What a beach in Cyprus. Review of Cyprus resorts with the best sandy beaches. Atlantis Beach
The best beaches of Cyprus: beach holiday season in Cyprus. Photos and reviews about the most beautiful beaches.
Any Blue flag For youth Sand and pebble beach Sandy beach
sand beach
Governor's Beach in Cyprus
Limassol, Governor's beach
Governor's Beach is an amazing place on the map of Cyprus. The combination of snow-white limestone cliffs and dark volcanic sand creates an exquisite frame for the seascape. Once upon a time, the governor of the island came here to relax, swim and enjoy the magnificent views.
sand beach
Geroskipou Beach
Paphos, Geroskipou Beach
On the southwestern coast of Cyprus, near the town of Geroskipou, there is a small (its length is only 350 m), but very cozy beach. The convenient location in the bay, the absence of noisy highways and residential areas nearby, distinguishes Geroskipa from other holiday destinations.
sand beach
Dasoudi Beach in Limassol
Limassol, Germasogeia, Dasoudi beach
Dasoudi Beach is considered one of the most popular in Limassol. It is located on the east coast, in the Germasogeia area, where the bulk of hotels are concentrated. This is the longest beach in the city - its length is more than 1 km. It received its name in honor of the eucalyptus grove adjacent to it.
sand beach
Konnos Bay Beach
Protaras, Konnos Bay Beach
Among the beaches of Protaras, which are great for family holidays, almost all have well-developed infrastructure. There are practically no wild beaches here, without any amenities. However, for those who like a quiet, secluded holiday without an influx of tourists, we can recommend Konnos Bay Beach.
sand beach
Mackenzie Beach
Larnaca, Mackenzie Beach
Mackenzie is the second most important beach in Larnaca after Finikoudes. It is located south of the city center, closer to the airport, next to Lake Aliki Larnacas. Due to the distance from the location of most hotels, the Mackenzie is not so crowded, but there is everything you need for a vacation.
blue flag sandy beach
Makronissos Beach
Ayia Napa, Makronissos Beach
One of the cleanest, most beautiful, calm and comfortable beaches in Ayia Napa is Makronissos Beach. It has a whole bunch of advantages, but there is only one drawback - a small parking lot, which during the season is packed in the morning. And so - well, just a heavenly place.
sand beach
Pernera Beach
Ayia Napa is not a resort about silence, but even here there is at least one quiet place. This is Pernera Beach, which attracts with its calm atmosphere and the absence of noisy bars. The water area is occupied by a bay formed by a rocky cape on the western edge; it protects swimmers from wind and waves.
- Next page Track.
So, what do you need to know about the coast of this sunny, hospitable country? Firstly, all the beaches of Cyprus are very different: before booking a hotel in a particular resort, make sure that due to the abundance of foam parties you can even see the sand under your feet. Secondly, all local beaches are municipal, that is, free. Despite the fact that almost everywhere sun loungers and umbrellas are offered for an additional fee, here you can at any time spread out your towel next to you and sunbathe without worrying about the consequences - there will be none (well, not counting the possibility of getting sunburned).
They say that the most beautiful beaches of Cyprus are Protaras and Ayia Napa, but in fact, each tourist has his own preferences, so it is better to familiarize yourself with the available set of coasts of the island in advance.
Protaras is ideal for a family holiday; it has beautiful yellow shell sand with shallow seas. Ayia Napa is a party resort with a lot of bars and clubs, and parties on the beach start in the morning. Larnaca is considered the most budget and quiet resort in Cyprus with wide sandy beaches and a gentle entrance to the water. The sea here is even warmer than in Protaras, but in the season when the heat is off the charts, this fact can be considered more of a drawback - you can hardly cool off in such water. The sand has a grayish tint, which is why the sea cannot boast of that luxurious turquoise hue of Protaras. But the main airport of the country is located here, so the transfer will not be long. The main resort of Cyprus is, perhaps, Limassol. There are a lot of hotels and restaurants here, but the beaches are not as picturesque as, for example, in Larnaca.
There are a couple of beaches on Aphrodite Island that are not adjacent to popular resorts, but which are simply necessary to mention. In particular, this is the crystal blue Coral Bay in Paphos or Nissi Beach near Ayia Napa. The latter is famous for its picturesque island located strictly in the middle of the coast, which can be easily reached by wading through a shallow strait.
