---
title: "Top 10 Things To Do in Ayia Napa, Cyprus | Wimup"
description: "The ten best things to do in Ayia Napa, from Nissi Beach and the Cape Greco sea caves to the monastery, the Sculpture Park and the Blue Lagoon."
url: https://wimup.com/city/ayia-napa
type: City guide
updated: 2026-10-17
publisher: Wimup (https://wimup.com)
---

# Top 10 Things To Do in Ayia Napa

Ayia Napa, Cyprus · Europe · By Wimup Editorial, 12 min read

Ayia Napa is two resorts sharing one postcode. One is the club strip off the square that made the name famous in the 1990s. The other is a Blue Flag coastline, a Venetian monastery and a national forest park of sea caves, and it is the half most visitors actually come for. Fewer than 5,000 people live here year round.

## Quick answer

Swim first. Nissi Beach and Konnos Bay are the reason the town exists, and the water is warm from May to October. Then walk the coastal path east into Cape Greco for the sea caves, and back through the square for the monastery, whose chapel is built into the cave where the icon was found. The clubs are real and they are optional: the town closes its bars around a fishing harbour that still lands fish.

## Quick facts

- **Best months:** May · Jun · Sep
- **Ideal length:** 4–6 days
- **Budget per day:** $90–170
- **Language:** Greek and English
- **Getting around:** Walk the town, local buses to the beaches

## The 10 best things to do in Ayia Napa

### 1. Nissi Beach

Beach · Nissi Avenue, Ayia Napa

The 500-metre bay that built the resort, and still the best swim in it. A sandbar runs out to the islet the beach is named for, shallow enough to wade at most tides, which is why families and party boats end up on the same strip of sand.

- **Time:** Half a day
- **Cost:** Free, sunbeds from about €8
- **Best at:** Before 11am
- **Tip:** The eastern end is the loud one. Walk west for quiet water

Links: [Ayia Napa Municipality](https://www.agianapa.org.cy/en/visitors/tourist-guide?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

### 2. Cape Greco National Forest Park

Nature · Cavo Greco, between Ayia Napa and Protaras

A limestone headland declared a national forest park in 1993, with sea caves cut up to 80 metres into the cliff. The coastal path from Ayia Napa strings together the Love Bridge, the Kavos viewpoint and the Agioi Anargyroi chapel above the water.

- **Time:** 3 hr
- **Cost:** Free
- **Best at:** Early morning
- **Tip:** There is no shade on the headland. Carry water and start before the heat

Links: [Visit Cyprus](https://www.visitcyprus.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

### 3. Ayia Napa Monastery

Landmark · Ayia Napa town square

The town grew around this. A Venetian-era monastery in the form of a castle, built over the cave where a hunter is said to have found the icon of the Virgin of Napa, and the chapel is still partly underground. Entry is free and the courtyard is the coolest spot in town.

- **Time:** 45 min
- **Cost:** Free, donations welcome
- **Best at:** Morning
- **Tip:** Open 09:00 to 21:00 in summer and 09:00 to 15:00 in winter

Links: [Ayia Napa Monastery](https://ayianapamonastery.org.cy/about-us/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

### 4. A Blue Lagoon cruise from the harbour

Boat trip · Ayia Napa Harbour, Ayia Napa

Every boat out of the fishing harbour runs the same coast: the sea caves, the cliffs under Cape Greco, then the Blue Lagoon at Konnos for a swim stop. A catamaran is calmer than a party boat, and both leave from the same quay.

- **Time:** 4 hr
- **Cost:** Varies by operator
- **Best at:** Morning departures
- **Tip:** Morning sailings get flat water. Afternoon wind puts chop in the caves

Links: [Ayia Napa Municipality](https://www.agianapa.org.cy/en/visitors/tourist-guide?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

### 5. Ayia Napa Sculpture Park

Art · Kryou Nerou Avenue at Cavo Greco road, eastern edge of town

Twenty thousand square metres of scrub on the cliff road, holding more than 50 contemporary sculptures added each year by the municipality's own symposium. It is free, open sunrise to sunset, and almost empty at both ends of the day.

