The resort at AYIA NAPA, or AGIA NAPA as it is increasingly called, is one of the most popular holiday spots for teenagers and young families. The resort is strung out along the shoreline in the eastern corner of Cyprus island.
Ayia Napa resort centres around two main street. One runs along the shoreline parallel to the beaches and the other strikes inland through the centre of the resort. The main clubbibg area is inland, to the north of the resort, and the beaches and harbour area lie to the south.
Ayia Napa takes its name from the ancient Greek word nape which means wooded valley. There is no wooded valley today, just a big urban sprawl.
Ayia Napa is now almost totally given over to package tourism with about 40 hotels, more than 200 apartments and a spawling tourist village. In all there are around 19,000 beds to fill each summer.
Visitors enjoy an almost endless succession of clubs and bars that cater for an unending stream of youngsters out for a good time.
Despite Ayia Napa being noisy, brash and tasteless it is one of the most sought-after holiday destinations in the Med and attracts about one third of all tourist visitors to Cyprus.
One of the low points on an Ayia Napa holiday is bumping into drunk British squaddies from the base at Dheklia out on a boys' night out of drinking in the street, dancing in the street, yelling in the street and throwing up in the street.
High points of Ayia Napa are the series of exquisite soft sand beaches, some warm shallow and crystal clear waters and all the watersports a thrill-seeking holiday visitor could wish for.
Ayia Napa beach
Ayia Napa clubs
The resort at AYIA NAPA is strung out along the main coast road which runs east - west along the shore. This main street is called Leoforos Nisios and it runs parallel to the shore and beaches. There are several beach areas to choose from along the coast and the road is usually very busy with holiday traffic.
In Ayia Napa proper the road meets the other main street, Leoforos Makariou. This runs north-south through the town centre and it where to find most of the clubs and discos, the majority of them centred around the main square.
Nightlife centres around clubbing and clubbing centres around the Square. The area is actually quite small so it quickly gets packed as the punters pour in.
There are at least 20 clubs and bars centred around the Square, most of them decked out with Disney-style frontages. The main ones are The Bedrock, the Castle and Ice.
The Square is usually deserted until about 9.30pm and some clubs don't even open until 1am. Drink prices tend to be reasonable but competition between clubs is ferocious. Persistent touts are always out in force with offers of free shots for passers by. They are notoriously annoying and some will even drag you in, if you look timid enough to take it.
Many hotels have deals with the clubs, offering free tickets or free shots and touts will often cruise the hotels looking to part new arrivals with their cash with special offers or unabashed hard sell. Many hotels also have their own clubbing entertainment.
The night's clubbing starts around 11pm when punters start toruing the ars until the clubs are open around 1am. Most don't close the doors until after daybreak. All the bars and clubs are within a few minutes walk of each other which makes for a cosy, if not sober, night out.
Luna Park ferris wheel
As though all-night clubbing wasn't enough, the Luna Park boasts a clutch of expensive fairground rides to entertain the youngsters. Main rides are the Skycoaster which drops you from a great height, the Aerodium which offers free-fall parachuting, the Wall (C£5) where you try not to fall off and the Slingshot which does just that to you. It's not a good idea to mix drinks and rides and don't expect to have anything left in your wallet.
Water Park
Those who tire of being thrown about can glide from a great height at the Atlantis waterpark about 3km west out of Ayia Napa which boasts of being the biggest themed waterpark in Europe. There are a huge range of water rides, including some extreme chute and funnel slides. Greek mythology has been heavily pillaged for ride names, everything from Posiedon's Wave Pool and Aphrodite's Bath to the Midas Gift Shop and Homer's Fast Food. To complement the mega rides there are the usual mega queues in the high season.
Ayia Napa Monastery
An oasis of serene calm in the commercial bedlam of the resort, the beautiful cloistered monastery of Agia Napa is sited next to some of the loudest and most vulgar clubs. Tradition has it that a miraculous icon was found in a cave and became a shrine Ayia Napa - saint of the wooded valley. A well was found in the cave and a marble fountain built in 1530 as the shrine became a church and later a monastery.
