Paphos Ranks First for Golden-Hour Views: An Exceptional Place to Call Home
New International Recognition
Paphos has earned new international recognition, taking first place in CEWE’s ranking of the world’s best destinations for experiencing and photographing sunrise and sunset. CEWE is one of Europe’s leading photographic services and photo-printing companies, operating across numerous European markets. The distinction was also featured by leading international travel publication Travel + Leisure, bringing Paphos’ remarkable golden-hour views to a global audience.
Published in June 2026, the CEWE list was created in collaboration with award-winning travel and wildlife photographer Bella Falk. Destinations were selected according to their visual impact, variety, accessibility and photographic opportunities. Paphos claimed the top position ahead of internationally renowned destinations such as Santa Monica in California, the Maasai Mara in Kenya and Tamarindo in Costa Rica.
A City Defined by Its Setting
CEWE highlighted Paphos for its reliable climate, with more than 300 days of sunshine each year, its varied coastline and particularly impressive sunset views. Its west-facing position allows the evening light to unfold across the Mediterranean, creating a distinctive backdrop to some of the region’s best-known landmarks.
Among the locations featured were Petra tou Romiou, with its sweeping coastal scenery; Paphos Castle, set beside the historic harbour; and the EDRO III shipwreck, whose silhouette creates a striking contrast against the evening sky.
Yet the appeal of Paphos extends well beyond these individual landmarks. Its coastline is complemented by the exceptional quality of Cyprus’s bathing waters, with 99.2% of monitored sites classified as excellent in the European Environment Agency’s 2025 assessment, placing the country first in the European Union. From the historic centre to the surrounding hills, traditional villages and wine-producing countryside, the region offers a remarkable variety of landscapes within a relatively compact area.
More Than a Memorable View
This latest recognition celebrates one of the many qualities that make Paphos an exceptional place to live.
The region brings together Mediterranean beaches, UNESCO World Heritage sites, restaurants, golf courses and traditional villages. Its compact scale makes it possible to move easily between the city, coastline and countryside, while the mild climate encourages an outdoor lifestyle throughout the year.
Paphos taking first place in CEWE’s global ranking reinforces what residents already know: its natural setting is not simply something to admire while visiting. It forms part of everyday life.
An Enduring Destination for International Buyers
Paphos continues to attract people from around the world through its distinctive combination of Mediterranean scenery, cultural heritage and contemporary lifestyle. Modern infrastructure, international connectivity and an established international community strengthen its appeal as a destination for permanent living or a second home.
This latest international recognition adds another dimension to the appeal of Paphos for both lifestyle buyers and property investors. Its strong international profile, year-round accessibility and continued popularity among overseas buyers contribute to the region’s long-term desirability. Choosing a property in Paphos therefore offers more than a home in an exceptional setting; it represents an opportunity to invest in one of Cyprus’s most established and internationally recognised destinations.
A Place to Belong
These qualities have long shaped Pafilia’s approach to residential development in the region. As a company founded in Paphos in 1977, Pafilia has witnessed the city’s transformation and contributed to its growth for almost five decades. Today, our diverse portfolio of properties in Paphos—including Pafilia Plaza, Elysia Blu, Konia Green and Coral Vista—offers opportunities for permanent living, second-home ownership and property investment across distinctive locations. Residents can enjoy easy access to the city, Mediterranean coastline and countryside, together with the cultural heritage, year-round outdoor lifestyle and celebrated golden-hour views that make Paphos such an exceptional place to call home.
At Minthis, this experience takes on another dimension. Sunrise and sunset transform the elevated landscape, revealing far-reaching views across the surrounding hills and towards the Troodos Mountains.
Where world-renowned golden-hour views become part of everyday life, Paphos is more than a place to live—it is a place to belong.