|
|
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Get exclusive travel deals, trip reviews, and unique adventure travel ideas monthly.
|
|
Ayia NapaCity/Region: Larnaca
What was once a small fishing village in the south-eastern corner of Cyprus is now a hotspot for holidaymakers looking for a lively vacation
-over 250,000 clubbers swarm into this party capital each summer and the phenomenal atmosphere in its scores of bars and nightclubs is nothing short of explosive. Located in the centre of the market garden area of the island, Ayia Napa also boasts a string of superb golden sandy beaches and vestiges of its cultural heritage - there is a Venetian decorated monastery fronted by a 600-year-old
Sycamore tree, and a quaint harbour filled with colourful fishing vessels. Just a few miles away, the resort of Protaras is more restrained and is much more suited to family holidays. Both resorts have excellent beaches, the most famous being Fig Tree Bay. Other popular beaches include Nissi Beach and Nissi Bay, two miles (3km) west of Ayia Napa; Cape Greco to the east, where the challenge is to leap from the rocks into the sea; and Konnos Bay, just past Cape Greco, where there is a beach café and speedboats for hire.
ProtarasCity/Region: Larnaca
The resort of Protaras on the south east coast of Cyprus has all the trappings of the larger, more frenetic Ayia Napa that is a few minutes drive away, but it is far more family friendly and boasts the best beach on the island, fabulous Fig Tree Bay. Protaras is actually a town built on a piece of flat, scrubby land expressly for the purpose of catering for British holidaymakers. Just adjacent to the village of Paralimni, Protaras consists mainly of a grid of restaurants, nightclubs and shops surrounded by numerous hotels and holiday apartment blocks. Landscaping is rather lacking and the buildings do not follow any theme: it is a hodge-podge of architecture and concrete that can get blistering hot in the summer sun. No-one seems to mind the lack of genuine Cypriot atmosphere, however, because Protaras does what it was intended to do, and that is give everyone a great holiday. Then, too, it has the magnificent golden Blue Flag beach, which stretches for 10 miles (16km) or so shelving gently into the crystal clear Mediterranean, and further up and down the coast a choice of secluded coves and inlets for those wanting more privacy.
Next Page »
Word Travels is a comprehensive travel guide covering hundreds of cities and holiday resorts in more than 125 countries.
