Cyprus’ exciting history, beautiful beaches and breath-taking landscapes have led many property buyers to fall in love with the island. After all, according to ancient mythology, the western region of Paphos is where Aphrodite – the Greek goddess of love – rose from the waters. Could your dream holiday home be in Cyprus? To help you with your search, we take you on a journey through some property hotspots in Western Cyprus.
Search for homes in Western Cyprus
Paphos
Our first stop is Paphos, a large region and firm favourite with international buyers. Most reside along the 50-kilometre stretch from the town of Peyia to the village of Pissouri. Paphos town is a popular holiday destination for families, with golden sandy beaches and shallow calm waters. Kids and parents alike can try their hand at all sorts of water sports, including canoeing and scuba diving.
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And for the history geeks among us, Paphos will certainly excite you with its diverse heritage that dates back as far as the Neolithic period. Some archaeological treasures can be found at Paphos Archaeological Park including the House of Dionysos with some magnificent Greek mosaics, and the Tomb of Kings, which are extraordinary Egyptian catacombs sculpted into rock.
Two lovely villages to consider are Armou and Tala. They are situated in the hills but are still near Paphos town. Many buyers are attracted to these villages as their higher altitude means they benefit from a slightly cooler temperature, making the summers more manageable.
Property
Paphos offers excellent value for money, as well as a wonderful combination of old and new. There’s a charming old town (Paleo Paphos) but also a stylish harbour with a great selection of bars and restaurants (Kato Paphos). In Paphos town, a budget of around €150,000 will buy you a two-bedroom apartment. If you’re after a villa with private pool, you’d need around €350,000.
In the surrounding villages, a budget of €200,000 will give you an excellent selection of traditional townhouses and small villas.
Troodos Mountains
Next, we travel inland towards the Troodos Mountains. With peaceful villages nestled in the wild pine forests, this area is ideal for those who want to escape the big cities and busy resorts.
Properties in the mountains can enjoy dual seasonality as there is actually a ski season! Temperatures can fall as low as -5C at night in the winter, with most of the skiing taking place on Mount Olympus, the mountain range’s highest peak. Troodos Village lies at the foot of Mount Olympus and transforms into a ski resort in the winter months.
Another village in the mountains is Agros. This is the main village in the Pitsilia region and is unique, resembling that of an amphitheatre with red-roofed houses dotted throughout. Agros has modern highways so you would still be well connected to the big cities, but if you fancy being even closer check out Platres, a popular and larger village that is just 20-30 minutes’ drive from Limassol.
Alternatively, travel further into the mountains to Fikardou, a remarkable medieval village that could easily fool you into thinking you have travelled back in time.
Property
A budget of around €120,000 would buy you a lovely apartment, whereas townhouses start at €250,000. You can find three-bedroom villas with pools for around €300,000.
Akamas Peninsula
Finally, we head to the northwesternmost point in Cyprus: the Akamas Peninsula. This nature reserve and wildlife sanctuary is the home of many of Cyprus’ best natural attractions. You’ll find the legendary Baths of Aphrodite, which are said to hold special healing powers, as well as the spectacular Avakas Gorge, which can be explored via a thrilling nature trail.
Another hidden gem is Lara Beach, an unspoilt beach with vast golden sand and idyllic turquoise waters, which can only be reached by foot, bike or boat. It is importantly the home and breeding ground of the endangered Green Turtle and Hawk’s Bill Turtle. Despite the area’s secluded location, you are still just 50 minutes’ drive from the major resorts of Paphos and Limassol.
The town of Peyia is a fantastic place to buy a property, and the number of expats already living there proves this. It lies at the southern point of the Akamas Peninsula and is just 14km from the town of Paphos, so you can enjoy practically everything Western Cyprus has to offer, all on your doorstep! One of Cyprus’ most popular beaches – Coral Bay – is also under 10 minutes’ drive from Peyia. The town itself has a small but bustling centre with plenty of amenities, entertainment and bars and restaurants.
For those who want to fully immerse themselves in Cyprus’ nature, the town of Polis is a dream. Located on the edge of the Akamas Nature Reserve and Paphos Forest, you can spend your days walking the 50-plus nature trails and observing the plethora of flora and fauna in the area. The nearby fishing village of Latchi has a very chilled-out vibe, with beautiful beaches and a pretty marina, which is a centre of yachting in the region. The pay-off for these towns is that they are further away from the main resorts, but that’s not always a bad thing!
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Property
Properties in Peyia are often large with lots of open space. Two-bedroom townhouses start at around €100,000, and you can find three-bedroom villas for €200,000-€300,000. Elsewhere, a budget of €150,000-€250,000 will buy you a lovely detached villa.