The highlight of Mackenzie Beach is Larnaca Airport, located literally a hundred meters away. Only a crazy person would come here every day, but visiting once to enjoy the view of the planes landing right above you is definitely worth it! Another incredibly beautiful place is Governor’s Beach, 20 km east of Limassol. The selection includes an alien landscape of miniature black sand beaches separated by white rock cliffs.
Particular attention should be paid to Ladies Mile - the largest beach in the country. Clean water, warm sea, absence of breakwaters and a lot of cozy taverns with quite affordable prices - what more could you ask for?
Of course, it is worth visiting the place where Aphrodite emerged from the foam of the sea - the beach of Petra Tou Romiou. No one can say today whether the goddess came out or not, but it’s definitely worth taking a walk on that very foam and rubbing your heels on the local pebbles. Unfortunately, you won't be able to swim - the sea here is unsafe.
Nearby is the absolutely incomparable Shipwreck beach, which is difficult, but you need to get there. Soft sand, a warm shallow lagoon, bizarre rock formations and the main “hit” - the skeleton of a ship that ran aground a long time ago.
And finally, one cannot fail to mention Curium Beach, which is near the village of Episkopi, a “mecca” for kite and windsurfers, as well as Lara, the most “turtle” beach in Cyprus. It is located north of Paphos, in an area that can only be reached by a four-wheel drive jeep. This truly protected corner of the Mediterranean is full of turtle nests, and its coastal caves hide the rare white-bellied seal.
Every year, Cyprus becomes more popular as a tourist destination. The infrastructure on the island is constantly improving, and new hotels are being built for vacationers. Cyprus beaches are perhaps the main reason to come here.
The sand here is fine. Most beaches have a gentle entrance to the water; in addition, tourists have access to a wide range of water activities. This attracts guests of different ages. Depending on their preferences, tourists will find either a calm, quiet place where there will be few people, or a crowded one. Also, historical monuments of the island are usually located nearby.
Most of the beaches in Cyprus are municipal facilities, so entry is free, but you will have to pay money to use the infrastructure, unless the hotel has already included a fee for its use in the price. Such hotels with private beaches are in high demand, which is why it is recommended to book rooms in advance.
Ayia Napa
Ayia Napa is one of the largest resort towns. The island's nightlife is concentrated here. Many young people come here, but family tourists also organize their leisure time here. The best sandy beaches are located in Ayia Napa, the following are noteworthy:
- Nissi is the most popular beach in Cyprus. The area around is occupied by luxury hotels, restaurants, cafes and bars. Even at night, life is bustling here, music is playing, dancing and parties are going on. There is an opportunity to engage in active recreation. For example, arrange a ride on catamarans or yachts, play volleyball, have fun on the bungee. The main feature of Nissi beach is the imported fine white sand that covers the entire coastal strip. The disadvantage of the place, unfortunately, is that it is crowded; there are a lot of tourists here, which is why some people feel uncomfortable.
- Pantahou - you will find it to the right of the fishing port. The length is just over a kilometer. The narrow beach strip is framed by a rocky shore, where palm trees and acacias grow just behind the beach. The place is quite popular, so it becomes relatively quiet here only in the early morning. Tourists with children prefer the left side for relaxation, since there is a smaller concentration of various cafes and restaurants.
- Makronissos is a beach where hotels try to attract as many tourists with children as possible. There are practically no parties here, the relaxation conditions are calm and quiet. The sand is fine and light, in addition, there is a gentle entrance to the water.
In addition to these options, Ayia Napa has other white sand beaches suitable for both independent and family holidays. Among them: Landa, Kermia, Cryo Nero, Sandy and Aya Tekla.
Protaras
Protaras is the most suitable resort in Cyprus, where you will get a quality holiday with children. Local beaches are covered with white sand and also have a gentle entrance to the sea. Thanks to its well-thought-out infrastructure, family tourists choose this resort. Among the interesting vacation spots are:
- Fig Tree Bay is one of the main destinations where not only tourists, but also Cypriots themselves come. There are especially many people here during the summer season. However, at the beginning and end of summer, the flow of tourists decreases, as students and schoolchildren begin their studies. Nearby there are elite hotels operating on an all-inclusive basis, offering rental of diving equipment, boat or yacht trips, and excursions to other attractions.
