21 Tourist Attractions, Beaches to Visit and Things to Do in Ayia Napa, Cyprus

October 18, 2023 Mustafa Natalwala 3989 Views

Ayia Napa, also known as Agia Napa, is a beautiful beach city on the southeastern coast of Cyprus island.

Almost all of the best things to do in Ayia Napa revolve around the coastline. This includes leisure, entertainment, nightlife, and adventure activities to do in Ayia Napa. At the same time, the coastline is also known for sightseeing spots, nature trails, and historical places to visit in Ayia Napa, Cyprus.

The city is named after a Venetian monastery of the Virgin Mary. This cave church is still among the most popular things to see in Ayia Napa. While the church dates back to the 1500s, civilization did not develop in the region till the 1700s.

However, you will come across ancient Roman and Greek places to see in Ayia Napa that predate the church. You will also find many unique and colourful churches in and around the city. These happen to some of the most photographed Ayia Napa attractions.

At the same time, there is also a great thrill in Ayia Napa travel. You can go for scuba diving, water sports, kayaking, snorkeling, boat cruises, cliff diving, mountain biking, and more. Coastal hikes are also among the top things to do in Ayia Napa. All of this with the beautiful backdrop of the turquoise blue Mediterranean.

On the calmer side of Ayia Napa sightseeing, you can just sit by the beach and enjoy the views. If you want to explore all the wonderful things nature has created, you can explore the coastline further to explore the sea caves, cliffs, and rock formations. Some of these natural wonders have become Ayia Napa tourist attractions owing to the picturesque views they offer.

The Ayia Napa beaches are also popular for leisure and entertainment facilities. You can sit in lounges, enjoy drinks, beach sports, spa therapies, swimming, and more. There can be debate about the best beach in Ayia Napa, but you will have a great time at any of them. They are all serene.

But, when the sun goes down, Ayia Napa becomes a happening partying destination. There are numerous bars, clubs, pubs, shacks, and other places to go in Ayia Napa to enjoy a wild night out. And you don’t need to venture to specific areas for a great vibe, you can party in the city and by the beaches. You can even get on a cruise and party on the ocean.

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Table of Contents

Top 21 Tourist Places to Visit in Ayia Napa, Cyprus

1. Cape Greco National Forest Park

This marvellous national park consists of forests, beaches, coastal cliffs, islands, streams, waterfalls, pools, and more. It is home to some of the most beautiful things to see in Ayia Napa.

You will see gorgeous beaches with turquoise ocean views and sculpture-like rock formations rising from the sea. It is absolutely heavenly. The national park is also popular for a lot of outdoor activities to do in Ayia Napa.

People come here for coastal hiking trails and forest trails leading to beaches. You can also enjoy cycling, cliff diving, swimming, and boating. The hidden ocean caves are also the best places to go in Ayia Napa for snorkeling. You can easily spend an entire day exploring the Cape Greco National Park.

I suggest you should book a Half-Day Trip to Cape Greco Region.

2. Makronissos Beach & Tombs

This beach is among the best places to visit in Ayia Napa, Cyprus for all things fun. The soft white sand and sapphire blue water sets the perfect backdrop for leisure, partying, and water sports.

You can go swimming, jet skiing, boat cruising, paddle-boating, waterskiing, snorkelling, and more on this Ayia Napa beach. You can also just sit by the beach and relax with drinks and snacks. The beach is also a hotspot for the best things to do in Ayia Napa, Cyprus at night. You will find amazing nightclubs, bars, lounges, shacks and events.

While most popular as a leisure destination, Makronissos is also home to historical Ayia Napa attractions. The tombs close to the beach have been carved into ocean caves. Some of the tombs date back to 300 BCE and are a few remnants of the Roman era. You can easily spend a couple of hours from Ayia Napa travel exploring the wonders, historical and happening, of Makronissos.

3. Thalassa Museum

This museum explores the history of the relationship between the Mediterranean Sea and the people living on its shores. The museum covers history, culture, zoology, archeology, and so on.

It is one of the most interesting Ayia Napa tourist attractions. Thalassa Museum has interactive exhibits showcasing historical ships, replicas of naval vessels, reconstructed shipwrecks, archeological artifacts, and more. You will need about an hour to tour this museum.

4. Water Sports

You get to explore a variety of terrains when you visit Ayia Napa. This includes the coastline, beaches, caves, pools, bays, and sea caves.

5. Ayia Napa Monastery

Dating back to the 15th century, this monastery was built under Venetian rule. The monastery was designed like a castle with some blends of palatial and religious elements.

