Published · 7 min read · Facts checked 9 October 2026 against the sources below
Kourion is the great ancient site of the south coast of Cyprus. It sits on a cliff top above Episkopi Bay, 19 km west of Limassol, with a Greco-Roman theatre facing the sea, floors of late Roman mosaics and a beach right below. From Coral Bay, Paphos, it is a drive east along the coast, and it makes one of the best days out from the west of the island.
Our Paphos to Limassol and Larnaca guide gives Kourion a short stop on the way to Limassol. It deserves longer: there is enough here for a full day, with the beach below and the Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates a short drive west.
What Kourion was
Kourion was one of the city-kingdoms of ancient Cyprus. Tradition links it to settlers from Argos in Greece, who are said to have arrived in the 12th century BC. The city's acropolis stands on a limestone promontory nearly 100 metres above the sea, which is why the views are as much a reason to come as the stones.
A series of strong earthquakes struck between 365 and 370 AD, and a severe one in 365 destroyed the city. Kourion was rebuilt, and much of what you see dates from the centuries either side of that disaster.
One unusual detail: the site lies inside the British Sovereign Base Area of Akrotiri, though the Cyprus Department of Antiquities runs it.
The theatre, or Kourion amphitheatre
Most people call it the Kourion amphitheatre, but strictly it is a theatre: a half-circle of seats facing a stage, not a closed oval arena. It was first built at the end of the 2nd century BC and reached its present size in the 2nd century AD. In the early 3rd century it was turned into an arena for animal fights, before going back to plays later that century. It could hold up to 3,500 people.
The University of Pennsylvania began excavating here in 1933, and the theatre has since been restored. From the top rows you look down over the stage to the sea.
Summer performances
The theatre is still in use. It hosts concerts and plays, especially in summer. In summer 2026, for example:
- Shakespeare at Curium, a charity production in English that has run since 1962, staged Othello on 9 to 11 July at 8pm.
- The International Festival of Ancient Greek Drama, in its 29th year, used the theatre for ancient tragedy and comedy. It is organised by the Deputy Ministry of Culture and the Cyprus Centre of the International Theatre Institute.
- Concerts of Greek music, such as a Mikis Theodorakis evening on 25 July at 9pm.
Programmes change every year: the 2026 drama festival programme was announced in June, and its tickets were sold through SoldOut Ticket Box. Bring a cushion, because the seats are stone, and a layer for after dark.
The mosaics
Kourion's grand houses kept some of the finest floor mosaics on the island. Three are the highlights.
The House of Eustolios was built as a private house in the early 5th century AD and later opened to the public once its baths were added. An inscription at the entrance welcomes visitors and names Eustolios as the builder, and another says the house is protected by the signs of Christ, so its owner was a Christian. The central room has four panels of 5th-century mosaics, and the baths include a mosaic of Ktisis, a woman personifying Creation, holding an architect's ruler. You can still see the cold, warm and hot rooms of the bath complex, with the heating channels under the floors.
The House of the Gladiators dates from the second half of the 3rd century AD. Its mosaics near the main courtyard show gladiators fighting.
The House of Achilles, from the 4th century AD, is named after its mosaic of the Greek hero. It was probably a building for receiving official guests.
| Place | Date | What to look for |
|---|---|---|
| Theatre | 2nd century BC to AD | Sea views from the top rows |
| House of Eustolios | Early 5th century AD | Mosaic inscriptions, Ktisis, the baths |
| House of the Gladiators | Late 3rd century AD | Gladiator combat scenes |
| House of Achilles | 4th century AD | The mosaic of Achilles |
| Agora and Nymphaeum | Early 3rd century AD | Marble columns, the public fountain house |
| Early Christian basilica | 5th century AD | The separate baptistery |
| Stadium | 2nd century AD | The only ancient stadium found in Cyprus |
| Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates | 8th century BC onwards | The partly rebuilt temple |
The agora, the basilica and the stadium
Beyond the houses, the city centre spreads along the cliff top. The Roman agora dates from the early 3rd century AD and has porticoes with marble columns, a public bath and a Nymphaeum, a monumental fountain house.
Nearby stands the Early Christian basilica, built in the 5th century AD and probably the city's cathedral. It had three aisles and a separate baptistery.
The stadium is about 1 km west of the main site. It dates from the 2nd century AD, held around 6,000 spectators and staged the events of the pentathlon. It is the only ancient stadium found in Cyprus, and entry is free.
The Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates
About 3 km west of the main site is the Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates, the "Apollo of the woodland", who was Kourion's protector. It ranked among the most important sanctuaries on the island. Worship went on here from the 8th century BC to the 4th century AD, and most of what stands today comes from 1st-century AD restorations.
You walk through pilgrims' halls, a palaistra where athletes trained, a bath complex and the sacred precinct, up to Apollo's temple, which has been partly rebuilt. It is quieter than the main site, and in summer it is a good last stop before the drive home.
Opening hours, fees and the heat
In 2026 the Kourion site and the Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates both open daily at 08:30. They close at 19:30 from 16 April to 15 September and at 17:00 the rest of the year. Both close on Christmas Day, New Year's Day and Orthodox Easter Sunday.
| Site | Entry |
|---|---|
| Kourion archaeological site | €4.50 |
| Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates | €2.50 |
| Stadium | Free |
| Department of Antiquities pass | €8.50 (1 day), €17 (3 days), €25 (7 days) |
The pass covers any of the Department's sites and museums, each once, and pays off if you plan to see several of them in a few days. The main site is only partly accessible for wheelchairs. Prices and hours change without notice, so check before you go.
The small Kourion museum in Episkopi village, which shows skeletons of people killed in the 4th-century earthquakes, has been closed for upgrade works since 1 August 2026, with no reopening date announced as of October 2026.
Kourion beach
Below the cliffs lies Kourion beach, a 1 km stretch of sand and pebbles in Episkopi Bay with a wide shore and clear water. It held a Blue Flag in 2026. Lifeguards are on duty from April to October, and there are toilets, showers, changing rooms, sunbeds and umbrellas, fish taverns and disabled access. Windsurfing is possible here too.
After a hot morning on the ruins, an afternoon here is the obvious reward. For calm swims closer to home, see our best beaches near Coral Bay.
A day at Kourion from the Paphos side
The motorway is quicker, but the old Paphos to Limassol road is the better drive one way. Heading east from Paphos it passes Petra tou Romiou, then the village of Pissouri, then the Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates and Kourion. A plan for a summer day:
- Leave early and take the motorway for speed, so you reach Kourion at opening time.
- See the theatre, the House of Eustolios and the basilica while it is cool.
- Drive the short way west to the stadium and the Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates.
- Lunch and a swim at Kourion beach.
- Come home on the old coast road, stopping at Pissouri and at Aphrodite's Rock for the late light.
Our Pissouri guide covers the bay and the white cliffs on the way, and our driving in Cyprus guide has the road rules. In spring and autumn you can take it more slowly and do the ruins in the afternoon.
Where to stay
Villa Prasino is a private villa in Peyia, above Coral Bay on the Paphos coast, for up to 6 guests in 3 bedrooms. After a long day on a hot hillside there is a 6 × 12 m diving pool, a hot tub, covered outdoor dining and a traditional stone BBQ, in 1,000 m² of gardens with sea and mountain views. The Sea Caves are about 2 km away and Coral Bay beach about 5 km. See our villa with a private pool, check availability and rates, and send us a booking request when you are ready.
