Updated in October 2026, this Kourion Archaeological Site guide covers ticket prices, opening hours, parking or transport, accessibility and what to see.
The Kourion Archaeological Site is an ancient Greco-Roman city on a clifftop near Episkopi, 19 km west of Limassol in Cyprus. The winter opening hours of 8.30am to 5pm have applied since 16 September and run until 15 April. Entry costs €4.50. This guide was last updated in October 2026 and confirms the current closing time, the ticket price and the free parking at the site.
Quick facts: the Kourion Archaeological Site
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | 8.30am to 5.00pm from 16 September to 15 April. 8.30am to 7.30pm from 16 April to 15 September. |
| Ticket prices | Adult €4.50. Groups of more than 10 receive a 20% reduction. Entry cards: €8.50 for 1 day. |
| Address | Kourion, 19 km west of Limassol on the road towards Paphos |
| Nearest transport or parking | Free car park at the site. Limassol bus 16 stops on the B6 at the Kourion turn. |
| Typical time needed | About 2 to 3 hours |
The Kourion Archaeological Site opening hours
The site is open every day of the year, apart from three holidays. Opening hours change with the season:
- 16 April to 15 September (summer): 8.30am to 7.30pm.
- 16 September to 15 April (winter): 8.30am to 5.00pm.
The site is closed on Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and Easter Sunday (Greek Orthodox). Last entry is 30 minutes before closing. Opening times can change without notice, so check before you visit. Phone the site on +357 25 934 250.
The Kourion Archaeological Site ticket prices
Entry to the Kourion Archaeological Site costs €4.50. Payment is on arrival, at the barrier, and nothing more is charged inside the site.
- Standard entry: €4.50.
- Organised groups of more than 10 people: a 20% reduction.
- 1-day entry card: €8.50, valid at Department of Antiquities museums and ancient monuments.
- 3-day entry card: €17.00.
- 7-day entry card: €25.00.
An entry card allows one visit to each site. Cards are issued at each site’s ticket office. They cover sites such as the Paphos Archaeological Park, the Tombs of the Kings and Choirokoitia.
Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in October 2026.
The site is not part of a city pass scheme such as Go City or CityPass. The Department of Antiquities entry cards are the multi-site option.
How to get to the Kourion Archaeological Site
Kourion is 19 km west of Limassol on the B6 road towards Paphos, behind the village of Episkopi. The drive from the centre of Limassol takes under half an hour.
- By car: take the highway from Limassol towards Paphos, exit at Episkopi and follow the signs to Kourion. Park just before the barrier, pay, then drive uphill to the main car park.
- By bus: Limassol bus 16 runs west from the Old Port towards Episkopi and stops on the B6 at the Kourion turn. Services are roughly hourly, with fewer on Sundays. Check the current timetable.
- By tour: day trips from Paphos and Limassol often combine Kourion with Kolossi Castle.
Parking at the Kourion Archaeological Site
Free parking is available at the site entrance. A small temporary car park is just below the ticket barrier, for buying tickets. The main car park is at the top of the hill near the visitor centre.
Toilets and drinking water fountains are on site. Parking is also free at nearby Kourion Beach, at the bottom of the cliff road.
How long to spend at the Kourion Archaeological Site
Plan about 2 to 3 hours for the main site. The site is large, with villas, a theatre, baths and a basilica spread over a clifftop. Allow longer if you add the stadium or the Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates.
The cliff-top site has little shade. In summer, visit in the morning or late afternoon. In winter the site closes at 5pm.
Accessibility at the Kourion Archaeological Site
The site is partly accessible. The main paths can be used by many visitors, but the lower theatre seating, the basilica terrace and the far villas involve steps and loose stone.
The House of Eustolios has a roof structure and access by steps to the bathing complex on the higher level. Toilets are available at the site. Phone +357 25 934 250 if you have specific access needs.
What to see at the Kourion Archaeological Site
Kourion was one of the island’s most important city-kingdoms in antiquity. It was built on the hills above the fertile valley of the river Kouris. A severe earthquake destroyed the city in 365 AD.
