Hotels near Cyprus Museum

The Cyprus Museum (also called the Cyprus Archaeological Museum) on Mouseiou Street is the oldest and most comprehensive archaeological museum on the island. Founded in 1882 under British colonial rule, it houses artefacts spanning 11,000 years - from Neolithic stone tools to Roman-era bronzes. The star exhibit is the collection of Mycenaean pottery from Enkomi and the iconic terracotta figures from Ayia Irini, a group of over 2,000 votive statues dating to the 7th century BC that fills an entire room.

The museum sits just outside the western Venetian Walls, about a 10-minute walk from Paphos Gate. It is housed in a neoclassical colonial building and organised chronologically across 14 rooms. Admission is EUR 4.50 (2026 price). Allow 1.5-2 hours. The museum provides essential context for understanding every archaeological site you might visit elsewhere on the island - from Kourion to Choirokoitia to the Tombs of the Kings in Paphos.

Pro Tip: Visit the Cyprus Museum before heading to any archaeological sites on the island. The context transforms what would otherwise be anonymous ruins into coherent stories. Room 7 (the Ayia Irini terracottas) is the highlight.