Published · 7 min read · Facts checked 9 October 2026 against the sources below
Where to stay in Cyprus comes down to two things: what kind of holiday you want, and which airport you can fly into. The island has two international airports, Paphos in the west and Larnaca in the south-east, and the regions around each are quite different. One is better for clubbing, another for ancient sites and quiet coves, another for a lively city with a marina.
We are based in Peyia, near Coral Bay in Paphos, Cyprus, so we have an interest. We have tried to be fair to every region and to say plainly when somewhere else suits you better.
Where to stay in Cyprus: the short answer
| Region | Best for | Less good for | Nearest airport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paphos and the west coast | Families, couples, ancient sites, walking | Big clubbing nights | Paphos (PFO) |
| Polis and Latchi | Quiet, nature, a slow pace | Nightlife, short stays | Paphos (PFO) |
| Limassol | City life, dining, a marina, wine villages | Peace and quiet | Paphos or Larnaca |
| Larnaca | Short trips, an easy arrival, a seafront | A remote, rural feel | Larnaca (LCA) |
| Ayia Napa | Nightlife, clubs, young groups | A calm family week in high summer | Larnaca (LCA) |
| Protaras | Families, sandy beaches | Culture and city life | Larnaca (LCA) |
| Troodos mountains | Walking, villages, cooler summer air | Beach days | Paphos or Larnaca |
If you are torn between two, think about how you will spend most days. A week of beaches and day trips works from almost anywhere; a week of dancing until late really only works in Ayia Napa or, to a lesser degree, Limassol and Paphos.
Two airports, two halves of the island
Visitors must arrive through Larnaca or Paphos international airports, and Larnaca is the larger of the two. Which one you land at shapes where it makes sense to stay. These are the road distances:
| From | To | Road distance |
|---|---|---|
| Paphos airport | Limassol centre | 58.7 km |
| Paphos airport | Polis | 53.9 km |
| Paphos airport | Troodos | 71.1 km |
| Paphos airport | Ayia Napa centre | 169 km |
| Larnaca airport | Larnaca centre | 8.5 km |
| Larnaca airport | Ayia Napa | 55.9 km |
| Larnaca airport | Protaras | 65.1 km |
| Larnaca airport | Limassol centre | 70 km |
| Larnaca airport | Paphos centre | 133 km |
Motorways link Nicosia with Limassol, Larnaca, Paphos and Ayia Napa, and car hire firms work from both airports. If the only flight that suits you lands at the "wrong" end, it is still workable: our guide from Larnaca airport to Paphos covers the shuttle, the buses and the drive.
Paphos and the west coast
The Paphos district is the west of the island, and for many visitors it is the most rounded choice. Kato Paphos, the lower town by the harbour, has the remains of ancient Nea Paphos, the Tombs of the Kings and Saint Paul's Pillar. Up the coast, Coral Bay beach has deep golden sand and calm, shallow water, with lifeguards from April to October, and beyond it the Akamas has marked nature trails.
Suits: families with young children, couples, sightseers and walkers. Less good for: a clubbing holiday; Paphos has a night out, but it is not Ayia Napa. Our Paphos nightlife guide is honest about what there is.
Paphos is a district, not just a town, so where you stay within it matters too. Our guide to where to stay in Paphos compares Kato Paphos, the old town, Chloraka, Coral Bay and Peyia, Polis and the inland villages in detail.
Polis and Latchi
On the far side of the Akamas, Polis is about 35 km north-west of Paphos. It has a sand and pebble beach, a coastal walkway to the harbour at Latchi, the Baths of Aphrodite nearby and a campsite in a eucalyptus wood. The Aphrodite nature trail, a 7.5 km circular walk of three to four hours from the Baths, looks out over Cape Arnaoutis.
Suits: couples and families who want quiet and nature. Less good for: nightlife, or a short trip with a lot of sightseeing.
Limassol
Visit Cyprus calls Limassol the festive centre of the island. It is a lively city with a modern marina, coastal strips, shopping and plenty of places to eat and drink. It sits between two ancient city-kingdoms, Amathous and Kourion, and the wine villages are in the hills behind. The carnival and the September Wine Festival are its big events.
