Best Beaches in Cyprus

The best beaches in Cyprus are located in small coves with stunning blue water where the locals hang out.  

Beach costs in Cyprus

All the beaches we visited in Cyprus were free (with free parking). The costs associated with the beaches are only if you want to borrow an umbrella and chair (€2.5 each). These are already set up on the beaches, but you can easily put your towel down anywhere and not pay a cent.

On the isolated beaches, there will be no umbrellas or chairs.

How to get around to the beaches

We rented a car to easily get around the country. It was easy and affordable (except for the price of gas—we only used a single tank our whole week though).

Many people in Protaras rent quad/ATV bikes to get around. They go pretty fast too!

Best beaches in Cyprus around Ayia Napa

There are several stunning beaches in and around the resort town of Ayia Napa. Ayia Napa is just an hour away from the airport in Larnaca, Cyprus. My sister and I visited the beaches around Ayia Napa for a day. We spent a couple of hours at each one and then returned to spend an afternoon at Konnos Beach.

What’s the difference between the beaches here and Larnaca? The sand is more of that white sand you want to find at a beach, the water is this beautiful blue, and the beaches are in smaller coves, whereas the beaches in Larnaca are along long strips of the coast and have more of a brown sand color.

Instead of staying in Ayia Napa, my sister and I chose to stay in a lovely Airbnb over a little vineyard in Protaras. Protaras is a “resort town” but we stayed in an Airbnb with views of the coastline.

If you’re looking for the crystal blue waters of the Blue Lagoon at Cape Greco, just 20 minutes from Ayia Napa or Protaras, check out my post here.

Malama Beach

Malama was my favorite beach with a few chairs, a mermaid statue, and some sea caves! The cove is smaller than the other two beaches we visited so the water seemed a little warmer to me.

The nearby restaurant overlooking the water, Kaliφi, was excellent. I had a great roasted veg sandwich with a beer. The prices were reasonable considering this was also really good.

If you had to pick just one beach in Ayia Nappa, this would be it.

Konnos Beach

Konnos Beach is one of the most popular beaches located in a cove. It has a large sand area covered with umbrellas and chairs, but also space for you to put your own towel down if you’d like. There are two areas to lounge in. The first is right where you’ll enter the beach.

If you keep walking forward, you’ll get to a second area. They are connected but this second cove is a little smaller, so there are fewer people.

There is a large activity center at Konnos, Mike’s Watersports, for boat rentals, pedal boats, kayaks, floatation devices, and more. You can also access Konnos from the trail “window on the sea.”

Parking is available starting around the beach bus stop, all the way down until the beach steps. We got lucky with weekend parking but you may need to park at the top if there isn’t space left.

Firemans Beach

Firemans Beach has two small canteens for food as well as the Kohili Beach Bar, which has a beautiful view over the cove. The cove is small, similar to Malama. It is also known as “Kapparis Beach.”

Fig Tree Beach

Fig Tree Beach is not located on a cove and is one of the largest beaches along the coast. There are several restaurants around. After spending the day at smaller coves, I wasn’t as amused by the endless rows of loungers compared to Malama. Other beaches like this include Yianna Marie and Vrissiana.

Nissi Beach

Although we had this on our itinerary, we were beached-out for the day and so we didn’t make it to Nissi Beach. This beach is located close to Ayia Napa and is set in a large cove.

Paphos, Western Cyprus

The Paphos district in the southwestern part of Cyprus is known for its shipwrecks, archeological sites, and a Blue Lagoon of its own. The district is about an hour and a half from Larnaca.

Petra tou Romiou (Aphrodite’s Rock)

The “Rock of the Roman,” also known as Aphrodite’s Rock, is located on the southwest coast and is a little over an hour’s drive from Larnaca.

Legend has it that Aphrodite, the ancient Greek Goddess of Love and Beauty, was born of the sea foam here. Rising from the waves, she was escorted on a shell to this rocky beach. One of the myths of this area is that if you circle the rock three times, you will be granted enteral beauty.

The popular beach is right by the roadside (once you cross the highway underpass). If you keep going to the left side of the path, you’ll have another section of the beach all to yourself.

The beach is rocky, not sandy! The rocks were a struggle to walk on for us and we kept falling. If you’re sensitive, bring some water shoes.

There are no beach umbrellas or chairs for rent here so bring that with you to spend a full day. We spent about an hour here on our way to Paphos.

There is easy parking in a large lot and a shop with some snacks. You may want to bring a 50-cent coin with you for a 30-second shower, behind the shop.

Latsi Beach

After going on a boat cruise to the Blue Lagoon, my sister and I stayed at the nearby beach (to sleep off our cocktails…). Latsi Beach is more similar to the beaches in Larnaca. There are restaurants that will serve takeaway to people on the beach. We ordered a platter from Porto Latchi Restaurant & Fish Tavern and it was very good.

Am I missing your favorite beach in Cyprus? Let me know in the comments.