A Guide to Cyprus: Exploring Larnaca and Paphos
If you are looking for a holiday destination in the cooler Autumn or Spring months, then it may seem like long-haul is the only way to go from the UK… we are here to prove you wrong! Cyprus is the perfect destination in Europe, and still sees toasty temperatures, even in the off season.
This stunning island is the third largest in the Med, and comes with beautiful beaches, a buzzing nightlife and a vibrant food scene, not to mention a heap of history and nature. With sunshine gracing it’s shores 300 days a year, Cyprus truly stands out as a year-round destination.
Our guide explores the best things to do in Paphos and Larnaca, hopefully helping you decide on your Cyprus getaway location.
Our Itinerary
For us, splitting the holiday into a two-part trip made it feel like 2 holidays in one! As first time visitors to the island, we relied on our research on the world wide web to uncover the island’s treasures. We chose early October for our visit, noticing the quieter ambiance due to the off-season stay. It did mean we could visit all the restaurants and bars that we wanted to, while still enjoying the warm weather.
First stop: Paphos
Despite some commentary tagging Paphos as a tourist magnet for Brits, potentially overshadowing its historic charm, we found it offered the perfect getaway location with a balance of resort relaxation and city life.
Where to stay in Paphos
There are plenty of apartments and resort hotels around the area. We ended up staying at the Venus Beach Hotel 5*.
A place where the stars may stop in the name, but entertainment is plentiful! The pool is the social hub of the hotel, with plenty of sun loungers and space to catch some rays we found ourselves enjoying most mornings lounging around the pool area. Our room was lightly decorated, with just the amenities you need and not much more, but the bed offered some of the best night sleeps ever, comfy and big enough to mean there was no duvet tugging!! We went for a beach view room and overlooked the pool and ocean, while the hotel also offered plenty of day and evening activities, if that is your thing.
Everyone is on bed and breakfast with the option to upgrade to fully inclusive. We went for the breakfast only option and were happily surprised. The Gyros Bar was sadly shut for the duration of our stay due to windier evenings, which we were told were not the norm. We only stopped by the evening buffet to see what was on offer on our first night, and instead opted for a restaurant just a 5 min walk away on the main road between the hotel and Paphos.
The hotel does seem a little run down, but you can’t say a bad thing about the location. Situated within close proximity to the city while ensuring a resort-like experience with a beach and pool at your doorstep. The beach was undergoing restoration, however it still proved to be a popular destination for hotel-goers and day visitors. To get to Paphos city just jump on the 607 to take you to Paphos Seafront within 15 minutes.
Things to do in Paphos
Paphos pleasantly surprised us with limited high-rise structures, retaining its humble roots with plenty of eateries, bars and historic sites! The city earned European Capital of Smart Tourism for 2023, indicating ongoing developments.
Paphos does offer plenty of options to keep you busy, find out more in our Paphos guide:
Stroll around Paphos waterfront
Visit Coral Bay
Explore Paphos Old Town
Pay a visit to the Tomb of the Kings
Another must do is finding a good spot to watch the sunset, Paphos is really the best place in Cyprus to capture the evening sun!
Next stop: Larnaca!
Larnaca was on our list as one of the most romantic places to stay in Cyprus for couples. As the third largest city in Cyprus, the city is filled with ancient remains, marinas and is the perfect place for some tanning! We found the food scene in Larnaca a feast for our palette, with sweeping beaches packed with an array of restaurants, cafes and bars.
Where we stayed in Larnaca
We hit the jackpot with this one. Whilst searching through the plentiful seafront apartments and hotels, we stumbled across the Hotel Indigo Larnaca hotel, part of the IHG chain. This boutique hotel offered a little sanctuary with an easy stroll from the centre of Larnaca and Finikoudes beach.
We loved the modern chic décor in the adults only hotel. The rooms were far more compact than in Paphos, but with an eye to attention and a sophisticated style our stay was memorable.
The breakfast was a smaller display but all perfectly picked, and they had plenty of options made-to-order with the tastiest of pancakes. The rooftop pool seemed so underused when we were staying! Although it is pretty compact, we found ourselves the only guests up there numerous times, however it did mean the bar was mainly unmanned.
Another hotel which took our fancy during our visit was the 9 Muses Hotel, a neoclassical boutique hotel with the bonus of the rooftop cocktail bar above - head to our Cyprus foodie blog to find out more! If you aren’t looking for a hotel stay in Larnaca, then we definitely recommend an Airbnb in the centre of Larnaca for your stay.
Things to do in Larnaca
Looking for things to do in Larnaca? There’s no shortage of activities in Larnaca:
Visit the Church of St Lazarus
Wander around the Medieval Fort of Larnaca
Soak up the sun at Finikoudes Beach
Hop on a boat trip to the Zenobia Wreck
Stoll along the promenade to Mackenzie Beach
Visit Larnaca Salt Lake
Check out our blog on all of our tips about what to do in Larnaca.
Travelling around Cyprus
Now lets dive into some of the extra details to help you travel around Cyprus!
Taxis and buses are the main transportation options in Cyprus, with no trains to be found. Landing and departing from Larnaca meant the journey from Larnaca was merely a 15 minute taxi. However, getting to Paphos was a bit of a different story – a pre-ordered taxi eased our arrival in Paphos, albeit with a bit of erratic driving! It cost around 125 euros and took just over 1.5 hrs, however we were willing to spend the extra pennies when first arriving.
As we were a bit more flexible on timings when travelling from Paphos to Larnaca, we opted for the bus route, an affordable and straightforward 2.5-hour drive without any transfers.
While hiring a car in Cyprus can be far easier for exploring Cyprus, we heard that certain destinations, like the Avakus Gorge, might require an excursion due to unsuitable roads.
Whilst you are in Cyprus, you might want to know where to wine and dine! Check out our blog on where to eat in Paphos & Larnaca with must-try restaurants and beach bars!
Happy holidaying!