Fig Tree Bay 110km from villa
Protaras (12 kilometers northwest from Ayia Napa) is a small town
completely devoted to summer tourism with its seafront promenade
bordered by sandy strips.
Right at the southern end of the promenade, Fig Tree Bay is loved both
by vacationing families for its sheltered position and shallow depths
and by snorkelers for the clear waters and plentiful fish life.
This is a very easygoing beach for sun-seekers looking for a day of
sand and sea. There are full facilities on offer, and plenty of cafés
and restaurants sit just a hop from the sand.
Like all beaches in this area, do be aware that the sand gets
jam-packed with sunbathers throughout summer.
Lara Beach 100km from villa
If you're looking for a beach a world away from the highly organized
resort-style shores close to the main towns, Lara Beach is one of the
best places to visit.
This shorefront is a protected nature reserve sitting on the wild
Akamas Peninsula in the far west of the island, 27 kilometers north of
Paphos.
Lara Beach is a natural habitat for the Mediterranean's green and
loggerhead turtles, which both nest here. Sections of the beach are
fenced off to protect the turtle nesting sites.
No chairs or sun-lounger furniture are allowed on the beach, and
access is only by dirt track. Although you can navigate the track –
very slowly – in a normal vehicle, a 4WD is preferable.
Many people visit Lara Beach as part of an organized group tour from
Paphos, or by hiking or biking.
There are no restaurant or café facilities on the beach, so pack a
picnic to bring along.
Coral Bay 87km from villa
Just nine kilometers north from Paphos, Coral Bay's crescent-shaped
sweep of golden sand is regarded as one of the best beaches in the area.
Easily accessible by local buses, which zip regularly between central
Paphos and Coral Bay, this beach is a major tourist attraction for
many of Paphos' summer visitors.
Like all Cyprus beaches near the main resort towns, don't expect to
have the sand to yourself. This is a busy shore that bustles with
sunbathers during the summer months.
Full facilities are at your fingertips here with plenty of
sun-loungers and shades for rent, a couple of cafés and restaurants
rimming the beach for snacking or full meals, and water sports
operators offering water-skiing.
Petra tou Romiou – Aphrodite's Rock 55km from villa
The visit here isn't really about a day on the beach. It's more for
snapping the most famous seascape on the island.
Just offshore from the beach sit the jagged rock formations of Petra
tou Romiou (known in English as Aphrodite's Rock). According to local
legend, this is where the Greek goddess Aphrodite first emerged from
the sea.
The beach itself is a tiny horseshoe bay of sand and shingle that is a
good swimming spot.
The location, 26 kilometers southeast of Paphos and 45 kilometers west
of Limassol, makes this an excellent stop-off point on the scenic
coastal route between towns.
Aphrodite's Beach is particularly popular for sunset photos, so you'll
find the beach, and the lookout point on the cliff above, most crowded
around that time of day.
Pissouri Bay 45km from villa
Offers two points of differentiation that make it stand out from the
other island beaches and have also garnered it plenty of fans.
Firstly, it tends not to be as crowded in the height of summer as the
beaches fronting the major tourist towns in and around Larnaca, Ayia
Napa, Paphos, and Limassol.
Secondly, the sea off Pissouri Bay drops to a decent depth near to the
shoreline, so it's fantastic for swimmers; parents should be extra
vigilant with small children splashing about due to this fact.
The long swoop of beach is shingle and pebbles, so it's not as
“picture-postcard” pretty as other popular shores, but Pissouri Bay
makes up for this by being a beacon for water sports enthusiasts.
If you're itching for activities and things to do beyond the sand,
water-skiing is available, and you can rent pedalos, boats, and Jet
Skis on the beach.
Facilities for spending a full day lounging on the beach are
excellent. Sun-loungers and shades can be rented, there's a lifeguard
on duty, good bathroom and shower amenities on the beach, and a
shorefront restaurant.
Lady's Mile Beach 20km from the villa
Lady's Mile Beach stretches for seven kilometers along the eastern
shore of the Akrotiri Peninsula.
At the northern end, beginning just south of Limassol Port area, the
beach is mostly pebble and shingle. Head to the southern end,
bordering the UK RAF Akrotiri Base, for golden sand.
Although always busy with both locals and visitors due to its location
neighboring one of Cyprus' biggest towns, the beach never feels too
crowded, even in the height of summer, due to its length.
The water is shallow here, so it's a safe choice for families –
sunbeds with shades can be rented, a lifeguard is on duty, and there's
a couple of restaurants and cafés scattered along the length of shore.
Windsurfing and kitesurfing are popular Lady's Mile Beach activities,
and you can rent windsurfers, or learn to windsurf, from the water
sports operators along the beach.
An extra bonus is Lemesos Salt Lake, just to the west of the beach,
which is home to good bird-watching.