Ayia Napa is the perfect location for a sunny getaway whether you have a few days, a whole week or you’re planning to relax for even longer (lucky you!). Come to Ayia Napa for the sun, the beaches and the loungers but you’ll come back again (and again) for the food, the hospitality, the drinks, the culture, the crystal clear turquoise waters and of course the charming feline locals 🐈 Discover the best experiences and things to do in Ayia Napa and you’ll realise that there is far more to this place than the image that’s been painted in previous years.
🎙 {Sponsored} I was lucky that my trip to Ayia Napa was in collaboration with Jet2holidays and the Visit Cyprus tourist board. All opinions are my own.
1. Nissi Beach
Nissi Beach is an icon of, not just Ayia Napa, but the whole of Cyprus as this beautiful sweep of white sand and shallow turquoise water, regularly features on ‘best beach’ lists of Europe and the world. If you stay at NissiBlu Beach Resort, which is what I did, then you can walk to Nissi Beach in minutes and jump in the water for a morning swim before heading back to the hotel for breakfast. There’s a little island off the beach which makes the cove sheltered and calm to enjoy a more relaxed swim. You can reach the island by swimming out or in the summer, the tide sometimes drops low enough to be able to walk across. Something very appealing about the sea around Cyprus is the lack of some of the nasty things you find in other waters. There are no sharks or jellyfish here which is a welcome relief!
Cyprus has nearly 60 blue flag beaches and Ayia Napa is surrounded by some of the best. Nissi Beach I have already mentioned above, but just around the corner is Makronissos Beach which is a slightly quieter and slightly more family oriented than bustling Nissi Beach. Further to the east, Konnos Beach is more of an effort to get to but the reward is crystal clear water, stunning cliff scenery surrounding you and the possibility of spotting turtles from Spring to Autumn (more likely June to September) but remember to keep your distance. Fig Tree Bay is also a stunner with a laidback, lazy beach day atmosphere for some but with the possibility of thrilling water sports out on the bay!
2. Love Bridge
The Love Bridge is a beautiful, natural rock formation close to the Ayia Napa Sculpture Park (see below). It’s both an interesting structure to view as well as a romantic spot on the coast so you’ll see plenty of people here. Especially in the evening when the temperature has dropped and the sun is beginning to set as the sunset will fall along the coastline behind the Love Bridge. We had dinner calling so caught the golden hour light rather than the colours of sunset! It’s said that if you kiss in the middle of the arch then your wish will come true. Better make it a good one!
3. Ayia Napa Sculpture Park
The Ayia Napa Sculpture Park is an open air museum on the slopes of a hill in Ayia Napa which looks out to the sea. It’s absolutely free to visit and open all the time to come and go. This means it’s a great place to come in the morning or the evening when the temperature has dropped. There are nearly three hundred artworks to explore in the park, created by over one hundred artists and the collection and number of artists represented is ever growing as the collection has more sculptures added every year.
The sculptures are so fascinating to walk through. There is such a variety of styles and subject matter that it is really mind blowing to see how different the possibilities can be. Since the park is always being added to and because it is so expansive, it’s fair to say that every time you come back there will be a new piece that catches your eye! Of the sculptures that I saw, my favourite is the rock covered in a little ceramics representing a traditional Cypriot way of life (left above).
4. Take a Boat Tour
It’s one thing to enjoy the lush blue waters from the shore but it’s quite something else to jump on a boat and see how crystal clear they are from the top! I’m such a fan of a boat tour, it’s a lovely, relaxing way to enjoy a day in a warm and sunny location. Whether you want to stay on board enjoying the sun in your face with a book or jumping into the refreshing waves to cool off, time and time again, you can’t miss a boat trip on your Ayia Napa trip.
Most tours will take you out to the east and you’ll pass stunning scenery as you cruise around the Cape Greco National Forest Park peninsula. Two stops is common on most tours and one of these is at Konnos Beach with the option to hire snorkels (if they’re not already included in your tour price or you haven’t brought your own) and hopefully swim with some turtles. The other stop is at the Blue Lagoon. When I tell you I gasped, it’s not an exaggeration. I’ve probably gone on about how blue the water around Cyprus quite a lot already but at the Blue Lagoon, somehow it’s even more blue and even more clear – absolutely stunning! The phenomenon leading to the rich blue of the lagoon is because the water is quite shallow and with the combination of the clarity of the water and the very whiteness of the sand, you get this brilliant blue shade.
