15 Best Things to Visit in Protaras (Cyprus)

Ayia Napa’s quiet neighbor, Protaras, is a resort for people who want to enjoy the beautiful beaches of Cyprus without the busy nightlife. You’ll also be in for a treat when it comes to sun and sand because this region’s whole coastline is made up of white sandy bays and secret coves, with just rocky headlands that are ideal for scenic walks in between. On land, you can get in the car and see any number of historical monuments and family-friendly attractions in the area, while the warm, blue seas off the coast are a dream for water sports.

Varosha

This abandoned community on the southern edge of Famagusta is definitely worth visiting if you’re visiting the city. After the Turkish invasion in the 1970s, Varosha, one of the best resorts in the area, was left empty and has stayed that way ever since. Although you can’t go inside the resort to see the towers up close, you can capture some fantastic long-distance shots from the bay. What stands out is how, in the absence of people, nature is reclaiming the city: Loggerhead turtles have even resumed nesting on the shore.

Cape Greco

One of the island’s most beautiful areas is the entire southeastern point of Cyprus, which is a natural park. Either way will bring you near the picturesque surroundings, whether you approach the cape on land or by sea. You can ascend trails on foot to reach a viewpoint with views over the whole of the headland and the Mediterranean Sea in the deep blue. You jump between the gaping chasms that the sea’s currents have chiseled out of the rock in the water. Other unusual rock structures can be seen further along, including a natural arch that, on calm days, you can swim beneath.

Ayia Napa Monastery

Contrary to popular belief, Ayia Napa is more than just raucous nightlife. This wonderful Venetian monastery, which is still largely the same today as it was 500 years ago, is located in the center of the city. The church, cloisters, and flour mill of the monastery are all made of limestone, and the old church and the new one were connected in 1990 when the congregation of Ayia Napa outgrew the former. Several local birth miracles are said to have happened because of this statue of the Virgin Mary, which couples who are having trouble getting pregnant go to see.

Cypriot Coffee

You may try various Cypriot specialties even on the urban east coast. Attempt coffee In Cyprus, a cup of coffee is percolated in a long-handled, narrow copper jug over a stove to prevent burning the maker. Even before the jug is placed on the heat, cold water is combined with sugar and ground coffee. So what you end up with is a drink that is sweet and potent at the same time and has a sticky consistency. There will be a bitter residue at the bottom of the cup once you’re done that you probably shouldn’t drink!

Fig Tree Bay

The major beach in Protaras, Fig Tree Bay, is typical of the coastline on the east side of the peninsula. It is a beautiful stretch of pure white sand with rows of sun loungers with umbrellas over them. Fig Tree Bay might get crowded in the summer due to its proximity to the town, but that won’t matter because the water is what makes this beach amazing. The water is beautiful because a small island 50 meters offshore keeps it from mixing with the open sea. As a result, a long, wide area of waist-high water is created that is so clear that you can see every sand grain on the sea floor!

Nissi Beach

The busiest beach in Ayia Napa is located south of Protaras. Nissi offers entertainment all afternoon, and in the summer there is a never-ending seaside party. You can even try cliff diving if you head to the headland on the west side of the bay. For everyone else, Nissi Beach is a lovely setting for leisurely days by the water. The white sands are soft and powdery, the waters are clear and shallow, and there’s no shortage of facilities on hand.

Parko Paliatso Funfair and Luna Park

Depending on your disposition, one look at Parko Paliatso’s world-famous slingshot will set your heart racing or send shivers down your spine. Riders get into a capsule that is quickly launched into the air by a catapult powered by a bungee rope. It appears to be the highest ejection seat ride in all of Europe. The Ferris wheel, which is 45 meters above the park and offers fantastic views at the top of its orbit, is less nerve-wracking. Attempt to ride at dusk.

Ayia Napa

Ayia Napa is close by if you’re in your late teens or early twenties and want to let loose. It has a long history of drawing young people from all across Europe as one of the liveliest party locations in the Mediterranean. Many of Ayia Napa’s 80 pubs and 12 nightclubs are gathered around the town’s central plaza, with the majority of them hopping until dawn seven days a week in the summer. The busiest time of year is from late June to early August, but the off-peak seasons are still very active.

Horseback riding

When wildflowers are in bloom in the hills surrounding Protaras in March or April, they are ablaze with color. The colors of the poppies, which range from deep crimson to yellow, are especially vivid. A horseback tour is a fantastic way to take in the scenery during the springtime when the weather is nice for getting out and about. Outside of Protaras, at the Moonshine Ranch, you may take lessons and rent horses by the hour.

Meze

You can choose from a variety of international cuisines in the areas of Protaras and Ayia Napa. You can try a real Cypriot meze, though, by going to a nearby taverna during your trip. Meze, a full-blown supper made out of little dishes, each more enticing than the last, is a big deal in Cyprus. The typical menu includes olives, bread with hummus, tahini, taramasalata dips, grilled veggies, calamari, and halloumi. Following that, you can choose to eat kebabs, roasted lamb, chargrilled fish, or something else. All of this food pairs beautifully with a Cypriot wine grown locally in the rugged Troodos region.

Church of St. Elias

This church, which is visible from miles away, is located a short distance from Protaras’s town center. St. Elias was built in the 1980s. It sits on top of a 100-meter-tall hill and can be reached by a 150-step staircase. It’s not something to take lightly, especially in the summer, but once you reach the summit, you’ll understand why everyone is making a big deal about it. The views, which encompass the town and the surrounding sea, are surreal. Look at the trees of remembrance in the garden up here for a moment. Residents decorate them with ribbons to honor loved ones.

Day trip to Famagusta

You can choose from a number of tour companies in Ayia Napa and Protaras to transport you to the port city of Famagusta by crossing the Green Line. Making the trip is worthwhile for many reasons, not the least of which is to see the Lala Mustapha Pasha Mosque, another example of a fusion of Gothic Christian and Islamic architecture. Before the Ottomans conquered it in the 1500s, it was a cathedral. Othello Castle, which is thought to have served as inspiration for Shakespeare’s play, is also highly recommended. Even if this isn’t true, the castle is still a beautiful example of Venetian military architecture that has recently been brought back to its former glory.

Diving

Cyprus has the longest diving season in all of Europe. It goes from March to November. Due to its location, the island has reasonably warm water for most of the year. In Protaras and Ayia Napa, which are on the southeast coast of Cyprus, there are a number of businesses that have been approved by PADI. It’s the ideal opportunity for beginners to pick up the fundamentals. And if you’re an expert diver, you’ll be in heaven swimming with turtles and rays through the canyon off Cape Greco or visiting the wreck of the MS Zenobia, which sank without any fatalities near Larnaca Bay in 1980. Recommended tour: Protaras scuba diving

Konnos Bay

You’ll come across this fantastic natural beach on the way down to Cape Greco. The way the cove is protected from the wind and the sea currents by headlands that serve as a barrier to the elements is what makes Konnos Bay so beautiful. This beach is ideal for families traveling with young children because the calm sea is perfect for the little ones to splash around in. People who can swim better may want to bring snorkeling gear to see what lives under the bay’s waves.

Sirena Bay

You might easily overlook this secret beach from the road, and many visitors only discover it by accident after following the coastal walk. Sinera Bay is a thin arc of shingle and sand that is surrounded by trees and can be seen from a friendly bar on the water. There is no need for sunblock due to the heavy vegetation that surrounds the small stretch of sand, and the calm, shallow waters are ideal for swimming.