Best Paphos Beaches: Coral Bay and 9 More Beaches in the Paphos District, Cyprus
The nearest beach is Coral Bay – a sandy beach about 500 metres long with a Blue Flag, around 11 minutes’ walk from our villas. Corallia (Laourou) Beach and Potima Bay are quieter, while the Sea Caves and Lara Bay are wilder. By car you can reach a dozen beaches within 40 minutes.
Coral Bay is best known for its beach – but the Paphos district has much more to offer: small sandy coves, a rugged coastline with sea caves and, a little further north, the protected turtle beaches of the Akamas Peninsula. Here are the best beaches in and around Paphos near our villas, with measured distances, the most important rules and who each beach suits best.
Best Paphos Beaches at a Glance: Beaches in the Paphos District
| Beach | Type | From the villas |
|---|---|---|
| Coral Bay Beach | sandy beach, Blue Flag | approx. 0.8 km · 11 min walk |
| Corallia Beach (Laourou) | sandy beach, Blue Flag | approx. 2 km · 4 min by car / 27 min walk |
| Potima Bay | sand and shingle | approx. 1.5 km · 21 min walk |
| Sea Caves | rocky coast | approx. 6 km · 11 min by car |
| Kafizis Beach | Blue Flag, near the Sea Caves | approx. 8 km · 13 min by car |
| Agios Georgios | small sandy beach by the harbour | approx. 8 km · 11 min by car |
| Toxeftra | natural beach, protected area | approx. 11 km · 25 min by car |
| Lighthouse Beach, Paphos | sandy town beach | approx. 12 km · 18 min by car |
| Aphrodite’s Rock | pebble beach, day trip | approx. 36 km · 38 min by car |
Distances and times: routes measured with an OpenStreetMap route planner from Villa Asteria, rounded. Villa Halia is in the same street.
Coral Bay Beach – a Large Sandy Beach on Our Doorstep
Coral Bay Beach is a crescent of pale sand about 500 metres long. It holds a Blue Flag again in 2026 – the award for clean, well-equipped beaches. There are sunbeds and umbrellas to rent, water sports such as jet skis and parasailing, a beach bar and restaurants right behind the beach. The water is usually calm and shallow – a beautiful beach that is ideal for families.
From our villas it is a walk of about 800 metres, roughly 11 minutes – you can leave the car at home.
Corallia Beach (Laourou Beach) – the Quieter Neighbour
Just west of Coral Bay lies Corallia Beach, officially called Laourou Beach. It also holds a Blue Flag in 2026. This sandy beach is smaller and usually less busy than Coral Bay; breakwaters keep the water especially calm and shallow. Sunbeds and umbrellas are available here too.
From the villas it is about 2 kilometres – 4 minutes by car or just under half an hour on foot.
Potima Bay – Natural Beach Towards Kissonerga
In the other direction, towards Kissonerga, lies Potima Bay. This sand and shingle beach is much more natural: there is a beach bar, but no lifeguards, toilets or showers. In return it is quiet, and windsurfers come when the wind picks up. For small children the water is often too rough here.
It takes about 20 minutes to walk there from the villas.
Sea Caves and Kafizis Beach – Hidden Gem North of Paphos
North of Coral Bay the coastline becomes rocky. At the Sea Caves, the sea has carved caves and arches into the limestone – beautiful rock formations and a popular photo spot. You can only swim here from the rocks, which is best left to confident swimmers and only when the sea is calm.
Just off the coast lies the wreck of the EDRO III: the cargo ship ran aground in heavy seas on 8 December 2011, and the nine crew members were rescued by helicopter. The ship still sits on the rocks today – please only look at it from the shore.
If you would rather lie on a proper beach near the Sea Caves, head to Kafizis Beach: it is one of the three beaches in Akamas Municipality with a Blue Flag in 2026 and has a beach bar. It is about 13 minutes from the villas by car.
Agios Georgios – a Small Sandy Beach by the Harbour
The small fishing harbour of Agios Georgios is about 11 minutes north by car. Next to it is a sandy beach about 100 metres long between high cliffs, with mostly calm, crystal clear water – good for snorkelling. On the hill above are the remains of an early Christian basilica from the 6th century and a tavern with views over the coast.
Agios Georgios is also the starting point for trips into the Akamas Peninsula.
Toxeftra (White River Beach) and Lara Beach – Turtle Beaches in a Protected Area
Beyond Agios Georgios, dirt tracks lead to the wildest beaches in the area: Toxeftra, which many call White River Beach, and Lara Bay, also known as Lara Beach. Both lie in the Lara-Toxeftra protected area, where sea turtles lay their eggs. There are no buildings, no sunbeds and no shade – just unspoilt sand.
Rules in the Lara-Toxeftra protected area
- 1 June to 30 September (nesting season): no umbrellas, sunbeds or tents, and no staying on the beach at night.
- Banned all year: driving onto the beach, lighting fires, leaving rubbish and collecting crabs.
- The Department of Fisheries patrols the beaches.
A four-wheel-drive car is a good idea for the tracks. Standard hire cars are often not allowed on them – check your rental terms first. Alternatively, book a guided jeep tour. Toxeftra is about 25 minutes from the villas.
