Paphos Wine Tours

Your options

What a typical tour covers

Most wine tours from Paphos head into the hills north of town, usually towards Kathikas and the Laona plateau, about 30 minutes away. Expect pick-up from your area, two or three wineries with a tasting at each, and a stop in a village — sometimes with lunch. Longer or private tours may go higher, towards Panagia on the edge of Paphos Forest. Itineraries vary a lot between operators, so read the details rather than the headline.

Group or private?

A small-group tour is the simple choice for couples and solo travellers: you share the driving and the logistics, and you meet people. A private tour or driver earns its cost for groups of four or more, for special occasions, or if you want specific wineries — the mountain winery at Panagia, say — that a group tour may not include. With a driver you also control the pace, which matters on hot days.

What to check before you book

• How many wineries, and which ones.
• How many wines you taste at each, and whether tastings are included in the price.
• Whether lunch is included, and where.
• Pick-up from your area (Kato Paphos, Coral Bay, etc.).
• Group size.
• Total length of the day, including driving.
• Whether children can come, and what they do while adults taste.
• The cancellation policy.

The self-drive alternative

Self-drive works if one of you is genuinely happy to spit or not drink. Plan two wineries, not four, and book each in advance — many smaller producers only receive visitors by appointment. Start with wineries near Paphos for the producers and wine villages near Paphos for routes.

1. A simple self-drive half-day: leave Paphos after lunch and drive up to Kathikas, about 30 minutes north.
2. Taste at the two Kathikas wineries in our listings, Vasilikon and Sterna, booked in advance.
3. Walk one of the Laona villages before the light goes.
4. Drive down to the coast for sunset at the Peyia sea caves — with the designated driver at the wheel.

Who should skip a wine tour

• Short trips of two or three days. The ancient sites, the harbour and a boat trip are better uses of limited time; buy local wine in town instead.
• Families with young children, unless the operator confirms children are welcome and there is something for them to do.
• Anyone who dislikes winding roads. The drive into the hills is part of the day, and on a hills tour it is a big part.
• Serious wine buffs who want to meet specific producers. Book a private driver and arrange your own appointments instead.

Tasting etiquette

• Use the spittoon if you need to — it is normal at tastings.
• Try the native grapes first: Xynisteri for white, Maratheftiko and Mavro for red.
• Buying a bottle is welcome but not expected.
• Eat beforehand or choose a tour with lunch.

Best time of year

Tours run in most months, but check winter schedules. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable for a day in the hills; late summer into early autumn is harvest time, when vineyards are at their busiest. In July and August, a tour that spends the hottest hours indoors at tastings and lunch is no bad thing.

Combine wine with

• Agios Neophytos Monastery — cave frescoes on the way up via Tala.
• The Laona villages around Kathikas for a walk and lunch.
• Sunset at the Peyia sea caves on the way back down.
• A food experience — see food and cooking experiences.