Things to do
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Ayia Napa Monastery
Walled Venetian monastery around a sunken courtyard in the middle of the resort, built over a cave church where an icon was found among the woods that gave the town its name. A sycamore in the courtyard is centuries old and the marble fountain still runs. Entry is free and the gates close in the early evening.
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Cape Greco
Limestone headland between Ayia Napa and Protaras, protected as a national forest park, with sea caves, a natural rock arch and cliff paths through juniper. Cycling and walking trails link the viewpoints, and divers work the clear water below. Shade is almost absent, so the middle of the day is hard going in summer.
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Fig Tree Bay
Sheltered sand at Protaras, a short drive up the coast, named for a fig tree planted in the sixteenth century and still standing behind the beach. Water is shallow and clear a long way out, which makes it a family bay. Loungers cover the sand in season, and the small islet offshore is an easy swim.
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Nissi Beach
White sand and shallow turquoise water curve around a small island joined to the shore by a sandbar that can be waded at low water. Sunbeds, bars and beach parties pack the bay through the summer. Early morning is the window for a quiet swim, before the sound systems start.
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Sea Caves
Wave cut hollows in the pale cliffs west of the town, reached by a coastal track and popular for cliff jumping into deep water. Boat trips run in from the harbour, and the light inside the arches is best in the morning. Rock edges are sharp and the swell picks up on windy days, which closes the jumping spots.