Holiday rentals in Coral Bay

Located 15 minutes north of Paphos, this beach resort on the west coast of Cyprus is a great base for mingling island sightseeing with sun, sea, and sand. Coral Bay’s beautiful curve of shoreline and calm waters offer safe swimming as well as snorkelling and diving among the pink coral from which it takes its name. Nearby cafes and restaurants dish up various cuisines, including the taverns that serve local meze dishes, and there’s a lively nightlife too.

On the hills overlooking the bay sits the village of Peyia, whose historic centre includes ancient churches, houses, and baths; further north you’ll find the fragrant pine trees of Pikni Forest. Coral Bay is also close to Cyprus’s former capital, Paphos, where thousands of years of history are preserved in its archaeological park — from its Greek theatre and Roman mosaics to its medieval castle — and beyond, in the buildings of its old town, and the artistic wonder of its Byzantine basilica and mosque.

The sea is warm from June to November in Coral Bay, and the weather is at its hottest in August — which can be very hot indeed. If you prefer your days to be milder, the shoulder seasons of May-June and September-October might be your best bet; they also tend to be when the restaurants and beaches are a bit less busy. May is when Cyprus celebrates spring with its colourful island-wide Flower Festival; in July you can watch Greek tragedies and comedies performed in Paphos’s ancient Odeon theatre. Another annual event to keep on your radar is the Pafos Aphrodite Festival, which brings thousands of visitors to Paphos for its hotly anticipated operatic productions.

Maa-Palaiokastro

On the long narrow peninsula that juts out from the northern end of Coral Bay once lived an ancient colony of Greek aristocrats, Aegean refugees who settled here in 1,200 BCE after the collapse of the Mycenaean kingdoms. The archaeological remains discovered here can be visited in a stunningly designed subterranean museum, of which only the dome is visible above ground.

Avakas Gorge

A short journey inland from Coral Bay will bring you to this spectacular natural wonder and great hiking destination. The 30-metre limestone cliffs were created by thousands of years of erosion. Walk alongside the river that caused it, surrounded by Cyprus’s native trees, plants, and flowers. It’s a great starting point to explore the beautiful scenery of the untouched Akamas Peninsula.

The Tombs of the Kings

Paphos’ vast Kato Paphos Archaeological Park is a rich treasury of antiquities, and one of the easiest parts to reach from Coral Bay is this burial site. Don’t expect royalty — this necropolis never housed any actual monarchs — but the series of rock-carved chambers will still inspire plenty of awe.