Where to Stay in Paphos: The Best Areas for First-Timers

Paphos is spread out along the coast, so the area you choose decides whether your holiday is walkable or car-dependent. For a first visit, most people are happiest in or near Kato Paphos, the lower town around the harbor. Families who want a sandy beach on the doorstep often look further north to Coral Bay.

Paphos areas at a glance

Area	Best for	Pros	Cons
Kato Paphos (harbor)	First-timers, couples, no car	Walk to the harbor, the archaeological park and restaurants	Busy in summer; beaches are small and rocky
Tombs of the Kings Road	Resort hotels, mid-range budgets	Big hotels with pools along the seafront	Can feel like a hotel strip
Paphos Old Town (Ktima)	Culture, local feel, value	Markets, cafés, quieter evenings	Uphill from the sea; not a beach base
Chloraka and Kissonerga	Quieter stays, longer trips	Calmer, villa and apartment options	You’ll want a car or rely on buses
Coral Bay and Peyia	Families, beach holidays	One of the area’s best-known sandy beaches	Around 25 minutes by road from Paphos town

Kato Paphos

Kato Paphos is the lower town around the harbor and the medieval fort. The Paphos Archaeological Park, with its famous Roman mosaics, is right next to the harbor, and the seafront promenade is lined with restaurants. Staying here means you can do most things on foot and catch buses to the airport and along the coast.

Check before booking: “Paphos” on booking sites can cover a wide area. Look at the map, not just the hotel name, and check walking distance to the harbor.

Tombs of the Kings Road

North of the harbor, Tombs of the Kings Road and the seafront behind it are lined with large resort hotels, many with pools and direct sea access. It’s a good compromise if you want a classic hotel holiday but still want to walk or take a short bus ride to the harbor. The Tombs of the Kings archaeological site itself sits at the northern end.

Paphos Old Town

The upper town, known locally as Ktima, has the municipal market, pedestrian streets and a more everyday Cypriot feel. It’s a few kilometers inland and uphill from the harbor, so it suits travelers who prioritize culture and value over beach time.

Chloraka and Kissonerga

These quieter areas north of the tourist strip offer apartments, villas and smaller hotels. They work well for longer stays and for travelers with a rental car.

Coral Bay and Peyia

Coral Bay is a sandy, sheltered beach north of Paphos, with Peyia village on the hill behind it. It’s popular with families. Buses run along the coast from Paphos, but a car makes exploring the Akamas peninsula and the wider area much easier.

How to choose

1. No car, first visit: Kato Paphos or the southern end of Tombs of the Kings Road.
2. Beach-first family holiday: Coral Bay, or a seafront resort hotel with a pool.
3. Culture and value: the Old Town.
4. Peace and quiet with a car: Chloraka, Kissonerga or Peyia.

Getting there

Paphos Airport is about 15 km from Kato Paphos. Taxis wait outside arrivals, or you can pre-book a private transfer with GetTransfer (affiliate link). If you are still choosing flights, read cheap flights to Paphos from the UK (search London–Paphos flights).

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Plan the rest of your trip

• Where to stay in Limassol: Old Town, seafront, Tourist Area and beyond

How we research: this guide is based on official sources and published airline and transport schedules, not on a sponsored visit. Information was checked on October 8, 2026. Schedules, routes and prices change, so confirm with the airline, operator or venue before you travel.

Sources

• Deputy Ministry of Tourism of Cyprus (Visit Cyprus): visitcyprus.com
• Department of Antiquities, Cyprus (Paphos Archaeological Park, Tombs of the Kings): culture.gov.cy
• Cyprus by Bus (Paphos routes): cyprusbybus.com
• Hermes Airports: hermesairports.com

Featured image: Boats in Paphos harbor. Photo: Anatoliy Smaga, July 21, 2014, via Wikimedia Commons (Boats in Paphos harbour 2.JPG), CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized and compressed.