Aphrodite's Rock, Petra tou Romiou

For many people, Aphrodite’s Rock is the picture of Cyprus. A rock in the sea with a myth behind it that everyone half knows. Here’s what the legend says, how to get there without a car and how to pair it with what’s nearby. The bigger picture is in Paphos district.

What is Petra tou Romiou?

Akamas Municipality describes it as a large rock on the south coast of Cyprus, the mythological birthplace of Aphrodite. According to OpenStreetMap, it’s about 22 km as the crow flies from Paphos harbour and about 7 km from the sanctuary of Aphrodite at Kouklia.

The Pafos tourism board counts it among the most cherished and photographed places on the island, and also lists it among its spots for watching the sunset.

The myth of Aphrodite

The most celebrated legend, according to the tourism board, says Aphrodite emerged from the sea foam at Petra tou Romiou and from there travelled to Olympus, accompanied by Eros and Pothos, to take her place among the gods. Her name is linked to that foam, and Cyprus became known as the island where the goddess first appeared. UNESCO notes that her legendary birthplace was on Cyprus and that the Mycenaeans raised a temple to her in the 12th century BC, at nearby Palaepaphos.

If you are staying the night, see the best hotel deals in Paphos for your dates: the well-placed rooms go fast.

The other legend, Digenis

The rock’s name doesn’t come from the goddess. Petra tou Romiou is linked to Digenis Akritas, a Byzantine epic hero of enormous strength who, tradition says, hurled a huge boulder from the Troodos to defend Cyprus from the Saracens. Watch out for a mix-up, because the tourism board also tells of a different “rock of Digenis”, by Fabrica Hill in Paphos town, with a story of love and spite.

Getting there by bus

Pafos Buses route 631 leaves the harbour station, runs through Geroskipou and along the old Limassol road, stops at the Kouklia archaeological site and ends at Petra tou Romiou. From April to November there are ten departures a day, and the last bus leaves the rock at 23:15 and waits at the Aphrodite Hills hotel until 00:05 before returning to the harbour. From December to March there are fewer.

Route 630 follows a similar line from Karavela station, via Timi and Kouklia, and carries on to Pissouri, with three departures Monday to Saturday. A single ticket costs €2.

So you do not lose the morning at the ticket office, browse tickets and tours in Aphrodite's Rock on GetYourGuide.

What’s nearby

The sanctuary of Aphrodite and the Palaipafos museum at Kouklia are the visit that completes the rock. The whole myth, from the sea foam to Adonis, is in Aphrodite in Cyprus. Near the rock, the tourism board places the Secret Valley golf course, an 18-hole course tucked into a valley. And for cyclists, its route 4, 64 km on good roads, leaves Paphos, passes through Acheleia and Timi and reaches the birthplace of Aphrodite, rated easy to moderate. For somewhere to stay, the handiest base is Paphos. Watching the sun go down here heads my list for romantic Cyprus.

If you would rather go at your own pace, see the car hire deals in Paphos: the earlier you book, the more cars are left to choose from.

If you are staying the night, see the best hotel deals in Paphos for your dates: the well-placed rooms go fast.