Skip to content

CyprusCyprusVisited Nov 2020 · 2 months

Paphos

Sun, sea and elderly British people.

Remote work hubGreat for a holiday
Average6.3
Accommodation6.8
Coworking6.5
Value7.0
Excitement4.7
Living costs, excl. rent~$1,458
Mild and dry
JFMAMJJASONDMild and dry: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
Nomad visaAvailable
Population35,000
Fly into

PFO

This guide was written 5 years ago

Prices, opening hours and recommendations may have changed since my visit, so double-check anything important before you book.

A renowned year round holiday destination for Europeans.

The city boasts a wealth of UNESCO sites, including archaeological treasures and stunning mosaics. Beyond its historical significance, Paphos offers relaxation on serene beaches and exploration of bustling local markets.

Consider for a holiday

Too much of a holiday-oriented destination - would not return as a place to work from. There are better locations throughout Europe with more going on.

At a glance

Accommodation

Good · #45 of 62

6.8/10

If booking in advance and out of peak season, you shouldn't have a problem getting a reasonable deal on a good flat.

It's particularly good value if travelling with a group and booking out an entire villa with this accounting for a lot of the housing stock, especially in Kato Paphos.

How it compares

Coworking

Good · #53 of 62

6.5/10

There are two dedicated coworking spaces in the town, with a number of large cafes around Kato Paphos that would be suitable for a few hours work.

Value

Good · #53 of 62

7.0/10

Eating out is reasonably priced both in the tourist orientated restaurants in Kato Paphos and the more traditional Tavernas found closer towards the Old Town. Alcohol is particularly inexpensive, no doubt contributing to the appeal for the annual British holiday makers.

Excitement

Ok · #56 of 62

4.7/10

Visiting during Covid undoubtedly affected my experience, but I found Paphos to be quite uninspiring both for work and leisure. The 'Old Town' was remarkably quiet at all times, with most shops appearing to have been closed for years. While the waterfront is pleasant, it mainly caters to holidaymakers and isn’t particularly compelling to visit. Unless you plan to spend most of your time on the beach, there aren’t many ways to pass the time.

How it compares

Plan

Cost of living

$1,458a month, before rent

Basic living costs, rent not included

Day-to-day spending for a month: two meals out and a coffee every day, three taxis and two nights out a week, a gym and a coworking desk. Add your rent on top.

Moderate
  • Meal in a casual restaurant$13
  • Speciality coffee$3.71
  • Pint of local beer$4.73
  • Cocktail$11
  • Taxi for 2 miles$8.44
  • Men's haircut$19
  • Women's haircut$42
  • Gym membership, monthly$71
  • Coworking, monthly$233

Prices as of Oct 2026. Confidence: low (gym & coworking verified; other prices restated at 2026-10-07 exchange rates). Sources: numbeo.com, jobicy.com. Always check locally before planning around them.

Duration & season

Arriving at the start of November, the weather was still surprisingly hot most days, with the temperatures beginning to trail off by the middle of December. Considering the intensity of the mid summer heat, it would be wise to skip May to September and simuiltaenously avoid the high tourist numbers.

With the exception of the Canary Islands, there's very few other destinations in Europe that can offer such palatable temperatures throughout winter.

6 weeks was plenty of time in Paphos and I would struggle to make an argument for staying longer than a month unless you were planning on moving there more permanently.

By month

Typical temperatures and rainfall by month
MonthLow °CHigh °CRain mmNotes
January101764wet month
February81628
March92224
April132542peak season
May152628peak season
June22331peak season
July24340peak season
August24332peak season
September20302peak season
October15274peak season
November132587wet month
December1118141wet month
Wettest months Peak season

Typical daytime highs and overnight lows, from the last two years of observations (Open-Meteo). Rain icons mark the wettest months.

Visitors a year
1.3M2024
Crowds
High
Peak season
Apr–Oct
Low season
Dec–Feb

Remote work visa

Digital nomad visa available

Cyprus introduced the 'Digital Nomad Visa Scheme' in October 2021, aimed at attracting remote workers from non-EU and non-EEA countries to temporarily reside in the nation. The objective is to position Cyprus as a hub for electronic services provision and contribute to the country's economic development by welcoming digital nomads. Initially, the scheme had a cap of 100 residence permits, but as of March 2022, the Council of Ministers raised the ceiling to 500 permits. By granting these temporary residency visas, Cyprus seeks to strengthen its position as a center for digital nomads and benefit from their presence in the local economy.

Read more about the visa

Working hours

Cyprus operates on Eastern European Time (EET), pushing it an hour ahead of Western Europe throughout the year.

Live & work

Where to stay

Paphos is split into two between the tourist orientated Kato Paphos and the more historic Old Town. If you want close proximity to the water and a wider selection of bars, head for Kato.