- Konnos Bay is well suited for lovers of diving and scuba diving. The coast is quite steep, and the descent to the sea is long, which is why other categories of tourists will not be entirely comfortable here.
- Luma - located in a bay that protects it from the wind. Golden sand, growing palm trees, clean territory and shallow waters form a good basis for attracting family tourists.
- Sunrise is a calm and quiet place with quite few people. Free admission. Tourists staying in hotels nearby can easily organize good leisure time for children here.
- Flamingo is a fine sand beach with green slopes completely covered with grass right to the water's edge. There are many ways to arrange an active holiday. Paragliders, boats, jet skis, and tennis courts are available for vacationers. There are small shops along the embankment where you can buy souvenirs. The place is quite crowded, so take this fact into account.
We also mention the Palaces beach, located on Cape Greco. Here the coast is rocky and at the same time one of the most picturesque in Cyprus. Excursions come here periodically, and it is possible to arrange a boat trip. The beach is wild, meaning there are no lifeguards, but some tourists practice cliff jumping.
Limassol
The sand in Limassol is dark, volcanic, containing impurities that have a beneficial effect on human skin. There are few beaches within the city limits. The most interesting of them:
- Parmalini Turtle Beach is quite wide and covered with fine volcanic sand mixed with pebbles. There are no cafes or restaurants nearby, which makes this place one of the best for a relaxing holiday.
- Akti-Olympion is a two-kilometer-long beach that is considered the most convenient for relaxation. Located within the city limits.
- Amathusa is a small sandy bay surrounded by rocks. The entrance to the sea is gentle, and cafes and shops are located nearby. Also nearby are the ruins of the ancient city of Amathus.
In addition, let’s mention Governor’s Beach, which is one of the most picturesque places on the island.
Conclusion
Finding a good beach in Cyprus is not difficult. Most of them have the necessary infrastructure, cafes, restaurants and amusement parks. This is where the backbone of tourism on the island revolves. Cyprus resorts with sandy beaches are known to vacationers all over the world. Elite hotels are often located near the coast and have their own beach, which anyone can visit; they just, unlike hotel guests, will have to pay for the rental of sun loungers.
Cyprus is one of the best islands in the Mediterranean for a holiday for both adults and children. But many tourists who are going with children to the resorts of the island ask tour operators to advise where there are good sandy beaches with white sand in Cyprus that will fully meet your requirements. Which budget sandy beaches are most suitable for people with average incomes.
The best beaches in Ayia Napa
- I would like to immediately note that the best white sand beaches of Cyprus are located in Ayia Napa and one of these is Nissi. During the day, adults and children swim and sunbathe here, and in the evening the beach turns into a dance floor and most tourists stay here all night. Along the entire embankment there are bars and restaurants where foam parties are held, various competitions are held, and some of them begin in the afternoon. On Nissi Beach you can meet people of all ages and everyone can find entertainment to suit their taste.
The conditions here are simply excellent for small children. Here convenient gentle descent into the sea, white clean sand and warm sea. Nearby there is a pier where there are motor boats with “bananas”, on which children can ride with their parents. By noon, the beach is completely filled with vacationers, so if you want to be alone, it is better to come here in the morning, when most tourists are still having breakfast. There are 3, 4 and 5 star hotels here.
But it must also be said that almost all areas of the beach are paid, so you will have to buy a ticket in order to use sun loungers and umbrellas.
- There is a beach next to the port Green Bay, which is perfect for families with children, since there is not as much entertainment here as on Nissi Beach. This is a large beach where you can comfortably sit under an umbrella, and in order to swim there is no need to walk for a long time in knee-deep water. Despite the proximity of the city, this beach has everything you need for a comfortable children's holiday. But young people will be bored here, since there are no noisy parties, foam parties and famous DJs.
- The beach is located on the shores of Cape Greco, and it is specially created for a quiet and relaxing holiday for both adults and children. It is not suitable for youth recreation, as there are no noisy bars and restaurants. Here you can go diving, windsurfing, water skiing, motor boats, and scooters.
