TOP 10 beaches in Cyprus

Cyprus is one of the best places in Europe for a beach holiday. The best beaches are located on the east coast in the area of Ayia Napa and Protaras. However, there are beautiful beaches for swimming in all areas of Cyprus. The west coast in the area of Paphos is more rocky. There are fewer beaches, but more natural and historical attractions.

This review presents the TOP 10 beaches in Cyprus:

1. Makronnisos Beach in Ayia Napa
2. Nissi Beach in Ayia Napa
3. Konnos Bay beach in Cape Greko
4. Vrisi Bay Beach in Protaras
5. Neo Chorio beach in Akamas
6. Pantachou beach in Ayia Napa
7. Lara beach in the Akamas Park
8. Coral Bay beach in Paphos
9. Petra Tou Romiou beach in Paphos
10. Finikoudes beach in Larnaca

Follow the hyperlinks to read in detail about each beach and see a large number of photos

Makronnisos Beach in Ayia Napa

Makronissos Beach is located 5 kilometers west of the center of Ayia Napa. There is clear azure water and white sand, which makes this beach look like a tropical resort. Many people consider Makronissos beach to be the best in Cyprus. 

The length of Makronisos beach is about 300 meters, and the width of sandy area is about 50 meters. The entrance to the sea is flat, so most of the tourists with children are here. There is no loud music, and there are no noisy parties, as on the Nissi beach. 

Nissi Beach in Ayia Napa

The white sand beach of Nissi Beach is deservedly called one of the best beaches in Ayia Napa. Perhaps the best. It is located 3.5 kilometers west of the city center. The word "Nissi" in Greek means "Island". 

There is indeed a small island on Nissi Beach. From the shore on Nissi beach, a sand spit extends towards the island. Walking along you can reach it. Usually the water level on this spit is quite high, and you have to go to the island up to your waist in water about 100 meters. Sometimes the water level decreases, and you can walk to the island on the sand, barely getting your feet wet. 

Nissi Beach is the most popular beach for young people. Along the entire shore there are sun beds with umbrellas. Even during the day, loud music plays in the bars on the beach, and in the evening there are noisy parties, fashionable DJs perform. Tourists with children prefer other beaches, such as Makronissos Beach, Sandy Bay Beach, Landa Beach. 

Konnos Bay beach in Cape Greko

Konnos beach is located in a very picturesque Bay, in the northern part of the National Park of Kavo Greco. The water is perfectly clear and azure, so the beach is deservedly one of the best beaches in Cyprus. Many people come here on small yachts and ships to swim in this Bay. 

The beach in Konnos Bay is covered with white sand. It is fully equipped. There are umbrellas, sun beds, cafes and everything you need for a comfortable rest on beach. You can come here for the whole day. 

The entrance to the sea is flat; so many people come here with children. There are picturesque rocks in the water to the left of the beach, so it is fun to snorkel and explore the sea floor. Here, people like to take photos, as the water near the rocks has the most beautiful shades. 

Vrisi Bay beach in Protaras

There are several beaches in the resort area of Protaras. Its center is the large Vrisi Bay beach. Its length is about a kilometer. Nearby is the equally beautiful Fig Tree Beach. At some distance to the north and south, there are several more beaches. 

Vrisi Bay beach is awarded the Blue Flag. Several resort hotels overlook this beach. They don`t have a fence. The beach is also open to everyone, not just the guests of these hotels.  Fig Tree Beach is 300 meters south of Vrisi Bay. It is called one of the best in Cyprus. Its length is only 200 meters, while the width reaches 100 meters. It is located in a picturesque bay with an island. At Fig Tree Beach, the promenade begins, which stretches for 3 kilometers to the north. 

Neo Chorio beach in Akamas

The resort village of Neo Chorio is not part of the Akamas National Park, but is located near its border. From here, the "Aphrodite Trail" hiking route starts, which leads to the Aphrodite Baths and then past the Moutti tis Sotiras mountain to the Blue Lagoon. 

