There are resorts that impress you the moment you arrive, and others that reveal themselves more gradually. Minthis Hills does both!
As you drive up from the exciting bustle (and the humidity) of Paphos you can feel the cares of the world left far behind. Set some 550 metres up in the hills above Paphos, surrounded by vineyards, olive groves and folds of countryside, it has a sense of calm confidence rather than showy luxury.
Nothing feels rushed, crowded or overdeveloped. Indeed it’s not. On this land, owned by the Church of Cyprus and once part of Minthis monastery, only 3% is built on. The rest is given over to Cyprus’s most sustainable and eco-friendly golf course, lakes and native flora.
See what’s so special about Minthis Hills Resort.
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The Minthis Hills estate
So the estate feels carefully composed – a place designed for people who value space, views and quality of life as much as amenities.
Over the course of our stay, it became clear that Minthis isn’t just a golf resort or a spa destination. It’s a village, a wellness retreat, a sporting estate and, for many people, a long-term home. What struck me most was how seamlessly all of this fits together: the landscape, the architecture, the facilities and the emerging community. It feels grown into the land rather than imposed on it.
The resort has been built over the past decade by Cyprus’s biggest developer, Pafilia. They were founded in 1977 and the family still proudly own and run the resort. But alongside Pafilia are some of the most prestigious names in golf course, resort and home design, including Woods Bagot, WATG and Atkins, creator of Dubai’s Burj Al Arab, among many others.
But how is the resort to spend time in? Is the care taken in the design repeated in the service? We went to investigate.
Village life at Minthis Resort
There is a real community developing at the centre of Minthis Hills. Not just in the residents’ clubhouse, but in the many places to shop, eat and enjoy yourself there. There’s no need to go down into Paphos when you have the upmarket Amaracus restaurant onsite. It’s named after the wild oregano that grows throughout Minthis and serves its own extra virgin olive oil from the estate.
In the plateia (village square), shelter under the shade of a plane tree or sit out on the terrace, all with those expansive valley views. There is a golf pro shop, art gallery and boutique, with an upmarket village store set to open this year.
The amphitheatre is particularly entrancing in the evenings, with the sun setting behind you bathing the twilit valley in a pink hue. Minthis Resort puts on classical concerts and its own music festival every July.
From the plateia there are walking routes around the five million square metre estate – enough to immerse yourself in the Cypriot countryside without getting completely lost. You can also hire electric bikes and explore the estate, or cycle down to Paphos.
Minthis Hills Spa
The Romans came to Paphos in 58BC and made it their capital. Twenty centuries later the Minthis Hills Spa and Wellness Retreat has the grandeur you would expect from a Roman bath, especially one blended with ancient Greek healing methods. It’s built on an epic scale, at 2,400 square metres, with high ceilings and floor to ceiling windows overlooking the valley.
It is as beautifully equipped and staffed in its eight treatments as you would expect from a spa that won Best Spa in Cyprus and Best Wellness Retreat at the 2024 and 2025 World Spa Awards.
Enjoying its features, as well as the gym, yoga studio and sensory courtyard, among the highlights was an “experience shower”. British visitors might not bother with “Cold Fog” as we get enough of that home. “Atlantic Ocean” is fun for a while and imagine very refreshing in a hot summer, but a bit too much like a windy afternoon in Cornwall. Aah, “Caribbean Storm” is just right!
The Finnish sauna is spacious and, it turns out, too hot to use a phone, so a good escape from the world. Then it’s into the slightly cooler aroma sauna and tepidarium. Not cool enough yet? Then take a dip in the frigidarium, the cold plunge pool.
The Hydrotherapy Pool was another highlight, the hydro massage sending explosive jets of air through the water at you in a manner reminiscent of depth charge attacks in Das Boot. It’s fun and invigorating to start, but relaxing as you enjoy the massage. You should probably check your swimming costume is still intact before getting out.