5. Taste a Brandy Sour
Cyprus has itself a national cocktail! There aren’t many countries in the world that can say this but Cyprus is one of them with its Brandy Sour as the country’s cocktail of choice. The drink is alleged to have originated as a way to serve the visiting King Farouk of Egypt an alcoholic drink disguised as an iced tea and save face on a trip to Cyprus in the 50s. The Sour uses specifically Cyprus brandy and combines it with lemon (either squash or fresh), Angostura bitters and soda water (or lemonade). As you’ll notice from the slight variations in ingredients, the drink is likely to taste slightly different depending on where you have it! I very much enjoyed the one that I recreated in a Cocktail Making class with Sunmoon Hospitality (the bar is open on Thursday evenings) in Larnaca whose ingredients were a little fresher and not too sweet – perfection 🍹
If wine is more your thing then I’ve got a couple of recommendations for you! Commandaria is the oldest named world in the wine and has remained with us through ancient history. It’s rich and sweet and perfect for anyone that likes a dessert wine to end their meal with. On the opposite end of the wine scale is Xynisteri which is a dry, low acid white wine, just what you need after a day under the Cyprus sun.
6. Meze Cyprus style
You cannot come to Ayia Napa and NOT dine in style. Cypriot food is incredible and a Cypriot Meze even better. There’s anywhere between 5 & 25+ dishes to make your way through (and exclaim in foodie delight at literally every one) and taste your way around a gastronomic journey of Cyprus.
With its location in the Mediterranean Sea, Cyprus benefits from an ideal climate which leads to the island being able to produce lots of local food. From grapes for wine to citrus fruits, plenty of veggies and of course plenty of cheese and other animal produce. This means you’re in for such a treat when eating out in Ayia Napa. Opting for a Cyprus Meze is the best way to taste your way through all of these delicious local treats and will help you work out what you want more of during the rest of your holiday!
You’ll begin with dips (rich tahini, fresh tzatziki, creamy hummus) as well as bread and crisp salads before moving on to warm starters including keftedes (pork meatballs), grilled halloumi, eggplant, mushrooms & Cyprus sausages. You have to pace yourself because next up are the main course dishes like the classic Cyprus potatoes (you’ll never look at another potato the same again), kleftiko (slow baked lamb), souvlaki or seafood dishes.
If that wasn’t enough and you still have room, try some bites of Cypriot desserts, typically made with lots of sugar, often involving pastry, sometimes cheese and sometimes rose. If you’ve got a super sweet tooth, try a Spoon Sweet – whole fruits, vegetables or nuts preserved in sugar syrup. A portokalopita is a sticky, citrusy orange cake whilst my favourite was daktylas (also known as ladies’ fingers) which is a crispy pastry finger stuffed with a cinnamon almond filling and soak in rose water.
We were treated to no less than four different Cyprus meze dinners during our four days (yup, one for every day of the trip) and so these are my recommendations for you to try:
- Taverna Napa in central Ayia Napa which was in fact the first taverna in Ayia Napa – it has a lovely historic ambience
- AVRA Authentic Cypriot Kitchen, also located in central Ayia Napa – friendly staff and slightly more modern feel
- Taverna Ploumin in nearby Sotira – traditional, family run, where the locals go
- Zephyros Restaurant at the southern end of Larnaca – perfect for sea food lovers with a view of the harbour & the Med
7. Cyherbia
Cyprus’ land is rich with produce and Cyherbia uses knowledge and passion to grow herbs, flowers and plants which they then transform into small batches of essential oils, soaps and all sorts of other aromatic products. The people behind Cyherbia are passionate about education and helping visitors to understand the value and importance of small scale production and quality and so the impact that large scale enterprises can have on the environment and the soil. The cafe here is lovely and the gardens peaceful to explore. Come to Cyherbia for some meaningful Cyrpus goodies and gifts to take home.
8. Meet the locals
In Cyprus, the locals have four paws, very fluffy coats and are often snoozing! There are cats everywhere you look around Ayia Napa and the monuments and villages of the surrounding areas. Even the least animal loving person will find it hard not to be melted by the sight of a puss snoozing in the sun on a church window ledge. The story of Cyprus and its cats goes back thousands of years as a cat buried alongside a human was discovered in a Neolithic grave on the island. It’s also believed that they were ‘imported’ from Egypt to help deal with the venomous snake problem but once they’d got rid of them all, they ended up sticking around.
Today there are more cats in Cyprus than there are humans so it’s actually not at all incorrect to call the cats the locals. What you might find bizarre is just how well the stray and feral cats of the island look and that’s because they are so well looked after. They may not have individual human homes, but the humans make sure they feel as though the whole island is their home and there seems to be a communal choice to look after them, leaving food and water out. We spotted people arriving with bags of cat food to feed the kitties.
9. Thalassa Museum
When the sun gets too hot, head to Ayia Napa’s Thalassa Museum to spend an hour or so learning about the history of Cyprus in the cool air con. The museum has the sea at its heart and uses this theme to take you through its impact on the island, its geology, ecology & history. You can learn about how the island and its features was formed as well as the creatures that used to live here (look our for the rather adorable mini hippo & mini elephant) and the ones that still live here today. There’s also space dedicated to the artefacts and crafts that have been found during archaeological digs and excavations of Cyprus.