Akamas by jeep tour
Guided small-group tour from Paphos with pick-up – the alternative if your hire car is not allowed on dirt tracks. If you book through this link, we earn a small commission – the price stays the same for you.
Beaches in Paphos Town: Alykes Beach, Paphos Municipal Beach and SODAP Beach
If you are in Paphos anyway, for example at Paphos Harbour, Paphos Castle or the Tombs of the Kings, the popular beaches in Paphos town are worth a stop – they line the beach strip of the Paphos tourist area. According to the June 2026 Blue Flag list, beaches in and around Paphos with a Blue Flag include Pachyammos, Vrysoudia A and B (Vrysoudia A is often called SODAP Beach), Alykes, Dimotika Loutra (Paphos Municipal Baths), Lighthouse Beach (Faros) and Palaiokastro (Venus Beach) – more in our guide to Paphos beaches. Lighthouse Beach is about 18 minutes from the villas by car, and Pachyammos Beach is a great beach for a swim right next to the city of Paphos.
Alykes Beach sits in the middle of the hotel strip in Kato Paphos – a lively town beach with easy access, sunbeds and plenty of cafés. From Coral Bay it is about 14 kilometres, around 21 minutes by car. Further east, Geroskipou has three more Blue Flag beaches, including Geroskipou Municipal Beach – a good choice if you are staying near the centre of Paphos.
More Beaches Around Paphos and in Cyprus
Latchi and Polis: harbour beach in the north
On the north coast near Polis, the beach at Latchi lies right next to the harbour where the boats to the Blue Lagoon leave. The water is clear and usually calm, with fish taverns behind the beach. From Coral Bay it is about 30 kilometres, around 40 minutes.
Kourion Beach near Limassol
West of Limassol, Kourion Beach lies below the archaeological site of Kourion with its ancient theatre. This long beach holds a Blue Flag in 2026. From Coral Bay it is about 67 kilometres, roughly an hour and ten minutes.
Ayia Napa and Protaras in the east
Cyprus’s best-known sandy beaches, such as Nissi Beach, Konnos Bay and Makronissos in Ayia Napa or Fig Tree Bay in Protaras, are in the east of the island. From Coral Bay to Ayia Napa is about 185 kilometres, a good two and a half hours by car – too far for a relaxed beach day, but an option on a road trip.
Day Trips: Aphrodite’s Rock and the Blue Lagoon
Two swimming spots are more of a day trip: Aphrodite’s Rock (Petra tou Romiou), legendary birthplace of the goddess, is about 38 minutes south-east by car. The beach there is pebbly.
The Blue Lagoon at the northern tip of the Akamas is easiest to reach by boat from Latchi. Latchi is about 40 minutes’ drive from the villas.
Boat trip to the Blue Lagoon from Latchi
About 2.5 hours on the Nafsika II from Latchi to the Blue Lagoon. If you book through this link, we earn a small commission – the price stays the same for you.
Sea Temperature: When Is the Best Time to Swim?
| Month | Water (avg.) | Month | Water (avg.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 17 °C | July | 27 °C |
| February | 16 °C | August | 28 °C |
| March | 16 °C | September | 26 °C |
| April | 17 °C | October | 24 °C |
| May | 20 °C | November | 21 °C |
| June | 24 °C | December | 19 °C |
Source: weather2travel.com, Paphos climate data.
The water is pleasant for swimming from June to October. In May and November many people find the sea refreshing. And in winter? Then you still have your own pool with us – find out more on our winter stays in Cyprus page.
Travelling with kids? Which beaches and days out suit families is covered in our guide to a Cyprus family holiday.
FAQ: Beaches in Paphos, Cyprus
What is the best beach in Paphos?
For families, Coral Bay Beach: about 500 metres of sand, calm water, a Blue Flag, sunbeds and a beach bar. For nature lovers, Lara Beach on the Akamas Peninsula. In Paphos town, Alykes and Lighthouse Beach are the most popular.
Which beach is closest to the villas?
Coral Bay Beach. It is about 800 metres from the villas, roughly 11 minutes on foot.
Can you put up umbrellas at Lara Beach?
Not during the turtle nesting season. From 1 June to 30 September, umbrellas, sunbeds and tents are banned, and nobody may stay on the beach at night. Driving onto the beach is banned all year.
How warm is the sea in Coral Bay?
On average about 24 °C in June, 27–28 °C in July and August and still 24 °C in October. The water is coolest in February and March at around 16 °C.
Conclusion
For relaxed beach days, Coral Bay right on your doorstep is all you need – with a Blue Flag, sunbeds and beach bars. For something quieter, drive four minutes to Corallia Beach. For adventure and nature, head to the Sea Caves, Agios Georgios and the turtle beaches of the Akamas. Everything else about the area is in our Coral Bay guide and our restaurant guide.
Sources: Blue Flag beaches 2026 from SigmaLive (June 2026 list); Lara-Toxeftra rules from Cyprus Mail (19 August 2026); EDRO III from Wikipedia; length of Coral Bay beach from Visit Cyprus; sea temperatures from weather2travel.com; distances measured with OpenStreetMap routing (from Villa Asteria or Coral Bay). Last updated: October 2026.
Your Stay in Coral Bay
Two private pool villas, about 11 minutes’ walk from the beach – booked directly with your host at the best price.
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