The Tombs of the Kings is a large, ancient necropolis located in Paphos, on the southwestern coast of Cyprus. Despite its regal name, the site was not the burial place of royalty but of high-ranking officials, aristocrats, and wealthy citizens of Nea Paphos, the ancient capital of Cyprus during the Hellenistic and Roman periods. Carved directly out of solid rock, these monumental underground tombs are remarkable for their grandeur and their architectural style, which often imitates the houses of the living. As a key part of the Paphos Archaeological Park, it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980 for its outstanding historical and architectural value.

Name and Address

• Name: Tombs of the Kings (Τάφοι των Βασιλέων).
• Address: Located on Tombs of the Kings Avenue, Kato Paphos, Cyprus, about two kilometers north of the Paphos Harbour.

How to Get There

The site is a major landmark in Paphos and is very easy to access.

• By Bus: This is a very convenient option. The main bus route (e.g., #615 from Paphos Harbour to Coral Bay) stops directly outside the entrance at the “Tafoi ton Vasileon” bus stop.
• By Car: The site is easily reached by car and has a large, free parking lot available for visitors.
• By Foot: For those staying in Kato Paphos, it is a pleasant walk along the coastal path from the Paphos Harbour, which takes about 30-40 minutes.
• Visitor Tip: The site is vast and exposed, with very little shade. It is essential to bring water, sunscreen, and a hat, especially during the hot summer months. The entrance fee is very affordable, and you should allow at least 1-2 hours to explore the various tombs.

Landscape and Architecture

The landscape is a wide, rocky expanse overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, dotted with the subterranean entrances to the tombs.

• Subterranean Architecture: The tombs are the main architectural feature and are entirely subterranean. They were carved out of the native bedrock, creating complex underground structures. Visitors descend staircases into sunken, open-air courtyards.
• Peristyle Courtyards: The most impressive tombs are designed in the style of Hellenistic houses, featuring a central peristyle (a courtyard surrounded by columns). These columns, carved directly from the rock, are in the Doric style, showing a strong Greek architectural influence.
• Burial Chambers: Opening off these courtyards are the burial chambers themselves. These contain rectangular niches (loculi) carved into the walls where the bodies were placed. Some of the tombs were originally decorated with vibrant frescoes, though few traces remain today.
• A Necropolis Landscape: The seven main excavated tombs are scattered across a large, open archaeological site. The experience involves walking across the rocky ground from one tomb entrance to another, creating a sense of discovery as you explore each unique underground complex.

What Makes It Famous

The Tombs of the Kings is famous for its monumental scale, its unique Hellenistic architecture, and the misleading grandeur of its name.

• Grandeur Befitting Royalty: Its primary claim to fame is its name, which was given due to the sheer size and magnificence of the tombs. Their impressive, palace-like design led early observers to believe they must have been for kings.
• Unique Architectural Style: The site is renowned for its unique tombs that imitate the houses of the living, complete with colonnaded courtyards. This style is heavily influenced by the architecture of Alexandria, Egypt, demonstrating the close ties between Cyprus and the Ptolemaic kingdom during the Hellenistic period.
• A Window into Ancient Beliefs: The tombs provide a fascinating insight into the funerary customs and beliefs about the afterlife during the Hellenistic and Roman periods. The design reflects the ancient Egyptian belief that the tombs of the dead should be as grand as the homes of the living.
• An Interactive Archaeological Site: Unlike many historical sites where you view things from behind a rope, the Tombs of the Kings is a very accessible and interactive site. Visitors can freely descend into the tombs, walk through the ancient courtyards, and explore the burial chambers.

Differences from Other Wonders

The Tombs of the Kings offers a unique archaeological experience that sets it apart from other ancient sites.

• Subterranean Palaces vs. Above-Ground Cities: While many archaeological sites showcase the ruins of ancient cities with their temples and houses (like the nearby Paphos Archaeological Park with its mosaics), the Tombs of the Kings is a city for the dead, located almost entirely underground. The main architectural features are below ground level.
• Hellenistic Aristocracy vs. Egyptian Pharaohs: The name often causes confusion with Egypt’s Valley of the Kings. However, this site is from a much later period (Hellenistic and Roman) and was for high-ranking officials, not for pharaohs. The architectural style, with its Doric columns, is distinctly Greek, not ancient Egyptian.
• A Necropolis, Not a Single Tomb: The site is not a single tomb or pyramid but a large necropolis with multiple, distinct tomb complexes that can be explored individually.
• Focus on Architecture over Artifacts: Because the tombs were looted in antiquity, the experience is not about seeing treasure or artifacts (like in Tutankhamun’s tomb). Instead, the focus is on the incredible rock-cut architecture and the impressive scale of the underground structures themselves.