In addition to its proximity to Akamas Park, Neo Chorio village is of interest as a great beach resort. Next to Neo Chorio is the village of Lachi and further east is the town of Polis. They are a single beach recreation area with excellent infrastructure. 

Local people from Nicosia and other places of Cyprus prefer going to Neo Chorio for vacation. These people need peace and quiet. In addition to the quiet, beautiful nature of Akamas, beaches with blue flags, these places are famous for excellent fish restaurants and taverns. 

Pantachou beach in Ayia Napa

The city beach of Ayia Napa consists of three beaches. It stretches for more than a kilometer from the Old Port to the Grecian Sands Hotel. The beach is covered with sand. It is quite wide and equipped with everything necessary for a comfortable stay. 

Most part of the city`s Ayia Napa beach is called Pantachou beach. Its second name is Limnaki Beach. It stretches for 500 meters from the port to the Grecian Bay Hotel. Then Maistrali Beach begins. Its length is small, only 250 meters. Next to it is located the Glyki Nero Beach. The beaches of Maistrali and Gliki Nero are separated from each other by a stone spit. 

All these three beaches are covered with sand, although in some places you can see the volcanic rock, which is inconvenient to enter the water. In general, this does not prevent you from relaxing on the main city beach of Ayia Napa. Its length and width allow you to comfortably accommodate all vacationers. 

Lara beach in Akamas

Lara beach is a very famous attraction in the Akamas National Park. It is located on the western coast of the peninsula. This beach is widely known in scientific circles as a place where sea turtles lay their eggs. The beach is under state protection. 

Lara beach is open for swimming, but it is located at a distance from populated areas, so there are very few people here. From June to August, two species of turtles come to Lara beach: green turtles and Caretta turtles (leathery). Turtles do not live in Cyprus, but come to the beach only to lay eggs. Turtles crawl ashore at night to lay their eggs. During the summer season, night visits to Lara beach are prohibited. 

Coral Bay beach in Paphos

Coral Bay Beach is located 15 kilometers north of the old town of Paphos. This beach is very popular, and many tourists come here to relax from Paphos or its surroundings. The beach is covered with sand, and the entrance to the sea is flat. Coral Bay Beach is located between two capes that extend almost 100 meters into the sea. Thanks to this, the sea on the beach is always calm. The length of the beach reaches 400 meters. 

Thanks to the high capes that cover the bay of Coral Bay beach, the water here warms up better than on other beaches of the west coast. The beach has a Blue flag. However, despite the beach is called "Coral Bay", the water and sand here are not as beautiful as on the beaches of Nissi Beach or Makronissos in Ayia Napa. The beaches there are really tropical. 

Petra Tou Romiou beach in Paphos

A small rock on the beach, 20 kilometers south of Paphos, is called Petra Tou Romiou. It is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Cyprus. Sometimes it is also called the Rock of Aphrodite, as it is associated with the legend of the birth of the goddess of beauty Aphrodite. 

According to ancient Greek legend, Aphrodite, the daughter of Uranus, was born from the sea foam off the coast of Cyprus
The newlyweds come to the Rock of Petra Tou Romiou. There is a beach near the rock. According to legend, if they bathe in the place where the Goddess Aphrodite came ashore, they will always be together. There is also a legend that bathing in this place gives women youth and men strength, but this is not for sure. 

Finikoudes beach in Larnaca

The city of Larnaca is not a beach resort, however, the main international airport of the country is located here. Some people come to Cyprus for a few days and they do not have the opportunity to spend time in beach resorts.

The Finikoudes beach in Larnaca is located in from of main promenade with the same name. It is different from the beaches of Ayia Napa. Because of the volcanic sand, the water does not always look clear, although the sea in the area of Larnaca is absolutely clear. It is also very shallow. For a full swim you will have to go about 50-70 meters from the shore. 

Behind the fishing port begins the promenade and the beach of Kastela. Its length is about 400 meters. Mackenzie beach is located next to the airport. Here you can watch the planes that fly directly over your heads. There is no full-fledged embankment here, but in many places, there are beautiful wooden platforms.