Ayia Napa is often compared to Ibiza. However, in this city you can find not only dance floors where famous DJs play tracks all over the world, but also many interesting places. The sights of Ayia Napa deserve no less attention than its nightlife. And in order not to get lost in them, you can study the list of the most-most, given below.
Water World Water Park
Water World is the largest outdoor water park not only in Cyprus, but also in the whole of Europe. However, it is famous not so much for its size as for its interesting organization — the entire space is decorated in the spirit of Ancient Greece. Each pool, each attraction has a symbolic name. So during the time spent here, you can not only have fun and get a lot of positive emotions, but also make a real journey through time.
As for the slides, there are plenty of them in the Water World Water Park. Some of them are family rides, while others are accessible only by fans of extreme entertainment. Guests vacationing with a company can even arrange a competition. For example, you can go down parallel “snakes” together, on the Feats of Hercules attraction, or the four of you can participate in Chariot Races.
But still, the most unusual is the Fall to Anlantida-guests descending on a three-person boat are accompanied by music and lighting effects. Those who do not like active entertainment will also find something to do in Water World. Each of the three pools, named after Poseidon, Pegasus and Aphrodite, has sun loungers.
Trees and umbrellas provide shade from the scorching sun. Naturally, there are bars and cafes on the territory where you can have a snack or just drink something cold. For younger guests, a special area is equipped — they will have to make a Trojan adventure and overcome the Minotaur Maze.
Water World is located on the outskirts of Ayia Napa and can be reached by a special bus or taxi.
Blue Lagoon
Cyprus is rich in natural attractions, among which the sea and coastal ones occupy a special place. But even among all this splendor, the Blue Lagoon, located near Ayia Napa, stands out significantly. It got its name not by chance. The water here is really light and transparent, almost sky-blue in color.
When you look at the horizon, the two planes seem to merge together and continue on their way together. The lagoon coast is no less picturesque. The rocks are adjacent to more gentle mountains, on the slopes of which spruce trees grow. The landscape is, without exaggeration, fabulous. You can explore the lagoon in two ways – from the water or from the shore.
The first one is completely safe and simple-pleasure boats depart from the port quite often. For some of them, the Lagoon is the final destination, while others go further. But, nevertheless, almost everyone makes a stop here so that tourists can swim. The cost of a boat trip to the Blue Lagoon depends on the chosen route.
Also here you can meet yachts traveling on an individual route. The lagoon can also be viewed from the shore, but this option requires a certain level of physical fitness. In addition, it is not recommended to travel around these regions independently, without knowledgeable guides.
Cavo Greco Forest Park
Not far from Ayia Napa is the beautiful Cavo Greco National Park, where you can perfectly diversify your vacation, go in for sports, get a shot of adrenaline or spend time alone with nature. The territory of the park is, in fact, a forest area on the coast. Its employees do everything possible to ensure that their projects fit as harmoniously as possible into natural landscapes.
For example, an orchid park or a collection of bulbs, daffodils, crocuses and irises are not superfluous in Cavo Greco. For those who like active recreation, the park has a huge number of cycling routes and walking paths. All of them are divided into difficulty levels, but any tourist can overcome the most popular one, the Aphrodite trail.
Moreover, along it there are many shops, equipped with beautiful viewpoints. Walking through the park, you can not ignore the local attractions — the ruins of the ancient temple of Aphrodite and a slightly more modern, but no less interesting church of Agia Anargiri. By the way, the latter stands out noticeably against the background of the surrounding landscapes, as it is built of white stone.
For those who don’t think walking is enough, you can tickle their nerves by taking a hang gliding flight and once again admire the beauty of Cavo Greco, looking at it from a bird’s-eye view. Getting to the park from Ayia Napa is not difficult – you can do it by bus, taxi or private car. However, it should be taken into account that public transport in Cyprus is often an unpredictable phenomenon that does not obey any laws.
Entrance to the territory is free at any time of the day or night.
Lighthouse
Lighthouses have been a landmark and a lifesaver for ships for hundreds of years. The one located in Ayia Napa is no exception. However, in addition to being popular with sailors, it has gained popularity among tourists. The snow-white tower, at the foot of which there are large stones, attracts romantics and just those who want to be alone with the sea and their thoughts.
