From a small fishing village, Ayia Napa has grown into one of Europe's most famous party resorts rivalling Ibiza, Rimini and Mykonos. Ayia Napa also boasts some of the best beaches in Cyprus.
For honeymoon couples wanting sun, sand and sea by day and clubbing by night, Ayia Napa is the place to visit.
In Ayia Napa Square, choose from a wide selection of trendy bars, discos, bouzouki clubs and nightclubs hosting local and international DJs spinning a range of popular music into the small hours of the morning. Most hotels also provide nightly entertainment.
The main clubbing season is between June and September, when the resort is packed with young people from all over Europe. The shoulder months are April, May, October and November, when the weather is still good, but the tempo quieter.
Ayia Napa is located in the southeast corner of Cyprus, about 12km (7.5mi) from Protaras.
Ayia Napa boasts the best beaches in Cyprus and the biggest Beach Party in Europe – the Kandi Beach Party. The best way to explore the beaches is to hire a moped or motorcycle.
Couples seeking more solitude can find more quiet beaches near Cape Greco, just east of Ayia Napa as well as at Konnos Bay on the other side of Cape Greco.
Unwind on the golden sands of Nissi Beach, which shelves gently into the calm waters of Nissi Bay.
The beach is sheltered from the wind and is one of the most attractive beaches in Cyprus.
Facilities include loungers and sun umbrellas for hire as well as various watersport activities including waterskiing, windsurfing, parascending or jet skiing.
Lively beachfront bars make this a popular spot with the clubbing crowd during the high season.
Nissi Beach is located 2km west of the town centre.
Also known as Golden Sands, Makronissos Beach is located 1km west of Nissi Beach (and is linked to it by a walkway and cycle path).
Unwind on the golden sand, go swimming and try out some of the many watersports options at hand.
Behind the beach lie excavated Hellenec and Roman ruins. Quad bikes are also available to hire should you feel the urge to explore cross-country.
Dig your toes into the golden sand of this popular kilometre-long beach that stretches east from the fishing harbour of Ayia Napa.
The calm water is clear and ideal for swimming. Facilities include lifeguards during the season and several beachfront restaurants and bars.
Unwind on the golden sands of this 300 metre-long beach that shelves into the typically calm sea of a tiny cove. The beach is named after an old church situated nearby.
Facilities include lifeguards the season, watersports and a beachfront convenience store. The beach is located 3km west of Ayia Napa and is easily accessible from the main road leading to Ayia Napa.
Unwind on the golden sands of this picturesque 200m-long beach that sits between steep pine-covered slopes and the protected shallow and calm waters of this small sheltered cove.
Facilities include sun beds and umbrellas, lifeguards during bathing hours as well as beachside restaurants and convenience stores.
Konnos beach is located east of Agia Napa between Cape Greco and Protaras and can easily be reached by boat from Protaras oand Ayia Napa.
Explore the medieval Monastery of Ayia Napa. Built like a castle and partially underground, the monastery is surrounded by a high, fortified wall and hosts a cloistered courtyard with a 600-year-old sycamore tree and an eight-sided marble fountain.
Thrill to the wild, wet water slides and roller-coaster rides at WaterWorld – the largest in Europe.
Stroll alongside working fishing boats and private yachts in Limnaki harbour. Admire a collection of marine artefacts including a life size replica of an ancient sailing ship at the Thalassa Museum or head to the clear waters off Cape Greco for some of the best snorkelling in the area.
At the Makronissos Tombs, just inland from Makronissos Beach, stroll around this ancient burial site of 19 rock-cut funeral tombs that were cut into the rock during the Hellenistic and Roman periods (photo).
At the village of Deryneia, just 3km north of Ayia Napa, look across the ‘Green Line’ into the ghost town of Varosha in Famagusta, a deserted no-man’s-land since the Turkish occupation of 1974.
The nearby resort of Protaras is located just east of Ayia Napa and easily accessible by bus and boat tour. Protaras also offers a string of beaches to explore.
A 10-minute drive brings you to Cape Greco, considered one of the most beautiful places on Cyprus and offering a variety of other activities including cliff-jumping and snorkelling.
