A Paphos glass bottom boat trip sets out from Paphos harbour, beside the castle, and runs along the Cyprus coast over a glass floor that shows the seabed below. Our wider list of tours in Greece and Cyprus has more days on the water.
This page covers what the cruise and the water slide include, the run from the harbour to the swim stop, what you see through the glass, the Vera K. shipwreck, sea turtles, the boats, trip lengths and sunset sailings, the harbour and its castle, who enjoys the trip and what to bring on a Paphos glass bottom boat.
What does a Paphos glass bottom boat cruise with a water slide include?
A Paphos glass bottom boat cruise with a water slide includes swim stops, free snorkelling gear and the slide. You watch the sea floor through the glass, and on Glass Majesty drinks and seasonal fruit are served too.
Glass Majesty is described as the newest Paphos glass bottom boat. Its cruise visits the Vera K. shipwreck, then makes swim stops at Moulia Island and Atlantis Beach. The Moulia Island stop depends on the weather. Snorkelling equipment is provided, and swimmers can use the onboard waterslide. Beer, soft drinks and water are unlimited.
The Super Jumbo St. Raphael I also runs cruises with a slide. Its operator says selected cruises feature a giant sea slide, and the boat has a jumping platform too. The adventure cruise has the big slide, a longer swim stop, and sandwiches and seasonal fruit. The short discovery cruise has no slide.
This Paphos glass bottom boat supplies snorkelling equipment, noodles and flotation aids free. Children and less confident swimmers get free life jackets. An extended swimming platform has easy-access steps, and a freshwater shower rinses off the salt. Toilets, changing rooms and a licensed bar are on board. The sunset cruise includes free beer, wine and soda.
How does a Paphos glass bottom boat trip run, from the harbour to the swim stop?
A Paphos glass bottom boat trip leaves the harbour and sails along the coast over a shipwreck. It then anchors at a swim stop and turns back. The stops differ by boat, so each route below follows one operator.
The Super Jumbo St. Raphael I is moored on the first jetty at Paphos Harbour. Boarding starts 30 minutes before departure. The crew sails along the coast to the place where the Vera K. sank. Next come a spot that shows how natural sponges look and then the reefs. A quick dip follows, and the boat returns along the coast.
A Paphos glass bottom boat trip on Glass Majesty also starts at Paphos Harbour. The first stop is the Vera K. shipwreck, seen through the glass. The boat then cruises to Moulia Island for a swim, weather permitting. The final swim stop is Atlantis Beach, with time to swim, snorkel and use the waterslide.
The Yellow Glass Bottom Boat leaves from Pier One at Paphos Harbour. It sails to a shipwreck, then to the Moulia Islands. It pauses for a swim at the local Blue Lagoon, then returns along a scenic coastal route. Its operator says it is the only glass-bottom vessel that can enter the lagoon’s shallow water.
Routes can change on the day. The Glass Majesty listing says itineraries are subject to change. The St. Raphael listing says the operator alters the route for weather. On a Paphos glass bottom boat trip, one traveller reports a swim stop of half an hour.
What can you see through the glass, from reefs and fish to the Vera K. shipwreck?
A Paphos glass bottom boat shows you colourful fish, natural reefs and the Vera K. shipwreck through a glass-bottom viewing deck. The ship sank in the nineteen fifties, and you watch the wreck from the deck without getting wet.
The glass works like a diving mask. Wikipedia says the view beats looking down into the water, because surface disturbances no longer distort what you see. On a Paphos glass bottom boat you get that clear view and stay dry.
The crew of the Super Jumbo St. Raphael I take you along the Paphos coastline to the spot where the Vera K. sank. The host shares the story of the wreck as you pass over it. Colourful fish swim beneath your feet while you look.
A Glass Majesty cruise also visits the Vera K. and calls it an iconic dive site. Reviews of that cruise praise the clear shipwreck views through the glass bottom. Another Paphos glass bottom boat, the Yellow Glass Bottom Boat, gives the wreck a later sinking date in the seventies. Its listing says marine life now thrives among the wreckage.
The Super Jumbo route shows more than the wreck. Further along, you see how a natural sponge looks before it reaches the bathroom. The listings call this a glimpse into local marine traditions. After that come the reefs with their local marine life. The Yellow Glass Bottom Boat lists the Moulia Reef among its sights.
