Ayia Napa - Introduction

One of Europe's most famous party resorts, Ayia Napa, is one of the stars of the Mediterranean island nation of Cyprus. With its year round warm weather and sandy beach it is easy to see why the resort is so popular. In summer the bars and clubs boom with international DJs and holidaymakers from all over Europe, while families are also welcome in this fully-fledged resort that has grown rapidly from the simple fishing village it was only a few decades ago. The rest of this holiday island is also blessed with beaches, resorts and tourist attractions that are easily accessible from Ayia Napa.

Who Goes There
Year round the majority of visitors to Ayia Napa are 18-35 year-old Western Europeans flocking in for the nightlife, though holidaying families are more than welcome. Lying in the southeastern Mediterranean, Cyprus tends to be much warmer in winter than many continental European resorts, making it ideal for a winter sun holiday.

Where in the World
Ayia Napa is on the southeastern coast of the holiday island of Cyprus. It is just south of the border with North Cyprus and just west of the resort of Protaras, less than an hour's drive from Larnaca's international airport.

The resort overlooks the Mediterranean Sea between the Cypriot city of Larnaca in the west and Cape Greco in the east. The resort spreads out along the coastline with the main beach just to the east of the harbour.

When to go
For hot sunny days and warm sea temperatures May to October are the best months to visit Ayia Napa. At the height of summer (July and August) the midday sun can be too hot for some (the mercury can creep up to the around 34°C (93°F) and the resort can also be too busy.

Beach
Ayia Napa's Nissi Beach is one of the most attractive in Cyrpus, boasting a sweep of clean golden sand, as well as sun loungers and sun umbrellas for hire. Bars, music, banana boat rides and a host of other watersports make this lively stretch of sand popular with the clubbing crowd and has earned it favourable comparisons to Bondi. For quieter stretches of beach head out to Cape Greco, to the east of Ayia Napa.

Beyond the Beach
Head away from the resort's beach and enjoy the calm and peace of the Monastery of Ayia Napa. Visit here in the morning before most holidaymakers have woken and admire the 600-year-old fig tree and marble fountain. The monastery dates from as far back as the Venetian days in the 16th century. There are also regular boat trips out to Cape Greco and the resort of Protaras.

Family Fun
Ayia Napa is a popular resort with families and its beach is the main attraction. Other distractions include WaterWorld (www.waterworldwaterpark.com), a fun water park on the resort's outskirts, and the Marine Life Museum (Ayias Mavris 25), which has a modest collection of shells and preserved sea life including sharks. Children's pools, family friendly restaurants and sports facilities like tennis courts are also on hand to ease you through your stay at some of the resort hotels.

Retail Therapy
Many shops in Ayia Napa are unashamedly geared towards the holiday trade and if you are looking for a swimsuit, snorkel mask or Cypriot wine in a cheesy jug you won't be disappointed. Supermarkets are the best place to snare cheap cigarettes and alcohol. Many locals either do their shopping in the city of Larnaca or in the Cypriot capital of Nicosia.

A Night on the Town
Ayia Napa is a serious party resort and the action is white hot in summer. The local authorities have curbed the worst excesses in recent years, but the bars and clubs are still a fun place to be especially at the height of the summer season. The main square is the hub of the action with numerous drinking dens, karaoke clubs and drink promotions. Some of the most popular spots to dance the night away include The Castle Club (Grigoriou Afxention) (www.thecastleclub.com), Insomnia (Leoforos Nisiou) and the new superclub Babylon (Nissi Avenue) (www.babylonsuperclub.com). For families, nightlife normally consists of a meal in a quieter part of town.

Eating Out
The ubiquitous British breakfasts and photo menus are there for holidaymakers looking for a comforting slice of home. Ayia Napa also boasts restaurants that specialize in traditional Cypriot mezze meals, where a variety of dishes are served across a multitude of courses. Seafood is also popular in the resort with the best restaurants offering holidaymakers the chance to inspect their fish before it is cooked. Located next to the harbour Esperia is a good fish restaurant.

Getting Around
There is no public transport network in the resort of Ayia Napa, though there are buses to other cities and destinations across the island nation of Cyprus. Taxis are widely available and car or moped hire is an alternative way of getting around.

Exploring Further Afield
The popular resort of Protaras is located just east of Ayia Napa. There are buses and boat tours to Protaras with the main attraction the sprinkling of beaches that are dotted in and around the resort. Choose from Agia Triada, Louma, Mouzoura, Pernera and Protaras beach. To really get away from it all head to Green Bay Beach, where holidaymakers can often escape the crowds.

Splashing Out
Spend a day in the buzzing coastal city of Limassol. The funky Londa Hotel (www.londahotel.com) is a smooth venue for a few sundowners and then a decadent meal overlooking the Mediterranean. The bars and clubs of Limassol are far more local-orientated than Ayia Napa, making a change for a night.

Flying In
Larnaca Airport (LCA)

Ayia Napa > Search

I'm looking for a...

Flight Only
Hotel Only
Flight & Hotel

Travelling from:

Travelling to:

Flying out:

Returning:

Book a hotel for only part of my trip.

Number of Rooms:

Room 1

Children: age 2-11, infants: age 0-1

Submit this guide to...
	Del.icio.us
	Digg
	Facebook
	Reddit
	Stumbleupon

For all pre-booked travel arrangements bought from ASDA Travel, Wefly.co.uk acts as an authorised travel agent.
Wefly.co.uk is a trading name of P&P Associates Ltd. Registered in England No. 2124920. Registered Office: Patteson Court, Nutfield Road, Redhill, Surrey, RH1 4ED