Of course, from an architectural point of view, the lighthouse is nothing special, but, nevertheless, it looks impressive. Visitors to Ayia Napa often think about climbing to the top and taking a look at the surrounding area. However, it is impossible to do this — the lighthouse is active and outsiders are not allowed there. But even at the bottom, you can enjoy the beautiful seascape and city views.
Not far from the lighthouse is the popular Karousos beach, one of the best in Ayia Napa. Therefore, a day walk can be combined with a pleasant pastime by the sea. But in the evening you can continue the route along the embankment and have dinner in one of the local cafes or restaurants.
It is not difficult to find the lighthouse — it is located at the end of the embankment on a small spit that goes into the sea, and is visible from afar. You can view it at any convenient time — the territory is not fenced or guarded. Entrance tickets, respectively, are not needed. However, you should not even attempt to climb up in any way — the law enforcement officers will immediately be found.
Monastery
Ayia Napa means “Sacred Forests”in Greek. This is the name given to this place by people who accidentally discovered an icon of the Mother of God in an abandoned cave and decided to settle nearby. Later, the settlement grew and became a fishing village. And in the 20th century, it completely turned into a modern resort.
But the memory of the deeds of bygone days is still alive to this day. At the place where the icon was found, a church was first erected. Then there was a monastery built on the orders of one of the nobles of Cyprus. After experiencing an unhappy love affair, she decided to spend the rest of her days here, in captivity.
Today, her grave, located in the marble Fountain house, is one of the main attractions of the monastery. Most popular is the veil that Jesus received from Saint Veronica during the journey to Calvary. Not only tourists, but also pilgrims from all over the world want to see this shrine and touch it.
In addition, guests must be shown a tree near one of the walls of the monastery. Judging by the stories of local guides, he is already more than six hundred years old. Whatever it was with wood, but the architecture of the monastery, built in the XVI century, really deserves attention. Moreover, since then, despite the alternating periods of dawn and desolation, its appearance has not changed much.
The monastery is located in the center of Ayia Napa. You can visit it for free. The tour is also included in any sightseeing tour of the city. In September, the territory of the complex is transformed and becomes the venue for the autumn fair.
Sea caves-grottos
Nature sometimes creates such masterpieces, the beauty of which a person can only admire. In the vicinity of Ayia Napa, she tried especially carefully — there are plenty of beautiful places here. However, even against the background of all this splendor, sea caves-grottos stand out noticeably. It’s hard to believe, but all of them are the result of centuries of effort of the waves, which are diligently beating on the rocks.
It is simply impossible to express in words the beauty of the caves of Ayia Napa — this is just the case when it is better to see once. There are several ways to do this. First, during a yacht or boat trip. They swim as close to the shore as possible. Some are moored here for several hours, giving tourists the opportunity not only to admire the caves from afar, but also to swim closer to them.
Others, after standing for a few minutes, go further. The caves can also be viewed from the shore. The journey from Ayia Napa to this beautiful place will take no more than half an hour, if you go on a trip on foot. On a bicycle and even less. There is a public transport stop nearby.
However, in any case, you need to make sure that the shoes are stable and comfortable — the descent to the caves is rocky. The most extreme tourists, not paying attention to the numerous signs with prohibitions, jump from steep cliffs into the water and swim directly into the grottoes. There are rumors that the wish made inside will certainly come true. However, before you decide on such a step, you should carefully weigh the pros and cons.
Bridge of Lovers
The Bridge of Lovers is one of the most popular attractions among newlyweds and just romantic couples. Also, connoisseurs of natural attractions and just curious tourists often look here. The bridge, as it is commonly called, is a rock-arch, one end connected to the shore, and the other goes into the water.
An unusual and impressive creation of nature, which photographers often use as a background for photo shoots. It has long been a tradition for newlyweds in Cyprus to come here and take a few photos as a keepsake. Tourists also have their own custom associated with the bridge of lovers. It is believed that if you hold hands and jump from it into the water, the feelings will never cool down. By the way, this entertainment is quite safe and not prohibited, but still not everyone decides on it.
Guests who are not in the mood to get a shot of adrenaline also do not remain indifferent to the bridge of lovers. Too beautiful scenery opens up from it — it can rightfully claim the status of one of the best viewing platforms in the vicinity of Ayia Napa. You can look at the bridge from the shore or from the sea.