- **Time:** 1 hr
- **Cost:** Free
- **Best at:** Sunset
- **Tip:** It is a 25-minute walk east from the square, uphill and unshaded

Links: [Ayia Napa Municipality](https://www.agianapa.org.cy/en/visitors/tourist-guide?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

### 6. Thalassa Municipal Museum of the Sea

Museum · Kriou Nerou 14, Ayia Napa

Built around Kyrenia II, a full-scale sailing replica of a 4th-century BC merchant ship wrecked off Kyrenia. The original was found in 1967; the replica was built in Piraeus between 1982 and 1985 and sailed itself to Cyprus along the old trade route.

- **Time:** 1.5 hr
- **Cost:** Ticketed
- **Best at:** Midday heat
- **Tip:** Closed Sundays year round, and it shuts at 14:00 on Saturdays

Links: [Thalassa Museum](https://www.thalassamuseum.org.cy/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

### 7. WaterWorld Themed Waterpark

Water park · Ayia Thekla Road, Ayia Napa

Thirty-odd rides on an ancient Greek theme, from the Quest of Heracles to one of Europe's larger wave pools. The season runs from early April to late autumn, and the gate price is €50 for adults and €30 for children aged 3 to 12.

- **Time:** Full day
- **Cost:** €50 adult, €30 child 3 to 12
- **Best at:** Opening time
- **Tip:** The 2026 season opened on 2 April. Check the dated hours page before you go

Links: [WaterWorld](https://waterworldwaterpark.com/2026-opening-hours/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

### 8. Konnos Bay

Beach · Konnos, Cape Greco road, east of Ayia Napa

A pine-backed cove on the Cape Greco road, and the calmest water within reach of the town. Boats anchor off it as the Blue Lagoon stop, so it is busiest in the middle of the day and yours in the early morning.

- **Time:** 3 hr
- **Cost:** Free, sunbeds charged
- **Best at:** Before 10am
- **Tip:** Local bus 101 stops on the road above. The path down is steep

Links: [Visit Cyprus](https://www.visitcyprus.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

### 9. Makronissos Tombs

Archaeology · Makronissos peninsula, west of Ayia Napa

Nineteen rock-cut chamber tombs, a sanctuary and an ancient quarry above Makronissos beach, excavated by the municipality in 1989 and 1990. The chambers are near identical: a sunken trench down the middle, three benches around it.

- **Time:** 30 min
- **Cost:** Free
- **Best at:** Late afternoon
- **Tip:** It sits between the beach and the road. Combine it with a swim at Makronissos

Links: [Ayia Napa Municipality](https://www.agianapa.org.cy/en/visitors/museum-historical-monuments/the-makronisos-tombs?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

### 10. Ayia Napa Marina

Marina · Between Ayia Thekla and Makronissos beaches

The town's newest quarter, 600 berths including 38 for superyachts, wrapped in a promenade of restaurants and lounge bars. It is where Ayia Napa goes when it wants an evening that is not the square, and the walk out along the breakwater is free.

- **Time:** 2 hr
- **Cost:** Free to walk
- **Best at:** Sunset
- **Tip:** Book a table at the marina. Walk-ins are hard in July and August

Links: [Ayia Napa Marina](https://marinaayianapa.com/the-marina/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

## Best beaches in Ayia Napa

Fourteen beaches around Ayia Napa fly a Blue Flag. These eight are the ones worth planning a day around.

1. **Nissi Beach** (Blue Flag · Nissi Avenue): The headline bay, with the wadeable sandbar out to the islet.
2. **Makronissos** (Blue Flag · Makronissos): Three linked coves west of town, shallow and the calmest for small children.
3. **Konnos Bay** (Blue Flag · Cape Greco): Pine-backed cove on the Cape Greco road. The Blue Lagoon boats anchor off it.
4. **Landa** (Blue Flag · Nissi Avenue): The long sweep between Nissi and Makronissos, and the easiest to find space on.
5. **Glyki Nero** (Blue Flag · East cliffs): Sweet Water Beach, under the eastern cliffs and reached by the coastal path.
6. **Vathia Gonia** (Blue Flag · Kryou Nerou): Sandy Bay, a small rocky-edged inlet on the eastern side of town.
7. **Pantachou** (Blue Flag · Harbour): The town beach beside the harbour, a two-minute walk from the square.
8. **Ayia Thekla** (Blue Flag · Ayia Thekla): The western edge, past the marina, with a tiny cave chapel behind the sand.

