Where to Stay in Cyprus: Best Areas and Hotels

Staying in Cyprus is much cheaper than on most Mediterranean islands, and the country is definitely worth it! Cyprus offers spectacular beaches and many other attractions all over the island. Despite being the third largest island in the Mediterranean, distances are not excessive. It takes just over 2 hours to drive from one end to the other. So, to explore it calmly, it’s best to choose several different areas to stay in Cyprus. We’ll tell you about the best areas and hotels to stay in Cyprus.

Looking for beach and relaxation? One hotel is fine
Our first advice is that there’s no one best area to stay in Cyprus for everyone. It all depends on what you’re looking for on your trip. For example, if you mainly want to enjoy the beach and visit some attractions, then staying in Ayia Napa, Protaras, or especially Paphos would be convenient.

Want to explore the island? Then it’s better to stay in several areas
If you want to explore the island to the fullest and discover most of its must-sees, then it’s best to stay in multiple areas in Cyprus.

Our advice is to combine it like this: 2 nights in Ayia Napa or Protaras, 1 in Nicosia, 1 in Limassol, and 2 in Paphos.

Ayia Napa, one of the best areas to stay in Cyprus for beach and nightlife

For us, the best of the country is in the eastern part of the island, very close to Ayia Napa. There you’ll find most of Cyprus’s best beaches and also the beautiful Cape Greco, which we liked the most about the island. In fact, in the same city, you can enjoy the beautiful Nissi Beach, one of the best in Cyprus. So, sleeping a couple of nights in the area should be essential.

Ayia Napa is one of the main tourist centers on the island. There are plenty of accommodations and facilities. This makes it a less authentic but practical area. If you’re looking for nightlife, you’ll love it. Ayia Napa is the main party city in Cyprus, especially in summer, when it fills with young people, many of them out of control.

The streets of the city are not charming. They are full of clubs and bars. But in this case, it’s not about discovering the city itself but its surroundings. And for that, we believe there are few better areas to stay in Cyprus.

Top hotels in Ayia Napa:

• Hotel Napa Suites
• Faros Hotel
• NissiBlu Beach Resort

Protaras, a good alternative to Ayia Napa, especially if traveling with children

Protaras is located just east of Ayia Napa. It’s the second town with the most accommodations in the east of the island. If you’re looking for a quieter atmosphere without so much partying, you’ll like it more. Although Protaras also has a lively atmosphere, the partying is not as crazy as in Ayia Napa. In short, the atmosphere is more pleasant.

The best thing about Protaras is its location. You’ll be just 10 minutes away from Cape Greco and right next to Fig Tree Bay and Konnos Beach, two of the best beaches in Cyprus. If you want to enjoy the water with the little ones, try to stay near Fig Tree Bay. There are many accommodations perfect for them.

Protaras is a perfect area to stay in Cyprus for both families and couples.

Our accommodation recommendations in Protaras:

• Leonardo Crystal Cove Hotel & Spa
• Capo Bay Hotel
• Cavo Maris Beach Hotel

Before continuing with more areas to stay in Cyprus, we remind you of the importance of having travel insurance. It not only offers medical assistance but also covers lost luggage, flight delays, or damages caused in accommodation, for example. We travel with Iati and offer you a 5% discount on their travel insurance.

Paphos, ideal for combining beach with cultural visits

Paphos is probably the most popular area to stay in Cyprus, mainly because it’s the most comprehensive and offers the most facilities for families. Although we personally preferred the Ayia Napa and Cape Greco area more!

During the Byzantine period, the decision was made to relocate the city of Paphos to a hill for protection against invasions. So today, it’s possible to enjoy Kato Paphos (the lower part) and Pano Paphos (the upper part). Most of the city’s attractions such as the Roman ruins, its beautiful castle, and the promenade are found in the lower city. Therefore, we recommend staying as close as possible to this part.

We believe it’s the best area to stay in Cyprus if you’re traveling with family. There is a wide range of hotel options, especially resorts perfect for family relaxation and beach enjoyment. What makes it really attractive for children is that it’s much quieter than the Ayia Napa area. Here, you won’t have to worry about the noise from pubs and nightclubs.

Paphos is the perfect base for exploring the western part of the island. Although the city itself is very interesting, you shouldn’t miss visiting the Akamas Peninsula or the beautiful Petra tou Romiou beach, where Aphrodite was born.

Top hotels in Paphos:

• Elysium
• Amphora Hotel & Suites
• Annabelle

Limassol, an interesting option to stay in Cyprus due to its good location

Limassol is the second largest city in Cyprus after Nicosia. In recent years, it has become a very cosmopolitan city due to the large number of expatriates who have come to live there in search of sun and beach. It’s a quite interesting city, especially the Marina area, where there are many restaurants and places with a very pleasant atmosphere. Also noteworthy is its historic center. Besides the beach and marina, Limassol also has gems like its castle or the beautiful Ayia Napa Cathedral.

We recommend spending a night in Limassol to enjoy its atmosphere. But one of the best things about Limassol is its strategic location. It’s located in the center of the island’s southern part. This makes it perfect for linking the eastern and western parts of the island.

If you find a good hotel that you like, due to its excellent location, you can reach everywhere without spending too much time in the car. Undoubtedly, a good area to stay in Cyprus.

Top hotels in Limassol:

• Alasia Boutique Hotel
• Curium Palace Hotel
• The Royal Apollonia

Nicosia, the capital of the country

You can’t leave Cyprus without visiting Nicosia, the capital of the country. In fact, it’s the only divided capital in Europe. It’s very interesting to visit and spend a whole day there. However, it’s not a great idea to base yourself in Nicosia to explore Cyprus.

It’s impressive to see how in the middle of the main street there’s a Turkish police and military booth where they check your passport before allowing entry to the occupied area of the city.

Apart from its issues, Nicosia is a very interesting and colorful city. Its historic center is beautiful! We recommend spending a night there to explore it thoroughly, although you can also visit it on a day trip from Ayia Napa or Limassol. However, we advise sleeping in the Free Nicosia area, not the occupied one.

Top hotels to stay in Nicosia:

• Asty Hotel
• Crown Inn Hotel

Larnaca, near the airport

Finally, to conclude this post about the best areas to stay in Cyprus, we shouldn’t forget to mention Larnaca. At first glance, it’s not the most interesting city in the country, but it’s right next to Cyprus’s most important airport. So, if you land late or plan to leave early in the morning, staying in Larnaca can be a great option.

You can also take the opportunity to visit some of its treasures like its salt lake or the Church of St. Lazarus. Larnaca also has a beach. However, we don’t recommend staying there for a beach holiday mainly because Larnaca’s beach isn’t particularly special, and there are better ones in the east of the island.

Our recommendations in Larnaca:

• Frangiorgio Hotel
• Amorgos Boutique Hotel
• Rise Hotel

Cyprus offers a diverse range of experiences and accommodations to suit every traveler’s preferences. Whether you seek lively nightlife and beautiful beaches in Ayia Napa, family-friendly resorts and cultural sites in Paphos, or the cosmopolitan charm of Limassol, each region has its own unique appeal. Exploring the island’s historical treasures in Nicosia or opting for convenience near Larnaca’s airport also adds to the versatility of choices. Whichever area you choose to stay in Cyprus, you’re bound to encounter warm hospitality, stunning landscapes, and a rich blend of history and modernity that make Cyprus a memorable destination for all types of travelers.