Where to stay in Paphos
Paphos is a stretched-out town on the south west coast of Cyprus, and the first thing to know is that it has two centers. Kato Paphos, by the sea, has the harbor, the castle, the Roman mosaics and most restaurants. Ktima, the old town, sits on the hill about three kilometers inland, with the municipal market and a more local feel. Between and beyond them are hotel strips along the coast, a quieter village to the east, and Coral Bay to the north. Most of the choice is about how much you want to walk. Almost everything is open from April to October, and some seasonal places shut in winter.
The short answer
- First trip
- Kato Paphos, for the harbor, the ruins and restaurants on foot.
- Couples
- Kato Paphos for the sea, or the old town for a quieter, more local stay.
- Families
- The coast road to the Tombs of the Kings or Poseidonos Avenue, for pools and a beach.
- Tight budget
- The old town or Chloraka, then Geroskipou.
- Beach holiday
- Coral Bay for sand, or Poseidonos Avenue for the town beaches.
How we judge an area of Paphos: the walk to the harbor, the noise at night, how you get in and out without a car, and the price. Nothing on this page is paid for, and the hotels we choose will say who chose them and when they last stayed.
Paphos's areas, side by side
| Area | Best for | At night | Paphos harbor and castle | Tombs of the Kings | Karavella bus station | Getting around | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kato Paphos and the harbor | First visits, sights on foot | Lively in summer | 5 min | 40 min | 45 min | Local buses, 612 to the airport | €€ |
| The old town (Ktima) | Local life, budgets | Quiet | 45 min | 25 min | 5 min | Karavella bus station, taxis | € |
| The coast road to the Tombs of the Kings | Resort stays, families | Quiet | 30 min | 15 min | 35 min | Bus 612, 20-minute walk to the harbor | €€€ |
| Poseidonos Avenue | Beaches, families | Lively in summer | 20 min | 55 min | 55 min | Local buses, taxis | €€ |
| Geroskipou | Quiet stays, cars | Quiet | over an hour | over an hour | 55 min | Local buses, taxis | € |
| Chloraka | Budgets, cars | Very quiet | over an hour | 40 min | 45 min | Bus into town | € |
| Coral Bay | Beach holidays | Lively in summer | over an hour | over an hour | over an hour | Bus or taxi, about 30 minutes | €€ |
The three columns are the straight line from the middle of each area plus a third for real streets, at an easy pace, rounded to five minutes, so they show how far apart things are, not what to do. Past about a kilometer or two, the sensible way is a bus or a taxi, and Coral Bay and Chloraka are a drive. Price is our read of a standard double in the same week, from € (cheapest) to €€€€ (dearest), until booking-site prices replace it.
Where the areas are
Kato Paphos, for the harbor and the ruins on foot
The seafront half of town: the harbor, the castle, the Archaeological Park and most restaurants, all within a ten-minute walk.
Kato Paphos is the reason most people come. The harbor front has cafes and fish tavernas facing the boats, the castle sits at the end of the wall, and the Roman villas and mosaics of the Archaeological Park are a few minutes along the coast. Hotels range from small apartment blocks to larger resorts, and a coastal path runs in both directions. It is the easiest base if you have no car.
It is also where the visitors are. The harbor front is busy from morning to late at night in summer, bars on the streets behind it run late, and the menus nearest the water are the most tourist-facing. The old town is about three kilometers away and uphill, so you take a bus or a taxi. Ask for a room away from the bar streets, and for a higher floor.
Good for
- Sights, sea and restaurants within a short walk
- No car needed for the main attractions
- A wide range of hotels and apartments
Think twice if
- You want quiet nights close to the harbor
- You want a local feel instead of a holiday town
Staying in Kato Paphos and the harbor: nearby sights, food and getting around
The old town, for a quieter and more local stay
The hill town above the coast, with the municipal market, small museums, cafes and tavernas, about three kilometers from the harbor.
Ktima is where Paphos actually lives. The municipal market, Karavella bus station and the main square are here, with small museums, ouzeries and old Cypriot houses on the lanes. Prices for rooms and meals are lower than on the coast, evenings are calmer, and you eat among residents more than visitors. The intercity buses start from the station, which helps if you plan to travel across the island.
The catch is distance. The harbor and the Roman ruins are about three kilometers away, and it is uphill on the way back, so you rely on buses and taxis. There are fewer hotels, they tend to be small guesthouses and converted houses, and the beach is not close. Several old town restaurants close on Sundays, and the streets empty early in winter.