The best beaches in Protaras
Beaches of Paphos
I would like to note that the beaches of Limassol are not as picturesque as those in other resorts, so they are not suitable for children's recreation.
Beaches of the northern region of Cyprus
The regions of northern Cyprus can offer vacationers private, public, equipped, hotel and wild beaches. Entrance to equipped beaches is about 3 euros. There are umbrellas, sun loungers, toilets and showers. But there are also free beaches and one of them is Alagadi, where turtles lay eggs in the summer and you can show them to your children, who will be very interested in looking at such exotic things. Most of the beaches are sandy, but sometimes the seabed turns into pebbles, so you need to be very careful, especially for kids. The most popular beaches in the north of Cyprus are Acapulco, Camelot Beach, Deniz Kizi, and Escape.
Cyprus is an island that is washed by the Mediterranean Sea on all sides. This means that it boasts a significant number of beaches along the entire perimeter of the land.
However, it should be noted that the beaches of Cyprus are not the same both in nature and in “purpose”. Some of them are good for relaxing and swimming, while others are more like attractions that need to be seen and captured on camera, or chosen as a place of solitude and watching sunrises.
The only thing that unites the beaches of Cyprus is that they are all municipal. Entrance to any of them is free, and you can sunbathe on a sun lounger (for an additional fee) or on your own towel laid out on the sand for free.
In addition, all the beaches of Cyprus can still be divided into southern and northern. The latter are located in territory occupied by the Turks since 1975.
This article will focus on the beaches of southern Cyprus, from Akamas in the west to Protaras in the east of the island.
The best sandy beaches of Cyprus
When I was going to Cyprus for the first time, I looked for information about the beaches of Cyprus on the Internet, from the lips of everyone who had been there or had the slightest understanding of this issue. We were flying then with our one-year-old son, and the main criteria when choosing a place for a beach vacation were: a gentle entrance to the sea, sand underfoot (both on the beach itself and on the seabed within walking distance) and variety (i.e., at least three good beaches nearby).
After numerous questions and studying hundreds of pages of electronic text, I came to a conclusion: the best beaches in Cyprus, in my opinion, are in and. This is the best place to relax with kids, as there are family hotels with sandy beaches.
We’ll start describing the beaches of Cyprus with them.
The location of all beaches is shown on the map. It is more convenient to open it in a separate browser tab by clicking “Enlarge map” in the upper right corner.
Beaches of Protaras
Protaras was the first Cypriot resort we visited. We chose it for its reputation as a “family-friendly”, calm and cozy village for families with children. The beach, 100 meters from our hotel, seemed small to us at first glance. We didn’t immediately appreciate all its advantages, but a little later we realized how lucky we were. Firstly, it was located in a small bay. The edges of the bay very naturally served as breakwaters, thanks to which “our” sea was always calm and warmer. The child, who had just learned to walk, splashed along the shore quite confidently, and the parents were not afraid that he would be swept off his feet by some stray wave of the Mediterranean Sea. The beach had real loose golden sand, of course sun loungers and umbrellas, and on the left side of the bay there was green vegetation. Beautiful lush bushes more than once sheltered a young vacationer sleeping in a stroller from the sun.
Later, while relaxing on other beaches of the island, we realized that we still liked our beach the most. Perhaps because it was “ours”, perhaps for the amenities listed above. But in general, also because he was in the right place at the right time for us.
I did not find the name of this beach - neither on the map, nor on the signs that are usually displayed at the entrance. He was more like a wild one, although many people knew about him. If you want to find this place, you need to focus on the Mimosa Beach Hotel and Harry’s Hotel (on the outskirts of Protaras from Cape Greco).
And another beach very similar to the one described above is the beach of the Cavo Maris hotel. You can get to it through the hotel itself (do you remember that all beaches are municipal?). Enter the hotel from the street and exit through the courtyard. Very beautiful approach to the bay, fine, pleasant sand, comfortable entrance to the sea for children. Located one or two bus stops from the center of Protaras.
Well, now about the more famous beaches of Cyprus.
