People fall in love with Ayia Napa at first sight! The lively Cypriot resort captivates with excellent beaches and picturesque Cape Greco. Hear about Ayia Napa's most popular attractions and lesser-known spots that not all tourists visit.
The resort in the east of Cyprus appeared relatively recently - in the 1980s, but its history is rooted in the distant past. If you are interested in antiquity, see the beautifully preserved Orthodox monastery and small churches along the coast. Connoisseurs of nature will be interested in rocky bays on the legendary Cavo Greco, and romantics - the Bridge of Love. Breathe in the fresh sea air, tie a ribbon on a 600-year-old tree and you will definitely return to Ayia Napa!
Attractions Ayia Napa on the map
Monastery of the Virgin Mary
One of the main attractions of Ayia Napa is the old monastery. It appeared in the 16th century at the place where the ancient icon of the Virgin Mary was found. Now the doors of the monastery are open to tourists. Massive stone walls, cobblestone paths, knightly coats of arms and figures of warriors in armor make the monastery look like a medieval castle. In the center there is a working Christian church. It's always quiet and calm here!
Old tree
In the center of the resort, to the south of the entrance to the monastery, there is a ficus tree - sycamore, which is more than 600 years old. They say that this tree was planted by one of the abbess of the monastery. The massive trunk is so large that only 3-4 people can grab it.
Heavy branches rest on props. During the day, the evergreen crown creates a pleasant shade, and in the evenings the tree is beautifully illuminated. According to legend, all the wishes made near the Cypriot giant come true. Try it!
Church of Elijah the Prophet
There are many desire trees in Cyprus. One of the most popular is located near the temple of the prophet Elijah, on the southern outskirts of Protaras. From Ayia Napa, you can easily get to Ayios Elias by bus or taxi.
There are 170 steps leading to the church. The sandstone building has no special architectural delights. Inside the temple is decorated with frescoes and painted plates. The hill offers a picturesque view of the resort buildings and the coast. Admission is free, and wish ribbons to be tied to a tree cost € 0.50. The doors of the temple are open at any time of the day.
Chapel of Ayia Thekla
The original catacomb church is a landmark of Ayia Napa, which is interesting to see not only for pilgrims, but also for ordinary tourists. A small temple is located next to a 300-meter sandy and rocky beach. Initially, there was only a tiny cave chapel, but now there is a stone church.
Inside you can see a beautiful carved iconostasis. In the tiny chapel below, candles and icon lamps are always lit. There is an observation deck next to Chapel Ayia Thekla. On a hot Cypriot day, stand in the fresh breeze and admire the sea!
Church of St. Nicholas
We advise you to see the temple in honor of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker - the patron saint of Cypriot fishermen. The inhabitants of all the surrounding villages sincerely venerate him and pray to him. The architecture of the church is typical of Greek temples: the small building is painted white, while the domes and platbands are blue.
The temple stands next to the fishing harbor in Protaras and is perfectly visible from the sea. From Ayia Napa there is a bus number 101. You need to get off at the Vrisoudion 1 stop.
Ancient aqueduct
Not far from the Thalassa Museum, there is a stone aqueduct, through which water from the mountains has been supplied to the settlement and monastery for centuries. When archaeologists carried out excavations, it became clear that an older Roman aqueduct existed here. A wonderful view of the coast opens from here!
National Park Kavo Gkreko
Those vacationing at the resort are in luck! Nearby in Ayia Napo there is a natural landmark that people come to see from all over Cyprus. A wonderful corner of the island is almost untouched by civilization. In the east of the cape there is a British radar station and a lighthouse. Outsiders are not allowed here.
Most of Cavo Greco has been turned into a national park open to all tourists. There are 16 km of hiking and cycling trails along the coast. The most popular of them - Aphrodite's Trail - walks past the ruins of the temple of the Greek goddess. We advise you to look at the tiny church of Ayia Anargiri, the Bridge of Sinners, the observation deck of Kavos and the sea caves. There are more than enough beauties, but don't count on a special infrastructure!
The entrance to the national park is free. Renting a bike costs 7 € and an ATV 25 €.
The bridge of love
White arch-rock 10 m high is the hallmark of Ayia Napa. The scenic attraction is located 400 meters from the Pantahu beach, at the beginning of Cape Greco. It is forbidden to jump from a cliff into the water, because the depth here is shallow, but swimming in the shallow, transparent sea is a pleasure!
