Why choose Paphos to live: the best places, attractions, beaches, real estate

Paphos is considered one of the best cities to live in Cyprus. What are its unique features and differences? Let’s consider the best places and beaches, where to relax adults and children, as well as in what area it is best to live and what to choose to buy and invest — a villa or an apartment.

Pafos is one of the oldest cities in Cyprus, its history goes back more than 2 thousand years, and this history can be «met» on your way just by strolling through the streets. It is located in the southwestern part of the island and is famous for its mildest climate — it is not as hot as in the central and eastern regions, the sea is not too rough, and the beach season lasts from May to November.

The city is not significant even by local standards — only 35,000 inhabitants in an area of about 16 km². However, it is an authentic place, with its specific atmosphere, architecture, rich nature, blooming streets, and respectable houses.

Paphos is a fashionable resort in Cyprus, which was recognized as the European Capital of Culture in 2017. It is pretty quiet, with a long promenade, along which there are scattered 5-star hotels, and the city is rich in history and natural attractions. By the way, Paphos has an airport that accepts flights from most countries, so you can reach the city within 10 minutes after leaving the terminal.

Many vacationers who come here once on vacation later buy a villa or apartment in Paphos and stay forever or use the purchased property for investment purposes.

Let’s see what attracts investors and relocators to Paphos.

How is Paphos different from other cities in Cyprus?

If you are already interested in the history of Cyprus, you know that Pafos is considered the birthplace of Aphrodite because it is here where the goddess emerged from the foam of the sea. It is called the city of love, as well as the city of Aphrodite. The goddess here has her Baths, and her lover Adonis has his Baths. So now we will not talk about the history, but we will tell you what Pafos is like now and how it differs from the other island municipalities.

The first difference: the entire city is a UNESCO heritage site. Modern buildings stand directly on top of the ancient city. Wandering through the streets, you can find architectural monuments and catacombs right in the middle of the avenues, which can be viewed free of charge.

The second difference: the weather in Paphos is the coolest in Cyprus. The maximum mark in the summer is reached in the capital Nicosia (more than 43 degrees), and the eastern regions (Ayia Napa, Protaras). But in the southwest, the thermometers rarely show more than 32 degrees in the homeland of Aphrodite. The winds will blow the city, and the water in the sea is also 2-3 degrees cooler than in other regions of Cyprus. Therefore, living on this part of the island is comfortable, and the heat does not exhaust you even in August.

The third difference is the lack of high-rise buildings. The municipality values the history and authenticity of the polis, so the city is not built up with faceless high-rise buildings. The cobblestone, winding streets loop between white villas buried in greenery and flowers.

The fourth difference: the beaches of Paphos are predominantly rocky and pebbly. In the rest of the island, all the beaches are exclusively sandy, but there are many stony cliffs and cliffs, underwater sea caves, and rounded, colorful pebbles on the coast. However, Paphos also offers beaches with soft white sand, gently sloping entrances to the sea, breakwaters, and a calm sea surface for a comfortable holiday.

The fifth difference is the variety of nature. You can spend a weekend on the beach or go to the protected area of the Akamas Peninsula, wander through the forest, wander through ancient caves, go hiking in the mountains, swim in lakes and waterfalls, and experience the atmosphere of authentic villages. And each of these places you can reach from the center of Paphos in just 30-40 minutes.

The sixth difference is the investment potential. Paphos can be compared to the French Côte d’Azur. This region is chosen by investors to live in. Luxury villas by the sea or in the mountains with a 360-degree view of the sea and the mountains allow for a daily taste of life. The proximity of the infrastructure, well-developed service, good schools (including British), and quality medicine — all this allows a comfortable life, especially given that the tax system of Cyprus is one of the most lenient in Europe and will enable you to optimize your business. Buying a property in Paphos allows you to get permanent residence in Cyprus under an accelerated procedure.

Another difference is the balance between the tourist and business sectors. A few years ago, Pafos was considered only a resort, but now there is an active development of the IT community. Freelancers who have moved to the island work in co-working spaces and hubs. Some companies are opening their offices here. And investors are buying villas on the coast of Paphos as rental prices are steadily rising due to the demand from tourists and relocated employees living in the city.

The Best Beaches in Paphos: Three «Blue Flag» Winners

The coastline is predominantly rocky. Cliffs, gorges, and sea caves attract with their diversity. However, there are also sandy beaches with a flat bottom, velvet sand, and developed infrastructure (sun beds, umbrellas, bars, cafes, water entertainment, and lifeguards). Thus, the seafront of Paphos allows you to do any leisure activity.