Pleasure boats depart regularly from the port, and most of them run here. Many make a stop so that guests can swim and swim under the stone arch. The wish made in this case must certainly come true. Walking from Ayia Napa to the bridge of lovers will take about 30-40 minutes, you can” speed up ” by renting a bicycle or using taxi services.
Cape Greco
In order to fully experience and understand what the “blue flag” is and what it is given for, what kind of water can be called clean and have an idea of the beauty called unsurpassed, you need to do not so much — visit Cape Greco, located in the vicinity of Ayia Napa. You can come here at any time of the day or night — Cape Greco is always beautiful.
However, very special, mesmerizing panoramas open up during sunset and dawn. To sit together on the edge of the earth and watch the sun set or rise — what could be more romantic? Cape Greco was chosen not only by romantic couples, but also by divers. Some of them simply enjoy the rich underwater world, others are looking for the mysterious sea monster Scylla, half-dog, half-woman.
According to Homer, years ago she’d snatched sailors from passing ships. Over the past few hundred years, this has not happened, the terrible creature is limited to periodically tearing the nets of fishermen. It’s hard to believe, but even to such a beautiful place as Cape Greco, civilization has reached. It is not fully accessible to tourists, as part of it is occupied by a carefully guarded American radar station.
It does not fit perfectly into the surrounding landscape, but some curious tourists come just to look at it at least from afar. Cape Greco can be reached from Ayia Napa by taxi, rented bike or private car. Public transport in this area is extremely poor, so it is better not to count on it.
Ayia Anargiri Church
On Cape Greco there is a small blue-and-white chapel of Aya Anargiri (Church of the Saints without Silver). Built in the 80s of the last century, the church is dedicated to the brothers-healers Cosmas and Damian, who presumably lived in the III-IV century. Having the gift of healing even the most serious illnesses, healers considered it unacceptable to take any remuneration for their work, for which they were elevated to the rank of saints.
The Orthodox Church is open to parishioners. Services are held on holidays, trebs are carried out regularly. Due to its romantic appearance, the temple is very popular among newlyweds and parents who want to baptize their children.
Next to Ayia Anargiri, a path winds through. At the very edge of a sheer cliff, it turns into a stone staircase leading to the seashore and a shallow cave. According to legend, it was chosen as their home by the holy hermits Damian and Cosmas. Be careful — it is easy to slip on the stones that are lavishly washed with turquoise water.
Pirate Caves
Pirate Cave is a complex located right in the center of Ayia Napa. It is difficult to say when and for what purpose the strange stone structures were erected today. However, local residents claim that many years ago they were a real pirate backwater. If you turn on your imagination, you can really imagine that this is a primitive defensive line, and treasure chests are still stored at the bottom.
Whatever it was in fact, these days there is a ship “Black Pearl”, reminiscent of the ship from the movie Pirates of the Caribbean. Walks on it are not ordinary, but thematic. Guests can enjoy sea wolf-style snacks, as well as games and contests.
So you can finish the trip not only with a good mood, but also with a souvenir. Periodically, the ship goes on a night voyage, and pirate parties for adults are held on board. In any case, the main instigators and actors, day and night, are the legendary Jack Sparrow and his comrade Captain Barbosa.
But even if you do not plan to go on a sea trip, then you should still take a look at the pirate caves from the shore. Moreover, it is quite easy to do this – just walk to the center of Ayia Napa. But about the schedule according to which the “Black Pearl” goes to sea, it is better to specify in advance.
Nissi beach
The most famous beach of Ayia Napa, Nissi beach, is the purest turquoise water and 500 meters of fine white sand. Located two kilometers from the city center, in a quiet bay. There are practically no waves here, even during spring storms. The entrance to the sea is gentle, there are no large stones on the bottom, which is comfortable for children and novice swimmers.
However, you can not keep silent about the shortcomings. Nissi beach is extremely popular with tourists. In high season, it is so crowded that even in the early morning it is difficult to find a free sunbed. Another significant disadvantage is the green slippery algae that the sea often throws ashore in May and July.
Who will definitely like Nissi beach, so it’s those who came to Cyprus for the famous hangouts of the island. It is here that the famous foam parties start three times a week. In addition, a DJ plays daily, and there is no shortage of coastal bars with a rich assortment of cocktails. Therefore, crowds of people dancing on the sand for this place is a familiar sight.