The fountain is there today, covered by a pillared dome. The oldest part of the monastery is to north-east where there are four cells with cross-like ceilings. It is no longer an active monastery but is still beautifully preserved with gates to the north and south. Outside the south gate is an enormous fig tree said to be 600 years old.
The rather dark and gloomy church is sunk below the courtyard level. The whole monastery is surrounded by a stout wall that once helped to keep pirates at bay but now serves to keep out the dozens of street drunks wandering outside from club to club.
Ayia Napa Museum
It hardly competes with the other entertainment highlights but the small, private museum is reasonably good, with displays of fossil shells, stuffed fish, sharks, turtles and sea birds as well as a particularly good reconstruction of an ancient sailing ship. It is found on the ground floor of the Agia Napa town hall and displays are well documented.
Thekla beach
Makronisis beach
Landa beach
Nissi beach
Sandy Bay
The sands along the coast west of Agia Napa are exceptionally good, if you can find any not packed with sunbathers. Most are crammed end-to-end with umbrellas and loungers, especially at the most popular sands of Nissi beach. If you don't want a lounger, you should find a spot at the back of the beach somewhere. Those beaches nearest the resort are blessed with all-day music bars. The further you get from the main beaches in teh Nissi area the less noisy they get.
About 7km west of Ayia Napa is the small and pretty beach of Ayia Thekla. It is within walking distance from the main road leading into Ayia Napa from Limassol and takes its name a tiny old chapel in the area. There is a small island offshore and the only frequent visitors are the owners of the neighbouring up-market villas. It's one of the quieter beaches in the area. To the west of the church is a cave called the 'Catacomb of Ayia Thekli'.
A cluster of bays forms the popular beaches at Makronisis or Makronisos, about 6km from Ayia Napa. There are three main bays, one to the west, another south west and a third south east and all three well sheltered with fine white sand. These beaches are very popular with local Cypriot families and have all the usual services. They are also highly favoured for beach parties so can get very busy, noisy and crowded.
This beach is medium sized - about 300m long beach and is midway between Makronisos beach and the hugely popular Nissi Bay. It's also known as Golden Beach and is quieter that its more popular neighbour though the proximity of nearby hotels means it can still get quite busy.
The most popular beach in the area is about 3km kilometres west of Ayia Napa. This is where all the boys go to parade their pectorals and the girls to tan their . . . well, just about anywhere really. It's Gucci country though and you can't afford to be seen in anything but the latest designer beachwear. A wide sand bar leads to a small offshore islet and divides the beach into two, creating shallow, sheltered waters that are ideal for children to play. And play they do. The beach attracts thousands of young visitors each year. It's well sheltered from the wind and sea swells and has every type of water sport imaginable. Windsurfing, jet biking, banana riding, bungy jumping - it's all here. Music blares from several beach bars so, all in all, this is no place to take a nap. Behind the beach bars are cafes, pubs, restaurants and shops to service the multitudes.
Between Nissi and Ayia Napa are several assorted beaches. Sandy Bay known locally as Vathia Gonia ia about 500m east of Nissi Bay. The deep sandy bay is well sheltered and there are the usual sunbeds and sea sports. Further east is Pernara beach, about 200m long leading to Katsarka, a beach of stone and rock about 800m long and the last before the fishing harbour at Ayia Napa.
Just west of the harbour at Ayia Napa is Pantahou beach. That's the Cypriot name anyway. It is also variously known as Harbour Beach, Ayia Napa Beach, Kryo Nero or Greko Beach. Whatever, it's one long, straight stretch of sand that heads east for more than 1km. It's not considered as chic as Nissi but thousands still pack the sands and all the usual tourist facilities are there, sun beds, sea sports cafes, snack bars, and restaurants.
Cape Greco
Palaces
Konnos Bay
Limanaki beach
The coastline east of Ayia Napa is dominated by the spectatularly eroded cliffs of Cape Greco and the Palaces, a regular target for daytripping boats and scenes that get the cameras snapping. Beyond those are some beautiful coves and finally the long, sandy bay of Limnaki that heralds the rival holiday hotspot of Protaras.
