Paphos has four championship courses within easy reach of one another: Aphrodite Hills, home of PGA National Cyprus; Minthis, up on its mountain plateau; Sir Nick Faldo's Elea Estate; and Secret Valley, tucked into the folds below the Rock of Aphrodite. That is a full week of golf
Paphos has four championship courses within easy reach of one another: Aphrodite Hills, home of PGA National Cyprus; Minthis, up on its mountain plateau; Sir Nick Faldo’s Elea Estate; and Secret Valley, tucked into the folds below the Rock of Aphrodite. That is a full week of golf without repeating a round, in the corner of Cyprus where the season runs longer than almost anywhere else in the Mediterranean. November is shirtsleeves weather here. July and August, in honesty, are too hot for eighteen holes much past mid-morning, so we tend to steer groups towards spring and autumn instead.
We put our first golf holiday together back in 1981, and in the decades since we have come to know all four of these courses properly. Below is how they compare, who each one suits, and where we would base you, with coastal stays from
Aphrodite Hills Golf — the championship heart of Paphos
If Paphos has a flagship, it is Aphrodite Hills, home of PGA National Cyprus and the course that carries the region’s reputation. The layout runs across two plateaux split by a deep ravine, and the par-3 seventh asks you to hit the whole carry across the gorge. Commit to it or reload. It is a genuine championship examination in immaculate order, though higher handicappers should pack a few extra balls; the ravine holes give nothing back to a mishit, and a stiff afternoon sea breeze can make the closing stretch feel a club and a half longer.
Stay on the estate and the first tee is minutes from your door. The five-star Aphrodite Hills Hotel by Atlantica, from
Minthis Golf Club — serenity on the mountain plateau
Minthis sits some 550 metres above the coast, routed around a twelfth-century monastery through centuries-old olive and carob trees. The air is cooler up there, which matters more than you might think in May or September, and the par-72 course works with the natural contours rather than against them. It is a thoughtful, walkable round, and the short 15th plays to the only island green in Cyprus. The one practical note is the drive: it is an uphill run inland from the seafront hotels, so we would slot it into the middle of your week rather than make it an arrival-day round.
This is the course for the golfer who values atmosphere and a sense of place as much as the score. Pair it with the Annabelle Hotel, from
Where our specialists would stay in Paphos
Elea Estate Golf Club — Faldo's strategic masterclass
Elea is Sir Nick Faldo’s design, opened in 2010, and it plays the way he did: position first, power second. The holes run through native olive and carob with the sea glinting in the distance, and the par-4 fourth, ‘The Orchard’, is the one everybody talks about in the clubhouse afterwards. Take an iron off several of the tees. The bunkering punishes the heroic line far more often than it rewards it, which is precisely the point of the design.
Of the four Paphos courses, this is our pick for single-figure players and for anyone who enjoys golf architecture for its own sake. The estate is a pleasant place to linger over a long lunch once the card is signed. The Constantinou Bros Athena Royal Beach Hotel, from
Secret Valley Golf Resort — a hidden, characterful test
Secret Valley sits down in a rocky valley near the Rock of Aphrodite, reshaped by Tony Jacklin in 2013, and it is the most intimate round of the four. Mature trees, plenty of water, real seclusion. At 5,921 yards it is also the shortest and the least demanding off the tee, which is worth being honest about: strong players will not find their sternest test here. That same quality makes it the ideal opening round of a week, and mid and higher handicappers often name it their favourite of the trip.
You can stay right on site at Secret Valley Golf Resort, from
Paphos golf courses at a glance
Four courses, four distinct tests, all reachable from one coastal base. Here is how they compare on paper before you weigh up the words above.
| Course | Designer | Opened | Par | Length | Signature hole |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aphrodite Hills Golf (PGA National Cyprus) | Cabell Robinson | 2002 | 71 | 6,876 yds | Par-3 7th, played across the ravine |
| Minthis Golf Club | Donald Steel | 1994 | 72 | 6,453 yds | Par-3 15th, the only island green in Cyprus |
| Elea Estate Golf Club | Sir Nick Faldo | 2010 | 71 | 6,775 yds | Par-4 4th, ‘The Orchard’ |
| Secret Valley Golf Resort | Golf and Land Design, with Tony Jacklin (2013 redesign) | 1996 | 71 | 5,921 yds | No single standout; the valley setting is the draw |
Course facts from our own venue records. Aphrodite Hills Golf holds the region’s championship pedigree as home of PGA National Cyprus and host of the 2020 European Tour Cyprus Open.
Between them, these four give you a full week of golf without playing the same hole twice. Green fees, airport transfers and golf transfers are built into every quote for a hand-built Paphos golf holiday, with stays from
Our specialists’ favourite stays in Paphos
What our golfers say
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Derry Wiltshire
Local Guide · 20 reviews · 2 photos
What a golf break here costs by month, Paphos
| 0.79 | 0.85 | 0.95 | 0.98 | 1.06 | 1.02 | 1.13 | 1.11 | 1.05 | 1.10 | 0.92 | 0.71 |
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
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Frequently asked questions
How many golf courses are there to play in Paphos?
We build hand-built Paphos trips around four standout courses: Aphrodite Hills Golf (PGA National Cyprus), Minthis Golf Club, Elea Estate Golf Club and Secret Valley Golf Resort. Together they offer enough variety for a full week of golf without repeating a round, each with its own distinct character and test.
When is the best time of year to play golf in Paphos?
Paphos enjoys one of the longest golf seasons in the Mediterranean. Spring and autumn are glorious — warm, settled and ideal for play — while the milder winter months make it a natural escape when courses elsewhere in Europe are closed. The cooler plateau at Minthis is especially welcome in the warmer weeks of the year.
Can I stay on the golf course in Paphos?
Yes. Aphrodite Hills Hotel by Atlantica and the private villas of Aphrodite Hills Rentals place you within the resort, moments from the first tee at Aphrodite Hills Golf. Alternatively, refined coastal hotels such as the Annabelle Hotel, Constantinou Bros Athena Royal Beach Hotel and Leonardo Plaza Cypria Maris Beach Hotel & Spa pair sea-view comfort with short transfers to every course.
Is my Golf Planet Holidays trip financially protected?
Entirely. Golf Planet Holidays has arranged hand-built golf travel since 1981, and every trip is fully protected — we are ATOL Protected on the flight-inclusive elements, and your money is held securely in trust with PTS until the day you travel. It means you can plan your Paphos golf escape with complete peace of mind.
How much does a golf holiday in Paphos cost?
Hand-built Paphos golf breaks start from
Which golf courses are near Paphos?
Four, all within easy reach of one coastal base: Aphrodite Hills and its PGA National Cyprus course, Minthis on its mountain plateau, Elea, which Sir Nick Faldo designed, and Secret Valley. No repositioning, no long transfers; you stay put and play the lot.
Where is the best golf in Cyprus?
Around Paphos. The four courses we book on the island all sit within reach of the town, which is why our Cyprus golf holidays start from a Paphos base.
Come and play with us
Wherever you're travelling from, you're welcome on a Golf Planet hosted tour — a small group, a host with you from the first tee to the last, and every round, transfer and dinner taken care of. You just bring the clubs.