The Greco-Roman theatre is the centrepiece. It was built in the 2nd century BC and extended in the 2nd century AD. It has been restored and hosts open-air concerts and theatre, mainly in summer. It holds about 3,500 spectators and looks over the Mediterranean.
The House of Eustolios lies east of the theatre. It began as a private villa and became a public recreation centre in the Early Christian period. It has four panels of 5th-century mosaic floors and a bathing complex. A roof lets visitors explore the site all year round.
The baths include cold rooms (frigidarium), the remains of heating systems (hypocausts) and the hot room (caldarium) with built-in basins and firing chambers.
The House of Achilles and the House of the Gladiators have further mosaic floors. Each villa is named after the scenes in its mosaics.
The Roman Agora dates from the early 3rd century. It is surrounded by porticos with marble columns. On its north-west side stand an impressive public bath and the Nymphaeum, a small temple dedicated to the water nymphs.
An Early Christian basilica dates from the 5th century, with a separate baptistery on its external northern side. The Stadium of Kourion lies 1 km west on the right side of the road towards Paphos. An audio guide is on the Visit Cyprus website.
Practical visitor tips
| Topic | Tip |
|---|---|
| Timing | The site closes at 5pm from 16 September to 15 April, and last entry is 30 minutes before. |
| Crowds | The site has little shade, so visit in the morning in summer. |
| Layout | The theatre, the House of Eustolios, the Agora and the basilica are all on the clifftop. The stadium is 1 km away. |
| Entry process | Park below the barrier, pay €4.50 at the barrier, then drive up to the main car park. |
| On-site logistics | Wear sturdy shoes, because some steps and loose stone are uneven. Toilets and drinking fountains are on site. |
Frequently asked questions about the Kourion Archaeological Site
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| How much does it cost to enter the Kourion Archaeological Site? | €4.50 for adults. Groups of more than 10 receive a 20% reduction. |
| Is the Kourion Archaeological Site suitable for children? | Yes. It is an open-air site with a theatre, mosaics and sea views. The theatre seating and some villas have steps and loose stone. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for the Kourion Archaeological Site? | No. Pay on arrival at the barrier. Entry cards are issued at the site. |
| Is the Kourion Archaeological Site open on Sundays? | Yes. It is open daily, except on Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and Easter Sunday. |
| Is parking free at the Kourion Archaeological Site? | Yes. Parking is free at the site and at nearby Kourion Beach. |
Things to do near the Kourion Archaeological Site
- Kourion Stadium: a 2nd-century AD stadium for about 6,000 spectators, 1 km west of the main site on the road to Paphos.
- Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates: a hilltop sanctuary of Apollo, god of woodlands, about 3 km west of the main site and a 5-minute drive.
- Kolossi Castle: a Crusader castle with a three-storey keep, about 15 minutes’ drive east.
- Kourion Beach: a wide beach with pebbles and hard-packed sand at the bottom of the cliff road, below the site.
- Limassol Medieval Castle: a medieval fort in Limassol old town that houses the Cyprus Medieval Museum, 19 km east of Kourion.
Alternative attractions
- Paphos Archaeological Park: a UNESCO World Heritage site in Kato Paphos with Roman villas and some of the finest mosaics in the eastern Mediterranean.
- Tombs of the Kings: underground rock-cut tombs about two kilometres north of Paphos harbour.
- Sanctuary of Aphrodite at Palaipafos: an ancient sanctuary in Kouklia village, east of Paphos.
- Choirokoitia Neolithic Settlement: a prehistoric village in the Larnaca district, listed by UNESCO.
- Agios Georgios Pegeia Archaeological Site: a site of Early Byzantine basilicas 11 km north of Paphos.
More Cyprus travel
Other Cyprus travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Aphrodite Water Park, Paphos: Practical guide for first-time visitors.
- Paphos Castle visitor guide: Ticket prices, opening hours and what you’ll see inside.
- Agia Solomoni visitor guide: How to see the catacomb in Paphos.
- Waterwold Ayia Napa visitor guide, with prices, hours and what to expect.
- Agia Napa Sculpture Park visitor guide.
