Paphos ranked the world's best sunset destination. What it means for property buyers
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Paphos has been named the world's best destination for sunrise and sunset views, in a ranking compiled by European photo company Cewe with travel photographer Bella Falk, and highlighted by Travel + Leisure on 22 July, as reported by Cyprus Mail and Sigmalive. Paphos placed first, ahead of Santa Monica, Kenya's Maasai Mara, Costa Rica's Tamarindo, and the Sahara dunes in Morocco.
Why did Paphos win a world sunset ranking?
Cewe judged destinations on visual appeal, landscape diversity, accessibility, and photographic opportunity. Paphos's west-facing coastline gave it the edge, with judges pointing to Petra tou Romiou (Aphrodite's Rock), Paphos Castle, and the Edro III shipwreck as standout viewpoints, alongside Lighthouse Beach and Coral Bay. Nasos Hadjigeorgiou, Executive Director of Etap Paphos, the regional tourism board, told Cyprus Mail that Paphos's sunsets combine "light, the sea, mythology, history and the destination's distinctive landscape."
The ranking lands alongside another distinction: Travel + Leisure named Cyprus one of its top 50 places to visit in 2026, citing the island's seawater quality as well, per Sigmalive's coverage.
The official blue flag rep in Cyprus.
What does the ranking mean for Paphos property demand?
International recognition on this scale reaches an overseas audience directly, the exact audience already driving most Paphos property transactions. Overseas buyers already account for the majority of transactions in the Paphos district, and short-term rental occupancy along the coast runs consistently through the year, supported by the direct airport connection, according to SquareOne's own sales data for the area.
Ryanair alone flies 38 direct routes out of Paphos, across 18 countries including Greece and the UK. Across all 17 airlines serving the airport, Paphos connects to 55 destinations worldwide, with roughly 1,214 arriving flights a month. Tel Aviv and Haifa are the two busiest routes, together a quarter of all monthly arrivals, with London Gatwick close behind, so Israel and the UK are, in effect, the airport's two anchor markets. That network is what turns a headline ranking into sustained overseas interest, not just a short-term spike in searches.
A global sunset ranking widens the pool of people who now know Paphos by name before they ever search for a flight, which matters most for two things: resale recognition and rental bookings from travellers picking a destination off a list rather than a map.
None of this changes valuations overnight. What it does is add a second, tourism-driven reason to the district's existing rental case, on top of the airport link and the coastline itself.
Where can buyers get close to these views?
ZAYA Residences sits in Universal, a residential district between the Paphos coast and the historic town centre, 1.7 kilometres from Alykes Beach and 7.3 kilometres from Paphos Airport. The development has eight two-bedroom apartments across three floors, 75 to 82m² each, with private verandas; four apartments include private roof gardens. The building has a communal pool. Half of ZAYA's apartments are already sold or reserved. SquareOne will deliver ZAYA in September 2028.
Why SquareOne?
The company has an established track record building residential and commercial developments across Cyprus, with a portfolio spanning multiple cities and project types, and ZAYA extends that same approach to Paphos: fixed unit sizes, covered parking on every apartment, and a straightforward account of what's sold, reserved, or still available rather than vague "call for pricing" listings. ZAYA's page currently shows exactly that, half the building already sold or reserved.
Rental income is part of the case too. SquareOne offers a minimum guaranteed annual return of 5% on qualifying units, calculated on the property's total price, so buyers have a fixed income floor rather than a rental estimate that depends on how the season goes. For a market already leaning on tourism demand, as Paphos's airport numbers and this sunset ranking both point to, that guarantee gives buyers a return they can plan around instead of one they have to hope for.
Looking at other locations in Paphos?
SquareOne is tracking further opportunities in the Paphos district beyond ZAYA. Register your interest to hear about upcoming Paphos developments before they're announced.
Why was Paphos named the world's best sunset destination?
Cewe, in partnership with photographer Bella Falk, ranked Paphos first worldwide for sunrise and sunset views based on visual appeal, landscape diversity, accessibility, and photo opportunity. Travel + Leisure highlighted the ranking on 22 July 2026, as reported by Cyprus Mail and Sigmalive.
Is Paphos a good place to invest in property?
Overseas buyers already make up the majority of property transactions in the Paphos district, and coastal short-term rental occupancy stays consistent year-round due to the direct airport connection. A global sunset ranking adds to that existing tourism and rental demand.
Where is ZAYA Residences located?
ZAYA is in Universal, Paphos, 1.7 kilometres from Alykes Beach and 7.3 kilometres from Paphos Airport. It has eight two-bedroom apartments, delivering September 2028.
