Ayia Napa and Protaras: the south east corner

By Talk Cyprus. Published 19 October 2026.

Last verified 19 October 2026

South of the Green Line. Greek: Agia Napa, Protaras. Turkish: Aya Napa, Protaras.

Ayia Napa (Agia Napa, Aya Napa) and Protaras sit either side of Cape Greco at the south eastern tip of Cyprus. Ayia Napa is the bigger, louder resort, known for its nightlife and its long run of sandy beaches. Protaras, a few kilometres up the coast, is quieter and more family minded, and falls under the town of Paralimni. Between them lies a protected headland of cliffs, sea caves and walking paths with no hotels on it.

For the sandy beaches, see our beaches guide. This page covers everything else.

In Ayia Napa

Ayia Napa monastery. The town is named after this walled monastery, which stands right beside the main square. The church is partly cut into the rock, around the cave where, according to local legend, a hunter found an icon of the Virgin Mary. The main buildings went up under the Venetians around 1500, though some walls are older. Look for the central fountain in the courtyard and the huge old sycamore fig by the south gate. It is still a working church, with a feast on 8 September and a medieval festival each autumn.

Thalassa museum. The municipal museum of the sea opened in August 2005 and is the only maritime museum in Cyprus. It tells the story of the island through the sea that surrounds it, and its centrepiece is a full size replica of the Kyrenia ship, a merchant vessel of the 4th century BC that sank off the north coast.

Agia Thekla chapel. A small blue and white chapel on the coast west of town, towards Sotira, above the beach of the same name. Beside it, steps lead down to a small rock cut chamber that is thought to date to around the 4th century. It is often called the tomb of Saint Thekla, though it was more likely a tomb of a different kind that was later used as a chapel.

Cape Greco

Cape Greco national forest park. More than 380 hectares of low cliffs, scrub and rocky coves between Ayia Napa and Protaras. There is little shade, so carry water and wear proper shoes. A network of marked nature trails runs through it, mostly short and easy, including a circular route from the visitor centre car park via the chapel of Agioi Anargyroi, and a longer coastal path from Profitis Elias in Protaras down to Konnos. The forest tracks are popular with cyclists in spring and autumn, when it is cool enough to ride.

Sea caves. The cliffs west of the cape are cut through with caves made by the waves. You see them best from the paths above or from a boat.

Kamara tou Koraka. A natural rock arch near the sea caves, which many visitors know as Lovers’ Bridge. Erosion has made it very thin. It is fenced for a reason: look at it, do not walk across it.

The Blue Lagoon at Cape Greco. A stretch of very clear turquoise water below the cliffs, visited mainly on boat trips from Ayia Napa, Protaras and Pernera that stop for swimming and snorkelling.

Agioi Anargyroi chapel. A small chapel on the clifftop near the end of the cape, built above a sea cave.

Protaras and Paralimni

Protaras and Fig Tree Bay. Protaras grew up along a string of sandy bays. Fig Tree Bay, named after the fig trees by the shore, is the best known: about 500 metres of sand with a small islet offshore that swimmers reach through shallow water. A seafront promenade links it to Pernera to the north.

Paralimni. The town that runs Protaras, a few kilometres inland. Its name means “by the lake” in Greek, after a shallow seasonal lake that fills in winter and dries out the rest of the year. The lake is a protected site and home to the rare Cyprus grass snake.

Deryneia and the crossings north

Deryneia (Derinya). A village just south of Famagusta, right on the Green Line. The roof of its cultural centre looks across to the fenced off district of Varosha. Read our page on Varosha before you go.

The Deryneia and Strovilia crossings. The Deryneia crossing point opened in November 2018 and leads straight into Famagusta. A second crossing, Strovilia (Akyar), lies a little further west, reached through the British base area of Dhekelia, and gives the shortest road route between Famagusta and Larnaca. Both are covered, with current rules for cars and pedestrians, on our border crossing points page.

Getting there

Larnaca airport is the nearest. Shared airport shuttles run to fixed stops in Ayia Napa and Protaras. When we checked in 2026, the ride took about 45 to 55 minutes to Ayia Napa and about an hour to Protaras, with fares of roughly 13 to 15 euros per adult; taxis cost considerably more. Book a seat in summer.

A hire car makes Cape Greco, the outlying beaches and Deryneia much easier, as public transport to the park is limited. See car hire at Larnaca airport and, if you plan to cross north, taking a hire car across the border.

All areas, north and south