Peyia was once a small village whose inhabitants were engaged in the cultivation of oranges. Today it is a major municipality in the neighborhood of Paphos. And although the composition of the population, which once consisted of Cypriot farmers, has been significantly diluted by immigrants from the UK, and the nearest beach, Coral Bay, has become one of the most popular in Cyprus, Peyia continues to retain its provincial charm of a friendly village. For Cyprus climate and geography, please check TopPharmacySchools.
Narrow streets with traditional white houses stretching along the hillsides are filled with stylish restaurants and first-class hotels. And it is no longer surprising that the owner of a nice guesthouse, a typical outwardly Cypriot, suddenly turns out to be an engineer from Liverpool. This is the whole Peyia – the old is intertwined with the new, the Greek culture is adjacent to the British, the traditional way of life – with an amazing quality of service.
How to get to Peyia
The village is located 14 km north of Paphos, to the airport of which there is a daily Es Seven flight from Domodedovo.
There are no direct buses from the air hub to Peyia; First, take shuttle number 612 to the Kato Paphos bus station (30 minutes). There, transfer to bus number 615 and go to Coral Bay (50 minutes). And finally, from Coral Bay, take bus number 616 to Peyia (10 minutes on the road). You can check the schedule at carrier website. A taxi from the airport to the resort will cost 45-55 EUR. Prices on the page are for July 2021.
Peyia is also reached through Larnaca, which is more popular with airlines – Es Seven and Ural Airways fly there several times a day. Right at the airport, you need to take a bus to Paphos airport (90 minutes), and from there follow the algorithm already described above.
Transport
Peyia does not have its own public transport system. Passengers are served by intercity buses running between the settlements of Cyprus. However, there are many stops within the same city. So they solve the problem of moving along Peyia – the village is quite large.
There are enough parking lots in the city, most of them are free. There are several bike rental points, bikes can also be rented in hotels. A bicycle path runs through the city along St. George Avenue, connecting the bay of the same name with Coral Bay.
Taxi is very expensive: a trip within the city will cost about 25 EUR.
Peyia Hotels
Peyia has a wide range of hotels, which, with the same level of service as Paphos hotels, are cheaper. Accommodation in a 4 * hotel near Coral Bay costs around 100-150 EUR per day (all inclusive) for two. Three-star hotels, located mainly in the more prestigious, northern part of the city, will cost about the same amount (with breakfast).
Most accommodation options are represented by villas. The owners rent them out for companies and families. Renting a modern house with a swimming pool for 8 people costs 300-700 EUR, for 14 – from 600 EUR per day. For apartments they will ask 50-120 EUR.
In general, in Peyia, the pattern is as follows: most of the “package” tourists live on the coast in the Coral Bay area, and independent travelers prefer housing on a mountainside a couple of kilometers from the sea.
Beaches
The coast of Peyia is mostly rocky, but in some places the coastline is indented by compact bays with sand-pebble or sand entry into the water. Directly within the village is the small beach of Agios Georgios, named after the chapel of the same name (GPS coordinates: 34.903005, 32.318154). There is a small cafe with sunbeds (you can stay on them by buying a cocktail), a navigation school.
But the most famous beach of Peyia and the surrounding area is Coral Bay, framed by two capes. It stretches for more than 600 m in length, up to 40 m in width. The sea is always calm here, entry into the water is very smooth, which makes it an ideal place for families with children.
Cuisine and restaurants in Peyia
Peyia has no problem with restaurants, most of which are traditional taverns. The cuisine is the same as in all of Cyprus: “kleftiko” (baked lamb), “dolmades” (small cabbage rolls in grape leaves), “aphelia” (pork in wine sauce). A hearty dinner of such dishes will cost 25-50 EUR per person (without alcohol).
Since there are many foreigners in the city, other cuisines are also popular here: Italian, Thai. The British trace is noticeable in the number of pubs – beer literally flows like water in Peyia. Representatives of Foggy Albion have also contributed to the fast food culture of the city. So, the famous “fish and chips” are considered a popular snack here. Although there are enough souvlach ones with amazing “gyros” for 4-5.5 EUR.
Attractions
The church of Agios Georgios in the northern part of Peyia is one of the few sights of the town. The temple, built in the Byzantine style, stands on the edge of a rocky shore. On the western side, facing the sea, there are two bell towers. The church looks impressive against the backdrop of open space with an observation deck and endless sea surface.
50 meters from Agios Georgios there is another temple – a tiny basilica, also dedicated to St. George. Both the walls and the roof of this simple church with two entrances are made of rough stone. The iconostasis is rather modest, the images are mostly modern.
