The best hotels in Paphos

It’s probably the choice of hotel that will largely determine your overall impression of your holiday. No one wants to end up with a tiny room with shabby furniture and a view of a building site instead of the comfortable room with a balcony and sea view they were expecting. In this article, we’ll help you answer the question ‘Which hotel should you choose in Paphos?’ and tell you about some of the best possible options among 5* and 4* luxury hotels.

Elysium 5*

The Elysium 5* Hotel, situated on the Paphos coast, opened in 2002. This luxury hotel resembles a knight’s castle more than a typical modern building. The design features a unique style that incorporates the finest architectural traditions of ancient Greek and Byzantine masters.

Straight from the main street, you enter a spacious corridor styled to resemble a medieval castle. Magnificent frescoes adorn the hotel’s walls, whilst the floor is decorated with fragments of intricate mosaics preserved from ancient times.

Elysium 5* is a true paradise for lovers of all things historic who appreciate a blend of romantic ambience and first-class service. The hotel offers guests cosy rooms and studios, as well as luxurious suites and villas. Particular attention should be paid to the Royal Villa with a private 53-square-metre swimming pool. The two-storey villas with private swimming pools and views of the garden or the sea are for adults only.

All rooms at the hotel are equipped with air conditioning, a television with Russian channels, a safe, a minibar, a hairdryer, a telephone, a bathroom with toiletries, slippers and bathrobes, and free Wi-Fi.

The hotel’s beach features imported sand. Beach towels, parasols and sun loungers are provided free of charge on the hotel grounds and on the beach. There is a diving centre on the beach.

The hotel grounds feature beautiful outdoor and indoor swimming pools and a state-of-the-art spa centre. Treatments are carried out using ESPA skincare products; there are 11 treatment rooms in total, as well as a relaxation area by the pool.

The hotel’s dining areas are designed in a contemporary style, incorporating elements that reflect ancient Cypriot traditions. In total, the hotel has seven restaurants, bars and cafés, offering both traditional Cypriot and international cuisine.

Elysium 5* is the ideal choice for a holiday with children, as it offers an extensive children’s entertainment programme, a themed children’s park and themed evenings, as well as a dedicated children’s pool with water slides and a kids’ club (for children aged 3 to 12).

Annabelle 5*

Annabelle 5* is the choice for guests who appreciate true beauty and refined elegance. The 2.5-hectare grounds feature beautiful, shady gardens sloping down to the sea. Delightful comfort awaits you both in the gardens and in the hotel rooms. The swimming pool, set on different levels and framed by tranquil backwaters, grottoes and waterfalls, and the cosy amphitheatre will leave you with unforgettable memories of a luxurious holiday.

Just a few minutes’ walk from the hotel lies the famous Paphos harbour with its beautiful ancient castle, as well as the finest restaurants and fish tavernas. The hotel underwent a complete renovation in the summer of 2008.

The hotel’s beach is a mixture of sand and pebbles, and you can also enter the sea from the jetty. Beach towels, parasols and sun loungers are provided free of charge to guests on the hotel grounds and on the beach. On the beach, you can go diving and enjoy various water sports.

The hotel rooms feature a minibar, satellite TV with Russian channels, a telephone, air conditioning, a safe, a fridge, a games console, a bathroom with toiletries and household essentials, as well as bathrobes, slippers and a hairdryer.

On the premises of the neighbouring Almyra 5* hotel, guests can visit the kids’ club and spa centre.

Free high-speed Wi-Fi is available in the hotel lobby and bars.

Almyra 5*

Following its latest refurbishment, the Almyra 5* is the island’s first designer boutique hotel. Its interior was created in collaboration with the French fashion house Lagerfeld. The rooms are decorated in a black-and-white colour scheme and feature an ultra-modern minimalist style.

The snow-white hotel building is surrounded by ancient gardens with olive trees. In September 2008, the hotel opened one of the best spa centres in Cyprus, featuring indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a restaurant and a gym equipped with state-of-the-art equipment.

The hotel’s beach has imported sand, and guests can also access the sea via the jetty. Beach towels, parasols and sun loungers are provided free of charge on the hotel grounds and on the beach. On the beach, guests can enjoy water sports or visit the diving centre at the neighbouring 5* Annabelle Hotel.

