Things To Do in Coral Bay

Coral Bay has a couple of supermarkets that stock the essentials, but there’s much more in Paphos Town. The old town hosts a bustling daily market where you can pick up leather shoes and handbags, while the parallel streets of Mylona and Gladstonos are home to the town’s designer boutiques. And on the outskirts of town, you’ve got the Paphos Mall, which specialises in swimsuits and summer dresses.

Head over to the watersports centre in the middle of Coral Bay’s beach, and you’ll find speedboats waiting to whisk you off over the water on the chariot of your choice – whether that’s a banana boat, a fly fish or a rainbow-coloured parasail. There are pedalos for kids, and if you fancy scuba diving, the wreck of Zenobia is a must-see.

If you want to add some sparkle to your nights out in Coral Bay, this plush bar with tall ceilings and exposed brickwork ticks all the boxes. It’s big with the local in-crowd who come all the way from Peiya and Paphos to sample the cocktails and oaky wines. And on Saturdays there are DJs, so it fills up with a younger crowd.

Held annually on the first weekend of September, this opera festival sees performances from international opera houses such as the Opera of the Slovak National Theatre and Trieste’s Lyric Theatre stage. And it all happens in front of Paphos’ castle, which forms the scenery for classics like Verdi’s Othello and Puccini’s Turandot.

A 45-minutre drive southwards gets you to Old Paphos, where this festival of chamber music unravels at the Royal Manor House – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You’ve got some of the world’s most famous classical musicians, playing everything from Mozart through to Debussy. And in the impressive surroundings of the Gothic Hall, the atmosphere is every bit as electric as the Proms.

Bargain-hunters can while away an afternoon in the shops along Coral Bay Avenue. What it lacks in quantity, it makes up for in quality, with some of Cyprus’ finest craftsmanship on offer – think pottery, woodwork, jewellery and lace. If you’re looking for something a bit different, take home a bottle of Cyprus wine – the best ones to go for are the Xynisteri and the Carignan Noir.

You can try food from around the world in Coral Bay, but there are also plenty of authentic tavernas along the waterfront serving up traditional local dishes. You might want to try the souvla, with different skewered meats cooked over a charcoal grill. Or there’s the loukaniko, Greek-style sausage flavoured with orange zest and fennel seeds.

To the north of Coral Bay is the striking landscape of the Akavas Gorge. An easy hike starts from Viklari village, about 15 minutes’ drive away. Set off down the pine and juniper valley until you reach the very narrow limestone cliffs at the gorge itself. The rock arches overhead and is filled with a golden light. Out-and-back takes about three hours – a good point to turn around is the giant boulder caught between the cliffs.

Coral Bay has a procession of cocktail bars and pubs lined up along the main strip that’ll keep you busy après-beach. The best places fill up with a mix of locals and holidaymakers by about 10pm, so get there in plenty of time. As for what to expect, you’ll find everyone from big-name DJs to Elvis and Michael Buble tributes on the bill.

You really can’t miss this taverna ­since it’s the one with a golden crown on its roof. A fun, friendly place, it serves up traditional Cypriot fare – there are classics like grilled swordfish and lamb kleftiko. Or you could try the king prawns with ouzo, tomato and feta. Thursday night is Greek night – waiters perform a traditional dance, while a violin and lute duo provides the soundtrack.

Dark wood-panelling gives a warm, cosy feel to this bar. There’s live sport on the big screens and Guinness, Becks and John Smith all on tap. A cocktail list also boasts classic mojitos and Long Island Ice Teas. You get a karaoke night twice a week and sometimes street magicians, too – the fire-eating displays are only bettered by the fearless guys who walk across shards of glass.

Coral Bay’s long sandy beach is dotted with sunloungers and umbrellas, but its real draw is the huge choice of watersports. There’s a centre on the sand that offers banana boats, pedalos, jet-skis and waterskiing. You’ve also got a diving school here which has trips for qualified and novice divers. And to the north of the beach, there are water slides that end up in the ocean.

The Time Team would have a field day in this three-acre, ancient walled city in Paphos. The biggies are the mosaics – they depict Orpheus, the Bob Dylan of ancient Greece, and Hercules, the Sylvester Stallone of the day. There’s also a theatre and a lighthouse worth looking around. Plus, this place is seconds away from Paphos Harbour, so you can cram all the island’s top sights into a whirlwind tour.

The town’s main street runs along Coral Bay Avenue all the way to the beach. Here the cocktail bar is king – there are ones that are lively and some that are more sophisticated, but both types serve up Brandy Sour, Cyprus’ national drink. Later in the night, DJ-hosted dance and techno clubs open up – and don’t close again ’til the early morning.