The recognition was featured by the internationally renowned travel publication Travel + Leisure in an article published on July 22, entitled “This Coastal City Was Just Named the World’s Best Place to Watch the Sunrise and Sunset.”

Paphos secured first place in the global ranking, ahead of internationally celebrated destinations including Santa Monica in California, the Maasai Mara in Kenya, Tamarindo in Costa Rica and the Sahara dunes in Morocco.

The ranking was compiled by European photographic products company CEWE, in collaboration with award-winning travel photographer Bella Falk. Destinations were assessed according to their visual impact, landscape diversity, accessibility and the photographic opportunities they offer during sunrise and sunset.

Paphos’ western coastline, its combination of sea, dramatic natural formations and historic monuments, as well as the region’s favourable year-round weather conditions, were among the key factors that secured the destination’s leading position.

The distinction carries additional significance, as Cyprus had already been included by Travel + Leisure among the 50 best destinations to visit this year. The article also highlights the exceptional quality of the country’s bathing waters.

For the Pafos Regional Board of Tourism, this international exposure is fully aligned with its strategy of positioning the region as a multidimensional, high-quality destination offering memorable experiences beyond the traditional sun-and-sea model.

From the Birthplace of Aphrodite and the Kato Paphos coastline to the Sea Caves, the Akamas Peninsula, Latchi, Polis Chrysochous and Pomos, every sunrise and sunset reveals a different side of Pafos, inviting visitors to experience the destination through its light, colours, landscapes and sensory appeal.

Paphos now stands at the top of the world as a destination where sunrise and sunset become a truly unforgettable travel experience.