Ayia Napa is one of the most popular resorts on the picturesque Mediterranean island of Cyprus, particularly popular with the 18-30 year olds who are looking for a fun packed holiday with great clubbing experiences.

Ayia Napa, although renowned for it’s club scene, is also a great resort for family holidays, with a beautiful beach and lots of child friendly areas.

For more information why not take a look at this interesting and informative destination guide to Ayia Napa which will give you an insight into this perfect holiday destination.

Trevor Butler set up his first ‘travel’ related business in 2004 and has written many other destination articles with tips and information. I have found these articles both interesting and helpful, hope you do too.

If you are looking for cheap holidays to Cyprus, there are always great offers throughout the internet.

Ayia Napa was once a small fishing village in the southeastern corner of Cyprus but is now a hotspot for holidaymakers looking for a lively break. More than 250,000 clubbers visit Ayia Napa each summer and the phenomenal atmosphere in its bars and nightclubs is nothing short of explosive. However this cosmopolitan town isn’t just for the young party lovers, it is also full of history and tradition.

Ayia Napa Town

Ayia Napa Town

The centre of the town is built around a medieval monastery. This has been well preserved over the centuries and a visit here is like stepping back in time. Just to the side of the main square, traditional folk dancing takes place during the summer. At the end of September, the Ayia Napa Street Festival takes place and features singing and dancing performances. Special acts from all over the world come here to perform at the festival. One of the most beautiful locations to visit in Ayia Napa is the fishing harbour. The whole of the harbour is a pedestrian only zone, with cafes and seafood taverns lining the area. A wooden walkway spans the length of the harbour. At night, lights illuminate the area, setting the perfect scene for a romantic meal or a stroll along the harbour.

Ayia Napa Water World

Ayia Napa Water World

Ayia Napa is home to the largest themed water park in Europe. The park has a Greek theme to it and models of ancient Greek gods and ancient buildings are situated around the park. The water park covers a huge area and is packed with slides and water attractions to suit everyone. For small children, there is the Trojan Adventure, a play structure with water pistols, slides and a bucket that fills with water and soaks everyone in its path.

Ayia Napa Diving

Water sports

There is a range of great water sports offered here including scuba diving. The waters surrounding the island are warm and clear, with even tides and visibility reaching 100 to 130 feet. Divers can visit undersea remains of prehistoric archaeological ruins and explore rock gardens teeming with sponges. There is also waterskiing, windsurfing, sailing, canoeing and scooters, as well as pedal, motor and speed boats.

Marine Life Museum

Marine Life Museum

The Marine Life Museum is located in Ayia Napa’s Town Hall. It is the first natural museum of its kind in Cyprus and it exhibits past and present marine life and promotes the study and research of marine life while also emphasising the importance of preserving the marine environment. The exhibits include a reconstruction of a dinosaur seabed, fish fossils, shells, sea urchins, sea turtles, sea plants and more. Every specimen in the museum was removed from its natural habitat after death.

Famagusta

Famagusta

Famagusta is one of the most important, greatly fortified ports on the shores of the Mediterranean. To the north of Famagusta lie the fabulous ruins of Salamis. The spectacular ruins give a fascinating insight into long-lost civilisations and include a magnificent amphitheatre, Roman baths, a gymnasium and royal tombs. There are also beautiful mosaics to be seen. Just inland from Famagusta are the church and monastery dedicated to St Barnabas, the founder of the apostolic church on Cyprus in 45 AD. The church of St Barnabas is preserved so that it appears exactly as it was when abandoned in 1976. There is a wonderful collection of 18th century icons and the monastery walkway now houses an archaeological museum.

The Palaces

Palaces

In between Limnara Beach and Cape Greco are the Palaces. They do not make up any particular building, but are a name for the marvellous formations which have been formed on the rocks here. The rocky beach has been sculptured in such a breathtaking manner by the sea waves that it gives the impression of being a fine work of architecture, hence its name. The reflected light together with the crystal waters form a wonderful picture. This place can only be reached from the sea.

The Beach

Once a small fishing village in the south-eastern corner of Cyprus, Ayia Napa is now a hotspot for holidaymakers looking for a lively vacation. Over 250,000 clubbers travel to Ayia Napa each summer and the atmosphere in its bars and nightclubs is nothing short of explosive.
Location
Ayia Napa is located in the centre of the market garden area of the island, with superb golden sandy beaches and vestiges of its cultural heritage. There is a Venetian decorated monastery fronted by a 600-year-old Sycamore tree and also a quaint harbour.
Located a few miles from Ayia Napa is the more restrained resort Protaras, more suited to family holidays.
Both resorts have excellent beaches, the most famous being Fig Tree Bay. Other popular beaches include Nissi Beach and Nissi Bay (two miles west of Ayia Napa), Cape Greco to the east, where the challenge is to leap from the rocks into the sea and Konnos Bay, just past Cape Greco, where there is a beach café and speedboats for hire.

Shopping
Top name watches, sunglasses, clothing, cameras and jewellery are available at prices much cheaper than in the UK. Shops and boutiques are generally small and friendly and are generally open until 11pm every night except Sundays. Good souvenirs can be bought here, including beautiful embroidered Lefkara lace, original ceramic pottery, artistic silver jewellery, baskets, woven and silk goods and high quality leatherwear.

Restaurants
With countless restaurants serving everything from the romantic and traditional, to fast food and pub-grub, holidaymakers won’t be disappointed. Whether it is a Big Mac, fish ‘n chips, a Chinese or formal French you fancy, you won’t have to go far to find it. Holidaymakers should try the Cypriot fare, particularly in the delightful, traditional tavernas clustered around the harbour. Highly recommended is the typical Cypriot ‘meze’, made up of between 15 and 30 island dishes. Other local specialities include taramosalata, tsatsiki, moussaka, stifado (beef or veal stew), aphelia (pork and red wine), and loukoumades (doughnuts dipped in syrup).

Ayia Napa at night

Nightlife
with bars, discos, nightclubs and bouzouki clubs open well into the early hours of the morning holiday makers soon realise that it is essential to take an afternoon siesta! Most hotels have their own nightly entertainment with a resident band, and Greek nights with folk dancing. The resort’s clubbing scene is legendary with big name DJ’s appearing frequently at some of the popular clubs.

Activities
The long sandy beaches along the coast of Ayia Napa are washed with warm waters that provide many opportunities for watersports, including water-skiing, windsurfing, sailing, canoeing, pedal boats, motor boats, parasailing, scuba diving and snorkelling. The Cyprus Tourism Organisation supervises the beaches, many of which have Blue Flag status.
Holidaymakers can take excursions from Ayia Napa to places like Agia Thekla (a small offshore island), Makronisos Beach (a cluster of three sheltered bays) or to the historical city of Larnaca. Jeep safaris around the island itself are popular, with attractions like the Caledonian Falls and the Byzantine Monastery of Kykkos waiting to be explored.