6 Scenic Drives From Paphos Worth Renting a Car For

A hire car in Paphos is not just transport. It is access to places that most visitors never reach. The tour bus itineraries cover the main sites. The hire car covers everything else the coastal roads that end at empty beaches, the mountain villages that open before the tourist coaches arrive, the gorge trails that have no bus stop.

These six drives are the ones that justify renting a car in Paphos. Each is accessible with a standard compact hire car. Each is a meaningfully different experience from anything available without one.

For the hire car that makes these drives possible, the best car hire in Paphos covers all 20 operators with verified scoring. For what to expect on your first day driving in Cyprus, the first-time drivers guide covers the nine adjustments worth knowing.

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1. The Akamas Peninsula Loop

Distance from Paphos: 35 to 50km depending on starting point Drive time: 50 minutes to the Baths of Aphrodite; full loop 2.5 to 3 hours Road type: Paved main road to the Baths, dirt tracks beyond

The Akamas Peninsula is a protected nature reserve at the northwestern tip of Cyprus. The main paved road north from Paphos follows the coast through Coral Bay and Polis before reaching the Baths of Aphrodite, a shaded natural pool in a coastal clearing.

Beyond the Baths, the road becomes a rough track that most standard hire cars should not take without operator clearance. The value of the Akamas drive is the route itself: the coastline between Coral Bay and Lara Beach is one of the most undeveloped stretches on the island, and the sea views on the approach to Polis are consistently rated among the best in Cyprus by Visit Cyprus.

The return via the inland road through the villages of Neo Chorio and Kathikas adds a wine-country element. Kathikas has a small winery and a square with a local coffee shop. The combined loop takes a full half-day.

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2. The Troodos Mountain Route via Platres

Distance from Paphos: 55km to Platres Drive time: 50 to 60 minutes Road type: Main road to Mandria, then winding mountain roads through Cedar Valley area

The Troodos Mountains offer the most dramatic change of scenery from the coast available in a single day from Paphos. The temperature at Troodos Square (1,952 metres) is typically 10 to 15 degrees cooler than Paphos in summer, which makes it a genuinely useful escape from July and August heat.

The drive through the villages of Platres and Foini is the most scenic approach from Paphos. The road winds through pine forest, passes traditional stone-built villages, and crests into open mountain terrain. The village of Omodos, 20 minutes from Platres, is one of the most-photographed villages in Cyprus, with a cobbled square and a centuries-old monastery.

Budget 3.5 to 4 hours for a comfortable Troodos day trip from Paphos, including an hour on the mountain and a stop in one village on the way up or down.

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3. The Wine Villages Road (Limassol to Paphos Wine Route)

Distance from Paphos: 25 to 45km depending on villages visited Drive time: 30 to 60 minutes to the main wine villages Road type: Good paved roads throughout

The villages of the Paphos wine district Kathikas, Pano Akourdaleia, Droushia, and Stroumbi sit on a plateau between Paphos and the Akamas at around 600 to 700 metres altitude. The drive up from Paphos takes about 30 minutes and arrives in a landscape of vineyards, stone terraces, and villages with working wineries.

Several of the villages have small family wineries that offer tasting by appointment or drop-in on weekdays. The Vasilikon Winery near Stroumbi and the Tsalapatis Winery at Kathikas are two of the most accessible for hire car visitors. The views south from the plateau toward Paphos and the sea are expansive.

This drive works well as a late-afternoon circuit: up through the wine villages, sunset from the plateau, back to Paphos in the evening.

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4. The Coastal Road to Polis and Latchi

Distance from Paphos: 38km to Polis Drive time: 45 to 55 minutes Road type: Main road, well-surfaced throughout

Polis Chrysochous is a small market town on the northern coast of the Paphos district, 38km from Paphos town. The drive north along the B7 coastal road passes through Coral Bay, curves around the bay of Chrysochou, and arrives in Polis with views of the Akamas in the background.

Latchi, 3km from Polis, is a small fishing harbour with a line of seafood tavernas facing the water. Lunch at Latchi harbour is one of the standard recommendations in most Cyprus travel guides, and the drive there justifies a car rental on its own if you are a seafood fan.

