoy a sensational location overlooking the sea and include a vast, restored Roman amphitheatre where gladiatorial and man-against-animal battles were once staged. You can also see the remains of beautiful mosaic-decorated Roman villas and courtyards, as well as a bathhouse, basilica and the aqueduct, which brought water into the settlement. There's a nearby museum at the village of Episkopi where, in the summer, plays and concerts are held at the amphitheatre. Remember, the excavations at Kourion are ongoing, so some parts of the site are closed from time to time.

The island's most celebrated landmark, Aphrodite's Rock, is well worth a visit. Soak up its scenic beauty and discover the mysterious legend that surrounds it. Known by the Cypriots as Petra Tou Romiou, this huge chunk of rock lies just off an idyllic pebble beach on the island's south coast. It is said to have been the place where Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love, was born, once emerging from the foaming waters. It's a beautiful sight that has inspired poets and painters through the ages - in fact, the setting and the story were immortalised in Botticelli's legendary masterpiece, The Birth of Aphrodite, which depicts the goddess rising from the waters in a huge seashell.