Aphrodite Hills vs Elea: Which Golf Trip Wins?
Fifteen minutes apart above the Paphos coast sit the two best reasons to bring clubs to Cyprus: Cabell Robinson's gorge straddling resort course at Aphrodite Hills and Sir Nick Faldo's artful Elea. Our verdict up front, the head to head table, and who should pick which.
Photo: Aphrodite Hills Golf Course via Google.
The verdict
For most traveling golfers, Aphrodite Hills wins the trip and Elea wins the argument about pure golf. Aphrodite Hills is the complete package: Cabell Robinson's 2002 design, a par 71 of about 6,289 meters split by a dramatic ravine, with the hotel, villas, spa and academy of Cyprus's only true golf resort wrapped around it. The signature 7th, played across a 130 meter deep gorge, is the most photographed shot on the island.
Elea is the connoisseur's pick. Sir Nick Faldo's 2010 par 71 works with the natural ridges, native scrub and sea views rather than against them, and its green complexes ask the kind of questions resort golf usually avoids. At about €150 a round in 2026 it is also the sharper value. The honest answer for a week in Paphos is to play both, twice, and decide the argument yourself; they are barely 14 kilometers apart.
Head to head
| Aphrodite Hills | Elea | |
|---|---|---|
| Designer, year | Cabell Robinson, 2002 | Sir Nick Faldo, 2010 |
| The course | Par 71, about 6,289 meters; two plateaus split by a ravine, Bermuda fairways, generous tiered greens, the gorge carry at the 7th | Par 71; natural ridgeline routing through olive and carob country with sea views and the best green complexes on the island |
| Indicative cost | Seasonal rates with a shared buggy always included (2026); resort packages bundle golf and lodging | About €150 per round (2026) |
| Season | Year round; October to May is prime, July and August are fierce heat with early tee times essential | |
| Getting there | About 20 minutes from Paphos airport, on the resort | About 15 minutes from Paphos airport, near the coast at Geroskipou |
| The vibe | Full resort: stay, play, spa, academy, restaurants on site | Quiet estate club: golf first, residences around, days out from your own base |
| Best for | Couples, groups wanting one base with everything, first trips to Cyprus | Low handicappers, design connoisseurs, value seekers staying in Paphos |
Course facts verified June 2026 from club and course database listings. Green fees move by season and offer; always confirm directly before booking.
Who should pick which
Pick Aphrodite Hills if the golf is half the holiday. The resort model means no transfers after the round, tee times a stroll from breakfast, and plenty for a non playing partner, which is why it anchors most Cyprus golf holidays. The course is the more theatrical of the two, and the buggy included fee matters on a hilly site in Cypriot sun.
Pick Elea if you keep score. Faldo's design rewards placement over power, the turf and greens run truer than anything else on the island, and the €150 fee leaves room in the budget for a second round. Serious golfers staying a week in Paphos usually base near the coast, play Elea twice and add Minthis in the hills for the change of air. For how the island stacks up against its neighbor, see Cyprus vs Greece.
Build a Paphos golf trip
We book Aphrodite Hills, Elea and Minthis in the right order, with the base that suits your group, resort or coast. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Aphrodite Hills vs Elea questions
Which course is harder, Aphrodite Hills or Elea?
Aphrodite Hills punishes the big miss, with the ravine in play on the headline holes, while Elea asks more of approach play and putting. Mid handicappers usually score better at Aphrodite Hills from the right tees; better players find Elea the sterner overall examination.
How far apart are the two courses?
About 14 kilometers, roughly 15 to 20 minutes by car along the Paphos coast. Playing both in one trip is easy from a single base, and both are within about 20 minutes of Paphos airport.
What do the two courses cost to play?
Elea's green fee is about €150 in 2026. Aphrodite Hills publishes seasonal rates that always include a shared buggy, and resort guests get the best pricing through stay and play packages. Always confirm directly before booking.
When is the best time for golf in Paphos?
October to May is the prime window, with mild, sunny weather. High summer is playable but hot, so book the earliest tee times and take the buggy.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course facts and indicative fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.