Guests can choose from several of the hotel’s restaurants and bars. The Notios restaurant serves Mediterranean and Japanese cuisine; the hotel’s main restaurant, Mosaics, operates as a buffet and also hosts themed events; the Ouzeri restaurant, located right on the beach, serves traditional Cypriot cuisine; the Eauzone café in the hotel’s spa area; the Flavours restaurant in the fireplace lounge, featuring a terrace with sea views; the Helious Lounge bar; and the Beach Bar, which operates on the beach during the summer months.

The hotel rooms are equipped with satellite TV featuring Russian channels, air conditioning, a minibar, a telephone, a safe, and a bathroom with bathrobes, slippers, toiletries and personal care items, and a hairdryer; internet access is available (for a fee). Free Wi-Fi is available in the lobby and the hotel’s bars.

Azia Resort & Spa 5*

This magnificent five-star hotel comprises three separate sections: Azia Blue – for family holidays, Azia Club & Spa – for those who appreciate a peaceful holiday in comfortable surroundings, and The Residence – for lovers of luxury and exclusive holidays. It is worth noting that The Residence is listed in the Small Luxury Hotels of the World ranking.

According to many authoritative European publications, the hotel’s thalassotherapy centre is one of the best in Europe, a fact confirmed by numerous awards. The hotel’s luxurious terraces offer stunning views of Paphos Bay, and its location allows guests to reach all of Cyprus’s famous attractions fairly quickly by bus or taxi.

Azia Resort & Spa is one of the few resort hotels offering superb views to the west, allowing guests to witness the majestic spectacle of the Cypriot sunset. Its luxurious, shaded gardens and on-site chapel also make it a wonderful venue for a wedding in Cyprus.

The hotel’s beach is sandy (with loose sand). Beach towels, parasols and sun loungers are provided free of charge on the hotel grounds; on the beach, the use of sun loungers and parasols is a paid service.

One of the hotel’s main attractions is its well-organised entertainment programme for children and adults. For children, there is a kids’ club (ages 2–9), a special menu in the restaurant, high chairs for toddlers, early dinners and a dedicated shaded play area, whilst for teenagers there is a club with computer games.

Adult guests can enjoy entertainment shows and themed Cypriot evenings. For sports enthusiasts, there is a gym, a sauna, billiards, table tennis, tennis on a floodlit court, as well as a variety of sporting activities (yoga, aqua aerobics, beach volleyball, etc.).

Guests can enjoy a luxurious outdoor pool with hydromassage, designed to resemble a lagoon, and, during the colder months, a heated indoor pool.

The hotel’s rooms feature a balcony, air conditioning, and a bathroom with toiletries, bathrobes and slippers. Free high-speed Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel.

Alexander The Great 4*

The Alexander The Great 4* is one of the best family-friendly hotels in Paphos. Thanks to the refurbishment and modernisation work carried out in 2013, it is every bit on a par with a 5-star hotel.

Furthermore, the hotel features a revamped HB+ concept with upgraded rooms, exciting entertainment and unique opportunities for outdoor recreation. The hotel intends to continue to maintain and strengthen its reputation as one of the best family hotels in Cyprus.

Another distinctive feature of the Alexander The Great 4* is its seaside location on the site of archaeological excavations dating back to 2000 BC, with superb views of Cyprus’s Blue Flag-awarded sandy beach. The picturesque harbour and the centre of Paphos are just a few minutes’ walk away.

The hotel offers a choice of four restaurants for half-board plus and full-board plus packages. And, of course, a new infinity pool with a bar.

The 4* Alexander The Great Hotel also features a ‘wedding garden’, where you can have the wedding of your dreams!

Conclusion

To sum up this review of the best hotels in Paphos, it’s worth noting that each one is magnificent in its own way.

But you also need to consider their specific features – in other words, which hotel is right for you. The 5* Azia Resort & Spa and the 5* Annabelle are ideal for those who appreciate a peaceful and sophisticated holiday, whilst newlyweds and couples will feel right at home at the 5* Almyra and the 5* Elysium; for holidays with children, we recommend Elysium 5* and Almyra 5*, which boast some of the best kids’ clubs with excellent entertainment programmes.

And for those who value comfort and high-quality service at reasonable prices, the Venus Beach Hotel 4* is an excellent choice.