Gay Cyprus – An island guide


Cyprus is an island rich in culture, where East meets West, the perfect escape for a sun-soaked gay holiday by the beach. The Island has 340 sunny days a year and is a short flight from most European hubs.

Gay Cyprus Guide

Visit Cyprus, famous for its turquoise beaches and year-round warm weather.

Cyrpus is located in the eastern Mediterranean Sea offering visitors breathtaking natural beauty with modern cityscapes. Cyprus is a relatively big island. In 2-4 hours you can drive from any town to any destination.

Life in Gay Cyprus

Gay Acceptance in Cyprus is at high levels, and same-sex sexual activity has been legal since 1998. The locals are still relatively conservative  and many gay people are still “in the closet”. During the Summer season, the Island becomes a melting pot of nationalities looking for fun and romance.

Cyprus is divided into 6 major districts: Nicosia, Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol and Paphos

The three main cities with a gay scene are Cyprus are Nicosia, Larnaca, and Limassol, however they are all relatively tame. Most of the action takes place in the Summer beach resorts as tourists mix with locals in the sunshine.

Nicosia has some gay bars and restaurants. An outdoor cruising spot in the National Gardens is popular with Turkish Cypriots. Ithaki Nicosia is a popular gay bar in the city. The port city of Larnaca has a lively bar & nightlife scene along Mackenzie Beach. Secrets Freedom Club is the No 1 gay spot in the city. Vinci, the country’s only gay sauna is also busy, especially at weekends.

Most gay visitors tend to stay in Paphos or Limassol. both are popular with gay sunbathers and nudists. Each city has its own vibe and it is possible to combine a vacation in both destinations. Limassol is especially busy during the weekends when locals go on the hunt for fun!

Gay Cyprus – Paphos

Gay Cyprus - Paphos

Paphos is famous for it’s sandy beaches and crystal clear water.

Paphos is a seaside city and the home of the goddess of love, Aphrodite. The coast is lined with luxury hotels, great beaches and fine restaurants.

Paphos has some beautiful landmarks and ancient sites to explore, including several UNESCO-listed places of interest. Just 6.5 km from the city centre, Paphos International Airport is the second biggest in Cyprus making this resort easy to reach in just a few hours. Different Bar is a popular gay bar, busy during the Summer Season.

Gay Cyprus – Paphos Hotels

Louis Ivi Mare

Louis Ivi Mare

5 Star – For a truly memorable stay, check in to the Louis Ivi Mare hotel, right on the beach. All rooms and suites are equipped with a balcony and a private bathroom with a bath or shower. Go for a sea-facing room!



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Athena Beach Hotel

Athena Beach Hotel

Athena Beach Hotel is a 4-star beachfront hotel in Kato Paphos, within walking distance of the harbour, archaeological sites, shops and nightlife. It offers rooms with balconies and 3 pools.



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Casa Mespilea

Casa Mespilea

Great Value – Clean modern design apartments in the heart of the city, close to the gay bars and Zagreb’s major attractions. An old family home that has been lovingly restored.



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Apartments & Villas in Paphos

Seaview Luxury Villa

Seaview Luxury Villa

12 guests · 5 bedrooms · 7 beds · 4 baths

Located in Paphos City, 300 m from Lighthouse Beach and 200 m from Kings Avenue Mall, Phaedrus Living: Seaview Luxury Villa Venus provides accommodation with free WiFi, air conditioning, an outdoor swimming pool and a garden. This villa also features a private pool.



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Villa Paphos centre
Sleeps 14 Guests

Large villa in Paphos centre

The high standard large villa is centrally located close to all amenities of tourist area but still in quite surrounding. The villa offers a detached property set in ground, a swimming pool, stone built BBQ and a tennis court

Luxury Villa
Sleeps 12 Guests

Comfortable and roomy villa with everything you need directly in Kato Paphos, suitable for relaxation, within walking of the city and a beach. Air conditioning, central heating, fireplace, Wi-Fi, billiards, table tennis and a swimming pool

Villa Papaya
Sleeps 8 Guests

Villa Papaya is a spacious private residence house, offering best location in downtown Paphos area! It is located 100 meters from the sea and 5 min walk from the Paphos port , tourist area and the Kings Avenue mall

Map of Gay Paphos

Things to do in Gay Paphos

  • Stop by Aphrodite’s Rock – believed to be where the goddess of love and beauty was born.
  • Visit the Tombs of the Kings – still magnificent despite the passage of time.
  • Swim in the Blue Lagoon – the route isn’t for the fainthearted and a 4×4 will be needed but the beaches are stunning offering the clearest waters
    on the island.
  • Take a wine tour – Tsangarides winery in Lemona, Vasilikon winery in Kathikas or Vouni Panayia winery in the village of the same name are all
    worth a visit.
  • For instagrammable moments visit the House of Dionysos with its wonderful mosaics. The charming Paphos Castle is a stunning monument in the
    harbour of Kato Paphos.
  • Cyprus Historic & Classic Motor Museum – stunning car museum with over 90 different classic cars from 1912 to 2004.

Restaurants and Cocktails in Gay Paphos

  • Dine with a difference – head to The Seven St Georges where there is no menu! Waiters will bring you whichever fresh dishes are in season. The meze dishes include well-seasoned meats, fresh bread, cooked vegetables, dips and sweet items.
  • Take a sunset cocktail with a shipwreck at Oniro by the Sea where you can view the famous EDRO III shipwreck, just a couple of metres away.
  • Head to Muse Restaurant – a charming venue, delicious food, reserve in advance.  Set in central Paphos, top of a hill with sprawling reviews of the city and harbour.

