Adonis Baths Waterfalls

The Adonis Baths, also known as the Adonis Waterfall, are in the village of Koili in the Paphos hills — near Krya Vrysi and Lakkos tou Frakou, where the water from Mavrokolympos gathers to form a small but gorgeous waterfall.

The site is on privately owned land and the owner has turned it into a kind of theme park, so there is an entrance fee. You will see statues of Adonis and Aphrodite and of other gods from Greek mythology. Before you enter you are greeted by an amphitheatre more than 1,500 years old.

The watermill and the pool

Near the waterfall there is a watermill and a museum of traditional folklore architecture and interiors. The watermill sits at the entrance and you can walk through its rooms to see how the building was made; inside this 400-year-old mill there is memorabilia on display.

Many people come to escape the hot summer days and swim in the lake beneath the fall. Local lore says swimming here makes women look younger and men stronger, and there is a sign beside the statue of Adonis and Aphrodite to that effect. There is a cliff people jump from, tree branches to climb for photographs, and a balancing rope up the steep rock for those who want the top; lower ledges suit everyone else.

The story of Adonis

In Greek mythology this is where Adonis and Aphrodite would meet. Adonis was the mortal lover of Aphrodite, goddess of love and beauty; the tradition holds that their children were the people of Paphos. It is also said to be where Adonis died — wounded by a figure disguised as a wild boar, he made his way back to the falls and died in Aphrodite’s arms.