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Where Should You Stay in Cyprus? Limassol for food, Paphos for history, Ayia Napa and Protaras for beaches, Polis for quiet and the Troodos for cooler air.
Where you base yourself matters more than most people expect, because the regions are genuinely different in character rather than just in location. This is an honest comparison, including the trade-offs the booking sites do not mention.
Getting there and around: from Larnaca Airport it is 70 km to Limassol centre (official taxi tariff about €55 by day, €64 at night), 53 km to Ayia Napa (about €42 / €50) and about €107 / €125 to Paphos Coral Beach. Operators often quote more, so agree the price first.
Check Limassol hotel prices on Booking.com or Check Paphos hotel prices on Booking.com to see current rates for your dates.
Hotels across Cyprus
Which Region Is Right for You?
- Limassol: food and a city.
- Paphos: history and convenience.
- Ayia Napa and Protaras: beaches.
- Polis: quiet.
- Nicosia: culture.
- The Troodos: cooler air and villages.
Two bases across a week works better than one, because the island is small enough for day trips from either. Most of the mistakes people make come from picking a single coastal resort and never leaving it.
Is Limassol the Best Base for Food?
Yes, it is the most cosmopolitan option and comfortably the best place to eat. A large international population has produced a restaurant scene with genuine range, from village taverns through to serious fine dining. Limassol is about 45 to 60 minutes from Larnaca airport and an hour from Paphos airport. See our full Limassol guide, or go straight to our ranking of the best hotels in Limassol.
- Good for: food, nightlife that is not Ayia Napa, marina and seafront, central position for driving anywhere.
- Less good for: beaches, which are the weakest of the coastal towns, and quiet.
Our Limassol hotel reviews:
- Amara Hotel: sea view rooms and Beefbar on site, but a crowded pool.
- Parklane Resort: a good hotel priced like the best.
- The GrandResort: better value than St Raphael.
- City of Dreams Mediterranean: spacious rooms and the best pools in Limassol.
- NYX Hotel: an old town location that is hard to beat, with inconsistent rooms.
- St Raphael Resort: our stay review, with the problems we found.
- Atlantica Miramare Beach: dated rooms, but you walk straight onto the sand.
We have reviewed a good deal of the food too, including Dionysus Mansion, Meze Taverna and Beefbar. The full list is in our ranked guide to the best restaurants in Cyprus.
Is Paphos Good for History?
It is the best combination of history and convenience on the island. The Tombs of the Kings and the archaeological park are in the town, Kourion is half an hour away, and the Akamas is within reach. Paphos airport is only 15 to 20 minutes from Kato Paphos. See our Paphos guide, or go straight to our ranking of the best hotels in Paphos.
- Good for: archaeology, families, a long stay, access to the west of the island.
- Less good for: anyone wanting a lively evening or a sense of undiscovered Cyprus, since parts are heavily developed.
Our Paphos hotel reviews:
- Annabelle Hotel: a seafront five star with a rooftop spa and a fantastic pool.
- Amphora Hotel and Suites: large rooms over the pool and the beach steps away.
- Aliathon Holiday Village: a big, busy family resort with characterful rooms.
If you are flying in, our Paphos Airport guide covers taxis, buses and car hire from arrivals. For dinner, Grazie is our favourite table in town.
Where Are the Best Beaches?
Ayia Napa and Protaras have the best beaches on the island, without much argument. Fig Tree Bay, Nissi and Konnos are all here, and the water quality is exceptional. Larnaca airport is 40 to 45 minutes away. See our Ayia Napa and Protaras guide.
- Good for: swimming, families in Protaras, nightlife in Ayia Napa.
- Less good for: quiet in peak season, and it is the furthest point from the mountains. Out of season the whole area is transformed and genuinely lovely.
Our guide to the best beaches in Cyprus covers which suits what. For a hotel on the best sand in the area, see our Adams Beach review.
Eyeing the sand? Compare hotels in Ayia Napa on Booking.com or Protaras on Booking.com.
Where Is the Quietest Place to Stay?
Polis and Latchi are the quietest base on the island and the one we would pick. It is a small town rather than a resort, with a working harbour at Latchi and the Akamas on the doorstep. It is around an hour from Paphos airport.
- Good for: quiet, seafood, walking, genuine escape.
- Less good for: nightlife, choice of restaurants, and anything that needs to be near an airport.
Our review of Moustakallis Tavern covers the best meal in the area.
Why Stay in the Troodos Mountains?
It is the option almost nobody considers and the one that most changes a trip. Stone villages, pine forest, cool air in summer and the best of the island’s village food.
- Good for: summer heat, walking, wine, food, quiet.
- Less good for: beaches, which are an hour away, and anyone unwilling to drive mountain roads.
Our guide to the Troodos mountain taverns covers where to eat, and our review of 7 Linoi is a good example of a mountain table worth the drive. Troodos day tours (Klook, Viator) are the easy way in if you do not want to drive.
Is Nicosia Worth Staying In?
It is the capital, landlocked, and skipped by most visitors. The old city sits inside Venetian walls, the Cyprus Museum is here, and it is the only divided capital in Europe, with crossings on foot at Ledra Street. Larnaca airport is 40 to 50 minutes away. See our Nicosia guide.
- Good for: culture, history, and food outside the tourist market.
- Less good for: beaches, and summer, when inland temperatures regularly exceed 40 degrees.
For a hotel, our pick is the Hilton Nicosia, which has the best spa in the area. Eat at Henry’s, Taverna tou Theodosi or Pyxida Nicosia.
Planning a city stay? Check rates in Nicosia on Booking.com or Larnaca on Booking.com.
Which Spa Hotel Should You Choose?
If the spa is the point of the trip, start with our guide to spa hotels in Cyprus and our guide to hammams, thermal springs and spas.
How Long Should You Stay in Each?
For a week, split four nights on the coast and three inland. For ten days, add the Akamas or Nicosia. For a fortnight you can do all of it without rushing.
Hire a car regardless. Public transport between towns exists, but it does not reach the villages, the mountains or the Akamas. You can compare hire car prices on DiscoverCars before you fly. Our guide to getting around Cyprus explains the options.
Ready to book? Check Limassol hotel prices on Booking.com or Check Paphos hotel prices on Booking.com.
Want a second opinion on price? Run the same dates through Vio and see whether it beats the usual sites.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Is the Best Area to Stay in Cyprus?
Limassol for food and a central position, Paphos for history, Protaras for beaches and Polis for quiet. The right answer depends on what you want from the trip.
Which Is the Best Hotel in Limassol?
It depends on the trip. We recommend Amara for the rooms, City of Dreams for space and pools, and the Atlantica Miramare for the beach. Every Limassol hotel we have reviewed is listed above.
Which Airport Should I Fly Into?
Paphos for the west and the Akamas, and Larnaca for the east, Nicosia and Ayia Napa. Limassol sits roughly between the two.
Is One Base Enough for a Week?
It works, since distances are short. Two bases are better and let you see both the coast and the mountains properly.
Where Should I Stay With Children?
Protaras, or Coral Bay near Paphos. Both have shallow water and plenty of facilities.
How Do I Get From the Airport to My Base?
Hire a car or pre-book a private transfer. Official taxi tariffs from Larnaca Airport are in the getting there paragraph at the top of this guide.
Final Thoughts
The most common mistake is picking one coastal resort and staying put. Cyprus is at its best when you use the size of it, and the difference between the coast and the mountains is the whole point of the island. Split the week, because the drive between them takes an hour.