Fig Tree Beach - Fig Tree Bay
This beach is located in Fig Tree Bay in the center of Protaras and is considered the best in the village. The resort's most expensive hotels are located within walking distance. This beach is really beautiful, with fine, almost white sand. With all the necessary beach equipment (sunbeds, umbrellas) for an additional fee of 2.5 euros per piece and with a variety of entertainment. Inflatable tablets, jet skis and catamarans are parked along the shore.
According to one version, the beach got its name because previously there was a fig grove in this place. Another explanation for the name is that there is a lone fig tree on the beach that is many years old. In general, both one and the other version have the right to life, because from the grove there could well have been only one tree left. It is unknown where the grove disappeared; perhaps it was cut down in order to install the Blue Flag, which this beach undoubtedly deserves. By the way, the Blue Flag is awarded to a beach not only for the purity of water and sand. The safety of swimming, the infrastructure, the presence of a rescue service, and even the regularity of algae removal all play a role here.
We actually found a lone fig tree on the beach. I think in the mornings more than one pair of feet rushes to this beach to take a place in its shade. On the approaches to the beach there is something like a small park. On benches in the shade of fig trees you can enjoy the view of a small island protruding from the water about 200 meters from the shore, the aroma of flower beds or the taste of ice cream.
Flamingo Beach (Sunrise Beach)
This is the beach that I consider the most “urban” in Protaras. There are exits to it from almost anywhere in the city center. You could even say that this is the entire Flamingo Coast, since some of its sections have their own names (most often the names of the hotels near which they are located). Thus, Flamingo Beach is sometimes also called Sunrise Beach - because opposite the five-star Sunrise Beach hotel is the most convenient entrance to the sea on the Flamingo coast.
At the very beginning of Flamingo Beach you can see rows of palm trees planted on the bright green slopes. These apparently natural hills are covered with soft grass and form a beautiful lawn on which to take photos. This place has an irrigation system, so the grass is always green, unlike other places where it fades very quickly in the sun.
Near Flamingo Beach there are the famous singing fountains of Protaras, McDonald's, as well as shops, cafes, and souvenir shops.
Konnos Beach or Konnos Bay
We saw this beach for the first time when we were cycling from Protaras to Cape Greco. The bike path winds over the beach, and the view from the top is especially good. As the second name of this place indicates, the beach is located in a bay and is thus well protected from the winds. In addition, one of the features of this beach is its inaccessibility compared to city ones. It is located 2 km from Protaras, and you need to get there by car, bus (No. 101, 102) or bicycle. In addition, the descent with small children can be inconvenient - you need to go down the mountain along ladders lined with wood. But it's worth it. The beach is very picturesque not only from above, but also from below, and is surrounded by vegetation rich for Cyprus.
Palaces
If you continue on the cycle path further from Protaras, past Konnos Bay, you will certainly come to Cape Greco. There are also “beach” places there. Although this is not a beach in my understanding, it is nevertheless on the map of Cyprus. The rocky beach of Palaces is named so because the rocks framing it resemble palaces (from the word “palace” - palace). The bottom here is rocky and the water is very clean. Therefore, if your bike ride is a little long or gets too hot, you can cool off at the rocky “palaces”.
However, be careful: some small biting creatures the size of half a mosquito sometimes swim near large stones. After contact with them, the skin may burn. It is better not to let children on the stones. There are better beaches in Cyprus for families with children.
The best beaches in Ayia Napa
Since Ayia Napa is much larger than neighboring Protaras, there is a greater choice of beaches.
The most famous beach, which I personally perceive more as a tourist attraction than as a place for swimming and spending time with children, is Nissi Beach. During our first trip to Cyprus, I wanted to go there from Protaras with every fiber of my soul. White sand, azure sea, pelicans... Upon arrival, it turned out that expectations and reality did not coincide somewhat. The beach was crowded, and the entrance to the sea was not that shallow. The waves created excitement, and my feet did not stand very steadily on the bottom of the sea.
But the situation was saved by pelicans (there were 2 of them), who actually walked along the beach between the vacationers, not at all embarrassed to step on the towels of tourists who were not there. One of the pelicans with an important look approached the young couple from behind and with its huge beak left them without lunch, snatching the shawarma right from the girl’s hands! The girl was screaming, everyone else was in a hurry to open their camera shutters!
