Paphos has been named the best place in the world to watch a sunset

Paphos has been ranked the world's best place for sunrises and sunsets. The international ranking was compiled by the European company Cewe together with travel photographer Bella Falk, and was picked up by Travel + Leisure on 22 July 2026. The same publication included Cyprus in its list of the 50 best travel destinations for 2026.

For the market this is more than a pleasant headline. The reason for first place is the geography of the west coast, and the sunset view here has long been a value in its own right: demand for property in Paphos has risen significantly over the past year.

Who compiled the ranking, and against what criteria

The list of ten global destinations was prepared by Cewe in partnership with Bella Falk, an award-winning travel and wildlife photographer. Locations were assessed on four parameters:

• visual impact;
• variety of landscape;
• accessibility;
• compositional potential.

Paphos finished ahead of Santa Monica in California, the Maasai Mara reserve in Kenya, Tamarindo in Costa Rica and the Sahara dunes in Morocco. The decisive factor named by the organisers was a coastline facing due west combined with expressive terrain: the sun sets straight into the sea, unobstructed by mountains or development.

As Nasos Hadjigeorgiou, Executive Director of Etap Paphos (the Regional Board of Tourism Development and Promotion), put it, the sunsets of Paphos bring together light, sea, mythology, history and the distinctive landscape of the region.

Three locations that put Paphos in first place

• Petra tou Romiou (Aphrodite's Rock) — by legend, the place where the goddess of love rose from the sea. Arguably the most recognisable symbol of Cyprus.
• Paphos Castle — a medieval fortress in the harbour of Kato Paphos. Its silhouette against a sunset sky is one of the most photographed views on the island.
• EDRO III — a Sierra Leone-flagged cargo ship that ran aground on the rocks by the Sea Caves near Peyia in 2011, caught by a storm on passage from Limassol to Rhodes. All nine crew members were airlifted to safety. Towing the vessel was judged too risky, so the ship stayed where it was and became one of the most photographed sights in Cyprus.

Etap Paphos also singled out the Akamas peninsula, Latchi, Polis and Pomos — each with its own light and character.

Paphos leads on more than sunsets

The second quarter of 2026 showed that the recognition did not come to the region by chance. Paphos drew almost level with Limassol on transaction numbers and moved into second place nationally, trailing by just 35 transactions:

• 1,195 residential transactions — up 19% on the second quarter of 2025;
• transaction value of €440 million against €295 million a year earlier — up 49%, the strongest growth of any region in Cyprus;
• Paphos accounted for 26% of all transactions nationwide and 32% of all money moving through the market;
• 146 house transactions in these segments — 61% of the national total.

Mid- and high-price segments are defined as apartments from €200,000 and houses from €500,000.
The median price of a mid- and high-segment house in Paphos reached €852,500, up 18% over the year. The median apartment price holds at €300,000, unchanged. The divergence speaks for itself: buyers are coming here not for an investment unit to let out, but for a home they intend to live in.
That is the real appeal of the region — not only that the sunsets are beautiful, but that people are increasingly choosing this part of the island with the intention of living on it. We wrote about how that shift looks across Cyprus in Why Cyprus Is Becoming a Quiet Favorite for Living and Investing.

What this means for a buyer

International recognition builds visibility for a destination, but a purchase decision rests on other grounds. In Paphos, three things are worth examining.

• The view. A westward aspect cannot be changed, unlike finishes, layout or even floor area. Check not just the orientation but what will stand in front of the windows in a few years: vacant plots get built on.
• The area. Polis and the northern coast offer seclusion and prices can be lower, but they empty out noticeably off season; Kato Paphos stays active year-round. The choice depends on whether you live here permanently or come and go.
• The type of transaction. A new build from a developer carries the right to fast-track permanent residency on an investment from €300,000 plus VAT; the resale market does not confer that right, but it lets you see the property and the view with your own eyes. More on this in Why Cyprus and Resale Real Estate?

If you are considering buying property in Paphos, come to us for a free consultation. Our advisers will show you properties with genuine sunset views, explain the differences between the areas, and help you weigh a new build against the resale market in light of your objectives.