Cyprus vs Greece for a Golf Holiday
Two of the eastern Mediterranean's rising golf destinations, each with a very different shape. Cyprus offers a tight cluster of good courses around Paphos and one of the warmest winters in Europe. Greece counters with Costa Navarino, a single resort rated the best in Europe. Here is the honest head to head, with our verdict up front.
Photograph: Aphrodite Hills Golf Course, Paphos, Cyprus, Aphrodite Hills Golf Course, Paphos, Cyprus, via Google
The verdict
For a multi course golf week with reliable sunshine, Cyprus edges it. The Paphos region clusters four good courses, Aphrodite Hills, Elea, Minthis and Secret Valley, within a short drive, the island has one of the warmest winters in Europe, and the value is strong. It is the more flexible, more golf focused trip, ideal from autumn through spring when much of Europe is too cold to play.
But Greece has the single best address in this comparison. Costa Navarino in Messinia is rated the number one golf resort in Europe by Golf World, with four courses, world class hotels, a vast spa and long beaches all in one place. As a resort it outranks anything in Cyprus, and it suits a couple or a group who want one outstanding base rather than a touring trip. Pick Cyprus for choice and winter sun. Pick Greece for the finest resort in the region. Both deliver excellent value against the western Mediterranean.
Head to head
| Cyprus | Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| Signature golf | Aphrodite Hills PGA National, Elea by Nick Faldo, Minthis in the hills, Secret Valley, all near Paphos | Costa Navarino in Messinia, four courses including The Dunes by Bernhard Langer and The Bay by Robert Trent Jones II |
| Shape of the trip | A touring cluster of separate clubs around Paphos, easy to mix and match across a week | One world class resort with four courses, more a single base than a tour |
| Standout course | Aphrodite Hills, an 18 hole par 71 clifftop course with dramatic elevation changes and a ravine carry | The Dunes, a par 72 of almost 6,200 metres weaving through olive groves and watercourses |
| Resort quality | Strong five star resorts at Aphrodite Hills and along the Paphos coast | Rated the number one golf resort in Europe by Golf World; exceptional hotels, spa and beaches |
| Best season | October to May; one of the warmest winters in Europe and a genuine winter golf option | Spring and autumn for comfort; high summer is hot in the Peloponnese |
| Getting around | Paphos airport puts the courses within easy reach; short transfers between clubs | Kalamata airport serves Costa Navarino; the resort keeps everything in one place |
| Who it suits | Groups wanting several courses, winter sun and good value | Couples and groups wanting one outstanding resort with golf, beach and spa |
Course facts and resort rankings verified June 2026; fees move with season and demand, so always confirm directly before booking. Check tee time availability.
Who should pick which
Pick Cyprus if
You want several courses in one trip and the warmest possible winter golf in Europe. The Paphos cluster lets a group play a different course each day, Aphrodite Hills and Elea anchor the standard, and the island delivers mild, playable conditions when most of Europe has shut down for the season. Strong value and an easy, golf focused week.
Pick Greece if
You want one exceptional resort to settle into, with golf as part of a wider luxury holiday. Costa Navarino pairs four courses with the best hotels, spa and beaches in the region, so the golfer plays while a partner enjoys the coast and you meet for dinner. It is the resort choice rather than the touring choice, and the finest single address in the eastern Mediterranean.
Plan your eastern Mediterranean golf trip
Cyprus, Greece or a combination of the two. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling, and one concierge builds the tee times, transfers and base, and costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Cyprus vs Greece questions
Is Cyprus or Greece better for a golf holiday?
It depends on what you want. Cyprus has more courses within easy reach, clustered around Paphos at Aphrodite Hills, Elea, Minthis and Secret Valley, with one of the warmest winters in Europe, so it is the more reliable multi course golf trip. Greece is led by Costa Navarino in Messinia, rated the number one golf resort in Europe by Golf World, a single world class resort with four courses. Choose Cyprus for choice and winter sun, Greece for one outstanding resort.
Which Greece golf resort is the best?
Costa Navarino on the Messinian coast in southwest Greece is the standout, rated the number one golf resort in Europe by Golf World. It has four courses, including The Dunes by Bernhard Langer and The Bay by Robert Trent Jones II, set among olive groves, canyons and the shores of Navarino Bay, alongside luxury hotels, a vast spa and long sandy beaches.
When is the best time to play golf in Cyprus or Greece?
Cyprus is a true winter and spring destination, with mild, playable golf from roughly October to May and one of the warmest climates in Europe. Greece around Costa Navarino plays best in spring and autumn, as high summer is hot, with the shoulder months offering the most comfortable rounds. Both offer excellent value compared with western Mediterranean golf. Always confirm current fees directly before booking.
Can you combine Cyprus and Greece in one trip?
It is possible but less common, as the two are a flight apart and each works well as a standalone trip. A combined tour might pair a few days at Costa Navarino with a Paphos golf week, linked through Athens. For most travellers we would build one destination properly rather than split the time, but we can route a combined trip around the flights if you want both.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course facts and resort rankings verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.