Ayia Napa is a city that does not sleep around the clock in high season. A city of beaches, nightclubs, entertainment, discos and crazy parties. In Ayia Napa, you will forget about everyday life and problems.
The surroundings of Ayia Napa are a wonderful place for romantic walks and beach holidays. At the same time, there is a lot of interesting things for athletes and extreme athletes, divers and rock climbers, mountain bike enthusiasts.
Ayia Napa is a fairly large town consisting mainly of hotels, apartments, cafes, bars and nightclubs. The club life of Ayia Napa takes place mainly in the center, and interesting places are scattered on different sides of the beating heart of the resort day and night.
Due to the relative compactness, it is possible to move around Ayia Napa on foot. However, if you want to see the surrounding area, you can take a taxi. The distances are small, so such trips will not hit your wallet much.
Young people can safely rent a buggy or ATV, and older people can rent a car.
Attractions in Ayia Napa
An interesting vacation full of adventures and impressions can be organized without leaving Ayia Napa. For a party-goer, there is everything you need: from the best beaches in Europe to a vibrant nightlife.
Ayia Napa Monastery
The main Orthodox monastery of Ayia Napa is located in the very center of the city. Historically, it belongs to the Byzantine period (11th century), today's buildings were erected the 15th century - the time when Cyprus was under the rule of the Venetians.
The monastery was lucky – during its existence it has never been seriously destroyed or rebuilt. However, in 1950, a large reconstruction was carried out. Today there is a museum here, you can just walk around the territory and admire the ancient chapel, the "Fountain House" made of marble and the luxurious mulberry tree, whose age exceeds 600 years. For five hundred years of its existence, it has remained almost in its original state. Outside the walls of the monastery, its internal way of life was preserved.
Two beautiful legends are connected with the Ayia Napa Monastery.
The first concerns the emergence of the monastery. It describes the events preceding the foundation of the monastery quite traditionally for Orthodox monasteries. In one of the caves in the vicinity of Ayia Napa, which at that time were abundantly covered with forests, a hunter found an icon of the Most Holy Theotokos. There was a glow coming from her. Strictly speaking, the very name of the city of Ayia Napa means "sacred forest" in Acient Greek. On the site of the found icon, they decided to build a monastery in honor of the Holy Virgin. The miraculous icon was named Panagia Napa, and later - Ayia Napa. The monastery was founded as a Catholic, and in 1571, as a result of the Ottoman conquest of Cyprus, it became Orthodox.
There is another legend of the appearance of the monastery. It says that it was founded by a girl from a rich family, whom her parents, as usual, wanted to marry off to a rich nobleman, but she fell in love with a poor man. The girl disappeared into the dense forests, took a vow of celibacy and began to build a cell. This legend is supported by the fact that at first the monastery was female. In different periods, the Ayia Napa Monastery was female and male, until in 1758 the monks left here for no apparent reason.
In 1800, 3 monks came to the monastery, they completely restored the holy place by 1950. In 1978, it was decided to transform the monastery into an ecumenical center for conferences. He began to serve churches not only in Cyprus, but also in the Middle East.
Currently, the monastery is open to the public as a museum, but there is an active Orthodox church next to it, where services are held.
Opening hours of the Ayia Napa Monastery:
- in summer from 08:00 to 20:45 (April - October),
- in winter from 09:00 to 16:30 (November - March).
Entrance fee: free.
Street of bars
It may seem strange, but historically, the road to entertainment begins at the walls of the monastery. The Soho nightclub is located almost right next to the monastery, and if you climb a small staircase, you will go out onto the Street of Bars - the noisiest place in Ayia Napa throughout the high season.
Every evening the street is blocked for the passage of vehicles, and it becomes a walking pedestrian zone, where every day there is a holiday, music for every taste, entertainment for every purse. Charming barker girls lure tourists with free flyers and cocktails. Here you can just relax with a glass or two of beer under the meze or go to places with dance floors, karaoke and hookahs.
Of the popular night establishments: Ice Club (specialty foam parties); Senior Frog's (easy to distinguish by a giant frog, and tequila shots for 1 euro are waiting for you inside); Bedrock (Flintstones are expected here); Castle Club (just huge in area, a real castle with lions at the entrance); Red Square Bar (with the Spasskaya Tower of the Moscow Kremlin); Bar Arbat (matryoshka on the roof); Pirates Dance Bar (piastres, a thousand devils and rum); ZicZac Bar (a bar with European nightlife traditions).