During my subsequent visits, Nissi beach was rehabilitated a little. But I still perceive it as a place to take a walk in the morning or evening, wade, or walk along a narrow strip of sand emerging from the water to the island and see the coast of Nissi from the sea. Where the beach ends, a shady alley begins, which then turns into a kind of promenade along which it is pleasant to walk to another beach.
Sandy Bay
If you stand on Nissi facing the sea and go left, you can go to Sandy Bay Beach. Or in another way - Vathia Gonia (Vathia Gonia). This is the bay on the shores of which the Tasia Maris Sands and Pavlo Napa hotels stand.
It was from the Tasia Maris Sands hotel that we admired sunsets and sea views more than once. The beach has everything an average vacationer needs. Fine sand, convenient access to the sea, entertainment, sun loungers, umbrellas. Due to the fact that the bay cuts quite strongly into the land, in the basin formed by the shores of the bay, the water is warmer and calmer. Paradise for children. You can also “travel” along the shores of the bay with a fishing rod and catch crabs and fish from the heights of the rocks. Our five-year-old son's first fishing trip happened right here.
Pernera Beach
The next beach after Sandy Bay that you will encounter if you go left from Nissi is Pernera. Here the bay is larger, the waves are a little stronger, but the sand is just as soft. This is a good beach for swimming with children, equipped with everything you need, including water sports.
Residents of the Callisto Holiday Village are especially lucky, because the hotel's sun loungers (that is, free) are located right on the beach, and most of the rooms have sea views.
Pantachou Beach
Pantahou is one of the longest beaches in Ayia Napa, also sandy and quite wide. The entrance to the sea is gentle, but there are often stones at the water's edge - sometimes more, sometimes less, but they are found almost along the entire length of the beach. We noticed that their number decreases with distance from the port.
You can get to the beach by bus (the same numbers 101 and 102) and get off at the Kryou Nerou stop.
Landa Beach
If you go in the other direction from Nissi (we went left, and now we will face the sea and go right), then along a convenient path you can walk to Landa Beach. Nice beach with everything you need, including shower and toilet. There are many families with children here, but in general there are fewer people than on Nissi. At the entrance to the sea there are large but flat and low boulders. They are clearly visible and do not spoil the overall impression of the beach, but on the contrary, they decorate the landscape.
Makronissos Beach
This beach is located on the outskirts of Ayia Napa, but that doesn't stop it from getting crowded. Awarded the Blue Flag, it is considered “second” after Nissi in terms of beauty, cleanliness, convenience and infrastructure. Here, vacationers have access to umbrellas and sunbeds for 2.5 euros each (the price includes the WiFi password), showers, changing cabins, toilets, cafes, and water activities. This beach even has so-called areas for VIP accommodation - tents with drinking water and fruit, costing about 20 euros.
On both sides of the impressive size of the bay there is vegetation, which makes the beach picturesque. The entrance to the sea along the white sand is gradual, the water is clear.
Love Bridge Beach
At the exit from Ayia Napa towards Cape Greco there is another place, which is sometimes indicated on the map as Lover's Bridge Beach. In reality, you won’t find a beach there as such, but you can climb to the bridge of lovers. This is a natural bridge formed by a rock over the sea in the area of the sea caves of Ayia Napa (Sea Caves).
Local romantics attached symbolic meaning to this place. If you walk along the path along the sea from the caves, you can find a bridge built by human hand, in development of the theme of lovers. On the wooden bridge you will see hundreds of locks with the names of couples in love, and you can even leave your own.
Beaches of Larnaca, Limassol and Paphos.
For me personally, all the beaches outside of Protaras and Ayia Napa are called “the rest”. Because, firstly, they are inferior to the beaches described above in quality, and secondly, in quantity. The "rest" beaches of Cyprus are worth seeing. Well, take a swim once. But do not choose them as a place of permanent deployment.
An exception may be Coral Bay Beach in Paphos. It is not in the city, but at a distance of about 12 km from Paphos. You can get there by bus (No. 615) or by car. The beach is equipped with sun loungers and umbrellas, changing cabins, showers and toilets, and offers water activities and diving. There is fine white sand and gradual depth, which is very convenient for families with children.