Suits: couples and groups who like a city, good restaurants and a buzz in the evening. Less good for: a quiet, rural stay.
Paphos or Limassol?
Choose Limassol if you want a city on your doorstep and evenings with plenty of choice. Choose Paphos if you would rather have the Akamas, quieter beaches and more space, and still reach the ancient sites easily. Paphos airport is 58.7 km from Limassol by road, so a day trip either way is easy. Our guide from Paphos to Limassol and Larnaca covers the drive and the bus.
Larnaca
Larnaca is the town next to the main airport: Larnaca airport is only 8.5 km from the centre by road. It is the longest continually inhabited region of Cyprus, with the palm-lined Foinikoudes promenade on the seafront and the church of Agios Lazaros in town.
Suits: short breaks, late arrivals and anyone who wants an easy first night. Less good for: a remote, rural feel or the dramatic west-coast scenery.
Ayia Napa and Protaras
The south-east corner of the island has some of its best sandy beaches, and two resorts with very different characters.
Ayia Napa is the place for a clubbing holiday. Visit Cyprus ranks it as a nightlife destination known worldwide, and the bars and clubs come to life in the evening. If dancing until late is the point of your trip, stay there rather than in Paphos. By day there is more to it: a medieval monastery on the square, beaches from busy to secluded, and the coves and sea caves of the Cape Greco forest park.
Protaras, part of Paralimni just up the coast, is quieter and suits families. Fig Tree Bay, a Blue Flag beach, has fine golden sand and clear water, with lifeguards from April to October. It takes its name from a fig tree that has stood there since the 17th century.
Paphos or Ayia Napa?
For nightlife, Ayia Napa. For ancient sites, walking, quieter beaches and a slower pace, Paphos. They are at opposite ends of the island, 169 km apart by road from Paphos airport to Ayia Napa, so it is not a day trip you will want to do often.
Troodos mountains
Inland, the Troodos range is a different Cyprus: quaint villages, ten Byzantine churches on the UNESCO World Heritage list, and protected cedar and pine forests with hiking trails. Kakopetria, in the Solea valley, is a popular summer resort with a protected old quarter of stone-paved alleys and wooden balconies.
Suits: walkers, and anyone who wants cooler air and village life. Less good for: beach holidays, since the coast is a drive away. Many visitors base themselves on the coast and spend a day or two in the hills instead; our Troodos mountains guide has ideas.
The best area to stay in Cyprus, by type of trip
- Families with young children: the Paphos coast, especially around Coral Bay, or Protaras. Both have sandy Blue Flag beaches with lifeguards from April to October.
- Couples: Paphos and Polis for quiet and scenery; Limassol for city evenings.
- Groups celebrating: Ayia Napa for clubs; a villa on the Paphos side for space, a pool and nights in, with Kato Paphos for a big night out.
- Nightlife: Ayia Napa first, then Limassol.
- Quiet: Polis and Latchi, the Troodos villages, or the hills above Coral Bay.
- Culture and history: Paphos for its ancient sites, Limassol for Kourion and Amathous, Troodos for the painted churches.
- Walking: the Akamas and the Troodos forests.
Why a Paphos-side villa base works for some travellers
A villa on the Paphos side suits people who want beaches, ancient sites and walking more than nightlife. You are close to Paphos airport, the Akamas and the west-coast beaches, and Limassol and the Troodos are within reach for a day. With your own pool and garden, the evenings can be as quiet or as sociable as you like.
It does not suit everyone. If clubbing is the main event, Ayia Napa is the better base. If you want to walk out of the door to restaurants and shops every night, a town such as Limassol or Kato Paphos will feel easier. And on the Paphos coast a hire car makes the most of your stay.
Where to stay
Villa Prasino is a private villa in Peyia, on the hillside above Coral Bay, for up to 6 guests in 3 bedrooms. It has a 6 × 12 m diving pool, a hot tub, sea and mountain views and 1,000 m² of gardens, with an outdoor bar and fire pit seating, a traditional stone BBQ and a covered games area. Coral Bay beach is about 5 km away, the sea caves about 2 km and the Akamas National Park about 5 km.
Read more about our villa in Peyia, check availability and rates for your dates, and send us a booking request when you have dates. We will tell you whether a stay in Peyia fits your plans.