Ayia Napa offers a wide choice of honeymoon accommodation options to suit all budgets, including the following luxury hotels…
Grecian Bay
Location: Ayia Napa
Rating: 5-star
Prices: from AUD336 per double room
Description: Situated on Ayia Napa’s sandy beachfront, Grecian Bay features indoor and outdoor pools, spa facilities and 3 tennis courts. It offers panoramic sea views and air-conditioned rooms with private balconies. All guest rooms are equipped with satellite TV, telephone, minibar and hairdryer. Each has a work desk and en suite bathroom with bathrobe and slippers. Guests can use a free shuttle service to Cape Greco National Park, 5 km from the hotel. The small picturesque harbour of Ayia Napa is only 10 minutes’ walk away. Grecian Bay Spa Centre offers specialised massage treatments and aerobic sessions. Guests can also relax in the hot tub and benefit from the hair salon. Right on the beach, the open air Fisherman’s Hut Tavern offers fresh fish dishes with a view to the Mediterranean Sea. Guests can also enjoy international cuisine at the elegant Esperia Restaurant. Free Wi-Fi in public areas and on-site parking are available.
Alion Beach Hotel
Location: Ayia Napa
Rating: 5-star
Prices: from AUD292 per double room
Description: The refined Ayia Napa hotel features a lush palm garden with direct access to the sandy Grecian Bay. Its elegant restaurant offers international cuisine and poolside dining opportunities. All luxurious rooms at Alion Beach Hotel have a furnished balcony with Mediterranean Sea or park views and contemporary décor. Exotic ceylon massagse and chocolate body treatments can be enjoyed at the Alion’s spa, along with a gym. Guests can relax on a hammock in the garden, or on the sundeck around the outdoor pool. Live cooking shows and themed nights are offered at the Symposion Restaurant. You can enjoy a coffee and a book on Cypriot history at the Muses Library Lounge, or a traditional Cyprus lunch at the pool restaurant. Free private parking is possible at Alion Beach Hotel, and Larnaka Airport is a 30-minute drive away.
Olympic Lagoon Resort Ayia Napa
Location: Ayia Napa
Rating: 4-star
Prices: from AUD402 per double room
Description: Just a few metres from the Landa Golden Beach in Agia Napa, the 4-star Olympic Lagoon Resort features 7 swimming pools surrounded by landscape gardens, a spa centre including sauna and hamam, 4 restaurants and a kid's club. Other facilities include a fitness centre, a tennis court and a games room. All accommodation types at Olympic Lagoon are elegantly decorated in soft colours and wooden furnishings. Each is air conditioned and equipped with a flat-screen, satellite TV, a safe, a mini bar and a coffee machine. They all open to balconies or terraces, while some enjoy views over the garden, the pool or the Mediterranean Sea. Guests can start their day with a rich breakfast and then enjoy traditional Cypriot, Mediterranean or Japanese cuisine at one of the 4 restaurants for lunch or dinner. Exotic cocktails can also be enjoyed at the modernly decorated bar or at the pool bar throughout the day. Extra services in Olympic Lagoon Resort include babysitting, room service and a 24-hour front desk. Free WiFi is available throughout and free on-site parking is possible. The centre of Larnaca Town lies within 45 km from the resort, while Larnaca International Airport is at a distance of 56 km. Protaras is located 8 km away and Nissi Beach is 5 km away.
The best time to visit Ayia Napa for a beach holiday is from early-June through to early-October, when you can expect hot, sunny weather with clear blue skies and little or no rainfall.
To explore the nearby Greco-Roman ruins and Byzantine monasteries, the best time is spring and early summer, from late-April to mid-June, and during autumn, from late-September to late-October, thereby avoiding the intense summer heat and high season crowds.
During the peak summer season months of July and August maximum temperatures range from 27°C (81°F) to 36°C (97°F) with an average high of 32°C (90°F).
The shoulder months of June and September have an average high of 30°C (86°F) – a good time to visit as its less crowded and the weather is still beautiful.
For more climate info: Ayia Napa weather…
Ayia Napa is located near Cape Greco in the southeast corner of Cyprus, about 12km (7.5mi) from Protaras.
The most convenient route to Ayia Napa is by air into Larnaca International Airport – Glafcos Clerides (LCA), located about 4km (2.5mi) southwest of Larnaca and 56km (34mi) from Ayia Napa.
Cyprus is serviced daily with direct flights from several cities in Europe and the Middle East, with connecting flights from Asia, Australasia and North America.
More information on how to get to Ayia Napa…
Latest update: Ayia Napa, Cyprus: 7 September, 2023
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