Paphos Old Town

The old town was incredibly quiet during the period which I visited and aside from close proximity to the coworking space, offered little reason to stay there.

Kato Paphos

Around a 20 minute walk down hill from the the Old Town, Kato Paphos is dotted with hotels, souvenir shops, and tavernas with a high number of Brits and tourists.

Where to work

There are two dedicated coworking spaces in the town, with a number of large cafes around Kato Paphos that would be suitable for a few hours work.

I particularly enjoyed my time at Hügge Coworking which would be by far the best option if looking to meet other remote workers.

Hügge coworking space

Hügge

Top rated
Top locationOutdoor spaceCommunityOn-site café

Located 2 minutes from the centre of the old town, they have two floors of open plan desks with the highlight being a large roof terrace on the top of the building providing amazing panoramic views over the city.

There is a strong emphasis on community with regular events scheduled by the owners, making it a welcoming and friendly destination. The Beanhaus coffee roasters is conveniently located 100 meters away and there are a number of lunch options available within a 5 minute walk.

Would 100% return if in Paphos again.

Gladstonos, Paphos 8046, Cyprus

Food & drink

Coffee

Beanhaus Coffee Roasters

Top rated

Good coffee is challenging to find - you will find no better than Beanhaus. Great selection of coffees to drink in or take out.

Drinks

Why Not?

Great place to watch the football with a cold KEO.

Off the clock

Off work

Hike through the Trodos Mountains

Hike through the Trodos Mountains

Featuring Mount Olympus as its highest peak, this large mountain range is surrounded by pine forests, vineyards, and traditional villages.

Explore Avakas Gorge

Explore Avakas Gorge

Renowned for its striking rock formations and dramatic hiking trails through towering cliffs.

Spend an afternoon at Coral Bay

Spend an afternoon at Coral Bay

A serene coastal draw, renowned for its crystal-clear waters and golden sandy beaches.

Exercise

Run

Kato Paphos Broadwalk Run

The coastal broadwalk in Kato Paphos is a popular route for morning runners, going around the perimeter of the Forty Columns Fortress.

Cycle

Paphos to Limassol

Great route which hugs the coastline on the main road from Paphos to the Limassol, the next neighbouring town. Even in November it was roasting, so bring adequate water.

People

There is something of a small remote work community in Paphos, with the coworking space Hügge definitely being at the epicentre of that community, drawing in a wide range of people from across Europe.

Noticeably, there's around 40,000 British people who have made the move to the surrounding region of Paphos, with the beachfront neighbourhood of Kato Paphos being particularly popular.

Notes

Positives

Great weather year round.

There's few better places from November to March across Europe that provide as reliably good weather as Cyprus.

Outside of the Schengen Zone.

If for whatever reason you have reached your limit of time available within the Schengen group of countries, Cyprus is currently still an alternative.

Some beautiful areas a short drive out of the town.

The central, mountainous areas of Cyrpus are well worth visitng if in any of the coastal towns like Paphos.

Well connected to the rest of Europe via it's airport.

Flights are usually frequent and inexpensive especially to the UK.

Negatives

Not much of a buzz.

I found it quite a unstimulating place to be, with little ambience or bustle. Not unsurprisingly from somewhere geared towards tourism over business.

Not the best selection of food and drink.

Whilst there is a range of international options in the town, few of them were at a high quality.

Tips

Other cities on the island are easily accessible.

I found Larnaca, Limassol & Nicosia to be more interesting and dynamic places to be based. If I was to return to Cyprus, I would prioritise staying in one of those where there was more of a working ambience.

Planning a trip to Paphos?

Partners I recommend. Some of these links give you a discount, and I may receive a referral reward.

SafetyWing

Specialised, flexible insurance for prolonged trips away.

  • Buy while abroad
  • Global coverage
  • Simple, online claims process
  • 24/7 human support

For trips exceeding 30 continuous days, seek dedicated travel insurance. Most holiday policies or credit card offerings become invalid after 30 days, despite advertising year-round protection. SafetyWing provides medical and travel coverage specifically designed for remote workers.

Having successfully claimed through their platform with impressive speed, I confidently recommend their service.

Sign up and get $20 off

Learn more

Airarlo

Easy access to data on your phone wherever you are in the world.

Get $2.50 off your first purchase

Learn more

Western Union

A convenient alternative to high ATM fees or carrying around cash.

Register and earn £10

Learn more

Suggestions or improvements?

If there's anything you feel that could make these guides more useful, let me know.
Leave a comment

Say hi!

If you've got any questions on any of the destinations or in remote work in general, give me a shout on LinkedIn.
Get in touch

Take every guide with you

The free iOS app has every guide offline, live weather and local time, costs in your currency, and bookmarks for your shortlist.