- The best beaches of the resort
- Ayia Napa museums
- Interesting sights
- Out-of-town excursions
- Entertainment for children
Ayia Napa is a fashionable resort in the southeast of Cyprus, one of the Mediterranean islands. This city is chosen for recreation by tourists from all over the world, first of all, because of the luxurious beaches marked with Blue flags, which testifies to their cleanliness and well-groomed, as well as the transparency of the water near the coast.
Not only young people come here, who in the evenings go from bar to bar, enjoying excellent company and strong drinks. These hikes are called “pub rolls”. Ayia Napa attracts both older travelers and couples with children. The city can offer its guests excellent hotels, wonderful infrastructure, many attractions located within walking distance, good taverns, where tasty and hearty food is served. Where to go in Ayia Napa, an employee of any hotel complex or travel company will tell you. Locals will also be able to recommend interesting places in the city and its surroundings, which you can see on your own.
The best beaches of the resort
All beaches in Ayia Napa are managed by the city and are free of charge. At the initiative of the authorities of the city of Ayia Napa, all other sections of the coast in Cyprus came under the control of towns and villages located nearby. Until 2014, the beaches were managed by individuals and companies that received the appropriate license. And although you can relax on the sand for free, you need to pay a nominal fee for a sunbed or an umbrella. This state of affairs has already borne the first fruits: the city of Ayia Napa, just renting out beach equipment, has 3.5 million euros annually.
Tourists arriving at the resort are usually not content with a single beach until the end of their vacation. People move between the beaches in search of a more scenic and pleasant bathing place. The best beaches in Ayia Napa include:
- Makronissos. The distance from the city center to this beach is about 5 km. They can be walked on foot, or they can be overcome on a rented bike in 20 minutes, especially since you do not need to pay anything for a place in a special parking lot. There is also a bus ride here, but its stop is located far from the beach. Makronissos beach is not long: a strip of fine white sand stretches along the sea for only 500 meters. The descent into the water is shallow, the coast is shallow, but the depth begins in a few meters.
- Golden Beach, also called Landa Beach. It is a continuation of Makronissos beach and is located closer to the center of the resort. The beach is well-maintained, tourists will find here everything they need for a carefree vacation. The coast is very shallow, so this section of the coast can be recommended for families with small children.
- Nissi. A trendy place where beach parties are constantly held. There are always a lot of people. Basically, young people rest here, who are entertained by DJs from all over the world. You can get to the beach on foot or by bus.
- Sandy Bay. A small, intimate, cozy beach is located on the shore of a small bay. On one side it is framed by a stone embankment, but the entrance to the water is cleared of stones. There is a cafe on the beach with high prices.
Ayia Napa museums
Set aside one or more days of your vacation to visit interesting museums. There are not many of them in Ayia Napa, but all are worthy of attention. Perhaps the most popular museum in the city is the Maritime Museum, called "Thalassa" and dedicated to the main attraction of the city - the Mediterranean Sea and everything connected with it. Here are collected stuffed marine life, including prehistoric ones, shells raised from the bottom of the sea, amphorae and other artifacts found by scuba divers in the depths of the sea and much more. The gem of the collection is a replica of the ancient Greek ship "Kerinia". This ship, built in the 4th century BC. e., discovered near the shores of Ayia Napa in the second half of the last century. A cargo of four hundred jugs of oil and olives survived on board. The exposition of the Thalassa Museum is located in a modern three-storey building. The collection was arranged in the halls with great imagination. Some of the old anchors and vessels covered with a noble patina are placed under a glass floor, so the guests have the impression that they are walking along the seabed.
Both an adult and a child will enjoy the excursion to the Rural House Museum. This is one of the best ethnographic museums in the country. It recreates the rooms of a 19th century Cypriot house. Exhibits are tableware, household items and handmade furniture. Previously, the owner of the house had to make it personally. The museum has a working old oven, in which bread is still baked and guests are treated to it. There is a shop next to the museum selling items made by local craftsmen in a traditional style.
