Published · 7 min read · Facts checked 9 October 2026 against the sources below
Where to stay in Paphos depends on what you want from the holiday. The district stretches from the harbour at Kato Paphos up the coast to Coral Bay and Peyia, round to Polis and Latchi on the far side of the Akamas, and inland to hill villages and a golf resort. Each has a different feel, and each has trade-offs. If you are still choosing a region of the island, our guide to where to stay in Cyprus compares Paphos with Limassol, Larnaca, Ayia Napa and the Troodos.
We’re based in Peyia, so we have an obvious interest. We’ve tried to be fair to every area, and to say plainly who each one suits and what it doesn’t do well.
The short version
| Area | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Kato Paphos and harbour | First visits, sightseeing, no car | Busier and more built-up |
| Paphos town (Ktima) | Local life, shops, the market | Not on the beach |
| Chloraka and Kissonerga | A quieter coast between Paphos and Peyia | Fewer sights on the doorstep |
| Coral Bay and Peyia | Beaches, the Akamas, villas with space | A car makes life much easier |
| Polis and Latchi | The Akamas, boat trips, a slower pace | A long way from the airport and Paphos |
| Tala and Tsada | Village life inland | No beach; you’ll drive to the sea |
| Aphrodite Hills | A self-contained resort, golf, kids’ clubs | Away from Paphos town and the Akamas |
If you’re undecided, three questions usually settle it:
- Will you hire a car? If not, stay in Kato Paphos or the old town, where the buses start. If you will, the whole district opens up.
- Beach or sightseeing? The ancient sites are in Kato Paphos; the best sand and the Akamas are around Coral Bay and Polis.
- How much space do you need? A family or group sharing one hotel room for a week feels it by midweek. A villa gives everyone room.
Kato Paphos and the harbour
Kato Paphos is the lower town by the harbour, and it’s where most first-time visitors stay. The remains of ancient Nea Pafos are here, with Roman mosaics in the Houses of Dionysus, Theseus, Orpheus and Aion, and Pafos Fort, built in 1592, stands opposite the harbour. The Tombs of the Kings and Saint Paul’s Pillar are close by.
Getting around without a car is easiest from here. Pafos Buses runs route 610 up to the Municipal Market in the old town, 611 out to the waterpark, 615 up the coast to Coral Bay, and 631 from the harbour station to Petra tou Romiou, Aphrodite’s Rock.
Paphos Municipality also had seven Blue Flag beaches in July 2026, including Alykes, the Municipal Baths and Lighthouse Beach.
Suits: first visits, couples, sightseers and anyone not hiring a car. Downsides: it’s the busiest part of the district, mostly hotels and apartments, and you trade space and quiet for convenience. See our guides to Paphos harbour and castle and things to do in Paphos.
Paphos town (Ktima)
Up the hill from the harbour, the old town, also called Ktima or Pano Pafos, is where Paphos lives day to day. Its winding streets are home to shops and restaurants. Route 610 runs between the Municipal Market and the harbour, and many of the district’s bus routes start at Karavella station.
Suits: travellers who like markets, cafés and local life, and want buses in every direction. Downsides: it isn’t on the beach, so you’ll take a bus or drive down to swim. Our Paphos old town guide covers it in more depth.
Chloraka and Kissonerga
North of Paphos, on the way to Peyia, Chloraka and Kissonerga are two villages that sit between the town and Coral Bay. Route 607 links them with Paphos and Peyia, running Karavella – Chloraka – Lemba – Kissonerga – Peyia.
Suits: families and longer stays wanting a quieter base that’s still close to town. Downsides: fewer sights within walking distance, so you’ll rely on the bus or a car for days out. For more on the coast north of Paphos, see Latchi, Polis and Kissonerga day trips.
Coral Bay and Peyia
Further up the coast, Coral Bay is the area’s best-known beach and Peyia is the village on the hillside above it. Peyia looks out over the sea, and its village square has arches and fountains.