Good for
- Lower prices and local restaurants
- The market and the bus station at hand
- Quiet streets after dark
Think twice if
- You want to walk to the harbor and the ruins
- You want a beach near the hotel
Staying in The old town (Ktima): nearby sights, food and getting around
The Tombs of the Kings coast, for pools and the sea
A line of larger hotels facing the sea north of the harbor, with the Tombs of the Kings at the far end, about 30 to 40 minutes' walk from the harbor.
North of Kato Paphos the coast road passes a run of beach hotels with pools, gardens and sea views, and ends at the Tombs of the Kings. A flat coastal path links it to the harbor, a walk of about half an hour, and buses on the 612 line run along the road. It suits families and anyone who wants a resort feel, with a day or two in town.
Outside the hotels there is little: a few shops and tavernas on the road. The coast is rocky, so a lot of the swimming is from platforms and hotel beaches, not wide sand. You will take the bus or a taxi for dinner in town, and the path is less pleasant after dark.
Good for
- Hotels with pools and sea views
- A flat path to the harbor
- The Tombs of the Kings close by
Think twice if
- You want wide sandy beaches
- You want restaurants outside the hotel
Staying in The coast road to the Tombs of the Kings: nearby sights, food and getting around
Poseidonos Avenue, for the town beaches
The coastal avenue east of the harbor, with resort hotels, a mall and the town's beaches, about 1.5 kilometers from the harbor.
Poseidonos Avenue runs along the south coast of the town, east of the harbor, past resort hotels, apartment blocks and the town's beaches. A shopping center, supermarkets and a good number of restaurants are on or near it, and the walk to the harbor along the sea takes about 25 minutes. It is flat, easy with children, and has more pools and apartments than the harbor itself.
It lacks the harbor's character, and the avenue is a through road with traffic. In summer the beaches are busy, and bars along it can be loud. The old town is a taxi or bus ride, about three kilometers, so a car or the local bus is useful.
Good for
- Beaches and apartments with kitchens
- Supermarkets and shops nearby
- A flat 25-minute walk to the harbor
Think twice if
- You want to stay in a historic setting
- Traffic and late bars would bother you
Staying in Poseidonos Avenue: nearby sights, food and getting around
Geroskipou, for a quiet base east of town
A separate town about seven kilometers east, known for its loukoumi sweets, with quieter streets and beach hotels on the coast.
Geroskipou is its own town on the road toward the airport, with a small center, a church and shops selling the local loukoumi sweets. Hotels stand along its stretch of coast, and rooms and apartments cost less than in Kato Paphos. Evenings are quiet, and it is a short drive to the airport.
It is a ride from everything: the harbor is about seven kilometers away, a bus or taxi trip, and you will arrange dinners in town. It suits a calm holiday with a car or a taste for buses, not a first city break on foot.
Good for
- Quiet streets and lower prices
- A shorter trip to the airport
- Beach hotels on the coast
Think twice if
- You want to walk to the harbor
- You rely on public transport in the evening
Staying in Geroskipou: nearby sights, food and getting around
Chloraka, for low prices north of the old town
A village-suburb about five kilometers north of the harbor on the coastal road, with apartments, tavernas and lower prices.
Chloraka sits on the main road north of Paphos, with apartments, small hotels, supermarkets and a handful of tavernas. It is cheaper than Kato Paphos and quieter, and the sea is a short drive or a longer walk. A bus runs into town, and the road continues to the wine villages and the north west coast.
It has little to do in the evening beyond the tavernas, and you will want a bus timetable or a car. It suits a self-catering stay for visitors who plan to drive.
Good for
- Lower prices and self-catering apartments
- Quiet evenings
- A road north to Coral Bay and the Akamas
Think twice if
- You want sights and restaurants on foot
- You do not have a car
Coral Bay, for sand, not the city
A sandy bay about 10 kilometers north of Paphos, with a resort strip. A beach stay with Paphos as a day trip, not a base for the town.
Coral Bay is the main sandy beach near Paphos, a wide cove with sun beds, water sports and a strip of restaurants, bars and shops behind it. Hotels and apartments cluster around the bay and up the hill. It is a good choice if the sea matters most and you plan a few days in Paphos from here.
It is a resort in its own right, about 10 kilometers from the harbor, which means a bus or a taxi of around 20 to 30 minutes each way. The beach is busy in July and August, parts of the strip are loud at night, and many places close in winter. For a city break, stay in Kato Paphos and visit for a day.