The best three beaches are recognized as having the «Blue Flag» mark:

• Coral Bay;
• Geroskipou Beach;
• Vrysoudia Beach.

What places are awarded this award? Only the best beaches with a clean environment (sand, air, water), a high level of safety for children, the beauty of nature, and all the necessary infrastructure.

Let’s look at the three best beaches in Paphos.

Coral Bay

The most famous beach of Paphos. It is located a little away from the city and stretches almost half a kilometer. Here is soft golden sand, a shallow shoreline convenient for children, gentle bottom, breakwaters that calm the waves, and facilities that allow everyone to enjoy the comfort. A beautiful spot in Coral Bay. Due to its high popularity, traffic is always heavy.

Facilities include:

• changing places;
• toilets and showers;
• beach umbrellas and sun loungers;
• sports ground;
• parking lots;
• lifeguards;
• massage room.

Water activities:

• diving;
• snorkeling;
• windsurfing;
• banana boating;
• jet skis.

Geroskipou Beach

Also a popular place, but not as busy. It stretches for 350 meters. The sand here is mixed with rounded pebbles of medium size. Walking is quite comfortable. The water is warm and gentle, as there are breakwaters. There is a zone of shallow water where children splash.

Amenities include:

• changing rooms;
• showers and restrooms;
• umbrellas and sun beds;
• parking lot;
• lifeguards;
• places for the disabled;
• playground;
• sports fields.

Not far from the beach, you can visit exciting attractions — Lunapark and one of the best water parks in Cyprus, which is located precisely in Paphos — Paphos Aphrodite Waterpark.

Vrysoudia Beach

A small beach covers 300 meters of coastline. Golden soft sand, breakwaters, and calm water. Infrastructure includes all of the above amenities, equipment, and places for people with disabilities. For children, there is a playground, and you can park very close to a large parking lot. All kinds of water activities are available.

Attractions: What to see in Cyprus in Paphos

The city is rich in ancient history and a variety of natural curiosities. The streets are full of flowers, and the development of white villas and houses with a swimming pool creates a sense of respectability and tranquility. There is not a large flow of people on the sidewalks, and only rare passersby can be found, so the atmosphere of peace does not leave you for a minute.

What should you see in Paphos, Cyprus?

Historical sites of Paphos:

• An open-air archaeological museum in the harbor of Kato Paphos. The main objects of the archaeological park are the excavations of the ancient city of Nea Paphos. He is known for a large complex of well-preserved mosaics from Roman times, discovered in the 1960s.

• Pafos Mosaic is an ancient Roman ruin with preserved mosaics depicting mythological scenes. Nearby are the lighthouse, the fortress of Pafos, and many other architectural heritage sites.

• The Akamas Peninsula and the Blue Lagoon in Paphos is the greenest place in Cyprus. There are well-developed hiking trails, a National Park, beautiful wildlife, and beaches all around. There are the Baths of Aphrodite, the village of Latchi, and the Blue Lagoon of Paphos on the peninsula.

• The Adonis Baths is a waterfall connecting two bodies of water above each other. It is practically untouched. There is no descent to it, so there are almost no people here, but it is worth coming here to see the pristine nature. The area in front of the baths has an infrastructure: a cafe, a museum, and an antique-style entourage.

Entertainment for children: water park and luna park

Paphos Waterpark is recognized as one of the best on the island. It is designed in the style of ancient Greece and is called Paphos Aphrodite Waterpark.

Beautiful nature, a children’s area for the little ones, and many slides of varying degrees of difficulty for different ages. You can also take the whole family for a ride on a giant drop in an inflatable boat or relax on a lazy river, gently rocking on the waves around the park’s perimeter. There’s a regular pool with a Jacuzzi and a pool with artificial waves. The grounds have all the necessary infrastructure: sun loungers, covered terraces, restaurants and cafes, clean rooms, and showers. You can take bright pictures and buy swimming accessories and souvenirs. If you have a season ticket, your guests (those you bring with you) can visit the water park at a significant discount.

There is also a lunar park in the city. However, despite the variety of attractions, it is pretty old and has few visitors. But if you have already tried all the entertainment in Cyprus, you can go here too.

We recommend you go a little further from Paphos and visit Sparti Platres Rope Adventure Park in Platres, the largest rope park in Europe.

Families, friends, and singles will find activities to their liking and capabilities. The best climbing equipment is provided here. There are long, fast, and slow 60 ziplines, ski jumping, three harsh lines, nets, archery, and 26 sports trails with 240 games: 15 trails for children (ages 2-10) and 11 courses for adults (ages 11-80). There is a cafe on site where you can eat delicious food and a large free parking lot.