The route is straightforward and uncomplicated, making it ideal for the first full day of driving when the left-side adjustment is still fresh. Wide roads, light traffic, clear signage.

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5. The Cape Aspro Coastal Loop

Distance from Paphos: 15 to 25km Drive time: 20 to 30 minutes to reach the cape Road type: Paved main road, narrow approach road to the viewpoint

Cape Aspro is a dramatic limestone headland south of Paphos, between Kouklia and Pissouri. The cape itself is accessible by a short drive down a narrow approach road from the main B6 highway. The view from the top takes in the coastline in both directions, with sheer white cliffs falling to a blue sea.

This is a shorter drive than the others on this list, making it the right choice for a half-morning before returning to Paphos for lunch. The Aphrodite Hills golf resort is nearby, and the beaches at Pissouri Bay are accessible from the same route.

The full coastal loop from Paphos south to Cape Aspro, east to Kouklia (where the Aphrodite sanctuary archaeological site is located), and back via Mandria takes approximately 90 minutes of driving with stops.

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6. The Drive to the Paphos Forest and Cedar Valley

Distance from Paphos: 55 to 70km depending on entry point Drive time: 70 to 90 minutes Road type: Paved throughout, some sections narrow on forest roads

The Cedar Valley in the Paphos Forest is one of the lesser-visited highlights of the Troodos foothills. The valley is home to a population of wild mouflon (Cyprus mountain sheep) and a forest of endemic cedar trees. The Cedar Valley area sits at around 1,200 metres altitude and is significantly cooler than the coast in summer.

The route from Paphos goes through Polemi and Kannaviou before entering the forest roads. The Kykkos Monastery, one of the most important Orthodox monasteries in Cyprus, is accessible on the same route with a detour north from the cedar forest.

The full Cedar Valley round trip from Paphos is a long day: allow 5 to 6 hours including driving and time on location. Take water, snacks, and a jacket. Phone signal is absent in parts of the valley.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most scenic drive from Paphos?

The Akamas Peninsula coastal road from Paphos to the Baths of Aphrodite is consistently ranked as the most scenic coastal drive in the Paphos area. The Troodos mountain route via Platres is the most dramatic change of scenery available in a day trip from Paphos.

Can I do these drives in a standard compact hire car?

Yes, for the paved routes. The Akamas Peninsula, Troodos, wine villages, Polis coast, Cape Aspro, and Cedar Valley are all accessible with a standard compact hire car. Only the rough tracks beyond the Baths of Aphrodite and some back-country Akamas routes require a higher clearance vehicle.

How far in advance should I plan these routes?

Download offline maps for Cyprus before you leave home. Check that the route is open mountain routes are occasionally closed for maintenance or rockfall in spring. Fill up with fuel before leaving the main Paphos road network for any mountain or remote destination.

What is the best day trip from Paphos for a first-time hire car driver?

The coastal road to Polis and Latchi is the best first-day drive. Straightforward roads, light traffic, clear signage, and an excellent harbour lunch at Latchi. No mountain driving or tight village streets involved.

Book a hire car in Paphos to access these drives →

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How to Combine These Drives Across a Week

For a seven-day Paphos holiday with a hire car, these six routes can be spread comfortably across the trip without rushing any of them.

Day 1: Collect the car, settle in. Afternoon drive to Coral Bay and back 40 minutes each way, simple coastal road, good first drive for left-side adjustment.

Day 2: Polis and Latchi coastal route. Full morning drive, lunch at Latchi harbour, return via the wine plateau through Kathikas.

Day 3: Beach day without the car, or short Kato Paphos exploration on foot.

Day 4: Troodos via Platres. Leave by 9am. Coffee at Platres, drive to Troodos Square for the views, stop in Omodos on the way back. Return by 16:00.

Day 5: Limassol day trip via Petra tou Romiou and Kouklia. Full day, return by early evening.

Day 6: Cedar Valley and Kykkos Monastery. Long day, leave early, return by 17:00.

Day 7: Cape Aspro and Pissouri Bay. Short half-day drive to fit around checkout or evening departure.

This schedule covers all six drives, leaves days for beach, town, and rest, and uses the car properly across the week. The rental justifies itself on the Troodos and Polis days alone.