Can you spot sea turtles from a Paphos glass bottom boat?
Yes, you can spot sea turtles from a Paphos glass bottom boat in turtle season. No operator promises a sighting, because the turtles are wild and one cruise meets them while the next does not.
The operator of the Super Jumbo St. Raphael I writes that turtles swim alongside the boat in turtle season, and that the crew spot them. Atlas Travel lists the same Paphos glass bottom boat. It says there is a big chance of seeing turtles in the season.
The listings for that boat add that a lucky swimmer sees wild sea turtles right alongside at the swim stop. On the short discovery cruise there is time to spot fish and, if you are lucky, turtles. Every Paphos glass bottom boat trip of this kind depends on the animals showing up.
Reviews of a Paphos glass bottom boat trip show the difference. One Glass Majesty traveller stopped to see the turtles but did not really see them. The provider replied that sightings are never guaranteed. A Yellow Glass Bottom Boat traveller saw the wreck and swam, but no turtles appeared. That traveller wrote that you have to be lucky.
Reviews of the Yellow Glass Bottom Boat ask for clearer word on turtle odds by season and time of day. No page we read gives exact months or hours. Ask the crew when you book a Paphos glass bottom boat, and treat any turtle as a bonus.
Which boats sail from Paphos harbour, and how do they differ?
Three boats run a Paphos glass bottom boat trip from the harbour. They are the Super Jumbo St. Raphael I, the Yellow Glass Bottom Boat and Glass Majesty. They differ in size, route, swim stops and trip length, so compare them before you choose.
The Super Jumbo St. Raphael I is a 22-metre Paphos glass bottom boat. Its operator calls it the largest glass-bottom boat in the Eastern Mediterranean. A booking page for the boat lists a capacity of 120 people. Selected cruises add a giant sea slide, and swimmers can also leap from a jumping platform.
For a smaller Paphos glass bottom boat, look at the Yellow Glass Bottom Boat. It carries up to 25 people and leaves from Pier One at the harbour. Its operator offers private charters, and the boat is fully shaded.
The Yellow boat sails this Paphos glass bottom boat route: a shipwreck, the Moulia Islands, then the Blue Lagoon. Its operator says larger boats must stop in the open sea. It says the Yellow boat is the only glass-bottom vessel that reaches the shallow water of the lagoon.
Glass Majesty offers a Paphos glass bottom boat route with two swim stops. Its listing calls it the newest glass-bottom boat in Paphos. The two-hour cruise visits the Vera K. shipwreck, then stops for a swim at Moulia Island, weather permitting, and again at Atlantis Beach. An onboard waterslide and snorkelling gear are listed.
How long are the trips, and which departure times and sunset sailings run?
A Paphos glass bottom boat trip lasts 90 minutes, two hours or 2.5 hours, depending on the boat. Departure times differ by operator and change by season, so check the operator’s page for your date.
The Super Jumbo St. Raphael I page lists its 90-minute trip daily at 11:00 am and 1:00 pm. It adds a 3 pm trip on Tuesday and Thursday. The 2.5-hour trip with the giant sea slide leaves at 3:00 pm on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
The sunset sailing is the evening option. On the same page it lasts two hours. It leaves at 5:00 pm on Tuesday and Thursday, till the end of September. The page lists a big slide and free drinks for this sunset Paphos glass bottom boat cruise.
The Yellow Glass Bottom Boat runs about one and a half hours. Its page says it runs three trips every day and lists 12:30 as one of them. Glass Majesty takes two hours, and its listing asks you to check availability for start times.
Weather and season change the plan for any Paphos glass bottom boat. The same booking page says the operator reserves the right to alter the route or program because of weather. One operator says its boat is the only one sailing in the Paphos area in winter.
What is the story of Paphos harbour, its castle and the coast you pass?
A Paphos glass bottom boat trip sails out of Paphos harbour. At the western end of the port stands a castle that dates to the mid-13th century. The story is older still: ancient Nea Paphos was founded as a deep-water port in the late 4th century BC.
Nea Paphos replaced the unusable harbour at Old Paphos. It became the island’s capital under much of the Ptolemaic and Roman rule. It also grew into a major trading hub in the eastern Mediterranean. Its ruins lie in the Kato Pafos district and form the Paphos Archaeological Park. UNESCO lists the ruins of ancient Paphos as a World Heritage Site.