Beyond Pantahou are the much-visited caves of Cape Greco. Before then are a couple of small beaches, difficult to get to except by boat. Ammos tou Kambouri and Kermia are small sheltered inlets of stone and sand. Cape Greco itself has a string of spectacular sea caves and large rocks. The more adventurous chance diving into the sea. A British Army radar station prevents you reaching the end of the cape but there is a coastal walking and cycle track
Beyond Cape Greco stand the Palaces, named for the striking rock formations and the rocky beach sculpted by the waves that give it an almost architectural appearance - hence the name. White rocks and crystal waters give the sea an ethereal blue and green glow. This site can only be reached by boat but there is no shortage of excursion boats.
Just beyond Cape Greco is the beautiful sheltered beach of Konnos Bay, overlooked by a pretty little café. A fine spot for those looking for peace and tranquility were it not for visiting boat trippers and a watersports centre where you can hire noisy jet skis to annoy everyone. By road it's about 2km east of Ayia Napa on the road to Protaras. It must be one of the most picturesque beaches on Cyprus and well sheltered from the winds.
This fine sand beach is about 4km east of Ayia Napa. It curves around a long bay with a small fishing harbour at one end and well sheltered from the wind. It must have been a beautiful spot before a rash of supremely ugly hotels went up along the shore. At least there is a good selection of cafes and restaurants.
Paphos coast
There's not a great deal to attract inland day trippers in this part of Cyprus. The area is known for commercial potato growing and there's only limited pleasure to be had from touring flat potato fields.
Villages tend to be more workmanlike than quaint and restaurants are few and far-between. Be prepared to face squadrons of bikes and scooters on all roads around Ayia Napa as holiday bikers head for the various beach resorts that lie along the coast.
Paralimni church
The small town of PARALIMNI adopted the mantle of administrative centre for the east of the island after Famagusta was taken over by the Turks in 1974. It's an unprepossessing, if shabby, little town but with a pleasant paved central square with a couple of churches, some restaurants and shops.
The town is noted for it's excellent gardens - worth a visit in spring when the flowers are in bloom - and for its ceramics. The town is also noted for its dancers and folk poets, regarded as the island's best. Local dance troupes and performers are in great demand at social events, weddings, fairs and festivals.
Deryneia poster
Most go to Deryneia to peer across the border that separates North and South Cyprus though the practice is becoming increasingly redundant as the North opens up to more visitors. The town is notorious for the beating to death of a young Greek Cypriot Tasos Isaak during a peaceful protest in 1996 and the shooting of Solomos Solmou three days later as he tried to climb a flagpole in no-man's land in protest at the death of his friend.
Graphic wall posters describe the shock at the events. There are a couple of viewing platforms, the best being Annitas - one of the last buildings that was not occupied when Turkish troops halted their advance in the town. The empty and abandoned former Greek Cypriot village of Variosa can be seen from here, much as it was in 1974.
Dhekelia Beach
The British were granted sovereign rights to Dhekelia as part of a deal with the Republic in 1960. It's now home to several satellite and radio listening stations and held in perpetuity by the British, although they have agreed to return it to a 'united' Cyprus.
Although large iron gates were erected on roads into the base area they are not closed and access is unrestricted except into the installations themselves. The border with the north runs through the area but attitudes towards it are much more relaxed and there is no buffer zone as, for example, in Nicosia.
It is quite easy, though not advisable, to stray cross the border. No photography is allowed in the Dhekelia area, particularly near military installations and you risk getting your camera confiscated.
Kokkinohora potato fields
Literally translated as 'red villages' Kokkinohoria is the name given to the famous potato growing region of Cyprus and is taken from the deep red colour of the earth. The soil colour is quite striking, as is the landscape which reminds you of the Australian outback. Wind-powered water pumps add to the illusion.
The main villages have little to offer the tourist, devoting themselves to the more lucrative potato crop but the rural atmosphere is in stark contrast to the garish coastal resorts.
The villages of LIOPETRI and SOTIRA are famous for their traditional basket-making, a craft actively encouraged by the Cypriots who have recognised it as a cultural heritage. There are also a number of beautiful chapels in these villages, and also in nearby FRENAROS and XYLOFAGOU, dating back as far as the 13th century.
