Best Things to Do in Protaras, For those seeking the beautiful beaches along the southeast coast of Cyprus without the pulsating nightlife of neighboring Ayia Napa, Protaras is the place to go.
And if you like sun and sand, you’ll be in paradise: the entire coastline is made up of white sandy beaches for secret coves, with only a few rocky headlands thrown in for good measure and excellent hiking.
The clear, turquoise waters off the coast are perfect for water activities, while on land, you can drive to a wide variety of museums, amusement parks, and other destinations perfect for the whole family.
Best Things to Do in Protaras
Konnos Bay
This beautiful, undeveloped beach can be found on the way to or from Cape Greco.
The headlands that protect Konnos Bay from the wind and sea currents are part of what makes this bay so beautiful.
This beach is perfect for families on vacation since the calm water is perfect for children.
To explore what lies beneath the bay’s churning waves, strong swimmers can bring snorkeling equipment.
Parko Paliatso Funfair and Luna Park
Parko Paliatso’s world-famous slingshot has the power to either excite or terrify onlookers, depending on their temperament.
People get in a capsule that is then catapulted into the air by a bungee rope at tremendous speed. So far as I can tell, this is Europe’s highest ejection seat trip.
The Ferris wheel is little less terrifying, and it offers great views from 45 meters above the park. It’s best to go on a ride just before dusk.
Day trip to Famagusta
Several tour operators in Ayia Napa and Protaras will transport you across the Green Line to Famagusta.
The Lala Mustapha Pasha Mosque, another fusion of Gothic Christian and Islamic styles, is only one of the many attractions worth visiting in the area.
Before the Ottomans took power in the 1500s, it served as a cathedral. Othello Castle, said to be the source of Shakespeare’s play, comes highly recommended as well.
If not, the castle is nevertheless an impressive example of Venetian military architecture that has been recently restored to its former splendour.
Varosha
You should visit this abandoned neighborhood on the outskirts of Famagusta if you have the chance.
In the 1970s, when Turkey invaded the region, the entire population of Varosha, a popular tourist destination, left and never returned.
Even though you can’t go inside the resort to see the decaying towers, you can capture some great long-distance shots of them from the bay.
What’s striking is how nature is reclaiming the city in the absence of people; loggerhead turtles have begun nesting on the beach again, for example.
Horseback riding
In March and April, the hills around Protaras resort become a rainbow of color thanks to the blooming wildflowers.
In particular, the poppies stand out for their vivid colors, which range from bright yellow to crimson.
Horseback riding tours are a fantastic way to take in the scenery this spring. On the outskirts of Protaras, you’ll find the Moonshine Ranch, where you may take lessons and rent horses by the hour.
Cypriot Coffee
There are plenty of opportunities to indulge in traditional Cypriot cuisine even in the city centers of the eastern coast. The Coffee Bean: For safety, the Cypriot who is making you a cup of joe will use a long handle on a skinny copper jug to keep them from getting burned while the coffee is simmering on the stove.
Water, sugar, and ground coffee are combined in a chilled jug before the jug is heated. The result is a syrupy beverage that is both potent and sugary.
When you’re done, there’ll be a bitter residue at the bottom of the cup that you probably shouldn’t drink.
Church of St. Elias
Minutes from Protaras’s downtown, this church stands out against the blue sky.
St. Elias, which was constructed in the 1980s, sits on a 100-meter hill that may be accessed through a 150-step stairway. It’s no easy feat, especially in the heat of summer, but once you reach the peak, you’ll understand all the acclaim.
The views are surreal and stretch from the town to the ocean. Spend some time in this tranquil park, where visitors can attach ribbons to trees in honor of departed loved ones.
Fig Tree Bay
The major beach in Protaras is called Fig Tree Bay, and it is typical of the east coast of the peninsula, with its wonderful stretch of pure white sand and rows of sun loungers under covers.
Fig Tree Bay is a fantastic beach, but it can get crowded in the summer due of its proximity to the town; yet, the water is what makes this beach so wonderful.
The waters are incredible due to the small island located 50 meters offshore that serves to divide the beach from the open sea.
This makes a long, wide area of water that is just above the waist, and it’s so transparent that you can see individual grains of sand on the seafloor.
Cape Greco
The entire island’s most southeastern corner is protected as a natural park, making it one of Cyprus’s most appealing tourist attractions.
The cape is accessible by land or sea, and both routes offer picture-perfect views.
Hiking routes lead to an overlook of the headland and the azure waters of the Mediterranean.
It is possible to hop from the ocean between the gaping holes that the tide has carved into the rock.
A natural arch can be swum beneath on calm days, and there are additional bizarre rock formations further along.
Meze
You may find a wide variety of international restaurants in the Protaras and Ayia Napa areas.
However, while in Cyprus, you must visit a local tavern to sample some authentic meze.
The meze served in Cyprus is not a light snack, but rather a full-fledged dinner consisting of numerous tiny plates.
Traditional Greek appetizers include olives, bread with dips (hummus, tahini, and taramasalata), kalamari, grilled veggies, and halloumi.
You can then choose to have chargrilled fish, or kebabs and roasted lamb. All of this food pairs wonderfully with a wine from the mountainous part of Cyprus known as the Troodos.
Sirena Bay
It’s easy to overlook this secret beach from the road, and most visitors find it by following the coastal walk by accident.
Sinera Bay is a small, narrow stretch of beach and shingle that is surrounded by trees and has a welcoming waterfront restaurant perched above it.
There’s no need for sunshades thanks to the thick vegetation that fringes the narrow dunes, and the calm, shallow waters are ideal for swimming.
Diving
The diving season in Cyprus lasts longer than anywhere else in Europe, from March to November.
The island’s latitude allows for year-round swimming in pleasant temperatures.
PADI-certified dive shops may be found in abundance in the resort towns of Protaras and Ayia Napa on the southeast coast of Cyprus.
This is a great opportunity for newcomers to get a handle on the basics.
And if you’ve got some experience under your fins, you’ll be in seventh heaven swimming with turtles and rays in the canyon off Cape Greco or investigating the remains of the MS Zenobia that sank in 1980 in Larnaca Bay, fortunately without harming anyone on board.
Ayia Napa
Ayia Napa is a short taxi ride away if you’re in your late teens or early twenties and want to party.
Young people from all over Europe flock there because of its reputation as one of the liveliest party destinations in the Mediterranean.
Most of Ayia Napa’s 80 pubs and 12 nightclubs, which are open seven days a week during the summer, are located around the town center.
The peak of the madness occurs in the summer, from the end of June to the beginning of August, although there is still plenty to do during the other seasons. Ayia Napa Attractions should be read in conjunction with this article.
Ayia Napa Monastery
Although it’s known for its crazy nightlife, Ayia Napa is much more than that.
This beautiful Venetian monastery still stands in the middle of town, looking quite similar to how it did 500 years ago.
The original church, cloisters, and flour mill of the monastery were built out of limestone and are still intact today; in 1990, however, a new church was built to accommodate the expanding population of Ayia Napa.
There have been reports of miraculous pregnancies and births occurring in this area, so it’s no surprise that couples experiencing fertility issues flock here to touch the Virgin Mary statue.
Nissi Beach
The most exciting beach in Ayia Napa is located south of Protaras. At Nissi, the midday celebration on the seaside never stops.
If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, you can head to the westernmost point of the bay and give cliff jumping a shot. Everyone else will find Nissi Beach to be a lovely spot for seaside relaxation.
It has powdery white sand, calm, shallow water, and many of amenities.