Paphos
Sun, sea and elderly British people.
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A renowned year round holiday destination for Europeans.
The city boasts a wealth of UNESCO sites, including archaeological treasures and stunning mosaics. Beyond its historical significance, Paphos offers relaxation on serene beaches and exploration of bustling local markets.
Too much of a holiday-oriented destination - would not return as a place to work from. There are better locations throughout Europe with more going on.
Too much of a holiday-oriented destination - would not return as a place to work from. There are better locations throughout Europe with more going on.
Too much of a holiday-oriented destination - would not return as a place to work from. There are better locations throughout Europe with more going on.
Too much of a holiday-oriented destination - would not return as a place to work from. There are better locations throughout Europe with more going on.
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Summary
Accommodation
If booking in advance and out of peak season, you shouldn't have a problem getting a reasonable deal on a good flat.
It's particularly good value if travelling with a group and booking out an entire villa with this accounting for a lot of the housing stock, especially in Kato Paphos.
Places to work
There are two dedicated coworking spaces in the town, with a number of large cafes around Kato Paphos that would be suitable for a few hours work.
I particularly enjoyed my time at Hügge Coworking which would be by far the best option if looking to meet other remote workers.
Value
Eating out is reasonably priced both in the tourist orientated restaurants in Kato Paphos and the more traditional Tavernas found closer towards the Old Town. Alcohol is particularly inexpensive, no doubt contributing to the appeal for the annual British holiday makers.
Working hours
Cyprus operates on Eastern European Time (EET), pushing it an hour ahead of Western Europe throughout the year.
🇪🇺 Consider working European hours from Asia?
Where to stay
Paphos is split into two between the tourist orientated Kato Paphos and the more historic Old Town. If you want close proximity to the water and a wider selection of bars, head for Kato.
Kato Paphos
Paphos Old Town
Where to work
Hügge
Located 2 minutes from the centre of the old town, they have two floors of open plan desks with the highlight being a large roof terrace on the top of the building providing amazing panoramic views over the city.
There is a strong emphasis on community with regular events scheduled by the owners, making it a welcoming and friendly destination. The Beanhaus coffee roasters is conveniently located 100 meters away and there are a number of lunch options available within a 5 minute walk.
Would 100% return if in Paphos again.
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Remote work visa
If staying for a prolonged period, you may want to consider a dedicated visa for this destination.
This country is actively working on a visa support for remote workers.
Check your government website for details of how to obtain a tourist visa.
Cyprus introduced the 'Digital Nomad Visa Scheme' in October 2021, aimed at attracting remote workers from non-EU and non-EEA countries to temporarily reside in the nation. The objective is to position Cyprus as a hub for electronic services provision and contribute to the country's economic development by welcoming digital nomads. Initially, the scheme had a cap of 100 residence permits, but as of March 2022, the Council of Ministers raised the ceiling to 500 permits. By granting these temporary residency visas, Cyprus seeks to strengthen its position as a center for digital nomads and benefit from their presence in the local economy.
Citizen Remote is a great source of up to date knowledge for everything to do with remote work visas.
Safety
Off-work
Spend an afternoon at Coral Bay
A serene coastal draw, renowned for its crystal-clear waters and golden sandy beaches.
Explore Avakas Gorge
Renowned for its striking rock formations and dramatic hiking trails through towering cliffs.
Hike through the Trodos Mountains
Featuring Mount Olympus as its highest peak, this large mountain range is surrounded by pine forests, vineyards, and traditional villages.
Duration & season
Arriving at the start of November, the weather was still surprisingly hot most days, with the temperatures beginning to trail off by the middle of December. Considering the intensity of the mid summer heat, it would be wise to skip May to September and simuiltaenously avoid the high tourist numbers.
With the exception of the Canary Islands, there's very few other destinations in Europe that can offer such palatable temperatures throughout winter.
6 weeks was plenty of time in Paphos and I would struggle to make an argument for staying longer than a month unless you were planning on moving there more permanently.
Food & drink
People
There is something of a small remote work community in Paphos, with the coworking space Hügge definitely being at the epicentre of that community, drawing in a wide range of people from across Europe.
Noticeably, there's around 40,000 British people who have made the move to the surrounding region of Paphos, with the beachfront neighbourhood of Kato Paphos being particularly popular.
Exercise
Kato Paphos Broadwalk Run
Paphos to Limassol
Verdict
Positives
- Great weather year round.There's few better places from November to March across Europe that provide as reliably good weather as Cyprus.
- Outside of the Schengen Zone.If for whatever reason you have reached your limit of time available within the Schengen group of countries, Cyprus is currently still an alternative.
- Some beautiful areas a short drive out of the town.The central, mountainous areas of Cyrpus are well worth visitng if in any of the coastal towns like Paphos.
- Well connected to the rest of Europe via it's airport.Flights are usually frequent and inexpensive especially to the UK.
Negatives
- Not much of a buzz.I found it quite a unstimulating place to be, with little ambience or bustle. Not unsurprisingly from somewhere geared towards tourism over business.
- Not the best selection of food and drink.Whilst there is a range of international options in the town, few of them were at a high quality.
Tips
- Other cities on the island are easily accessible.I found Larnaca, Limassol & Nicosia to be more interesting and dynamic places to be based. If I was to return to Cyprus, I would prioritise staying in one of those where there was more of a working ambience.
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