The beaches of Larnaca and Limassol are not as golden as those in Ayia Napa. The sand here is darker, denser, and on some beaches it seems as if you are simply walking on the ground. This is exactly the feeling I had on Finicoudes Beach in Larnaca. The embankment itself is very picturesque, framed by a long row of date palms, which give the name to this alley. The surrounding area is too busy - the port, the highway, and in general you can feel the movement of a big city. From my point of view, this beach is more for walking, exploring the port and the monuments on Finikoudes Alley.
Another famous beach in Larnaca is McKenzie Beach. It will be especially interesting for airplane lovers, because it starts almost from Larnaca airport, and aircraft often take off or land over it. There is a long and wide strip of not very loose sand with a gray tint, palm trees and the Blue Flag of the European Union. The entrance to the sea is convenient, the water is clear, and the depth begins gradually. The beach has everything you might need during a beach holiday - from sun loungers to cafes and entertainment.
Two large beaches in Limassol are Dasoudi Beach and Akti Olympion Beach. They are located in the city center next to each other. The sand here does not have a golden hue, but the entrance to the sea is convenient, and the Blue Flag indicates the cleanliness of the water, land and the presence of developed infrastructure.
Near Dasoudi Beach you can relax in the shade of a eucalyptus-pine grove and breathe in the phytoncides of valuable species. And when you leave the Akti-Olympion beach and cross to the other side of the roadway, you will find yourself in a zoo and a very beautiful park. With the monument to Pushkin, by the way!
Kourion Beach
We got there by car after visiting the ancient city of Kourion. The ancient city (or its remains) is located on a cliff, and we saw this beach from above. It is beautiful and very refreshing;) The strong wind tangled our hair, but we jumped on the waves with pleasure, because it was very hot at the top in the ancient city.
The beach has sun loungers, umbrellas and a restaurant. But we were in the wild part of the beach, almost at the foot of the mountain, and enjoying the pristine nature.
Governor's Beach
They say that the beach was named so because a certain English governor liked to relax here. They also say that big turtles like to hang out here now. We stopped here at the end of the day on our way from Limassol to Ayia Napa. We didn’t meet either the English governor or turtles, but we fully enjoyed the gorgeous view: the azure sea, the setting sun and white cliffs on black sand.
This beach has become one of my favorites. In addition to stunning scenery (marked with a Blue Flag), there is very pleasant fine sand, a gentle entrance to the sea and relatively few people. Although, perhaps, the lack of crowds was only due to the time of day.
Apparently, you can get here by intercity bus or car, because the beach is 20 km from Limassol. Very, very romantic place!
Petra tou Romiou beach
This place is interesting not as a beach, but as an opportunity to touch antiquity. In particular, to see with your own eyes exactly where the goddess of love and beauty came ashore from the foam of the sea. On the way from Limassol to Paphos you will see a sign for Petra tou Romiou. Feel free to take a detour to visit the birthplace of Aphrodite. From the parking lot you will need to go down to the beach along an uneven path with stones. The stones will become larger and larger until finally you will see Aphrodite's rock - a semicircular cobblestone in the sea, approximately along the middle of the "beach".
This is undoubtedly a very beautiful corner of the island of Cyprus, but I would hardly call it a beach. The entire place on the approaches to the sea is generously strewn with stones, the bottom of the sea is the same. The depth begins quickly, and the legs do not stand firmly, drowning in a thick layer of stones. There are no sun loungers or umbrellas on the beach that would disrupt the color and naturalness of this fabulous place. But you can spread out your mat, and even lie on the pebbles, trying to find one in the shape of a heart. Whoever succeeds in this, as the legend says, is guaranteed eternal youth and love. And to consolidate the result, you must swim around Aphrodite’s rock three times. I did this, and have been watching the results for several years now :)
The best beaches of Cyprus are sand strips at resorts, natural and with imported sand; landscaped areas near hotels - where there is all the infrastructure for families with children; rocky - in small bays framed by weathered white rocks; wild ones - in national parks that have preserved their original appearance.
Sandy beaches of Cyprus
The spacious sandy shores of Cyprus resorts remain a center of attraction for tourists who come to the island during the high season - from May to September.