Good for
- A wide sandy beach
- Water sports and a lively evening strip
- Self-catering apartments
Think twice if
- You want to see the sights on foot
- You dislike busy beaches in July and August
Staying in Coral Bay: nearby sights, food and getting around
Where not to stay in Paphos, and what to do instead
Every booking site lists these places to stay in Paphos. We would skip them, or at least choose with care. Nobody pays a commission on a warning.
- A room on the bar streets behind the harbor
Kato Paphos has streets of bars that run late in summer. Ask for a quiet side and a higher floor, and check where the music is.
- The old town, if you plan to be at the harbor every day
The hill is about three kilometers from the harbor and the ruins. It is a good base for local life, but not if you want the sea at your door. Stay in Kato Paphos if you plan to walk to most of the sights.
- Coral Bay as a base for the town
It is a beach resort about 10 kilometers away. Stay in Kato Paphos and go to Coral Bay for a beach day.
- A hotel that lists 'Paphos' but is a long way out
Some listings sit in other villages along the coast. Check the address on the map and the distance to the harbor before you book.
- Traveling in winter and expecting everything to be open
Some seasonal hotels, boat trips and restaurants close from November to March. Check opening dates before booking out of season.
Which area suits you
First time in Paphos
Stay in Kato Paphos for the harbor, the ruins and restaurants on foot.
Couples
Kato Paphos for the sea, or the old town for a quieter stay.
Families with children
The Tombs of the Kings coast or Poseidonos Avenue, with a pool and a beach.
A tight budget
No car
Kato Paphos, where the sights and restaurants are on foot.
Beaches
Coral Bay for sand, Poseidonos Avenue for the town beaches.
Nightlife
Kato Paphos has the bars, and Coral Bay has a summer strip.
Quiet
Early flights
Geroskipou or Poseidonos Avenue, closer to the airport road.
Before you book a room in Paphos
The practical things that decide whether a good hotel in Paphos makes a good stay. We could not confirm a tourist tax on 11 October 2026, so no figure is given. Bus fares and timetables change by season, so check them locally.
- Tourist taxWe could not confirm that Cyprus charges visitors a per-night accommodation tax, so we give no figure. Ask your hotel before you arrive whether anything is added at check-in.
- From the airportPaphos airport is about 15 km south east of town. Bus 612 goes through Kato Paphos to the Tombs of the Kings, and bus 613 goes to Karavella bus station in the old town. The fare was €2, or €3 after 9pm, and the ride takes about 30 to 40 minutes. A taxi takes about 20 to 25 minutes and costs roughly €35 to €45. Buses are not frequent, so check the timetable.
- Between the coast and the old townThe two are about three kilometers apart and uphill from the sea. Local buses and taxis link them, and the walk back from the old town is the hard direction in summer.
- Walking and the heatMost sights are outdoors with little shade. Go in the morning, and keep the middle of the day for the sea. From July to August expect heat above 35 degrees.
- CarsYou do not need a car for Kato Paphos. You do for Aphrodite's Rock, the wine villages and the Akamas, or you can book a tour. Cyprus drives on the left.
- NoiseThe harbor streets and Coral Bay's strip are loud in summer. Ask for a room on a side street or a high floor.
- SeasonApril to October is the season. In July and August it is hot and full. From November some hotels, boat trips and restaurants close, though the main sights stay open.
Where to stay in Paphos: questions people ask
What is the best area to stay in Paphos for a first visit?
Kato Paphos. The harbor, the Roman mosaics, the castle and most restaurants are within a short walk, and you need no car for the main sights.
Is it better to stay in Kato Paphos or the old town?
Kato Paphos for the sea, the ruins and the choice of restaurants. The old town for lower prices and a local feel, with a bus or taxi to the coast.
Is Paphos walkable?
Kato Paphos is. The old town is on its own about three kilometers uphill, so you take a bus or a taxi between the two.
Where should I stay in Paphos for beaches?
Poseidonos Avenue for the town beaches, or Coral Bay for the main sandy bay about 10 kilometers north. Coral Bay needs a bus or a car for the town.
Where should I stay in Paphos if I have no car?
Kato Paphos. Buses run to the airport and along the coast, and the harbor, ruins and restaurants are on foot.
Is there a tourist tax in Paphos?
We could not confirm one on 11 October 2026, so we give no figure. Ask your hotel whether anything is added at check-in.
How do I get from Paphos airport to the town?
By bus 612 to Kato Paphos or bus 613 to the old town, about €2 and 30 to 40 minutes, or by taxi in 20 to 25 minutes for around €35 to €45.
Should I stay in Coral Bay and visit Paphos?
Only if the beach is the point of the trip. It is about 10 kilometers away, so for the town and the ruins a base in Kato Paphos is easier.