It is a must-see in Ayia Napa for its architecture and collection of historical artifacts. The museum of the monastery outlines its history as well as the cultural influence of Venetians on the city. You will need about an hour to explore this monastery.

6. Ayia Napa Sea Caves

The sea caves give you a view of the ocean that even the best beach in Ayia Napa cannot. These caves have been carved by nature over centuries and create some incredibly beautiful rock formations.

You will get some of the most cinematic photographs and videos in these caves. There are pools, streams, rock formations, and the ocean, of course. These caves are also popular for some of the top things to do in Ayia Napa, Cyprus including scuba diving, swimming, snorkelling, cave exploring, hiking, and more. You will need a couple of hours to explore these sea caves.

I suggest you should go for a Guided Kayaking Trip to Ayia Napa Sea Caves.

7. Ayia Napa Sculpture Park & Cactus Park

This park houses a collection of 40 sculptures created by international artists from around the world. It is one of the most interesting places to see in Ayia Napa. These sculptures are themed after cultures, concepts, philosophies, legends, stories, and historical figures.

Cactus Park sits right next to the sculpture park and is another popular spot for Ayia Napa sightseeing. You will see a variety of native cacti and also a few reptiles You need 30 to 45 minutes to tour these places.

8. Waterworld Waterpark

This Ancient Greece-themed waterpark has all the fun things to do in Ayia Napa for families. While you can hit the beaches anytime, this park is still one of the most popular places to visit in Ayia Napa.

It is one of the best waterparks in Europe and is home to a variety of thrill rides, themed zones, games, and activities. It is also one of the most photogenic Ayia Napa tourist attractions owing to the Ancient Greece theme elements including pillars, temples, statues, Atlantis zone, and so on. You can easily spend a couple of hours enjoying this place when you visit Ayia Napa.

9. Konnos Bay

This Bay is one of the most happening places in Ayia Napa. The Bay is home to many coastline resorts, shacks, clubs, bars, and lounges. It is incredibly popular for one of the best beaches in Ayia Napa as well as small rock islands close to the shore.

The beach is great for swimming, snorkelling, beach sports, leisure, spa treatments, jet-skiing, and more. Konnos Bay is also known as a nightlife and party destination. You can easily take half a day to enjoy this place.

10. Kamara Tou Koraka

This natural rock bridge has formed due to centuries of carving by water and wind. Its shape, suspension, and unusual formation have made it one of the most top places to see in Ayia Napa.

This is one of the best sunset spots near the city with serene views of the ocean as it turns orange under a radiant sun. You should take a few minutes from glamorous Ayia Napa travel to admire nature’s craftsmanship here.

11. Ocean Cruise

Where there is an ocean, there are cruises. You can tour the ocean in a large ship or take a smaller boat for a more lavish experience. People can also take sailboats, speedboats, and yachts. It is one of the best things to do in Ayia Napa, Cyprus.

There are also party cruises, scuba diving cruises, sunset cruises, and sightseeing cruises. The timings change based on what you choose. But you will need at least an hour for any of the cruises.

I suggest you can book your Half Day Ocean Cruise Trip with Lunch in advance.

12. Nissi Beach

This beach is twice as beautiful as it has two Ayia Napa beaches in one place. A narrow stretch of shallow shoreline creates a natural pool on one side and two beaches facing each other. This is one of the most beautiful things to see in Ayia Napa, Cyprus.

On the fun side, the beaches have all the facilities for leisure, entertainment, games, sports, partying, and adventure activities to do in Ayia Napa. If you are done enjoying one side, you can swim to the other beach and start your party there. Or you can simply walk to the other side. You can easily spend a couple of hours enjoying the Nissi beach.

13. Ayia Napa Square

The heart of the city is also its most happening spot day and night. During the day you can roam around here watching colourful buildings and beautiful people. The square is also surrounded by some of the best places to go in Ayia Napa for dining, snacks, street food, and shopping.

When the sun goes down, the square becomes a partying hotspot. You will hear music from clubs and bars on all sides. Pick anyone and switch just across the street if their style doesn’t match your vibe. You will need only a few minutes to enjoy the square and hours to enjoy the places around it.

14. The Blue Lagoon

It is a beautiful huge lagoon with turquoise blue water. Hence, the name. But the name does not capture the ethereal beauty of this spot. The water is so clear and the waves are so calm that you can see the bottom.