Pyla cafe
The village of Pyla found itself in the UN buffer zone between north and south and extraordinarily both sides live in peaceful co-existence. The presence of a UN peacekeeping force is something of an unnecessary and Greek and Turkish cafes sit harmoniously enough on opposite sides of the main square with a token UN checkpoint between them. Greeks and Turks live in mixed neighbourhoods and wander at will across a border where they would need passport checks up the road in Nicosia.
There are many hotels of all shapes and sizes in and around Ayia Napa and its outskirts. At the top end are the five star hotels for best quality and facilties. Most five star hotels open all year round.
Many hotels are block booked with travel companies and the summer season usually starts March/April and goes through to late October. Many hotels have 24 hour reception service so no matter what time you arrive someone will allways be there to meet you when you eventually arrive, even if your flight is delayed. All hotels have regular room service and at least twice-weekly change of linen.
There are a huge number of restaurants and cafes in Ayia Napa, most turning out tourist fodder. They can be found tightly packed around the newly revamped harbour and all along the seashore with tables spilling out onto the streets. Expect to pay top prices for indifferent food..
The nightlife and entertainment in Ayia Napa is like no other. There is a club or bar with music to suit most tastes for anyone under 30 years. Bars are not for the faint hearted or those looking for a quiet drink. The resort is always busy. Not really the place for children. Noted Ayia Napa bars include teh Bedrock Inn, with its Flintstones theme and staff dressed as cavemen and teh Castel Club - the biggest in Ayia Napa with three rooms playing different music.
The resort boasts no end of watersports with at least three scuba diving outfits, big game tuna fisihing expeditions from Ayia Napa harbour and the Water World Water Park which claims to be the biggest in Europe.
There are plenty of banks and ATMs in both Ano Pafos and Kato Pafos. Exchange services are also dotted about everywhere and many people will accept English money if a small tip is thrown in.
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The main route to Ayia Napa is through Lanarca International Airport. The airport is located about 5km south of Larnaca and accessible from Larnaca and Ayia Napa by the A3 motorway.
The airport has one passenger terminal with 21 aircraft stands, nine gates, six baggage claim belts and 48 check-in desks. Construction of a new terminal building is currently under way and is due for completion in 2013. About 5.5 million passengers used Larnaca Airport in 2008.
Larnaca handles many European flights and receives direct flights from UK destinations including Glasgow, Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Doncaster Sheffield, East Midlands, Leeds Bradford, Gatwick, Heathrow, Luton, Stansted, Manchester and Newcastle.
There is a tourist information office as well as various airline information desks. There are three banks, a post office, cafe and a bar and restaurant. The airport also has a gift shop, bookshop and s newsagent. Other facilities include a first aid room, a VIP lounge and lost property office.
There is aiport parking - spaces for up to 500 cars - in front of the terminal. Parking charges are by the hour and there is no long-term parking but prices are low. Journey times to Ayia Napa are about 45min. Distances to the main resorts are Ayia Napa - 46km, Nicosia - 9 km, Limassol - 70km and Paphos - 139km
There are weekly car ferry services to Limassol on Cyprus from Rhodes and Piraeus in Greece, from June to September. Another option is the five times weekly vehicle and passenger ferryboat from Tasucu in Turkey to Birne on Cyprus. Vehicle ferries must be booked in advance. There are any number of boat cruises on offer in the harbour area. The most popular are to to Cape Greco but there are even cruise boats to the Holy Land and Egypt
There are plenty of car and bike hire outfits. There is public transport but it's not that reliable and buses do not run very frequently. There are plenty of taxis in and around Ayia Napa - reliable with reasonable prices. Unfortunately, many taxi drivers in Ayia Napa fail to turn on their meters so be sure to agree the fare before you get in. Since distances around town are short you can use your common sense about fair price. In the high summer, demand is higher and buses or even car hire may work out cheaper. Taxis are just about everywhere and, if you can't see one you won't have to wait long.
A cheap bus service runs to all of the towns and villages in the area. More than seven buses run each day from Ayia Napa to Larnaca airport, from 7.15am to 4.30pm and back from 9am to 6pm. A yellow bus operates in Ayia Napa for tourists on a regular schedule around the resort.
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