Officially, the bars are open until 4 am. There are several hotels and apartments right on the street of bars, so if you are a lover of nightlife, you can relax without leaving the fun zone. But if you need silence, choose a place in Ayia Napa away from the round-the-clock carnival. During the season, it is very noisy here even after 4 am.
In summer, the clubs start working from 19:00. The peak of fun falls on 12 nights. In winter - from November to March - the street of bars does not work! Even on New Year's holidays, everything is closed. Only one small sports bar is open (more for locals) and one small club, and then according to the schedule (December 25 - Cyprus Christmas and weekends). In winter, the heart of Cyprus entertainment beats in Limassol or Larnaca.
Nightmare Horror Maze
Of course, the range of entertainment street bars is not limited only to alcohol and gastronomy. On one of the streets of this Ayia Napa quarter, there is a place that can add adrenaline to the hormonal cocktail of vacationers. This Nightmare Horror maze is one of the scariest places in Ayia Napa.
An unusual attraction is located behind the Luna Park. Everyone can enter the maze, but not everyone will be able to reach the end. The legend of the Nightmare fear room says that more than 10,000 guests called the secret word and asked to lead them out of the maze. If you decide to test the power of the spirit, then complete darkness, incomprehensible sounds, strange movements and even touches will be waiting for you in the maze.
Port of Ayia Napa central square and embankment
Walking down from the street of bars for 15-20 minutes, you can get to the port of Ayia Napa. Not the largest in Cyprus, not noisy, but compact and cozy. Most of the water transport moored along the shore are fishing boats.
There is also a small square with a statue of a mermaid and a sundial. At the pier is the same "Black Pearl" under the control of Captain Jack Sparrow. The three-level ship is a copy of a schooner of the XVI-XVIII centuries. A pirate ship rides tourists, temporarily turned into filibusters, along the coast. Among the entertainment - firing guns, yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum.
The ticket price includes an entertainment program, swimming in the sea - 2 stops, snorkeling with masks, contests for children, transfer from the hotel and back. At the pier, you can also buy a boat trip to Famagusta, fishing or a yacht trip with a swim in the sea at Cape Cavo Greco.
Local restaurants are the best choice to try freshly caught fish. Early in the morning, fresh seafood is sold directly from the yacht, here you can also arrange a joint fishing trip. For fast food lovers there is a chain Cypriot fish restaurant Ocean Basket.
To the right of the port, the promenade of the Ayia Napa embankment begins, along which you can leisurely walk to Nissi Beach in half an hour. The entire length is almost two kilometers, it is divided into two parts: for pedestrians and cyclists. One disadvantage is that all the beaches along the embankment are rocky.
However, here you can not only walk, but turn gray in a tavern by the sea and try a popular dish - fish meze. It can be ordered almost everywhere, but the guides recommend the taverns on the embankment. Meze in Cyprus costs from 20 euros per person.
Thalassa, Ayia Napa Sea Museum
Ships in Ayia Napa can be viewed not only in the port. One of the most interesting is located in the very center of the city at the address: 14 Kryou Nerou Avenue, (next to the central square), in one of the most interesting museums in Cyprus, Thalassa. Here you can see an exact replica of the ship found off the coast of Cyprus in the middle of the last century. According to researchers, it was sunk by pirates in the IV century BC.
A well-organized and modern exhibition space allows visitors to immerse themselves in the history of exploring the sea, plunge into the world of its inhabitants and touch the sea secrets and mysteries of Ayia Napa.
Ceramics, ancient sculptures, fishing gear – all the finds made in the coastal waters of Ayia Napa and brought by the sea to its beaches. There is an exhibition of marine fauna from ichthyofauna: to seashells, turtles and even a relict dwarf hippopotamus.
Paliatso Luna Park
Before moving on to beach and coastal entertainment, we will take another walk up from the Ayia Napa embankment to the large Ferris wheel that glows at night. Here is the largest Luna park in Cyprus, where on a relatively small territory there are many attractions for children and adults, among which there are quite a few extreme ones.
In total, there are 25 attractions in the Ayia Napa Luna park. During the day, families with children walk here, and closer to night, the regulars of nightclubs come. In 2010, the Sling Shot attraction was opened in the park. This is the highest catapult in Europe, which throws people up at high speed. Sling Shot is the most expensive entertainment in the Ayia Napa Luna park. The cost of a capsule flight to the sky costs 20 euros. There is a local currency in Lunapark. To ride on any attraction, you need to buy tokens at the box office. 1 token = 1 euro. A ride on the Ferris wheel costs 4 tokens, on a roller coaster - 6 euros, and on one of the cars of the autodrom - 2 euros. You can also buy a whole subscription at once.
