Nature
Cape Greco National Forest Park
Wind-carved sea caves, blue holes and a network of clifftop and coastal trails on the island’s south-east horn, with a tiny white chapel above the water.
SunriseDirections
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East Cyprus
Things to do in Ayia Napa & Protaras
The east is the Cyprus of the postcards: the clearest water on the island, white limestone cliffs, and sand that made Nissi and Fig Tree Bay famous. Between the two resorts, Cape Greco national forest park carries sea caves, blue holes and clifftop trails — and the contrast between Ayia Napa’s volume and Protaras’ calm means the same coast serves entirely different holidays.
Free to visit
Free spots in Ayia Napa & Protaras.
Genuinely free — no tickets, no gates. Tap any spot for directions and the best time to go.
Beach
Konnos Bay
A sheltered horseshoe of fine sand and glass-clear turquoise between two pine-topped headlands — the prettiest swim on the east coast, reached on foot from the cape.
MorningDirections
Beach
Fig Tree Bay
The icon of Protaras: powder sand, shallow warm water and a little islet you can swim out to, named for the lone fig tree that has stood here for centuries.
SummerDirections
Viewpoint
Ayia Napa Sea Caves
A run of wave-cut caves and arches in honey-coloured rock where locals leap from the ledges into deep clear water — the most photographed cliff line on the island.
Morning · calm seaDirections
Beach
Nissi Beach
Powder-white sand and luminous shallow water with a little islet you can wade out to across a natural sandbar — the postcard beach of Ayia Napa, free to walk on year-round.
SummerDirections
Nature
Ayia Napa Sculpture Park
An open-air park of more than 200 stone and metal sculptures terraced across a clifftop above the sea — a free, ever-growing sculpture trail with the cape as backdrop.
Late afternoonDirections
Landmark
Potamos Liopetriou
A narrow tidal creek lined with weathered wooden fishing boats — one of the last genuinely working fishing harbours on the island and a favourite of photographers at sunset. There is no entry fee and no development beyond a couple of fish tavernas. It is a short stop rather than a day out, but an atmospheric one.
Year-round · golden hourDirections
Viewpoint
Profitis Elias Church
A little whitewashed chapel perched on a rocky hill above Protaras, reached by a stone stairway of roughly 150 steps. The climb is short but sweaty in summer, and the reward is a sweeping free view over the resort coast — especially good at sunset, when it does get busy. The trees near the top flutter with wish ribbons left by visitors.
Year-round · sunsetDirections
Landmark
Kamara tou Koraka Sea Arch
A slender natural sea arch — the 'Crow's Arch', better known as the Love Bridge — jutting off the Cape Greco cliffs above impossibly blue water. It's one of the most photographed spots on the east coast and magical at sunrise. The rock is unfenced and can be slippery, so it's safest admired from the clifftop rather than by clambering out onto the arch.
Sunrise · calm seaDirections
Beach
Ayia Thekla Beach & Chapel
A small, calm, family-friendly sandy cove just west of Ayia Napa, with shallow clear water and far fewer crowds than Nissi. Beside it stand a little whitewashed chapel and, cut into the low cliff, a tiny centuries-old cave-church — a quiet, characterful corner of the coast. Free to visit, with a beach bar and parking close by.
May–Oct · morningDirections
Beach
Makronissos Beach & Tombs
A Blue Flag horseshoe of soft pale sand with calm, shallow water — quieter than nearby Nissi but the same postcard colours. Just behind it lie the Makronissos Tombs, a group of ancient rock-cut chamber tombs and a small quarry you can walk around for free. The beach has sunbeds and a couple of bars, and the gentle swimming is ideal for kids.
May–Oct · all dayDirections
Beach
Sandy Bay (Vathia Gonia) Beach
A small horseshoe of soft sand between two rocky headlands, about 1 km east of Nissi Beach. Its sheltered, shallow water is popular for snorkelling and water sports, with sunbeds, umbrellas and beach bars on the sand.
May–Oct · morningDirections
Where to eat & drink
Best hotspots in Ayia Napa & Protaras.
Only the genuine local favourites — sorted by rating.
Day cruises
Aphrodite II Boat Trips
Relaxed day cruises from Ayia Napa harbour with swim and snorkel stops along the coast toward Protaras.
Known for Coastal day cruise
Ayia Napa HarbourDirections
Glass-bottom cruise
Yellow Submarine
A family-friendly semi-submarine showing off the reefs and wrecks of the marine park.
Known for Glass-bottom reef tour
Ayia Napa HarbourDirections
Italian & Med
Quadro Restaurant
Refined Italian-Mediterranean plates and wood-fired pizza in a calm setting off the party strip.
Known for Handmade pasta
Limnara areaDirections
Greek cooking
Nameless Restaurant
A Greek restaurant on Protaras Avenue with one of the highest ratings in the resort: 4.8 on Google from over 1,200 reviews.
Protaras AvenueDirections
Rooftop dining
Nubila Rooftop Restaurant & Bar
A rooftop restaurant and bar above Protaras, rated 4.8 on Google from nearly 1,000 reviews - the resort's best-rated place to eat with a view.
Protara AvenueDirections
Seafood & grill
Captain’s Table
A long-running Ayia Napa favourite for fish meze, steaks and friendly service.
Known for Seafood meze
Ayia Napa centreDirections
Mediterranean taverna
Poseidonio Tavern
A Mediterranean taverna in central Protaras and one of the most-reviewed places to eat in the resort, holding 4.7 on Google from nearly 1,500 reviews.
