You are sold on the idea of moving to Cyprus or at least you are flirting with the idea and now you are probably wondering…
Which city should you chose as your home base on the island? Should it be Paphos, Larnaka, Limassol, or Nicosia?
While each of these cities are wonderful places, they each offer their own way of life on the island. Below you will find a detailed breakdown of each city. This breakdown should help you understand what each city has to offer and help you with the decision making process of choosing your home base on the island of love, Cyprus.
Larnaka
The third-largest city, Larnaka, is located on Cyprus’ southern coast in a central location between Nicosia, Limassol, and the infamous Ayia Napa area. A tourist town during the summer months, Larnaka is buzzing with things to do from swimming in one of the many beaches to indulging in endless plates of mezze. The city itself is quite small with a small town vibe, which makes it perfect for those who prefer to walk or cycle everywhere. It’s no wonder many digital nomads, remote workers, and entrepreneurs have chosen Larnaka as their place to call home on Cyprus.
Pros:
- Home to the country’s largest international airport and one of the most important seaports and marinas.
- The city is not too big making it a very walkable city
- Central location on the island with Limassol, Nicosia, Ayia Napa, Protaras, and Parlimini being a one hour car ride away
- The most active and largest digital nomad community on the island with weekly meetups and events
- Close to the sea
- Wide range of beaches and water activities
- One of the cheaper places to live on the island
Cons:
- Quiet during the off-season
- Short term rental prices can be high during the summer/busy season
- Public services are not as good as in larger cities
- Far from hiking trails and mountains
Perfect for:
Digital nomads who want to be apart of an active digital nomad community, close to the sea, and who like being close to the airport.
Paphos
Paphos, located on the west coast of Cyprus, is the smallest city by population of the four cities on this list, however, it should not be overlooked. With a wide range of outdoor activities on offer from numerous hiking trails to days by the beach, Paphos is perfect for those looking to be in a small town surrounded by nature and adventures. Not to mention, their is a growing digital nomad community in Paphos.
Pros:
- Close to the shoreline and with access beautiful nature such as forest, mountains, waterfalls, and hiking paths.
- There’s a small but close digital community that gets together often.
- There are many cafés to work from and home to Hugge Space, a coworking space.
- Close to Pafos airport which serves airlines like Ryanair, Easyjet, Aeroflot, British Airways, Transavia
- One of the cheapest place to live on the island
Cons:
- Paphos is far from everything and lacks the administrative and economic infrastructure enjoyed by larger cities
- The city is noticeably quiet during the off-season
- You need a car to explore all that Paphos has to offer/Not very walkable
Perfect for:
Digital nomads who are outdoorsy and enjoy the beach and the mountains and prefer quieter off-seasons.
Limassol
On the south western coast of Cyprus, Limassol is the second-largest city on the island. The energetic lifestyle, the vast amount of leisure options, and the beautiful scenery make Limassol an ideal home base for digital nomads who want a good mixture of island and city life. A worthy note, Limassol hosts a large international community from all parts of the world.
Pros:
- Businesses and leisure options in Limassol are open 365 days a year. There’s always something going on.
- You can experience the most extensive beaches while still having the mountainous countryside forty minutes away.
- There’s plenty of restaurants, cafés and bars to choose from.
- Be part of a big international community
- There’s a vibrant nightlife in Limassol.
Cons:
- Limassol is the most expensive city in Cyprus
- Lots of traffic
- Not a walkable city
- Very average beaches compared to the rest of the Cypriot beaches
Perfect for:
Digital nomads that look for an metropolitan city, enjoy a lively nightlife, and prefer to be close to both the beach and the mountains.
Nicosia
The largest city in Cyprus and the island’s capital, Nicosia, has rich history and culture, and it’s much more cosmopolitan than the more picturesque coastal towns. This is home to the largest population in Cyprus, and although still small compared to other European capitals, Nicosia has lots to offer such as plenty of shopping and dining options and a lively nightlife. Also, Nicosia is just a short one hour drive to beautiful nature of the island like the Troodos Mountains or the blue flag beaches of Protaras.
Pros:
- You’ll find more cultural activities in Nicosia than in any other Cypriot city.
- Nicosia hosts more universities, administrative offices, and embassies than all other cities in the island.
- The restaurant and bar scene is top notch, and it’s incredibly varied.
Cons:
- Nicosia is a land-locked city with no immediate access to the sea.
- Extremely hot summers 🥵
- Bad traffic
Perfect for:
Digital nomads that want to immerse themselves more into the Cypriot culture and don’t mind being far away from the sea.
Which City in Cyprus Are You Choosing?
Whether you prefer to be in small town surrounded by nature like Paphos, in a walkable town next to the sea like Larnaca, in a big city next to the sea like Limassol, or a more local way of living in Nicosia, you will have an incredible time on the island.
Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of what each city has to offer and have a better idea of which city is right for you.
Side note: If possible, I would recommend you spend sometime, even if it is just a few days, in each city before choosing your base to see which one suits you best, however, if you don’t have the time or opportunity to do so, the breakdown above should be enough to help you choose.