Ayia Napa Water World Water Park
Just 10 minutes from the center of Ayia Napa is the largest water park in Cyprus, Water World. Even by European standards, this is a very large park.
Like many entertainment locations in Cyprus, it is themed. The creators were inspired by the myths and legends of ancient Greece. The park was opened in 1996, and in 2016 it received the Travelers' Award Choice from Tripadvisor. In addition, Water World has more than 30 international awards and quality certificates.
The territory of the WaterWorld waterpark occupies more than 100,000 m2. 35 water attractions are available to visitors, including extreme slides, 3 pools (with hydro massage, children's and wave), a lazy river, a large number of sun loungers and places to relax. For children, the park has 4 play areas with slides, fountains and sprinklers. There are 9 restaurants and fast food cafes on the territory of the water park.
Ticket price:
- adults - 38 euros per day,
- children (from 3 to 12 years old) - 24 euros per day.
Sculpture and Cactus Parks in Ayia Napa
You can take a break from active entertainment, noise and other joys of the resort in two theme parks of Ayia Napa. At the intersection of Cavo Greco Avenue and Kryou Nerou there is a huge space of 20,000 m2, where hundreds of sculptures by famous sculptors are collected. Coupled with the sea panorama and the creations of landscape designers, the park is an ideal place for selfies and photo shoots. At the same time, the entrance to it is completely free.
The exposition of the park is constantly updated. The works created during the annual symposiums of sculptors remain here, creators from all over the world exhibit their works in the park for tourists. The main condition for the authors is to create figures with a height of more than two meters and use only plaster and metal. The best time to visit the park is in the early morning or before sunset, as it can be quite hot here on a summer day. There are no large trees and shady areas in the park. But there is all the infrastructure necessary for a comfortable pastime: benches, toilets, parking for cars.
The sculpture park connects to the Cactus Park (also free to visit). Therefore, gradually, instead of stone art objects, some of the most unusual creations of nature will take their place on your phones. Today, the number of succulents reaches 8000 (about 300 species). This is the largest gathering not only in Cyprus, but also in the entire Mediterranean region. The first exotic plants were planted here in 2015, some of them were donated by local residents from their own home collections.
The weather conditions in Cyprus are ideal for almost all types of succulents. There are all conditions for their growth: poor soil, almost complete absence of precipitation and bright sun. In the park, flowers bloom on adult plants and fruits appear. The territory of the park occupies 16 hectares. Paths and landscaped recreation areas make the walk comfortable and enjoyable, especially in the evening. The most interesting photos can be taken here when the setting sun highlights the rays of the bizarre silhouettes of fantastic thorns.
Beaches of Ayia Napa
The most beautiful, the cleanest, the sunniest. If you are looking for a vacation by the water, then you are definitely in Ayia Napa. Here nature has collected the most impressive collection of beaches on the island, most of which deservedly received the "Blue Flags" - an international award, a status that is awarded for the quality and purity of water. Cyprus is the leader of beach holidays in the eastern Mediterranean, and Ayia Napa is the flagship of Cyprus in this category of tourism.
All the beaches of Ayia Napa are unique, but almost every one will meet you with clear water, a gentle shore, gentle waves, fine sand and developed infrastructure. Strong winds on local beaches are rare.
Nissi Beach
The "island" is the most famous beach of Ayia Napa, the owner of the "Blue Flag", stretching for half a kilometer. Nissi beach is known not only on the whole island, but also far beyond the borders of Cyprus. Tourists vacationing in Ayia Napa, talking about their vacation in social networks, will definitely mention Nissi Beach. The beach is the leader of the ratings of tour operators.
Azure clear water, fine white sand and unobtrusive service make your stay here ideal. Guests can use numerous umbrellas and sun loungers. The price of such comfort is 2.5 euros per day. If you get tired of sunbathing and splashing by the shore, you can always find entertainment to your liking. Active recreation options are designed for those who like to splash near the shore, as well as for extreme athletes. Diving, windsurfing, rowing, sport fishing and water skiing are on the shortlist of vacationers. There is also entertainment to taste. You can play volleyball on one of the playgrounds or sit in local cafes, bars and restaurants with a glass of cocktail or frappe. In the evenings, guests can enjoy discos, beach parties or live performances by local musicians.