Gay Cyprus – Limassol

Gay Cyprus - Limassol

Limassol is a party town and the perfect Saturday night party escape.

If you are looking for an intense party, then you can visit Limassol (about 35′ drive from Paphos), where you can have fun at exclusively gay  bars and clubs. The Cypriot town has always been popular with sociable young Cypriots, who flock to its many bars and restaurants during the Summer Season.

Limassol is one of the most open-minded cities in Cyprus, and is host to the Cypriot Gay Pride Parade. Saripolou square with its numerous bars offers enjoyable night outs with a mixed crowd while alternative cafes and bars all over the old part of Limassol are known to be open to diversity!

Drinks and Cocktails in Limassol

What to see and do in Limassol.

  • Visit the Marina – Experience the height of luxury in Cyprus. It is a cosmopolitan hub with breathtaking views of the sea, shopping
    opportunities, dining, cruises, and exclusive beaches.
  • Omodos Village – experience an old world ambiance in this charming village, a picture perfect place to relax and enjoy idyllic island life.
  • Kourion, a UNESCO-protected archaeology park with stunning views.
  • Krassochoria – visit the Troodos mountains, filled with picturesque villages with cobblestones and orchards.

Gay Friendly Cyprus Hotels – Limassol

Harmony Bay Hotel

Harmony Bay Hotel

Just metres from the sea, 3 star Harmony Bay Hotel is located in Limassol City and features an outdoor pool and a sun terrace. Great location and good value for money.



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Old Port Hotel Limassol

Old Port Hotel

Old Port Hotel is situated in the old, historic town of Limassol. The Old Port and Castle of Limassol are right opposite the property, while the city’s marina is 100 m away.



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Hotel Londa

A luxury option, gay-friendly hotel and a member of Small Luxury Hotel offering superior service, satellite TV, Nespresso coffee machine and Molton Brown cosmetics.



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Recommended Apartments & Villas in Limassol

Ammos 41 Apartment
Sleeps 7 Guests

Ammos 41 Limassol Villa

Luxurious 4 bedroom beachfront apartment, located on the 4th floor with Elevator, only 1 apartment per floor. Use of a big swimming Pool, Close to all amenities and the beach giving you everything you need for that perfect stay in Limassol

Villa Callista
Sleeps 9 Guests

Villa Callista Limassol

Villa Callista is in a league of its own. It is undoubtedly one of the best choices in the area. It is a very spacious villa with a private pool in a unique location with breathtaking panoramic views over the coastline

Mansion in Limassol
Sleeps 16 Guests

Mansion in Limassol Cyprus

A luxurious, 10 bedroom mansion set in beautiful gardens just 5 minutes drive from the centre of Limassol. With heated pool, external Jacuzzi, two sauna’s, billiard room, gymnasium, passenger lift & air conditioning

Limassol Gay Map

Gay Cyprus Beaches

  • Cyprus has some great gay and gay-friendly beaches dotted across the island with more than 45 flying the Blu Flag for cleanliness.
  • Pissouri Beach is on the south west coast of Cyprus, halfway between the popular resorts of Paphos and Limassol. Pissouri gay beach offers visitors an escape from the busy nearby beaches. The beach is a few kilometres east is Aphrodite’s Rock – the birthplace of the ancient Goddess of Love, making this beautiful beach extra special.How to get to Pissouri Gay Beach From the Highway, just head for the exit Pissouri Bay by driving to Columbia Pissouri Hotel and continue until you get to a small roundabout. Turn left and park in the public car park. From there you can see the beach, once you have reached the beach, continue walking left and go straight until you hit some rocks, behind these rocks is where the very popular nudist beach starts.
  • Sea Caves Beach in nearby Coral Bay is another popular beach.
  • Governor’s Beach, between Limassol and Larnaca has some breathtaking scenery. On your journey, stop at one of the many restaurants including the Thalassa and Kalymnos. the gay beach is in the south of the island, at White Rocks (Aspra Vrahia), a twenty minutes drive from Limassol. Drive through the car park and go to the right to get to the gay beach.
  • Kermia Beach is a smaller beach by Ayia Napa, in the east of the island by Hotel Kermia Beach, and is almost exclusively gay.

Tip: Don’t attempt to visit these beaches wearing flip flops! Pack your sneakers.

Gay Cyprus – Weather

Cyprus enjoys an intense Mediterranean climate, with long dry summers from mid–May to mid–October, and mild winters from December to February, which are separated by short autumn and spring seasons.

The best time to visit Cyprus is between May and July. Not only is it one of the driest periods of the year on the island, but it’s also nice and toasty – temperatures hover between 23 and 28 degrees, with up to 13 hours of sunshine a day.

Cyprus actually has the warmest winters in the Mediterranean part of the European Union, with average temperatures of 22–23 °C during the day and 12–14 °C at night.

Gay Cyprus – Getting Around

Larnaca International Airport is Cyprus’ main international gateway and the largest of the islands’ two commercial airports, the other being Paphos International Airport on the island’s southwestern coast.

Buses are the cheapest way to get around in Cyprus. Buses in the south are generally modern and punctual, and services are regular during the peak tourist season.

Travelling within towns is usually cheap via Taxi. In the north and more rural areas, however, taxis often don’t have meters, so it’s important to negotiate a fare before setting off.

If you want to explore the island at your own pace, we recommend renting a car.

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