10 Best Paphos Beaches in Cyprus: The Ultimate 2026 Guide

If you only have time for one Paphos city beach, make it SODAP. Named after the local wine cooperative that once stood nearby, this central stretch of soft golden sand offers the best combination of convenience, quality and atmosphere within walking distance of the harbour. The swimming area is protected by large rock banks, the iconic Antasia Beach Club delivers cocktails right to your sunbed, and a quirky spiral staircase viewpoint gives you a top-down view of the bay.

Coral Bay is consistently rated the best beach on the western side of Cyprus, and it’s easy to see why. A 600-foot curve of golden sand sits between two headlands, creating calm shallow waters that are absolutely perfect for children and weak swimmers. There is everything you could possibly need on hand: a permanent lifeguard, restaurants, a shop selling sun cream and beach toys, water sports operators, and even on-beach massage.

Tucked down a dirt track off the Chlorakas-Lemba coastal road, Sandy Beach has carved out a reputation as the coolest beach hangout in Paphos. Music plays all day, DJs perform at weekends, volleyball tournaments happen on the sand, and it is one of the only spots along the coast where you can actually catch a small surf. The sand is some of the finest in the district, and there is plenty of room to spread out.

Located in the last true wilderness of Cyprus, the horseshoe-shaped Lara Beach is the protected nesting ground of the endangered green and loggerhead sea turtles. Reaching it requires either a 4x4 vehicle or an organised off-road tour, and there are no facilities at all, but the reward is one of the most beautiful and untouched stretches of sand in the Mediterranean.

Strictly speaking the Blue Lagoon is not a beach but a stunning bay tucked into the Akamas Peninsula, where the water is so clear and turquoise it looks photoshopped. Access is by boat trip from Latchi harbour, and once anchored you can leap straight off the deck to snorkel above the sandy seabed.

Just a 10-minute walk from Paphos harbour, Faros Beach sits beside the famous lighthouse and the edge of the Nea Paphos Archaeological Site. Locals know this as one of the most underrated beaches in Paphos: a long stretch of soft sand with a beach volleyball court, sand football pitch, lifeguards and well-protected swimming.

For sheer breadth of activities, Rikkos (also called Geroskipou Municipal Beach) is hard to beat. The beach is huge, with sand stretching as far as the eye can see, plus an arcade, kids’ play area (Luna Park), multiple restaurants and bars, volleyball, a tennis club, water sports and grassy areas. It is the most complete family beach destination in Paphos.

Laourou Beach is small but mighty. The colour of the water here is what travellers rave about: a brilliant, shining blue framed by a protective sea wall that keeps the swimming calm and safe. The beach itself is more of a path with sunbeds laid out beside it, but the swimming experience is among the best in the entire Paphos region.

According to Greek mythology, this is the spot where the goddess Aphrodite rose from the sea foam. Today, Petra tou Romiou is one of the most photographed beaches in Cyprus, with two huge limestone rocks rising dramatically out of the sapphire sea. The beach itself is mostly pebbles, and the swimming can be rough, but the views and the legend make it absolutely unmissable.

Right on the main Kato Paphos coastal walk, Vrysoudia II is the first central beach with proper soft sand and a protected swimming area. Just a few steps from hotels, cafés and restaurants, it’s the easiest pick if you’re staying in the tourist zone and don’t want to travel for a swim. The break wall keeps the sea calm, and there’s a lifeguard at one end.