## Best restaurants in Ayia Napa

The old tavernas around the square and harbour, and the newer dining room the marina brought with it.

1. **Vassos Psarolimano** (Seafood · Fish Harbour): Fish tavern on the harbour, opened in 1962 by a local fisherman.
2. **Taverna Napa** (Cypriot · Town centre): Established 1976, Greek and Cypriot cooking with the seafood done properly.
3. **Napa Tavern** (Cypriot · Town centre): Claims to be the first taverna in town, in a Cypriot house dating from 1932.
4. **Stamna** (Meze · Town centre): Founded 1982 in the oldest house in Ayia Napa. The meze runs past 20 plates.
5. **Sage Restaurant & Wine Bar** (Modern · Town centre): The considered end of dinner in town, with a serious wine list.
6. **Le Sundeck Robuchon** (Fine dining · Ayia Napa Marina): The marina's flagship dining room, the first of its kind anywhere.
7. **Sushi Yama** (Japanese · Ayia Napa Marina): Cyprus's first fine-dining Japanese restaurant, on the marina promenade.
8. **Margherita Pizza Artigianale** (Italian · Ayia Napa Marina): The brand's first Cyprus room, and the marina's easy family option.

## Best bars & nightlife in Ayia Napa

Four places that cover the range, from the superclub that made the name to the quiet end of the evening.

1. **Castle Club** (Superclub · The square): The biggest club on the island, five rooms each on a different sound.
2. **Black N' White** (RnB and hip hop · The square): On the square since 1985, and still the RnB and hip hop room.
3. **Ayia Napa Square** (Bar strip · Town centre): The strip itself. Bars fill from midnight and the best of it is 1am to 3am.
4. **Ayia Napa Marina lounge bars** (Waterfront · Ayia Napa Marina): The other evening: waterfront tables, no queue, no promoters.

## Best water sports in Ayia Napa

The coast is the attraction. Five ways to get onto it, all leaving from the harbour or the beaches.

1. **Sea caves boat cruise** (From the harbour · Ayia Napa Harbour): The standard run east along the cliffs into the caves under Cape Greco.
2. **Blue Lagoon catamaran** (Half day · Ayia Napa Harbour): Half a day under sail with a long swim stop off Konnos.
3. **Sea kayaking the caves** (Guided · Cape Greco): A kayak reaches the low arches the cruise boats have to stay out of.
4. **Scuba diving** (Try dives up · Town centre): Dive centres in town run the local reefs and certification courses.
5. **The Zenobia wreck** (Larnaca, day trip · Larnaca): A ferry that sank off Larnaca in 1980, and one of Europe's great dives.

## Best museums & monuments in Ayia Napa

What the resort was built on top of, all of it inside a short walk or drive of the square.

1. **Ayia Napa Monastery** (Free · Town square): Venetian, castle-shaped, and built around the cave that holds its icon.
2. **Thalassa Museum of the Sea** (Ticketed · Kriou Nerou 14): Kyrenia II, a full-size replica of a 4th-century BC merchant ship.
3. **Ayia Napa Sculpture Park** (Free · Kryou Nerou Avenue): Fifty-plus works on the cliff road, added to yearly since 2014.
4. **Makronissos Tombs** (Free · Makronissos): Nineteen rock-cut tombs and a quarry, excavated in 1989 and 1990.
5. **Agioi Anargyroi chapel** (Free · Cape Greco): A small white chapel on the cliff above the sea caves at Cape Greco.

## Best family days out in Ayia Napa

The half of Ayia Napa that has nothing to do with the square, and the reason families keep returning.