Central Protaras, off Syttarkas StDirections
Meze & grill
Yiasemi Meze & Grill
A meze-and-grill taverna on Protaras' main avenue, rated 4.6 on Google across roughly 1,300 reviews.
Protara AvenueDirections
Cypriot taverna
Vangelis Tavern
A long-standing Cypriot taverna on Protara Avenue, rated 4.6 on Google by close to 1,300 diners.
Protara AvenueDirections
International
Sage Restaurant & Lounge
A design-led dining room lifting Ayia Napa beyond the strip with refined plates and a deep cellar.
Known for Fillet & wine pairing
Town centreDirections
Japanese & sushi
UMI Japanese & Sushi Bar
A Japanese and sushi restaurant on the fourth floor of the Grecian Park Hotel, looking out over the sea towards Cape Greco. Expect around €50+ a head.
Known for Sushi with a sea view
Grecian Park Hotel, Konnos St (towards Cape Greco)Directions
Bar-restaurant
Elia Taste & More
The bar-restaurant inside the Napa Mermaid Hotel & Suites on Kryou Nerou Avenue, east of Ayia Napa harbour. Around €20–45 a head, and open late.
Napa Mermaid Hotel, Kryou Nerou AveDirections
Steaks & grill
Limelight Taverna
A garden steakhouse running since 1979 — charcoal-grilled meats, flaming desserts and old-school table service.
Known for Charcoal steaks & flambé
Town centreDirections
Pirate ship cruise
Black Pearl Pirate Cruise
A galleon-style pirate cruise with shows, swim stops and a party atmosphere for all ages.
Known for Family pirate day cruise
Ayia Napa HarbourDirections
Nightclub
Castle Club
The biggest club in Ayia Napa — multiple rooms, international DJs and the classic late-night finish.
Known for 4 rooms · big-name DJs
Club stripDirections
Beach club
Nissi Bay Beach Bar
On iconic Nissi Beach — loungers, foam parties and DJ sets on the whitest sand in Cyprus.
Known for Daytime beach parties
Nissi BeachDirections
Cypriot cuisine
Andama Tavern
A Cypriot-cuisine taverna in the centre of Protaras, rated 4.4 on Google across almost 900 reviews.
Protara AvenueDirections
Fish meze
Vassos Fish Harbour Tavern
Serving fish by Ayia Napa's old harbour since the early 1960s, long before the clubs arrived, this family tavern is the town's most enduring institution. It gets very busy in high season and service can be brisk, but the fish is reliably fresh and the harbour-front tables are hard to beat.
Known for Fresh fish meze
Ayia Napa HarbourDirections
Restaurant
Yianna Marie Restaurant
A Protaras restaurant on Lefkolas Street, rated 4.3 on Google from over 600 reviews.
Lefkolas St, ProtarasDirections
Bar & grill
Bedrock Inn
A famous themed bar on the square — huge cocktails, live entertainment and a guaranteed party.
Known for Flintstones-themed cocktails
The SquareDirections
Bar
Pirates Inn
A family-friendly themed bar in Ayia Napa with shows, games and easygoing drinks.
Known for Pirate-themed nights
Ayia Napa centreDirections
Seafood
Karousos Beach Restaurant
Serving the day’s catch by the water, a short walk from Ayia Napa harbour.
Known for Fresh fish by the water
Ayia Napa harbour areaDirections
Disco bar
Carwash Disco
A beloved retro disco spinning funk, soul and classics for a slightly more grown-up Napa night.
Known for 70s–90s classics
The SquareDirections
Ranked shortlists
Best of Ayia Napa & Protaras
Curated, rating-ranked picks by category and town.
What’s on
Every event Coming up in Ayia Napa & Protaras
11OctSunday
SportFree to watch
Famagusta Marathon
Paralimni & Ayia Napa · Roads of the free Famagusta district (Paralimni–Deryneia and Ayia Napa–Sotira)
A marathon through the free Famagusta district, run with the municipalities of Paralimni–Deryneia and Ayia Napa–Sotira. Alongside the full 42 km there are half-marathon, 10 km and 5 km races; runners enter through the organiser’s site, and watching from the roadside costs nothing.
October 2026Details
14Oct14–18 Oct
Family · Every yearFree entry
Ayia Napa Medieval Festival
Ayia Napa · Around the Medieval Monastery and Seferis Square, Ayia Napa
Each autumn the square around Ayia Napa's Venetian-era monastery turns medieval: street theatre and plays staged against the monastery walls, music and dance troupes from across Europe, a costumed "Streets of the Crusaders" parade, a market selling wine from wooden barrels and medieval food, and pottery and basketry workshops. It lands after the summer crowds have thinned, and it is genuinely good fun with children.
October 2026Details Directions
6Nov6–8 Nov
SportSwimmers from €40
OCEANMAN Cyprus — Ayia Napa
Ayia Napa · Ayia Napa Marina
A weekend of open-water swimming from Ayia Napa Marina, part of the international OCEANMAN series: a 10 km OCEANMAN, a 5 km Half, a 2 km Sprint, team relays and a kids’ race. Swimmers’ entry starts at €40; the welcome party is on the Friday evening at the marina.
November 2026Details Directions
Explore other regions
West Cyprus
Akamas & Paphos
Wild peninsula, sea caves and turtle beaches.
Things to do Centre CyprusTroodos Mountains
Pine forests, waterfalls and stone villages.
Things to do South CyprusLimassol Coast
Chalk cliffs, long bays and quiet coves.
Things to do East CyprusLarnaca & the Plains
Salt-lake flamingos and lace-making hills.
Things to do