Are you stuck trying to pick between Larnaca and Paphos? Which one has better beaches? Better tourist attractions? Which one has better weather? We’ll try to settle the matter once and for all today.
Paphos or Larnaca?
Which one to choose?
It’s obviously impossible to determine flat-out which city is better on all fronts, so we’ll divide this comparison into sections. Categories we chose for today are: beaches, tourist attractions, clubs, hiking trails and our subjective choice at the end. Hopefully this will aid you in your decision for your city of choice in Cyprus.
Which one has better beaches?
Paphos vs Larnaca
Cyprus is a plentiful land when it comes to beautiful beaches. If we had to choose, however, would we pick the ones near Paphos or Larnaca? The choice is very difficult here. Paphos has such gems as the famous Lara Beach and Coral Bay. Further afield, you’ll find beaches on the Akamas peninsula, like the Blue Lagoon. As for Larnaca, you have Protaras and Ayia Napa with its Nissi beach.
If we really had to choose, we’d say that Larnaca wins this one, though do keep in mind that beaches near Larnaca tend to be more crowded. You’ll find calmer beaches north of Paphos, in the Akamas area if that’s top priority for you. The point goes for Larnaca, though we can say that the two serve different purposes: Laranca’s beaches are top shelf but you have to bear the crowds and Paphos has comparably good beaches and they’re calmer.
Which one has better tourist attractions?
Paphos vs Larnaca
If your main focus for holidays is tourist attractions, beautiful sites and places with rich history, then we’d say that Paphos wins this one. This is in spite of the fact that Larnaca has the most beautiful city of Cyprus nearby, Famagusta. Why Paphos then? Because of Paphos itself, as we don’t have to seek far beyond the centre to find the Archeological Park, the Tombs of the Kings and the various shipwrecks. You’ll also find Kourion nearby (and the rock of Aphrodite, though that’s not that top shelf of a spot). The point goes to Paphos.
If you want a more complete picture, you can read more about the best places to visit in Paphos and Larnaca respectively.
Which one is better for hiking?
Paphos vs Larnaca
If your focus is not so on the tourist attractions but rather on beautiful natural trails and paths, then you won’t be bored around either city. Though, on our trips, we really liked the Akamas Peninsula north of Paphos with its beautiful trekking routes leading up to the Blue Lagoon. You can also find Akamas Gorge there, a great spot to rest a while in the shade. Meanwhile, in Larnaca, you can take a walk in the nearby hills near Lefkara or even at Cape Greco. We’re going to have to go with Paphos on this one though, you can’t beat the Akamas.
Which one has better clubs?
Paphos vs Larnaca
Thankfully, we don’t have to dwell on this one much. Larnaca has the clubbing capital of Cyprus, Ayia Napa. If your jam is partying until dawn, then Larnaca is the place to go, hands down.
Our subjective choice
Which one should you choose?
As you can see, points-wise, we have a tie. The categories we’ve provided hopefully allow you to see which holiday aspect is more important to you and you can choose based on that. If you still can’t decide and you need a green-light for one of these, then we certainly remember Paphos more fondly. It’s got simply incredible views, it’s fantastic for hikes and is much more peaceful than the east of the island. Our point goes to Paphos.
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