1. **WaterWorld Themed Waterpark** (€50 / €30 · Ayia Thekla Road): Thirty rides on a Greek mythology theme, and a large wave pool.
2. **Parko Paliatso Luna Park** (Free entry · Nissi Avenue): Free to enter, tokens for the rides, open April to late October.
3. **Ayia Napa Marina** (Free · Ayia Thekla): A flat promenade, boats to look at and somewhere to eat at the end of it.
4. **Ayia Napa Harbour** (Free · Harbour): Fishing boats, glass-bottom trips and the fish tavernas behind the quay.

## Best day trips in Ayia Napa

Six trips within an hour and a half, from the next bay along to the divided capital.

1. **Protaras and Fig Tree Bay** (15 min · Protaras): Fifteen minutes east, and the calmer family resort of the two.
2. **Cape Greco** (20 min · Cavo Greco): The headland between the two resorts. Walk it or take local bus 101.
3. **Deryneia and the Varosha view** (25 min · Deryneia): The cultural centre looks across at the quarter sealed off since 1974.
4. **Famagusta and Salamis** (35 min · North Cyprus): The walled city and the Roman ruins beyond it, about 27 km north.
5. **Larnaca** (45 min · Larnaca): The nearest city and airport, with the salt lake and Hala Sultan Tekke.
6. **Nicosia** (1 hr 15 · Nicosia): The last divided capital in Europe, and the Ledra Street crossing.

## Festivals & annual events in Ayia Napa (2026)

- **Green Monday** (23 February 2026): The start of Orthodox Lent, and a public holiday spent outdoors over a meat-free picnic.
- **Agia Napa Triathlon** (22 March 2026): Sprint to middle distance out of Nissi Bay, in about 20C air and 18C water.
- **WaterWorld season opening** (2 April 2026): The waterpark opens for the season and runs through to late autumn.
- **Orthodox Easter** (12 April 2026): The biggest date in the Cypriot year. Expect closures on Good Friday and Easter Monday.
- **Kataklysmos Fish and Water Festival** (30 May to 1 June 2026): Three days at the harbour: a blessing, diving for the cross, and a lot of grilled fish.
- **Ayia Napa Youth Festival** (August 2026): A free concert at the harbour with Cypriot and visiting performers.
- **Ayia Napa International Festival** (25 to 27 September 2026): Running since 1985, timed to World Tourism Day. Dance and music in the monastery square.
- **Ayia Napa Medieval Festival** (14 to 18 October 2026): Five days of crafts, food from wooden barrels and costumed processions in the square.

## Must-try dishes in Ayia Napa, Cyprus

- **Halloumi**: The island's protected-origin cheese. It grills and fries without melting.
- **Souvla**: Big chunks of pork or lamb turned slowly over charcoal. The Sunday default.
- **Sheftalia**: Minced pork and onion wrapped in caul fat, grilled until it renders.
- **Kleftiko**: Lamb sealed in a clay oven with garlic, lemon and oregano until it falls apart.
- **Koupepia**: Vine leaves rolled around rice and mince, the Cypriot take on dolmades.
- **Afelia**: Pork braised in red wine with crushed coriander seed. Order it in winter.
- **Meze**: Twenty-odd small plates arriving in waves. Do not order anything else.
- **Loukoumades**: Fried dough balls in honey syrup with cinnamon. Sold late on the square.

## Ayia Napa transport & airports

- **Larnaca International Airport (LCA)**: The island's main airport and the one to fly into, about 45 minutes away by road. Paphos is the alternative at roughly two hours. [Hermes Airports](https://www.hermesairports.com/flight-info/arrivals-and-departures-lca?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- **Airport transfer**: A shared airport shuttle is the cheap scheduled option and takes about 50 minutes. A pre-booked taxi runs to a fixed fare; a metered one costs half as much again at night.
- **Intercity bus 711**: The cheapest link to Larnaca, run by OSEA, roughly 60 to 75 minutes end to end. It serves Larnaca town rather than the airport terminal. [OSEA](https://osea.com.cy/en/bus-routes/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- **Local buses and taxis**: OSEA town routes reach Nissi Beach and the waterpark every 15 to 20 minutes in summer, and 101 and 102 run out to Cape Greco and Protaras. Cyprus drives on the left. [OSEA](https://osea.com.cy/en/bus-routes/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