The lagoon is truly one of the most mesmerizing places to see in Ayia Napa. It is also one of the best spots for swimming, snorkelling, and scuba diving.

Even from the surface, you can see the vibrant sea life. So the view from under the surface is breathtaking. You should take at least 2 hours from Ayia Napa sightseeing to explore this place.

15. St. Nicholas Church

This wonderful white and blue church is heavily influenced by Greek churches. Owing to the appearance and the backdrop of the beautiful ocean, this church has become one of the most photographed places in Ayia Napa. You need 20 to 30 minutes for this church.

16. Scuba Diving

While the ocean is gorgeous, underneath the ocean is a must-see in Ayia Napa. The majority of people miss out on the opportunity to explore the surreal world under the surface. There are numerous spots close to the beaches and a few deeper in the ocean for scuba diving.

You will also find special cruises that take you further away for a deeper experience. It is one of the top things to do in Ayia Napa and you will need a couple of hours for it.

I suggest you should book your Scuba Diving Experience in advance.

17. Machairas Monastery

Just an hour away, this monastery is one of the best places to visit near Ayia Napa. The legend has it that a hermit brought one of Apostle Luke’s icons here and has since become a place of religious significance in the Mediterranean.

The monastery has some very interesting things to see in Ayia Napa including ancient manuscripts and religious artifacts. You will need about 2 to 3 hours for this historical site.

18. Profitis Ilias Church

The church of Prophet Elias was built in the late 1900s and sits atop a hill near Protaras. You will need to climb 300 steps to get to this church, but the view from there is worth the effort.

This church is also included among Ayia Napa tourist attractions owing to the classic artworks that adorn its walls. You will need about 2 hours from Ayia Napa travel to visit the church.

19. Ancient City of Salamis

Just an hour’s drive away, the ruins of the ancient city of Salamis is one of the best things to see near Ayia Napa. The site dates back to the 11th century. The site showcases aspects of the structures of the ancient city. You can still see the pillars of the temples standing.

The site also shows ruins of statues, temples, amphitheater, houses, and so on. You will also get to see many artifacts in the site’s museum. It is a fascinating place where you can get an imaginative experience of the ancient civilization. You will need to take 2 to 3 hours from Ayia Napa sightseeing to explore this site.

20. Mount Olympus

The famed mountain of the Greek Gods is a great day-trip option for outdoor activities to do near Ayia Napa. The mountain is popular among hikers and mountain climbers.

There are several trails of varying difficulty. You can also take a chair-lift to directly get to the top without much effort. It takes at least a day to make a trip to Mount Olympus during Ayia Napa travel.

21. Park Paliatso Luna Park

This carnival park is one of the best places to go in Ayia Napa to rekindle the child within you. The place has parlour games, rides, roller coasters, Ferris wheels, street food, and more. You can easily spend a couple of hours exploring and enjoying the place.

If you are looking for more places to visit in Ayia Napa and around it, check out the sections below.

Things to do in Ayia Napa, Cyprus

Monuments, Museums & Historical Places to Visit in Ayia Napa, Cyprus

Sculpture Park
Monastery of Ayia Napa
Thalassa Maritime Museum
Ayia Napa Monument
MUSAN Museum of Underwater Sculpture
Ayia Thekla Chapel
Ayioi Anargiroi Church
Monument of Peace
Ayia Napa Aquaduct
Church of Ayia Napa
Park Rzezby
Cyclops Cave
Agioi Santara Cave Church
Makronissos Archeological Sites
The Fiesherman of Ayia Napa
Makronissis Tombs
National History Museum of Ayia Napa
Country House Museum
Cape Greco Lighthouse
Green Bay Underwater Statues
Ecclesiastical Museum
Agia Marina Church

Nature & Wildlife Tourist Spots in Ayia Napa, Cyprus

Cavo Greco National Park
Kamara Tou Koraka
Bridge of Lovers
The Blue Lagoon

Entertainment & Leisure Tourist Spots in Ayia Napa, Cyprus

Water World – Waterpark
Parko Paliasto Luna Park
Sea Caves
Ayia Thekla
Dolfin’s Luna Park
Govr Games Amusement Center
Casino Ayia Napa
Plateia Seferi