Interesting sights
The main historical monument of Ayia Napa is considered to be the “Mother of God in the Woods” monastery, built in the 15th-16th centuries. A small fishing village began to form around this complex, which eventually turned into a fashionable resort. The monastery appeared not far from the cave where the ancient Byzantine icon of the Virgin Mary was discovered. Subsequently, this image began to be called Ayia Napa, which translates as "Forest Saint".
The monastery was closed in the 18th century. It is currently a museum. Tourists are shown a beautiful patio with a fountain. Nearby is the tomb of a rich girl from Venice, who went to the Ayia Napa monastery because her parents were against her marriage with a poor boy. They say that this Venetian planted a fig tree on the territory of the monastery, which can be seen in our time. Near the monastery complex there is a modest church, which is still active.
There is another ancient monument in the city. This is an aqueduct that was found by archaeologists in the second half of the 20th century, after the restoration of the monastery. The length of the stone structure that supplied water to the monastery and church gardens is 2 km. Nowadays, the aqueduct has been restored and is a striking landmark of Ayia Napa.
While walking around the city, you should pay attention to several beautiful statues installed in different parts of Ayia Napa. At the original long fountain stands a monument to the fisherman, which is a nod to the city's past. There were times when the entire local population was engaged only in fishing and farming. The monument to the fisherman was opened in June 2015.
In the harbor of Ayia Napa, you can see a statue of a mermaid, cast in the same 2015. Finally, in the city center, on a flowerbed island in the middle of a busy road, there is a sculpture depicting a farmer's wife. The sculptor depicted a woman holding a fruit basket, which highlights the abundance of fruit trees in Cyprus.
Out-of-town excursions
Near Ayia Napa, there is a unique must-see spot. This is Cape Kavo Greco, famous for its grottoes, caves, secluded bays. In the evening, there are no crowds of people wishing to see the best sunset in Cyprus. In the afternoon, wildlife lovers come here to watch migratory birds. There is even a monument on the cape depicting birds flying up. In general, Cape Kavo Greco, outstanding in the sea, is located on the territory of the national park of the same name. A path from the coast will lead tourists to the place where the temple dedicated to Aphrodite used to stand.
While relaxing on the Makronissos beach, do not miss the chance to visit the cave necropolis dating back to the era of the ancient Romans. Archaeologists have discovered 19 burials built in the rocks. You can get to the tomb by overcoming several steps. The sarcophagus with the body was placed in a small cell, and the entrance was blocked by a thick, heavy slab. A hundred years ago, the crypts attracted treasure hunters, so scientists did not find valuable things here.
Most tourists are planning a trip to the village of Derinya, which is located very close to Ayia Napa. It has an amphitheater, the Church of St. George, a museum of folk crafts. But this is not what attracts many travelers. From the village, you can see the abandoned quarters of the once populous resort of Famagusta. Now it is Turkish territory, and the passage to it is prohibited. You can take a look at the ghost town, where no one lives these days, from the observation decks arranged on the roofs of the village houses.
Entertainment for children
The question of where to go in Ayia Napa with children is not worth it. The resort has plenty of places that kids and their parents will love. You can have a great time by going on a boat trip on a pleasure boat, in which the bottom is made of glass. In this case, guests can see all the underwater beauties.
Near the Nissi beach there is a dinosaur park "Dinosaur Land", where life-size figures of ancient lizards are collected. These sculptures look very menacing, and besides, they can move and growl, which scares toddlers and amuses older children.
Fans of water attractions should definitely drop by the WaterWorld water park, which is considered the best in Cyprus. The amusement park is dedicated to Greek mythology. Four swimming pools, many slides of varying difficulty - what else do children need to be happy?
In the evening, families with children head to the Parko Paliatso amusement park, which opened in Ayia Napa in 1999. At the guests' service there is a Ferris wheel, various swings, roller coasters, merry-go-rounds, rides - scary and not so much. For those who like to drive cars, there is a special track. The amusement park is open from 18.00 to 24.00.
