Meet the Locals: A Practical Guide to Paphos' Free Thursday Old Town Walking Tour

What the tour is

The Pafos Regional Board of Tourism (PRBT) has brought back Meet the Locals, its free guided walking tour of Old Town Pafos. The tour runs every Thursday morning through October and November 2026. It costs nothing, but you need to book at least 24 hours ahead.

The walk goes through the Old Town, the upper part of the city that locals call Ktima. Most visitors only see Paphos from the harbour and the seafront at Kato Paphos. The Old Town is a different side of the city, with its market, its shopping streets and the everyday business of Paphos residents. The tour suits autumn visitors who want to see more than the coast. It also works for residents who have lived here for years and never walked the Old Town with a guide.

Remaining 2026 dates and times

The series began on 8 October and runs every Thursday until the end of November. The dates still to come are:

• October: 29
• November: 5, 12, 19 and 26

The meeting time is 09:15 and the walk starts at 09:30. The board describes it as a 2.5-hour tour, so you should finish around midday. The PRBT's own listings give the end time as both 12:00 and 12:30. Allow until 12:30 before you book anything else, such as a lunch reservation or a bus connection.

How to book

Book at least 24 hours in advance. If you want to go on Thursday, call or email by Wednesday morning at the latest. There are two ways to book:

• Directly with the PRBT: call +357 26 811 500 or +357 26 932 841, or email loucas@visitpafos.org.cy.
• Through your accommodation: hotels and other accommodation providers can make the booking for you. This is often the easiest option if you are staying in Kato Paphos or along the coast.

When you book, ask a few questions the listing doesn't answer:

• Which language the tour is in
• Which stops the route includes
• The exact meeting spot
• What happens if it rains

The board's website is visitpafos.org.cy, and you can find upcoming events on its events page.

Where to meet and how to get there

The listing says to meet at the "Market bus stop". This is most likely the Municipal Market bus station in the heart of Ktima. Confirm the exact spot when you book, because the listing doesn't give an address.

By bus from Kato Paphos

Public buses connect Kato Paphos with the Old Town. Plan to arrive a little early for a 09:15 meeting. Check current routes, times and fares on Cyprus by Bus, the island's public transport information site. It also has a page for the Municipal Market stop.

Check the return times too if you plan to stay in the Old Town into the evening.

Driving or walking

If you live in Paphos or are staying in Ktima, you can walk to the market area or drive in. Give yourself extra time if you're driving.

What to bring

This is a street-level walk of about two and a half hours, so plan for that.

• Shoes: wear comfortable shoes with some grip.
• Water: bring a bottle with you.
• Sun: October mornings in Paphos are often still warm and sunny, so a hat and sunscreen are a good idea early in the season.
• Layers: by late November, a light layer is more useful than sun cream.

The tour is called Meet the Locals, so it's worth bringing questions about the town as well. A guided walk is a good chance to find out which streets, shops and stops Paphos residents use themselves.

Coffee or lunch afterwards

The tour ends around midday in the Old Town, which is a good time to stay for lunch rather than heading straight back to the coast. Wander the streets around the market and pick somewhere that looks busy with locals. Check opening hours before you plan your lunch around any particular place. After a morning on the tour, you'll have a better sense of where to look.

Before you go

Tour times, the meeting point and bus timetables can all change, so check before you go. Confirm your place with the PRBT or through your accommodation at least 24 hours ahead. Ask them where exactly to stand at 09:15 and which language the guide will use. Then make your way to the market on Thursday morning.