Beaches in Cyprus
With a coast-line measuring over 600 kilometers, Cyprus beaches constitute one of the high value tourist assets of the island. There is no doubt that the best place to soak up Cyprus sunshine is on the beach and there are plenty of popular and more secluded beaches to choose from. Cyprus beaches have many combinations of properties such as Cosmopolitan (like Nissi beach) to almost empty (like Lara beach), white, golden, or dark sand, nugget or rocky, natural or improved, ordered to totally isolated, greeny or desert like environments, still, lagoon to irregular ocean-like waters.
There are currently 52 Blue Flag beaches while 30 have handicap facilities; a blue flag signifies the EU Beach Environmental Organization (www.blueflag.org) across the island. They make sure these beaches and marinas adhere to the EU Beach Requirements for safety, water quality and environmental management.
The beaches and cool winds offer respite and serenity during the hot, sweltering 36 degree days. Beach sands are soft enough for relaxed afternoon naps and cool enough for wander along the water, and kid proof for hours of peace and quiet as the castle buckets are filled. The following is a list of the few best Cypriot beaches.
Ayia Napa & Protaras
The beaches around Ayia Napa and Protaras are among the best on the island with White, sandy shores and clear waters. The fishtail-shaped Makronissos Beach is a few kilometers west of Ayia Napa town centre on Nissi Avenue with its lack of currents and low waters make it perfect for small children. For those who like a nice stroll or a long trek, the white sands of Nissi Beach on the Nissi Avenue, four kilometers from Ayia Napa are perfectly suitable. A wooden pavement along the coast begins here and continues eastwards, turning into a paved area around Kermia Beach and then into a ‘nature trail’ that leads all the way to Cape Greco.
Cape Greco (spelled Kavo Gkreko on road signs) on the way to Protaras, at the island’s south-easternmost tip, attracts nature-lovers with its vertiginous cliffs, battered rocks, spectacular sea caves and crystalline waters. Further up the coast, Protaras is well-known for its impressive beaches which, though packed in summer, are every tourist’s dream come true: powder-soft white sand and dazzling, shallow turquoise water. Fig Tree Bay and the somewhat smaller Green Bay are among the most popular stretches of sand here.
Alagadi Turtle Beach
Alagadi Beach is a sandy beach with a rocky sea floor; however the water is shallow for quite a distance out making it great for swimming. During the egg-laying season, Green and Loggerhead turtles come up to the beach and lay eggs so a portion of the beach is closed off to tourists. North Cyprus is working very hard to help protect these gentle creatures as the green and loggerhead turtles are listed under the endangered species list. Tourists who would like to get a little closer and observe these fascinating turtles, by joining the Society for the Protection of Turtles (SPOT), located in Alagadi on Turtle Beach. During their time with SPOT, they will be able to help the turtles by joining the team on their nightly patrols of the sandy beach and also watch on as the teams make surveys night and dawn on the turtle everyday to keep up to date with the latest occurrences. Visit the beach side information centre for a full list of upcoming SPOT activities for more information.
Limassol beaches
Limassol is the second largest city of Cyprus, with a population of 135.000 is the centre of its wine-making industry, and an important commercial and tourist centre. Limassol beaches can be found in the center of town, along the tourist stretch and also in the surrounding area of Lemesos acting as a wonderful backdrop to the city that spreads for ten miles along the coast are the Troodos Mountains, in whose fertile foothills most of the country’s grapes are grown. The 16km seafront stretch of the tourist area has many coves which are great to swim or fish from and there are many houses along the seafront. Also there are many lovely resorts and even lovelier luxury hotels which have private beaches.
Agios Tychonas Beach is one of the many excellent Lemesos Beaches and it is located in front of the Four Seasons and Mediterranean Hotels. One of the nearest and most popular family Limassol beaches is Ladie’s Mile which is 4kms west of Limassol and about a ten minute drive from the center of town. The sea is safe, clean and shallow so perfect for children. There are a few tavernas but there’s no shade at all, so don’t forget to bring hat or parasol and sun cream.
The gorgeous beach of Kourium is about 18 – 20 kms west of Lemesos . The backdrop is truly dramatic… cliffs and the astonishing Greco-Roman Amphitheatre of Kourium. The sea is great for sailing and handgliding and the sandy beach is perfect for relaxing or having fun on. Governer beach is 30km east of Lemesos and the beach is edged with restaurants and trees so perfect for having lunch or dinner or a drink in the shade whilst taking in the extraordinary scenery. The beach is also very popular because it has a lovely sandy beach with shallow waters. Watersports include snorkling around the rocks, boating and fishing off the rocks. Pissouri beach is another great beach where you can enjoy a swim and then a drink or tasty meal at one of the seafront tavernas.
Larnaca beaches
Larnaka was originally known as Kition, or Khittim, and legend has it that the first settlement at the spot was founded by Noah’s grandson Khittim. The palm-lined seafront of Larnaka town in the edge of Larnaka Bay bustles with cafes, tavernas, shops and bars. Larnaka is an outstanding base from which to get to know the central and eastern section of Cyprus, and its proximity to the International Airport and numerous luxury hotels that have been developed along its gorgeous sandy beaches make this a popular holiday choice.
Phinikoudes beach is ocated on the palm-lined seafront of Larnaca; visitors have access to shops, restaurants, bars and entertainment within walking distance. The Larnaca marina on the Phinikoudes sea front offers daily boat trips to different locations. Less than a five minute drive from Larnaca airport, Makenzie Beach is renowned for its beautiful white sandy beach and refreshing waters. Visitors can enjoy the watersports facilities, which include scuba diving. Mackenzie Beach offers a great choice of restaurants famed for their Cyprus cuisine and fresh fish. Located in the village of Pervolia, Faros Beach is about a 10 minute drive from Larnaca International Airport. This beach is becoming more popular with tourists due to its scenic surroundings and is most apt for people who enjoy peace and quiet whilst sunbathing.
Paphos beaches
The charming west coast town of Paphos is a town at the southwestern tip of Cyprus between the coast and the Troodos Mountains. The city focuses around an attractive little harbor whose charming open air fish restaurants line a quayside of bright fishing boats and pleasure craft. The new international airport nearby has opened up the Paphos area, and the resort is graced with some luxury hotels along the coastline. The lower part of the town – known as Kato Pafos has a life of its own with the harbour, the fish tavernas, souvenir shops and several beautiful hotels with important archaeological sites around them attracts visitors.
The most famous of Paphos beaches is Petra tou Romiou, where Aphrodite emerged from the sea. The beach is 25km east of Pafos and people come from all over the world to visit the place and popular with the newly weds. Lara beach is a truly stunning beach on the southern edge of the Akamas peninsula. It’s also a protected area for the marine turtles that lay their eggs here so, be sure to tread very carefully. Pharos beach is Easy to access as there’s a bus stop just outside the beach. There’s also a bar and tourists can hire sunbeds and umbrellas. The Coral bay beach is 10km outside of Paphos and is enormously popular. It has lovely white sand and shallow waters so excellent for all the family.
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