The Best All-Inclusive Hotels in Paphos, Cyprus

Centred on a sparkling blue-hued freshwater pool, joined by a children’s paddling pool, this family-friendly apartment complex is a singularly relaxing resort, 250m (820ft) from Paphos fishing harbour. It’s handy, too, for Greek and Roman ruins: notably St Paul’s Pillar and the Paphos Mosaics. Light-filled kitchen-fitted apartments and studios with balconies make laid-back meals a cinch, enjoyed at your own pace. But we like the gently Greek-taverna feel to the ladderback chairs and checked tablecloths of the restaurant come dinnertime, sipping wine around the pool.

It’s all about the luxury of space at this sprawling resort; facilities, too, what with five themed swimming pools including the Mayan Temple water slides. It’s an oasis of relaxation as much as entertainment: the 270 rooms have either a tranquil private terrace or a balcony, to be enjoyed while wrapped in a bathrobe and slippers after an invigorating rainfall shower. If you’re here with tots, upgrade to a Family Junior Suite with sliding doors between parents and children – handy with five in tow. Young ones and adults will love the many restaurants: especially the burgers, fries, milkshakes at the ’50s US-themed Rock ‘n’ Roll Diner.

No “I’m bored, Mum” complaints here. The (seasonal) waterpark alone, laced with colourful waterslides, drives kids wild with excitement. The lake-like swimming pool is a striking centre of attraction, and there’s a lazy river as well as an indoor pool to switch to, should young ones fancy a change of scene. Rooms, as is the norm this far south in the Med, are reverie-inducing, bathed in white, borrowing from the Cypriot sky and sea with turquoise accents. Mealtimes bring appetising global menus, from Italian to Greek to Mexican, so enjoy pasta primavera, a Greek salad or a burrito. With so much on your plate, it might be hard to step out, but do take time to visit the nearby site of Tombs of the Kings.

A five-minute walk from a long stretch of beach – Med-lapped, blended sand and shingle – the blank white walls of Kissos Hotel await. Inside it’s all pared-back, relaxing rooms with tiled floors and fuss-free wooden furniture. So far, so simple – but you’ll wow over the outside pools, with a lagoon-like stretch of water that winds between the apartment blocks. (There’s also an indoor pool for low-season guests). You’re spoilt for choice, food-wise: fresh, local produce goes into the Greek-style barbecue grills and classic kleftiko, rich with juicy lamb. If you need to walk it off, you can make for the pretty harbour, a good 40 minutes away.

Here’s a serene stay: dreamy-creamy rooms bathed in light; cool stone-tiled floors and rustic wicker touches; Your view is of immaculate, almost tropical-looking gardens backed by the inky-blue sea (or you may have mountain vistas). You’re a few hundred metres from the beach, but this feels like a secret corner of Paphos, 4km (2.5mi) from the old town. You might cocoon yourself in the spa for a luxurious wrap, and you must dine al fresco at Akamas Terrace: it’s French fine-dining with a mouthwatering selection of local meze.

A glass of bubbly on arrival gets you off to a good start, as does your first view of your apartment-style suite, with its chilled-white Mediterranean palette. First stop after check-in: The Pool Bar, a casual-yet-elegant space for a dip and a daiquiri. The Piatakia Restaurant is a cool and airy affair for a buffet lunch. You’re close to Paphos old town, for traditional tavernas and buzzy local bars after dark.

Now this is what you call a location: across from the Tombs of the Kings necropolis, north of Paphos harbour. You’ve no excuse for not taking in the cultural magic as well as the sun while staying at this relaxed hotel with its indolence-inducing spa, sauna and hot tub. Lagoon-like outdoor pools, lined with palm trees, will do their darnedest to keep you from stepping out – they’ve even got kids’ areas and waterfalls. Bright rooms help max that tan with their balconies; some of them have pool views, while the higher echelons look out across the blue Mediterranean. If heat blunts your appetite, you’ll like the food here, too, featuring refreshing salads, sweets and seasonal fruits.

Beach- and pool-lovers alike will fall for this four-star resort with its soaring new-age lobby. Immersed in palmy gardens, with distinctively shaped swimming pools, it has a fabulous setting, nudging a Blue-Flag stretch of sand. Paphos is a 20-minute walk along a scenic path, past bars and cafes that’ll serve a reviving beer or coffee en route. Back at the ranch, interiors are sleek and contemporary; rooms continue the relaxed, airy vibe with balconies for sea or inland views. And for dinner? How about handmade burgers, fresh salads and sides, washed down with refreshing homemade lemonade?