Where to relax for adults: spa, golf, tennis

Adults in the city of Aphrodite will also enjoy a variety of recreation and relaxation. There are wonderful places where you will have a new quality experience.

Spa and Golf in Paphos, Cyprus:

• Minthis Resort, Tsada — a fashionable resort on the territory of a nature reserve. There is a well-developed indoor infrastructure and a magnificent spa with massage, fitness, yoga, detox, relaxation, hydrotherapy, aroma baths, hammam, and saunas, which also use unique combinations of local herbs for recovery, relaxation, and peace of mind. You can also play golf on the beautiful and challenging course, which holds European championships.

• Aphrodite Hills, Kouklia — a luxury resort with golf courses, tennis courts, and a spa. There is a fitness and beauty salon, different types of massage (Thai, Swedish, royal), aromatherapy, relaxation, reflexology, hammam, and much more. Spa treatments are also designed specifically for children from 6 to 15 years old. You can visit the resort just for a spa or sports, or stay in one of the villas to fully relax and enjoy the service. The restaurant will delight you with delicious cuisine.

Paphos neighborhoods: where is the best place to live?

When buying property in Paphos, most clients prefer to live in suburban areas — along the promenade within walking distance of the sea or in the mountains, where it is much more relaxed in summer, and from the terraces offer magnificent views of the city, the sea, and sunsets.

The city is not significant, and the standard of living, quality of construction, and infrastructure is about the same everywhere, so it’s hard to distinguish between «good» and «bad» neighborhoods — there are simply no bad ones! But still, we will show you the best areas of Paphos.

Apartments in the city center and Kato Paphos area for investment

This location is popular among tourists who vacation and do not want to stay in a hotel. Renting a vacation apartment in Cyprus is in demand. Therefore, investment in such real estate is profitable and has a high ROI.

Villas and houses for life in Paphos

If we talk about comfortable family life, beautiful areas with well-developed infrastructure, where in walking distance you will have schools, medical clinics, kindergartens, restaurants, and entertainment venues, but at the same time, you will be surrounded by beautiful natural views of all 360 degrees, the best areas of Paphos can be called:

• Chloraka;
• Tala;
• Tsada;
• Konia.

Chloraka is a beautiful neighborhood adjacent to the sea. There are parks, museums, and many ancient churches, all immersed in the surrounding greenery. There are kindergartens in the area, and a few minutes away is the British private school Aspire.

Tala is located further towards the mountains. This prestigious village is deservedly called the «Cypriot Beverly Hills». The International School of Paphos, a private English school, is 5 km away, and the famous Coral Bay beach is 10 km away. In the center of the respectable village, you will find a square, a church, restaurants, and stores. The area is beautiful, and all the villas in Paphos in this area are luxurious and upmarket.

The district of Tsada is located just 10 km from Paphos city center. It has a milder climate, cooler in summer than the coast, and even a slight frost on some days in winter. The village is known for its wineries and vineyards, which create a unique landscape. Many fruit trees are growing in the streets.

Konia is a developing and promising area. There is a quiet, peaceful atmosphere, a lot of greenery, and beautiful buildings. Housing is mainly in the form of private villas and houses. Buying a villa in Paphos in Konya attracts investors who want to live surrounded by a clean environment, fresh air, and environmental aesthetics. The village has taverns, a bank, a bakery, primary and children’s schools, and a minimarket.

Which property in Paphos to choose to live in — a villa or an apartment?

It all depends on your tastes. Most of the apartments in Paphos are located in the center of the city, which means that all the infrastructure will surround you, and you can quickly get to any point on the map. But you will be surrounded by urban scenery — yes, beautiful, with a view of the sea, but not as green as in the villages and mountain villages.

Most often, investors buy apartments and apartments in Paphos for rent to tourists in the high season. The rental price is relatively high, mainly if the house is located in the center or on the seafront, so the purchase of real estate is justified by good profitability. Plus, when buying apartments at the level of the foundation stone, you can sell them after construction at a markup of about 15% or more and earn on that.

So, Pafos is a region suitable for living and investing in every sense. Come here, wander through the picturesque streets, breathe the sea air, and look at the white fairy-tale houses, and you will fall in love with this city.

Also, learn about how to rent an apartment in Cyprus. We told in our article about all the nuances of renting: deposits, contracts, utilities, and real estate search sites.

If you move to the island or buy a property here, you will likely face the question of obtaining permanent residency in Cyprus. This article explains how to get a residence permit through an accelerated procedure.

SPM is your most valuable contact in Cyprus.

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