Paphos Castle went up after an earthquake destroyed Saranta Kolones, an earlier fortress about 600 metres north-east. The Lusignans built and expanded it in the 13th century, and the Ottomans later rebuilt the western tower. When the British arrived, it lost its military role and became a salt depot.
Today the castle is a tourist attraction with occasional themed exhibitions. It also hosts the Paphos Outdoor Cultural Festival each September. It stands at the port where a Paphos glass bottom boat trip begins, so it fits easily into your day.
Once the boat leaves the port, the coast takes over. The Yellow Glass Bottom Boat adds the Moulia Islands, with their rock formations and tales of the area’s maritime history. The return leg runs along the coastline past dramatic cliffs, coves and golden beaches. On a Paphos glass bottom boat, that view is part of the trip.
Who enjoys a Paphos glass bottom boat trip, and what do you bring?
A Paphos glass bottom boat trip suits couples, families, groups of friends and visitors of all ages. Pack swimwear, a towel and sunscreen. Check the sea forecast too, because rough water can affect the trip.
Families have a clear fit on a Paphos glass bottom boat. The Yellow Glass Bottom Boat operator says swimming at its Blue Lagoon stop is safe for everyone, including kids. Its reviews include a family of four with children aged seven and eleven, who enjoyed the trip. Another traveller brought a four-month-old daughter and praised the host.
History fans get a bonus on a Paphos glass bottom boat. The harbour, the castle and the Moulia Islands all carry stories. Reviews of the Yellow Glass Bottom Boat add that the crew took pictures and videos of guests.
Packing is simple. Here is what the listings ask for or advise.
- Swimwear and a towel for a Paphos glass bottom boat swim stop. The Glass Majesty listing asks for both.
- Sunscreen, which the same Glass Majesty listing recommends.
- Your own drinks and snacks on the Yellow Glass Bottom Boat, because its listing says it does not provide soft drinks or snacks.
- A phone or camera, since the Yellow Glass Bottom Boat listing calls the Moulia Islands a spot for photos.
Check the weather before you book. The Yellow Glass Bottom Boat listing warns that rough sea conditions can affect your experience. The Gorgo Travel listing for its 90-minute Paphos glass bottom boat cruise names people prone to seasickness as not suitable.
What else do travellers ask about a Paphos glass bottom boat?
Is a Paphos glass bottom boat trip a good choice if you get seasick?
Check the forecast before you book a Paphos glass bottom boat trip. The 90-minute Super Jumbo listing names people prone to seasickness as not suitable. The Yellow boat listing asks you to check the weather before booking, as rough sea conditions can affect your experience.
What happens to the cruise if the weather turns rough?
The plan for a Paphos glass bottom boat trip can change. The Super Jumbo listings say the provider can cancel or alter the route or duration because of weather. A tour note on another Super Jumbo booking page says the route or programme can change.
On the Glass Majesty cruise, the swim at Moulia Island happens only if the weather permits. A provider reply on a 90-minute listing adds that the captain decides when waves make swimming unsafe.
Can you book a Paphos glass bottom boat trip at short notice?
Yes, you can book a Paphos glass bottom boat trip by phone. The Super Jumbo St. Raphael I website takes bookings within 24 hours by call, text, WhatsApp or Viber. The Yellow boat takes reservations by phone call.
The Glass Majesty, Super Jumbo and Yellow listings offer free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead. One 90-minute Super Jumbo listing includes a transfer to Paphos harbour.
Can you hire a Paphos glass bottom boat privately, and which languages does the crew speak?
The Yellow Glass Bottom Boat offers private charter for families, friends or special occasions. Its operator says you enjoy the same scenic journey at your own pace.
You can customise the stops and activities, from a relaxed cruise to a special celebration. The crew speaks German, Greek, Russian and English.
Do you have to swim on a Paphos glass bottom boat trip, and can you buy drinks?
No, you can stay dry. The Super Jumbo St. Raphael I site says its glass-bottom viewing deck lets you discover the underwater world without even getting wet. The Yellow boat listing says you can take a dip, snorkel or simply relax on deck.
A 2.5-hour listing adds a sundeck for lounging in the sun. The Super Jumbo listing includes seating in shaded and sunny spots. The booking page for the 90-minute Super Jumbo trip lists a bar with drinks, sandwiches and crisps to buy. No food or drink comes with that ticket.