One of the undoubted advantages of the beach is that it is located within the city limits and it will not be difficult to get to it for the inhabitants of most hotels in Ayia Napa.
Makronisos Beach
If any of the beaches of Ayia Napa can compete for leadership with Nissi, it is Makronisos, which is located on the coastal strip in the western part of the city. The beach also receives a "Blue Flag" from year to year – a quality mark that attracts beach holiday gourmets from all over Europe.
Gently sloping shore, clear water and fine sand. You still need to reach the depths where you can swim. The shallow water stretches for 20-25 meters, which makes the beach a comfortable place to relax with children. At the same time, there is a place on the beach for those who like to sunbathe in relative privacy, and for those who like outdoor activities. Conventionally, the beach can be divided into a western recreation area and an eastern sports area. On the western side, the infrastructure is more developed, there are paid umbrellas and sun loungers, sports entertainment for every taste. There is less civilization on the east, and as a result of the noise and fuss.
The great advantage of Makronisos is the nearby archaeological complex. Admission is free and if you are tired of splashing and sunbathing, you can get acquainted with the Cypriot antiquities.
Landa Beach
About 400 meters from Makronisos to the east is another Blue Flag beach, Landa beach. Locals prefer to relax on this beach, which in itself speaks in its favor. It can be reached from the city center by public transport. It is relatively quiet and peaceful here. There are a lot of vacationers only at the peak of the high season.
This is a beach for connoisseurs. Pleasant sand, azure water, almost complete absence of waves and a gorgeous view – a full set of beach advantages. Not far from the shore, 5-7 meters away, there is a natural semi-open mini-pool surrounded by a ridge of stones. The local beach is also called "golden", either because of the color of the local sand, or for some other reason. Despite the relative silence, Landa is not a wild beach and there is a developed infrastructure, volleyball courts, a beach bar, changing rooms, sun beds, umbrellas. There are paid and free parking nearby.
Pantachou Beach
Pantachou is also known far beyond the borders of Cyprus, very cozy, picturesque and with a local flavor. It is located in a small fishing bay and the boats of local fishermen organically decorate the already picturesque views, creating an atmosphere of tranquility and spiritual comfort. The beach is long and narrow – at 30-40 meters wide, its length reaches a kilometer. Most of the beach consists of golden sand, but it is worth noting that there are also rocky areas. A set in the form of a locker room, shower, sun loungers with umbrellas is available. There is a rental of jet skis and boats. Bonus - inexpensive, compared to city bars and cafes.
Ayia Thekla Beach
Just six kilometers from Ayia Napa is the beach, which despite the absence of the "Blue Flag" is a favorite vacation spot for both locals and tourists. People come here when they get tired of the bustle of the resort city and its noisy central beaches. There is enough free space here to sit comfortably on the sand and walk freely along the shore. The beach is well suited for families with children. The length of the recreation area is about 300 meters, covered with the purest golden sand.
Closer to the edges, the beach shore becomes much narrower, forming a light sandy ledge in the center. It is very picturesque here: a rocky cliff is located from the east, stones protruding from the water are visible from the west. Next to the sandy area there is a green lawn with palm trees. The peculiarity is a small island, which can be reached by wading.
There are paid umbrellas and deck chairs, water attractions, a sports ground for volleyball. A national restaurant and a bar are located near the beach. Sightseeing is a pleasant way to diversify your vacation. Very close to the beach there is a church, and behind the church there is an incredibly beautiful rocky area.
Kermia Beach (Limnara)
Kermia is another Blue Flag beach, 350 meters long, located very close to the center of Ayia Napa. There is everything for lying in the sun and active recreation. The infrastructure is not inferior to the central city beaches. Its peculiarity is its proximity to the Kavo Greco National Park with its natural beauties and the amazing sea caves of Cape Greco.
Sandy Bay Beach (Vathia Gonia)
Between the city harbor and Makronisos Beach there is a small rocky, but very cozy Sandy Bay. The beach is covered with fine golden sand. The water here, even in bad weather and off-season, is warmer here than on most beaches of Ayia Napa. People with disabilities will feel comfortable on this beach, as the beach is equipped with an innovative system of descent to the water. And, of course, there are sun loungers, umbrellas, volleyball courts. Bars and other necessary infrastructure are also available.
