On July 22, 2026, the travel magazine Travel + Leisure identified Paphos, Cyprus, as the world's premier destination for sunrise and sunset photography and viewing. The ranking was compiled by the European photo-printing company Cewe in collaboration with award-winning travel photographer Bella Falk, with the results highlighted in the magazine's feature, "This Coastal City Was Just Named the World’s Best Place to Watch the Sunrise and Sunset.

Paphos outperformed notable international locations such as Santa Monica in California, Maasai Mara in Kenya, Tamarindo in Costa Rica, and the Sahara dunes in Morocco. Cewe evaluated destinations based on visual impact, landscape diversity, accessibility, and photographic composition. Specifically, the western coastline of Paphos, featuring landmarks like the Paphos Castle, the Erdo III shipwreck, and Petra tou Romiou (Aphrodite’s Rock), was recognized for its unique combination of light, history, and natural scenery.

Nasos Hatzigeorgiou, executive director of the Paphos regional tourism board (Etap), stated that this international recognition is expected to strengthen the region's profile in overseas markets. The distinction follows Paphos’ inclusion in the magazine's list of the top 50 places to travel in 2026.