Sculpture Park
For fans of contemporary art, the Sculpture Park is a must have among local attractions. This unique open-air museum opened in 2014. At that time, his collection consisted of only 60 plaster figures created by sculptors from different parts of the world.
Today, the park occupies a vast territory of about 20 hectares. It will take about an hour and a half to get around it. This time is just enough to see numerous abstract sculptures, figures of people, ancient gods, animals, angels. Most of the statues are made of plaster, but there are also works made of limestone and metal.
The park is located in an open area, not everyone can withstand the scorching Cypriot sun. Therefore, when going to inspect the sculptures, do not forget a headdress and sunglasses. The best time to visit is in the early morning or evening. You should not come after sunset — there is no lighting on the territory.
Museum of the Sea “Thalassa”
The life of Cyprus is connected with the sea by an indissoluble bond. Therefore, it is not surprising that the island has a museum whose collection is entirely devoted to the history, flora and fauna of the Mediterranean. The exhibition is located in a three-story building, whose modern facade organically combines onyx, wood, metal and marble.
The exhibits are displayed on seven levels. Ceramic products, figurines, models of ancient ships, skeletons and stuffed sea creatures are installed in showcases, on the floor, and hang from the ceiling. Paintings by marine artists and a collection of semiprecious stones are of interest. In the hall of ancient navigators, cauldrons, amphorae, carved dishes, and figurines of idols are displayed.
The museum’s flagship is a full-size replica of the ancient ship Kyrenia II (400 BC), discovered in 1965 by diver Andreas Cariolou. There is also a papyrella, a replica of a papyrus boat used to transport obsidian in 9,200 BC.
Another interesting object of “Thalassa” is a fragment of the sea floor of those distant times when gigantic dinosaurs ruled the planet. In addition, the museum offers a look at the results of paleontological excavations conducted in Cyprus: fossilized skeletons of animals, fish, ancient shells and corals. Some of the relics are about 130 million years old.
Port of Ayia Napa
The port can rightly be considered the heart of the resort of Ayia Napa. It has a special atmosphere that attracts tourists no less than the beautiful beaches. Of course, there are no cruise ships at the marina, but there are authentic fishing boats, small boats and romantic yachts. The first thing you can do in the port is to book a boat trip. A huge number of them are offered-on different routes and for different durations.
In any case, those who have decided on such an adventure are waiting for beautiful landscapes and swimming in the open sea. Fishing enthusiasts will also find something to do in the port. Local fishermen are happy to take guests with them to the sea and share with them the secrets of fishing. But even if you can’t catch anything yourself, there is a makeshift market here in the port every morning, where you can buy fresh sea delicacies.
At the request of the client, they can be prepared. However, it will have to wait — after all, this will most likely be done at home. The streets surrounding the port also attract tourists. Interesting architecture, colorful cafes and, of course, the opportunity to try the most authentic fish meze, prepared exclusively from fresh seafood.
You can finish your port walk by admiring the evening sunset. The port is located in the central part of Ayia Napa, so you can reach it on foot from almost anywhere in the resort. For those who are not attracted to walking, there are buses. Before boarding one of them, check whether it goes to the port.
Famagusta
Not far from Ayia Napa is a city that has witnessed the history of Cyprus, its ups and downs, tragedies and joys. This is Famagusta, founded many centuries ago and used to be the residence of Richard the Lionheart in the distant Middle Ages. Until 1974, Famagusta was considered one of the most elite European resorts. Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton and many other well-known political and economic figures, representatives of the creative elite rested here.
However, difficult relations with Turkey led to the fact that the central district of Varosha was completely destroyed overnight, turning into a ghost town. Locals, calling for a walk around the block, claim that there are still “traces of past life”, and in the shops there are clothes that were fashionable in the 70s. But this, of course, is a myth. Immediately after the tragedy, everything was looted.
However, despite all the vicissitudes, the city has preserved many ancient ruins worthy of attention. First of all, this is the Cathedral of St. Nicholas. Rumor has it that the fig tree next to it was planted at the same time as the foundation was laid, in 1298. The old town is surrounded by a wall — the Venetian-style fortification is considered the best preserved in Europe.
The trip to Famugusta is one of the most popular Cyprus excursions. You can buy it at any local agency. For those who decide to get to the city on their own, it is best to rent a car — public transport in Cyprus is bad and there may be a situation that, having left in one direction, you will be able to return only by taxi.