Local Area
Ayia Napa/Nissi Bay Area
Ayia Napa is a great family resort area with lots of activities and entertainments for all the family, with simply magnificent beaches, it is a popular destination for holidaymakers of all ages. This vibrant and cosmopolitan town isn’t all about bars and clubs for the young - Ayia Napa is also full of history and tradition: The centre of the town is built around a medieval monastery which has been well preserved over the centuries and a visit here is like stepping back in time.
This area is home to the best beaches on the island of Cyprus - between Ayia Napa and Ayia Thekla there are dozens of glorious sandy beaches large and small and the best of them all is Nissi Beach which is literally only a couple of hundred yards away from the Nissi 3 development.
One of the most beautiful locations is the fishing harbour - it is entirely a pedestrian zone, with cafés and seafood tavernas setting the perfect scene for a romantic meal or an evening stroll. In fact, Ayia Napa boasts so many great restaurants, with menus from all corners of the globe, that you can easily eat at an excellent restaurant every night and not visit the same one twice!
Cycling is made an easy option to get about in Ayia Napa because of the dedicated cycle path separated by a hedge from the main Nissi Avenue for its entire length.
'Water World' is the largest themed water park in Europe - it has a Greek theme with models of ancient Greek gods and ancient buildings. The water park covers a vast area and is packed with slides and water attractions to suit everyone and it is just a 5 minute drive (or bus-ride) from Nissi 3.
There is a huge range of great water sports offered here including waterskiing, paragliding, windsurfing, sailing and canoeing as well as pedaloes, motor and speed boats - and if they don't provide enough excitement there is also a Bungee-jump over the sea in Nissi Bay as well as a Bungee-pod in the resort centre. Scuba divers are also catered for - the waters surrounding Cyprus are warm and clear - divers can visit undersea remains of prehistoric archaeological ruins and explore rock gardens teeming with sponges.
The very new and interactive Thalassa museum in Ayia Napa is dedicated to the marine heritage of Cyprus - laid over six levels - the first level gives the visitor an audio-visual introduction to the history of Cyprus whilst the other levels display Cypriot antiquities, fossils of fishes, shells, corals and marine fauna of the Mediterranean.
Activities in/near Nissi Bay
Great for:
Beach relaxation
Good nightlife
Watersports
And:
Waterpark
A winter sun break
Walking/Cycling
The Famagusta Region
Famagusta
The town of Famagusta itself is about a 10 minute drive away - it can still be visited even though it now lies within Northern Cyprus and is referred to locally as the 'ghost' town. It is home to the fabulous ruins of Salamis which give a fascinating insight into long-lost civilisations and include a magnificent amphitheatre, Roman baths, a gymnasium and royal tombs with particularly beautiful mosaics.
Paralimni
Paralimni (10 minutes drive) is the largest town in the area with at least two large supermarkets and many shops, both modern and traditional. Two beautiful churches sit in the main square, where you can also sit and enjoy a leisurely drink watching the world (and the locals) go by.
Protaras
Protaras (10 minutes drive) is another local resort well worth a visit - it has all the usual commercial resort amenities immediately behind its beautiful 'Fig Tree Bay' and beach.
Cape Greco
Cape Greco (10 minutes drive), the eastern-most point of Southern Cyprus, is a protected National Park with stunning scenery which offers such tremendous peace and tranquillity that seems a million miles away from the resorts. It is a place also popular with divers.
Konnos Bay
Konnos Bay (10 minutes drive) is this side of Protaras, very near Cape Grecko. A gorgeous beach arrived at via a hairpin-bendy road - and you can drive all the way down!
Coastal Path
A pedestrianised coastal path lies along the entire length of the coast from Protaras, into Ayia Napa, past Nissi Bay and on towards Ayia Thekla - ideal for walkers and cyclists.
Local Greek Villages
There are many nearby - Dyrenia is a village only minutes away from the busy resorts of Protaras and Ayia Napa where old and new work in harmony - it is both a traditional village and a contemporary town with many modern shops and boutiques lining its busy streets. In the evening it comes to life with many locals enjoying the hospitality at one of the traditional restaurants. Vrysoulles, Sotira and Lliopetri, with their authentic tavernas, also show off the traditions of basket weaving.
Larnaca
Larnaca (30 minutes drive) is also worth a visit in its own right - it boasts a palm-lined seafront and Marina bustling with cafes, tavernas, shops and bars. There is also a scenic fortress castle, now used as the town's summer cultural centre. Larnaca's main shopping area is Zenon Kitieos Street, a typically busy road of small shops, with a colourful fruit and vegetable market at the far end.
Nicosia
Nicosia (45 minutes drive) is the capital of Cyprus and straddles Southern and Northern Cyprus - a beautiful modern city with an ancient town wall - take your passport and you are able to enter to the Northern side of the city where you will be able to truly appreciate the difference in each part's development in the last 35 years.