Beaches in Ayia Napa and Protaras – Cyprus’s Finest Beaches Recommended By a Local!

Last Updated on March 8, 2021 by Tia

Welcome to an article showcasing Cyprus’s finest beaches in Ayia Napa! I am a proud Cypriot local, and I cannot wait to show you the best of the paradisical beaches that Ayia Napa and Protaras have to offer! So keep on reading, and get ready to meet…paradise

Top Life-saving items to bring to Cyprus

Sun Allergy lotion and after-sun. Everybody wants to tan beautifully. But the sun in Cyprus is incredibly low and intense, which can burn your skin in no time, and bring out all sorts of allergic sun reactions that can seriously ruin your holidays! This is the best sun allergy brand I have found – I have been using it for over 3 years now and no more sunburns and sunspots! The after-sun lotion doubles up as a tan intensifier too, winner! You cannot find the allergy range in Cyprus, so I buy mine off Amazon.

Portable Ashtray / Mini Bin. With so many Blue flag beaches, Cyprus is a nature’s paradise that needs YOUR help to stay clean and pristine for generations to come. I ADORE this portable ashtray for many reasons. At the beach, Its cone shape means I can stick it in the sand all day long, and use for cigarette butts, chewing gum, and other small pieces of garbage I don’t want to litter the beach with. It is also always on the side pocket of my backpack, so I can use it when I hike, trek mountains and jungles, go camping and more! TIP: whilst driving, do NOT throw cigarette butts out the window. The intense heat can make ur butt responsible for igniting a wildfire in the Cyprus forests that can last for days!

 Activated Charcoal tablets to save your stomach from a multitude of sins. Such as heavy eating and drinking (you will likely do both), upset stomach, mild food poisoning, IBS flare-ups, diarrhea, nausea and more

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Beaches in Ayia Napa

The busy and party central beach of Nissi Beach. Its a rite of passage, for sure! This gorgeous beach is actually made out of 2 connecting beaches. One is long and lively, the other smaller and quieter. The beaches have golden sands and the waters are clean and clear. It is possible to walk out for up to a hundred meters without the water passing your waist and there are many sand bars in the shallows. The Nissi Beach Bar plays incredible music all day long, and hosts parties daily!

Sandy Beach/ Gliki Nero Beach. Think of fine white sands that spread from the harbor to the Ayia Napa sea caves and you’ve got yourself, Gliki Nero! The atmosphere is relaxed and laid back and there is a restaurant at the top where you can have lunch or drinks. Exactly opposite the beach, you will find my favorite hotel in Ayia Napa, the Napa Mermaid Hotel.

Book this hotel here

Sandy Bay a sheltered beach close to Nissi Beach, nestled between two headlands. It is popular with families for its low key vibes and views of Napa and its coastlines.

Ammos you Kampouri. My favorite off the beaten track hidden beach! You can reach it via an unsurfaced pathway just past the Ayia Napa sea caves. It is a small quiet sandy beach with plenty of rock pools. I’ve got a whole review on this secret beach with directions!

Sun safety Tip

Don’t forget that the Cyprus sun is STRONG! You could literally burn yourself to a crisp in as little as one hour! The intensity of the sun also often makes the skin react in the form of skin rashes etc. My favorite sunscreen of all time is the Piz Buin Sun Allergy range! I have the SPF 30 lotion, and SPF 15 spray and I change between them all summer depending on my needs. In the evening, I also moisturize intensively with their After sun lotion which is also a tan intensifier! WIN!

More Beaches in Ayia Napa

Makronisos Beach – perfect for families, as well as locals and tourists looking for peace and quiet! Macronissos Beach is actually 3 beaches in one, a big one and two smaller ones. You can find Makronissos beach at the western edge of Ayia Napa! Go there if you want golden sand, clear water, and a little peace and quiet.

Ayia Thekla beach is a small beach and lots of small private patches of sand along the coastline. Perfect for relaxing away from it all with a good book and the sound of crashing waves!

Kaliva Beach Bar – Its time to party in style! Kaliva beach bar is a hugely popular beach bar in Ayia Napa, and much favored by locals! You can spend your day relaxing by the sea, or if you are lucky, rent a sunbed on the beach bar itself (15 euros per lounger)

Beaches in Protaras

Konnos Beach aka perfection! A picturesque Blue Flag beach, a mile east of Ayia Napa on the Protaras road, close to the dramatic, rugged coastline of Cavo Greco, a national forest park with excellent nature trails. Expect to find excellent views, clear waters, incredible sunsets, and photography spots! There is a bar at the top of the cliff – but it’s a bit of an uphill climb to get there!

Health Tip

Make sure you drink plenty of water! The thing is though, water in Cyprus stays cold for approximately 5 minutes! Additionally, plastic bottles need to become a thing of the past. Period! So invest in a good reusable and leakproof water bottle, that keeps cold water cold for 24 glorious hours. Simple, smart, ecofriendly. What’s not to love about that!

Nava Beach Bar. The exclusive and gorgeous Nava Beach Bar in Protaras for a taste of the high life and the best parties! Nava comes with a price tag, and sun loungers come with a minimum spend! Some of the best outdoor parties and concerts take place here, starting from 5 pm to the early hours of the morning!

Green Bay Beach – Green Bay Beach in Protaras is a lovely little secluded beach ideal for diving, snorkeling, and lazy day sun lounging.

Fig Tree Bay, or anywhere along that long stretch of road in the center of Protaras, like Sunrise Beach! It comes as no surprise that Figtree Bay has been voted one of the best beaches in Cyprus! The sandy beach stretches for 500m and the waters are clean enough for the beach to have been awarded blue flag designation.

More beaches in Protaras

Sirena Bay. I adore this place as its one of the best beaches along this coastline! In Sirena Bay, you’ll find a tiny secluded cove with only a single bar and restaurant.

Malama Beach. A sheltered cove beach, perfect for children, with a cute little bar to cater for needs! Make sure you snorkel too! Being a little bit off the beaten path gives the Malama Beach a quieter feel.

Vizakia Beach. Fun fact: Vizakia literally translates to small boobs. LOL. I mean…why?! Anyways apart from the hilarious name, you will love this beach! The water is very shallow, with the same golden sands you will come to love in Ayia Napa and Protaras.

Kapparis – The only (sad, I know) dog-friendly beach in the area!

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Thank you guys, for reading through this article of the most beautiful beaches in Ayia Napa and Protaras! I hope I have inspired you to travel to my beautiful country, and explore its many treasures and delights! Have you been to Cyprus? Let me know in the comments!

Love, Tia x

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