Coral Bay beach is deep golden sand with clean, calm, shallow water, and it has water sports, sunbeds, parking, a bus stop and lifeguards from April to October. It held a Blue Flag in July 2026, as did Laourou and Kafizis nearby. The sea caves, the archaeological site at Maa-Palaeokastro and Agios Georgios are all close, and the Akamas begins just beyond.
Villa Prasino
Peyia
5 km
Coral Bay beach
Approximate distance from the villa.
Buses help: route 615 runs to Kato Paphos, 616 links Coral Bay, Peyia and Agios Georgios, 616B goes via the sea caves, and 648 runs inland through Kathikas to Polis.
Suits: beach lovers, families, walkers and anyone heading into the Akamas, and groups who want a villa with a pool. Downsides: Peyia is on a hillside, so you’ll drive down to the beach, and Paphos town is a bus ride away rather than a walk. A hire car makes the most of it.
Is Coral Bay in Cyprus worth visiting?
Yes, even if you stay elsewhere. The beach is one of the best-equipped in the district and suits young children, and from Coral Bay you can reach the sea caves, Agios Georgios and the Akamas in an afternoon. For ideas, see things to do in Coral Bay and the best beaches near Coral Bay.
Polis and Latchi
On the far side of the Akamas, Polis Chrysochous is a small town about 35 km north-west of Paphos. Its pebble beach sits by a eucalyptus wood with a campsite, the municipal beach has golden sand, calm water and lifeguards from April to October, and a coastal path leads to the harbour at Latchi, known for its fish restaurants. The Baths of Aphrodite are nearby.
Route 645 links Polis with Paphos, 622 runs out to the Baths of Aphrodite, and 648 runs inland through Kathikas and Peyia to Coral Bay.
Suits: couples and families who want a slower pace, walkers and anyone keen on boat trips to the Blue Lagoon. Downsides: it’s a long way from the airport and from Paphos’s sights, and evenings are quiet.
Inland and resort options
Tala and Tsada
The villages in the hills above Paphos trade the beach for space and a more rural feel. Route 604 runs from Karavella through Emba and Tala to the Monastery of Agios Neofytos, and Tala also has the Church of Agia Aikaterini. Route 614 serves Tremithousa, Mesogi and Tsada.
Suits: longer stays, people who prefer village life, and anyone happy to drive to the coast. Downsides: no beach, and a car is close to essential for days out.
Aphrodite Hills
Aphrodite Hills is a resort at Kouklia, near Petra tou Romiou on the coast east of Paphos. It has 290 hotel rooms, 150 villas and apartments, an 18-hole golf course, 13 sports courts, a spa, 21 places to eat and drink, and two kids’ clubs around a village square. Route 630 passes through Kouklia on its way between Paphos and Pissouri.
Suits: golfers, and families who want everything on site. Downsides: it’s a resort bubble, away from Paphos town and a long drive from the Akamas. See golf in Paphos and Aphrodite’s Rock.
Why Peyia and Coral Bay suit a villa stay
A villa in Peyia or the hills above Coral Bay gives you what a hotel room in town can’t: a private pool, a garden and room to spread out, which suits families and groups. You’re close to the best beaches, the sea caves and the Akamas, and Kato Paphos is still reachable by bus 615 or a drive.
The trade-off is that you’ll want a car, and you’ll cook or eat locally more often than you would in town. For many families and groups, that’s the point: long days at the pool, barbecues in the evening, and the beach in the morning before the heat.
Where to stay
Villa Prasino is a private villa in Peyia for up to 6 guests, with 3 bedrooms, a 6 × 12 m diving pool, a hot tub, sea and mountain views and 1,000 m² of gardens. Coral Bay beach is about 5 km away, the sea caves about 2 km and the Akamas National Park about 5 km. Outside there’s an outdoor bar with a fire pit, a traditional stone BBQ and a covered games area, and the plot is fully fenced, with electric gates and a private driveway.
Take a look at our villa near Coral Bay, check availability and rates, and send us a booking request when you have dates. We’ll come back with availability and a quote.