## Ayia Napa at a glance

- **Country:** Cyprus
- **Region:** Famagusta District, south-eastern Cyprus
- **Population:** 4,716 permanent residents (2021 census), against a bed capacity of about 27,000 in season
- **Founded:** A fishing and farming village around a monastery built over the icon cave; the resort dates from the early 1970s
- **Nickname:** Napa
- **Language:** Greek, with English almost everywhere
- **Currency:** Euro (€)
- **Time zone:** Eastern European Time (UTC+2), UTC+3 from late March to late October
- **Calling code:** +357
- **Airports:** Larnaca (LCA) about 45 minutes by road, Paphos (PFO) about two hours
- **Power:** 230V, type G three-pin sockets
- **Emergency:** 112, or 199

## Interesting facts

- Napa is an archaic Greek word for a wooded valley. The forest that named the town is long gone.
- Fourteen beaches around the town fly a Blue Flag, one of the densest clusters in the Mediterranean.
- The Sling Shot at Parko Paliatso fires riders 90 metres up, the highest ejection seat ride in Europe.
- The monastery chapel is partly underground, built around the cave where the icon was found.
- Fewer than 5,000 people live here. In August the town sleeps roughly five times that number.

## Ayia Napa travel FAQ

### Is Ayia Napa only for clubbers?

No. The club strip is four or five streets off the square and easy to avoid entirely. The rest of the town is a Blue Flag coastline, a Venetian monastery, a national forest park of sea caves and a marina, and families outnumber clubbers outside July and August.

### When is the best time to visit Ayia Napa?

May, June, September and October. The sea is warm from May onward and reaches about 28C in August, but July and August bring peak prices and full beaches. Spring and autumn hold 20C to 28C days with far fewer people on the sand.

### How do I get from Larnaca Airport to Ayia Napa?

Around 45 minutes by road. A pre-booked taxi or private transfer is the simplest and runs to a fixed fare; a shared airport shuttle is the cheap scheduled option at about 50 minutes. Intercity bus 711 is cheaper still but serves Larnaca town, not the terminal.

### Which Ayia Napa beach should I choose?

Nissi for the sandbar and the atmosphere, Makronissos for shallow water and small children, Konnos for a quiet cove with pines behind it, and Pantachou if you want to walk from the square. All four hold a Blue Flag.

### Is there anything to do in Ayia Napa in winter?

Less, and that is the point. Most clubs and the waterpark close for the season, but the monastery, the Sculpture Park, the Makronissos tombs and the Cape Greco paths stay open and free, and January days still sit around 15C to 20C.

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Part of the [Cyprus guide](https://wimup.com/country/cyprus.md) · [Europe](https://wimup.com/europe.md)

## Sources

- [Nissi Beach: Ayia Napa Municipality](https://www.agianapa.org.cy/en/visitors/tourist-guide?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Cape Greco National Forest Park: Visit Cyprus](https://www.visitcyprus.com/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Ayia Napa Monastery: Ayia Napa Monastery](https://ayianapamonastery.org.cy/about-us/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Thalassa Municipal Museum of the Sea: Thalassa Museum](https://www.thalassamuseum.org.cy/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [WaterWorld Themed Waterpark: WaterWorld](https://waterworldwaterpark.com/2026-opening-hours/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Makronissos Tombs: Ayia Napa Municipality](https://www.agianapa.org.cy/en/visitors/museum-historical-monuments/the-makronisos-tombs?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Ayia Napa Marina: Ayia Napa Marina](https://marinaayianapa.com/the-marina/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Larnaca International Airport (LCA): Hermes Airports](https://www.hermesairports.com/flight-info/arrivals-and-departures-lca?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Intercity bus 711: OSEA](https://osea.com.cy/en/bus-routes/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- Rankings are Wimup editorial picks. Prices, durations and budgets are editorial estimates, not live quotes; check the official site before you go.