Kryo Nero Beach
A street with the same name leads to this beach, it starts from the fishing harbor and goes far to the east. Turquoise clear water and imported sand, palm trees and rocks make your stay here unforgettable, and the entertainment infrastructure, including various attractions, taverns and bars, will not let you get bored for a minute. At the same time, due to the length, you can find quite quiet places here.
Poseidon Beach
This small (only a quarter of a kilometer) beach, located on the outskirts of Ayia Napa, is known not so much as a place for swimming and relaxing, although there are all the conditions for this here, but as a venue for wedding ceremonies. An exquisite flower arch has been built here for these purposes, and a small chapel is located nearby. Newlyweds from all over the world hold weddings here. The beach is located near the resort of Nissi Bay, in the area of the settlement of Satira.
Liopetri Beach
Liopetri, which can be reached by public transport, is completely devoid of city fuss. It is located on the outskirts of the village of the same name and is famous for its unique, picturesque natural beauties. The green hills make Liopetri attractive for selfie lovers. The rest here is measured and as comfortable as possible. By the way, village taverns are famous for their fish menu.
Attractions in the Ayia Napa area
Blue Lagoon
The most beautiful natural attraction. It is a cozy bay, where there is everything you need for recreation - steep cliffs, caves, wild beaches. The lagoon owes its name to the color of the water, which contains all shades of blue, blue and green - from aquamarine to gently turquoise. The transparency is amazing, the details of the bottom relief are visible at a depth of 15 meters.
You can get here by private transport or by boat. You can admire the lagoon from a small observation deck, which is located in the center of the natural monument.
Cape Cavo Greco
This is the easternmost tip of Cyprus. The cape and its surroundings form a nature reserve known far beyond the island. There is a legend that somewhere in these places a huge sea monster lives. His character is quite docile, but harmful - he can raise excitement or tear sea gear.
Tourists come here because of the fantastic views and crystal clear water. There is a British military zone on the very edge of the cape, but most of it is open to the public. You can admire the beauty from the observation decks, or you can rent equipment for diving or snorkeling and explore the depths of the sea.
Sea caves-grottos
Legends say that it was here that the Mediterranean pirates hid the looted treasures. And this is quite similar to the truth. It is almost impossible to notice the caves from the shore, let alone go down to them. The entire coastline is sheer, inaccessible cliffs.
You can admire the sea caves of Ayia Napa during a boat trip. Pleasure boats do not come close to the rocks, however, the view from the deck is picturesque. But jumping from rocks into the water is strictly prohibited, and for good reason – because of the rocky bottom it is deadly dangerous. Despite this, the daredevils are still there. Most often, rescuers come to their aid to get out of the caves.
Kavo Greco Forest Park
A visit to the forest park, along with the grottoes and cape, is another reason to visit this area. Its territory stretches over 385 hectares. The park is part of the nature protection zone "Natura 2000", which is supervised by the European Union. There are more than 400 species of plants growing here, 14 of which are considered rare, and many are endemic, that is, they can only be found in this area. The park is decorated with a rich collection of orchids, irises, crocuses. Several hiking and cycling routes are available for tourists. There are picnic areas and viewing platforms.
The Tombs of Makronisos
The rock tombs are located within walking distance from the beach of the same name. An archaeological monument dating back to the Roman and Hellenistic period. Not far from the tombs is the monastery of the Holy Virgin Mary, built in the XVI century. Excavations in the area of Makronisos beach began relatively recently - in 1989. They have already given researchers a lot of sensations, despite the fact that the tombs were partially looted by "black archaeologists".
Currently, the Makronisos necropolis consists of 19 ancient tombs.
Protaras Resort
One of the fastest growing resorts, with an ancient history (in ancient times there was a city-state of Lefkola on this territory). Currently, the tourist infrastructure is actively developing here. Hotels, restaurants, small souvenir shops selling handicrafts of local artisans.
Protaras is a point of attraction for diving and snorkeling enthusiasts. The depth of immersion here reaches 40 meters, and under the surface of the water, lovers of scuba diving discover a rich underwater world inhabited by marine life.
Paralimni Lake
Surprisingly, being within walking distance from the sea, it is worth visiting a freshwater lake located near the town of the same name. This is one of the largest freshwater reservoirs in Cyprus, but only in the winter months. In summer, small areas with water remain only in the southwestern part of Paralimni, and the rest of the territory is occupied by fields where local farmers grow crops.
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