Shopping in Ayia Napa, Cyprus

Nissi Avenue
Ayia Thekla Market
Makarios Avenue
Stathis Shopping Center

Beaches & Islands in Ayia Napa, Cyprus

Cape Cavo Greco
Nissi Beach
Konnos Bay Gardens
Makronissos Beach
Landa Beach
Ayia Napa Island
Latchi Adams Beach
Limanaki Beach
The Dome Beach
Konnos Beach
Vathia Gonia
Poseidon Beach
Pantachou Beach
Nissi Island
Glyki Nero Beach
Ammos Kambouri Beach
Katsarka Beach
Limnara Beach
Loukkos Tou Mandi Beach
Vrissiana Beach
Nisia Loumbardi Beach
Nissi Bay
Green Bay
Pernera Beach
Makronissos Beach
Mikri Landa Beach
Ziatzi Beach
Pernera Beach
Malama Beach
Liopetri Beach
Sirens Beach
Firemen Beach
Kapparis Beach
Agia Triada Beach
Sirena Beach
Kalamies Beach
Trinity Beach

Offbeat Places, Tours, & Adventures in Ayia Napa, Cyprus

Boat Cruise
Transparent Bottom Boat Cruise
Cliff Diving
Scuba Diving
Snorkelling
Swimming
Kayaking
Hiking
Surfing
Jet-Skiing
Bicycling

Sightseeing in Ayia Napa, Cyprus

Aiya Napa Harbour
Cavo Greco Viewpoint
Agia Napa Promenade
Ayia Napa Square
The Mermaid Statue

Food, Dining, Restaurants, & Street Food in Ayia Napa, Cyprus

AVRA Authentic Cypriot Kitchen
Paulas
Napa Taverna
Hungry Horse Taverna
Flames
Tony’s Taverna
Los Bandidos
De Medici
En Yevo Tavernaki
MR Tzatziki
Saga
Abacus
Sesoula Kalamaki
Atlas
Magic Sandy Bay
Quadro
Glasshouse Lounge
Clarabel
Limelight Taverna
Stamna Taven
Isac Fish Tavern
Zaatar Foods Art
Ocean Basket

Where to Stay in Ayia Napa?

Here we have listed Top Rated Luxurious, Mid-Range, and Budget Hotels in Ayia Napa. You can check below listed hotels for your perfect stay in Ayia Napa.

Luxurious Hotels

Mid-Range Hotels

Budget Hotels

Custom Tours Package in Ayia Napa

How to Reach Ayia Napa, Cyprus?

By Air

The Larnaca airport is the closest one to reach Ayia Napa. The airport receives direct flights from cities in Europe, Africa and Asia. Some of the popular destinations of origin include Athens, Belgrade, Riga, Oslo, Tel Aviv, London, Copenhagen, Sofia, Warsaw, Zurich, Dusseldorf, Dubai, Milan, Beirut, Paris, Rome, Cairo, Tbilisi, and many others. You can reach Ayia Napa from the airport by taking a cab or a bus.

By Road

You can get direct buses to visit Ayia Napa from several cities on the Cyprus island. This includes Larnaca, Nicosia, Paralimni, Limassol, Paphos, and more.

If you are planning to reach Ayia Napa by road, you should head for routes: A3, E306, or E327.

By Water

You can get boat cruises for Ayia Napa travel from Larnaca and a few other coastal towns on the Cyprus island.

Image Reference

Cape Greco National Forest Park – Dimitris Vetsikas / PixaBay
Makronissos Beach & Tombs – Dimitris Vetsikas / PixaBay
Thalassa Museum – Claus Ableiter / Wikimedia Commons
Water Sports – Dimitris Vetsikas / PixaBay
Ayia Napa Monastery – Dimitris Vetsikas / PixaBay
Ayia Napa Sea Caves – Dimitris Vetsikas / PixaBay
Ayia Napa Sculpture Park & Cactus Park – Dimitris Vetsikas / PixaBay
Waterworld Waterpark – Ollie Craig / Pexels
Konnos Bay – Motorsporteditor / Wikimedia Commons
Kamara Tou Koraka – kallerna / Wikimedia Commons
Ocean Cruise – Dimitris Vetsikas / PixaBay
Nissi Beach – Dimitris Vetsikas / PixaBay
Ayia Napa Square – Dimitris Vetsikas / PixaBay
The Blue Lagoon – Dimitris Vetsikas / PixaBay
St. Nicholas Church – Dimitris Vetsikas / PixaBay
Scuba Diving – Arhnue Tan / PixaBay
Machairas Monastery – Zairon / Wikimedia Commons
Profitis Ilias Church – Ssu / Wikimedia Commons
Ancient City of Salamis – Mike McBey / Flickr
Mount Olympus – Melissa Wall / Flickr
Park Paliatso Luna Park – Максим Улитин / Wikimedia Commons