Things to Do in Protaras: The Calm Side of the East
Fig Tree Bay, a hilltop chapel with the best view on the coast, and a run of quiet bays most visitors drive straight past.
Protaras is what people mean when they say they want the east coast without Ayia Napa. Same water, same light, same twenty-minute drive to Cape Greco — but the volume turned down, the crowd shifted toward families and couples, and the evening centred on dinner rather than a club.
It is a small, straightforward place built around one very good beach, with a string of quieter bays either side that most visitors never bother with. That is the opportunity here.
Here is what to do with a few days.
Fig Tree Bay, and the bays either side of it
Fig Tree Bay is the reason Protaras exists as a resort: a wide crescent of pale sand, shallow water that stays shallow a long way out, and a small rocky islet you can swim to. It is excellent for children and it gets extremely busy in July and August.
Either side of it, within a few minutes’ walk, are a series of smaller bays with the same water and a fraction of the people. Nobody who came for Fig Tree Bay ever seems to check them, which is strange, because on an August afternoon they are considerably nicer.
Profitis Elias: the view worth the steps
A small white chapel sits on a rocky hill above the town, reached by a long flight of steps. From the top you get the whole coastline at once — Protaras, Fig Tree Bay, the sea stretching to Cape Greco — and it is comfortably the best free view on this side of the island.
Go at sunset, take water, and be prepared for the steps to be more work than they look from the bottom. The chapel itself is tiny and often hung with ribbons left by visitors.
Konnos Bay and the road to Cape Greco
Konnos is the prettiest bay on the east coast: a sheltered horseshoe of sand backed by pine-covered cliffs, tucked into the headland between Protaras and Ayia Napa. It is a short drive and it feels considerably more remote than it is.
From there the road continues into Cape Greco national forest park, with the sea caves, the clifftop trails and the white chapel above the water. A morning at Konnos followed by an afternoon on the headland is the best day this coast offers.
On the water
The east coast’s boat trips leave from Ayia Napa harbour, fifteen minutes away — cruises to the sea caves and Cape Greco with swim stops, from pirate-ship shows to calmer day boats.
Pick a day boat rather than the pirate ship if you want to actually swim and hear yourself think.
Eating in Protaras
Protaras is taverna country. Poseidonio, Vangelis and Yiasemi are three of the most-reviewed tavernas in the resort, Nameless Restaurant is one of the best-rated, and Nubila’s rooftop is the place to eat with a view.
Our ranked Protaras list orders them by public rating and review volume.
Frequently asked
Is Protaras better than Ayia Napa?
It depends entirely on what you want. Protaras is quieter, more family-oriented and centred on dinner rather than clubs; Ayia Napa has the nightlife, more beaches and more to do in the day. They are fifteen minutes apart, so you can easily stay in one and visit the other.
Is Fig Tree Bay good for children?
Very. The water is shallow a long way out, the sand is soft, and there are full facilities and lifeguards in season. Its only drawback is how busy it gets in July and August — the smaller bays a few minutes’ walk either side have the same water and far fewer people.
What is the best view in Protaras?
The Profitis Elias chapel, on the rocky hill above the town. It is a long flight of steps to the top and worth every one — the whole coastline from Protaras to Cape Greco laid out at once. Best at sunset, and free.
Do you need a car in Protaras?
Not for the town and Fig Tree Bay, which are walkable. You do for Konnos Bay, Cape Greco and anything beyond the resort — and those are the best things on this coast. Several local firms deliver hire cars to the hotel.
Events near Protaras
Famagusta Marathon
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.
Ayia Napa Medieval Festival
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.
OCEANMAN Cyprus — Ayia Napa
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.
Featured in this guide
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.
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.
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.
Turn this into your own trip — save the spots you like and plan the days.