The Thalassa Museum €4 for adults (€2.50 for university students or €1.50 for primary / secondary school students) and open every day apart from Sunday.
10. Ayia Napa Marina
The Ayia Napa Marina opened in 2022 and is a stylish part of the city with lots of bars, restaurants and cafes situated around the dock. On our Sunday morning visit, there were some lovely jewellery and craft stands with beautiful bits and pieces.
The events centre at the heart of the Marina is striking with its unique design and has recently hosted two EU conferences. I do enjoy a little stroll around a marina, admiring the yachts I will never be able to afford but imagine what sort of guests may jump on Below Deck.
Don’t miss Riva Beach House for a laidback lunch with a fabulous view. The Beach House has recently changed ownership and been redecorated with details that coalesce with the flowing setting it sits within. Enjoy a crisp glass of wine with a big bowl of Cyprus potatoes to munch your way through and you’ll have a very happy afternoon.
11. Charming churches
For a photography fix or a history fix, then you can’t miss the rather charming churches that you can get to from Ayia Napa. As the closest island in the Mediterranean to the Middle East coast, Cyprus was one of the first places in Europe to hear of Christianity and so it’s unsurprising that there are so many churches here. So many of them are very small and incredibly photogenic.
Don’t miss the fascinating Agioi Saranta Cave Church in Protaras. It’s brilliant blue door, the only giveaway that there’s a church hidden in the rocks here. There’s also Church of Profitis Elias with its fantastic viewpoint high above Protaras, looking out across the town and the sea beyond. Agioi Anargyroi Chapel is located right on the clifftops at the top end of the Blue Lagoon and looks remote and windswept on its coastal pedestal.
12. Makronissos Tombs
At the eastern end of Makronissos beach are the famous Makronissos tombs. Dating back to the Hellenistic and Roman periods, these 19 tombs (alongside a quarry and a sanctuary) form an archaeological site in Ayia Napa. Unfortunately, they were previously looted and so it is just the bare bones of the tombs that remain but it is fascinating to be able to walk through Cypriot history here and see the remains of life from centuries prior.
13. MUSAN
MUSAN is the Underwater Sculpture Park in Ayia Napa. Unfortunately, when we were scheduled to head under to see the sculptures with our snorkels, the weather was too windy and our trip was cancelled. I would have loved to have seen them so make sure it is on your agenda and that you have enough time that if the weather isn’t in your favour you can reschedule!
The sculptures represent a forest and have been built to bring marine life to the sculptures in order to create an artificial reef that will build up with life and colour over time as the sculpture is claimed by the Mediterranean Sea and its inhabitants.
14. Larnaca Day Trip
Don’t miss a day trip to Larnaca when you’re staying in Ayia Napa. Especially if you’re visiting for a whole week because you can easily spend a day in the city exploring. If you’ve hired a car then it’s an easy drive to get here but you can also hop on a local bus which will take around an hour. Larnaca has winding, historic streets in its centre with the castle sitting at the end of the Foinikoudes promenade, looking out to sea. Make sure to visit Holy Church of Saint Lazarus which has an ornate interior and in the basement is said to have the tomb of Lazarus, raised to life by Jesus in the New Testament of the Bible.
Walk through Larnaca Municipal Market for some goodies to take home (wine, coffee, chocolates amongst other things) or to gather a picnic to take to the beach. Larnaca also has many pottery studios which nod to the city’s art and craftmanship. If you have time, and can get your pieces sent home, then take a class to learn how to do it for yourself or alternatively buy yourself a gift to remind you of your holiday every time you have your morning coffee! We visited Studio Ceramics Cyprus and had a fabulous time.
Larnaca has lots of lovely little corners to photograph and just take this place slowly. Grab a coffee from Bardo, either to go and keep exploring the streets or sit in as they have a charming garden courtyard at the back, perfect for half an hour with a flat white and a book.
At Sunmoon Creative Space you can book a cocktail (or various drinks tasting) workshop which is a really fun way to learn about Cyprus’ drinks and how they’re made! Alternatively, visit on a Thursday evening when the bar is open with an ever changing cocktail menu.
✈️ On my most recent trip to Ayia Napa I flew with Jet2 from Stansted Airport to Larnaca but you can find your best Jet2 flight to Larnaca here. You can also find other Jet2 flights from Stansted Airport here.
🏨 I stayed in NissiBlu Beach Resort which was a great location for a break in Ayia Napa, overlooking gorgeous Nissi Beach and with a fabulous pool to cool off in. My room was spacious and very comfortable – perfect whether you’re having a relaxing, leisurely holiday or if you’re packing everything in! The breakfast buffet is epic with so much to choose from, a big yes to fuel your day! Explore more Ayia Napa hotels with Jet2holidays.
Keep your eyes open and your email subscribed 😉 for more Cyprus content coming soon 🇨🇾
Cat x