A particularly romantic atmosphere near the Love Bridge happens at sunset. According to legend, if you kiss near the bridge with your soul mate, then your love will be eternal.
Sculpture park
For man-made beauty, head to the sculpture park in the east of the resort. More than 150 statues are exhibited here, which were made by sculptors from different countries of the world, including masters from Russia. The creative process continues, so every year the collection is replenished with new masterpieces.
The original park covers an area of 2 hectares. The area is open and rocky. Come to the park with comfortable shoes. We recommend that you schedule your visit after 17:00. It will be still light, but not so hot!
Thalassa Museum
The Maritime Museum, which tells about the impact of the sea on the life of Cyprus and Cypriots, is located in the heart of Ayia Napa. All the sights that can be seen in its halls are dedicated to the marine theme. These are fossilized shells, stuffed fish, turtles, seabirds and molluscs, corals, paintings by Cypriot artists and ancient artifacts that were raised from the bottom of the sea. Look at the skeleton of an extinct pygmy hippopotamus that lived in these places 75 thousand years ago.
The most amazing exhibit is considered to be a replica of the Cypriot ship Kyrenia-Eleftheria, which sank off the northern shores of a Greek island in the 4th century BC. The original of the ship is kept in the city of Kyrenia, and its images can be seen on the national coins of Cyprus. The entrance to the museum costs 4 €.
Country house
If you would like to learn more about the traditions of the people of Cyprus, take a look at the Farmhouse Museum on Monastery Square. The building is constructed of clay bricks in the Cypriot style and furnished with traditional furnishings. You will see a loom, lace bedspread, Cypriot ceramics and a fireplace. There is a real peasant plow in the yard. A very cozy place!
CyHerbia Herbal Park
An unusual collection of medicinal plants can be seen in the vicinity of the resort, near the Avgorou settlement. No boring Latin nameplates! A path in the shape of the island of Cyprus is laid through the park, and a walk through the plant garden resembles an exciting quest.
During the tour, you will learn how distillate and oil are obtained from medicinal herbs. The park's pharmacy sells aromatic oils, teas and herbal cosmetics.
Admission costs 5 € for adults and 3 € for children from 5 to 12 years old. The price includes a glass of herbal tea. Buy a separate ticket to the Lavender Labyrinth for 3 € and you will receive a jug of delicious lavender lemonade with ice!
Blue Lagoon
Near Ayia Napa is one of the most beautiful sights of Cyprus - the Blue Lagoon. This is the pearl of the island! Due to large and sharp stones, descent to the water from the shore is difficult and dangerous. There is a bench on the plateau for everyone who wants to admire the incredible panorama of the sea.
We advise you to sail to the bay by sea! So that tourists can swim in the transparent Blue Lagoon, they are brought here during sea excursions.From the port of the resort to the lagoon there is a regular pirate ship "Black Pearl". Feel like a real corsair!
Konnos Beach
The most beautiful bay and luxurious sandy beach are part of the Cavo Greco nature reserve. There are excellent 4-5 * hotels here, and there are walking paths. The bay is easy to get to by car. Pine trees grow around, so during a walk tourists can enjoy the smells of the sea and pine needles warmed up in the sun.
If you're hungry, grab a bite to eat at the Konnos Bay Kiosk and admire the turquoise waters of the bay from the outdoor deck that overlooks the sea. Boats and motor boats start from the deck near the water, which take tourists on boat trips.
Fig Tree Bay
Fig Tree Bay is a scenic attraction in the neighboring settlement of Ayia Napa, Protaras. Once upon a time there was a large fig tree on the shore, which is why the bay got its name.
Time has passed. The tree is gone, but tourists are greeted by a lively promenade full of hotels and restaurants. The local golden sand beach is considered one of the best in Europe.
All tourists are trying to see the tombs of Ayia Napa carved into the rocks. They are easy to visit on your own - they are very close to the popular Makronisos Beach. The cave complex of 19 tombs and sanctuaries was created in ancient times. In the middle of the 19th century, they were plundered by black diggers. Despite the fact that archaeologists are still working here, tourists are allowed to visit the tombs completely freely.