But the star is the 25-metre indoor pool. Why does exercise feel less arduous in gorgeous surroundings? It’s all dark blues and greys and beautiful lighting, with warm towels and a seat with a view over the valley to relax in after your spa session. .
Golf and sport at Minthis Hills
The 18-hole, par 72 golf course was designed by Donald Steel in the 1990s and upgraded by Mackenzie & Ebert for the launch of the estate in 2015.
This month it won best golf course in Cyprus this year at the World Golf Awards 2025 in London (part of the World Travel Awards). But its eco-credentials are just as important, and Minthis Hills course has GEO Certification, recognising its environmental and social responsibility. It was the first golf course in Cyprus to be awarded.
But what of the golf? There are some dramatic holes. The 10th hole is a bit of a favourite, a par 5, 400 metres or so across a valley. The 15th is a magnificent par 3, only 150 yards but onto an island green. Try to ignore the watery grave ahead of you!
If you need a bit of practice before tackling all that, head to the golf range, set above a valley with a maximum distance of 250 metres. Needless to say, I didn’t trouble that sign, but hit some very satisfying balls across the valley (and a few frustrating ones into the undergrowth, hopefully missing any passing mouflon). You can also book lessons on the range or the course from just €63.
There are also four tennis courts and, of course, two padel courts. MInthis Resort has a full range of entertainments for children, who are able to start learning the discipline and skills of golf or tennis, or just go mad on the mini football pitch.
Homes at Minthis Hills
The properties at Minthis Hills reflect the same philosophy as the rest of the estate: understated, spacious and designed to sit lightly in the landscape. Rather than rows of identical villas, the homes are arranged in small neighbourhoods, each taking full advantage of the natural contours of the land and the uninterrupted valley views.
Architecture throughout the estate draws on traditional Cypriot forms – natural stone, clay roof tiles, shaded terraces – but with a contemporary finish. Clean lines, large windows and open-plan interiors ensure the homes feel modern without losing their sense of place. Almost every property is oriented to maximise light and views, whether across the golf course, the surrounding vineyards or the distant coastline.
There is a range of property types to suit different lifestyles. Apartments are ideal for those looking for a low-maintenance base in Cyprus, particularly buyers who plan to spend part of the year on the island. These typically come with generous terraces and access to communal pools, while still feeling private and well spaced.
Townhouses and villas offer more room and seclusion, with private gardens and swimming pools in many cases. Interiors are airy and well-proportioned, designed for indoor-outdoor living rather than just holiday use. Shaded patios, outdoor dining areas and roof terraces make it easy to live with the climate year-round.
Homes for living
What’s notable is that these are homes designed to be lived in, not just locked up between visits. Storage, parking and practical layouts have clearly been thought through, and there’s a sense that year-round residents have been considered just as carefully as second-home owners.
Sustainability is also a key part of the development. Minthis Hills places a strong emphasis on energy efficiency, water management and preserving biodiversity across the estate. This is not just marketing language: it’s reflected in the way homes are positioned, the materials used, and the broader environmental certifications the estate has achieved.
For buyers, this creates a reassuring sense of longevity. Minthis Hills doesn’t feel like a resort chasing short-term trends, but a place being built for decades of use, with a consistent vision guiding its growth.
Both are available. The benefits of buying off plan include the property being eligible to get you a Cyprus golden visa. They are only available on new build homes of at least €300,000. However, occasionally resales come on the market too.
You certainly can. They are extremely rentable, either for long term or holiday lets, all year round. The resort itself can help with all that. Moreover, you can do this while still using the property as your golden visa investment.
Yes. Our exclusive benefits include 3% off the list price, a 50% reduction in actual legal fees and complimentary rounds of golf. Ts and Cs apply. Make your enquiry here.
It’s roughly five miles down to the town. It is uphill all the way as the resorts sits some 500 metres above sea level, ensuring an escape from the humidity of summer. Electric bikes are available, so if you ride down into the town it will be easy coming back!