The sand on the Cypriot Mediterranean coast differs not only in different regions, but also within individual resorts. Well-maintained natural beaches with grayish and dense volcanic sand are common (for example, in Limassol and Larnaca) and mixed sand and pebble areas (including in Paphos). Less commonly, you can find municipal beaches with fine white or golden sand (in Ayia Napa, some in Protaras, Paphos, and other resorts), wild beach strips with golden-gray sand (Northern Cyprus and the shores a few kilometers from tourist towns).
Traditionally, the coasts with fine sand, equipped with sun loungers and umbrellas, are considered the most comfortable for relaxation. Mostly such beaches are bulk beaches, located within walking distance from the centers of large resorts.
The water areas of most of the sandy and some sandy-pebble beaches of Cyprus are awarded the prestigious international Blue Flag award, confirming the cleanliness of the water and the safety of the coast for vacationers.
The best beaches in Cyprus
White sand beaches of Cyprus
The main part of Cypriot white sand beaches is concentrated on the coastline of Ayia Napa and Protaras. Such areas have resort infrastructure and a smooth entrance to the water, so they are especially attractive for tourists with children.
The famous white sandy beach of Cyprus - Nissi Beach in Ayia Napa, is located in a bay overlooking the island. The shore is covered with light, fine imported sand, which is pleasant to walk on; the sea water is clear with an azure tint. The place is one of the most popular on the island, and there are consistently many vacationers on this shore, as well as on the second top beach of the resort - Makronissos.
The west coast in the area of Nissy Ave and the water park is no less comfortable in terms of service and is often just as popular among tourists.
For a more relaxed holiday, you can choose the eastern city beach of Kermia or go to the suburban shore of Ayia Thekla, near which there is a market on Wednesdays.
Beaches of Paphos
The resort coast of Paphos attracts tourists with its diversity: along with the classic equipped strips with gray sand and pebbles, in the vicinity of the resort you can find municipal beaches with imported white or golden-gray sand, awarded the Blue Flag.
While vacationing in Paphos, it is worth visiting several iconic places, because not only the most famous and completely sandy beach of Coral Bay and the mythical beach of Aphrodite (Petra tou Romiou) deserve attention. Thus, the protected Lara beach, where green turtles lay their eggs, is considered non-standard. And one of the best places to watch the sunset is Lighthouse Beach (aka Faros Beach) overlooking the lighthouse. Close to hotels in the Kato Paphos area is the cozy Alykes Beach.
Beaches of Protaras and surroundings
The sandy beaches of Protaras are clean and spacious. There are not as many holidaymakers here as in neighboring Ayia Napa, so the beaches are considered calmer and more family-friendly.
The best vacation spots in Protaras, included in most guidebooks: the shore of Fig Tree Bay (more about it below in the selection for children); the already mentioned Konnos Bay, framed by rocks and trees; rocky beach of Palaces on Cape Greco; as well as the golden sand-covered Sunrise.
Beaches of Limassol
There are not many beaches in the urban area of Limassol. Basically, the coasts have a natural covering - local grayish volcanic sand along with small pebbles.
Beaches of Larnaca
Larnaca's public beaches are covered with dense gray sand, with mixed sand and pebble areas in some places. Three of them are marked with the prestigious Blue Flag: the famous Finikoudes beach near the central promenade, Kastela beach - the most convenient for children, and McKenzie - the famous beach shore with views of low-flying planes.
In Larnaca Bay the sea is usually calm and the entrance to the water is gentle. Municipal beaches have basic infrastructure and can be separated from each other by green areas.
Beaches of Northern Cyprus
On the northern coast of Cyprus, in the Turkish part of the island, you can relax on sandy and sandy-pebble beaches, and among them there are several places of worship that are definitely worth visiting for the fantastic scenery.
One of the largest and most outstanding sandy beaches in Northern Cyprus is Alagadi. This is a protected natural area where turtles lay their eggs. There is no tourist infrastructure in the coastal area; the coast is virtually wild, with free entry (fees are charged on some well-maintained beaches in Northern Cyprus). One of the main attractions of the beach is a line of sandstone cliffs, carved by the wind and surprising with their bizarre shapes.
Video “Beaches of Cyprus”. Shooting from above