Cyprus is a fantastic place to go for an island holiday. This small island in the eastern Mediterranean, close to Greece, Turkey, Egypt, and the Middle East offers everything!
Cyrpus has a rich history and civilization, middle-age castles and fortresses, hills, forests, a stunning shoreline, and beautiful sandy beaches. There are hiking paths, watersports, as well as skiing resorts in the winter season. There are various pretty villages with cobblestone alleys and stone cut traditional homes and lively towns with beaches and promenades. The best hotel areas and cities in Cyprus are diverse, with some of them ranking as the best places to holiday in Europe.
Where To Stay in Cyprus
All of these places to holiday in Cyprus offer something different so how do you know where to stay in Cyprus and the best area in Cyprus for you? Below I give you details on 7 different places to stay in Cyprus to help you decide where to visit in Cyprus!
1. Paphos
Paphos is a town in the south-west and was once known as Kouklia. It’s the birthplace of the mythical goddess Aphrodite so holds a lot of history but contemporary day Paphos is fantastic too!
Things to do in Paphos include fortresses, ruins of tombs, theatres, and an archaeological park. There are luxury hotels in Paphos, great shopping, fascinating history, and magnificent scenery. The lower part of the city has beachfront restaurants, cafes, and nightlife. Overall, Paphos is a great option for couples and families when deciding where to stay in Cyprus.
2. Coral Bay
This is a beautiful bay located in Peyia town, which is north of Paphos. It’s a 600 meters long crescent-shaped beach with calm waves which are safe for swimming in and you’ll find a lot of sunbeds with umbrellas to relax on.
Things to do in Coral Bay include diving, sailing and sea turtle excursions, go karting and entertainment parks. There are beach pavilions, cafes and bars in Coral Bay.
Coral Bay is a good place to stay in Cyprus for families and people with younger children especially because of all the holiday amenities.
3. Protaras
If you’re into Diving, head to the south-east of Cypus to Protaras! Protaras is one of the best places to stay in Cyprus because it offers various apartments, resorts, and luxury villas in Cyprus all grouped around sandy beaches and places to dive!
Diving here is great for advanced divers and beginners. The top dive sites are Malama Bay, Green Bay, and The Blue Hole.
After diving, or if you’re not into diving you can relax at the Fig Tree, Sunrise Beach or Konnos Beach and see the excavated Hellenistic tombs just above the famous Fig Tree Bay. This is a really great option for where to stay in Cyrpus!
4. Larnaca
Finikoudes Beach in Larnaca is one of Europe’s most scenic city beaches. It’s a palm lined beach with safe and clean water for swimming, a promenade and all the conveniences that holiday-makers to Cyprus want and need.
Larnaca is a large city with one of the island’s most significant harbours, several places to stay as well as many cafes, restaurants, shops, and supermarkets. Perfect if you want a self-catering holiday.
More things to do in Larnaca include visiting the cities historic religious sites and a saltwater lake where you are able to see flamingoes.
5. Limassol
This city has a rare distinction of combining family-friendly atmosphere and nightlife making it one of the best places to stay in Cyprus for all members of the family.
Limassol is among the biggest cities in Cyprus and it offers many beaches, restaurants, a waterpark, and historical attractions. More things to do in Limassol include seeing the ruins of Amathus, the Limassol Castle and the Marina. The tourist centre of the city and all the hotels are for the most part around the cities eastern part.
6. Ayia Napa
Ayia Napa is adjacent to Protaras so you could always visit both when planning where to stay in Cyprus especially if you wanted two different types of holidays in one.
Ayia Napa is the party capital of Cyprus and easily competes with Mykonos, Magaluf and Ibiza. Ayias Mavris and the main sq are lined with nightclubs and bars that bring tens of thousands of individuals throughout the peak summer season making Ayia Napa a popular place for young travelers.
There are several very good private villas for rent in Ayia Napa as well as hotels, and resorts. Nightlife is not all that Ayia Napa offers, the shoreline is dramatic with a lot of rocks and there are beautiful beaches and places to visit like Pantachou Beach, Nissi Beach and Cape Greco.
7. Nicosia
Nicosia is the world’s only divided capital. It’s divided between Turkish Cyprus and Greece and it’s very unique because you require a passport to go from one end of the city to the other!
This isn’t a place to stay in Cyprus if you want beaches, although it isn’t far from the coast, but it is where to stay in Cyprus if you like history, museums and galleries.
