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Best Beaches in Cyprus Around Protaras | Seafront Protaras
Protaras and the East Coast of Cyprus

The Best Beaches in Cyprus Around Protaras

Twelve beaches. The famous, the hidden and the ones most visitors drive straight past.

SP
Seafront Protaras team
Based in Protaras. Updated June 2026.
13 beaches covered
13
Beaches

The east coast of Cyprus has some of the finest beach water in the Mediterranean. The European Environment Agency assesses Protaras and Ayia Napa beaches among the cleanest in Europe, and the results are immediately visible: clear, turquoise, warm from late May through October. Whether you are staying in one of our Protaras villas or our apartments, the question is not whether the beaches are good. The question is which ones to spend your time on.

This guide covers twelve beaches, starting from Protaras and working outward. Every beach has been visited by our team. We tell you what each one is actually like rather than what a marketing brochure says about it. For sea temperatures and the best months to swim, see our Cyprus weather guide.

Protaras Beaches

7 beaches
1

Fig Tree Bay

Sandy Blue Flag Central Protaras
Walking distance from most Protaras accommodation
Half a kilometre of fine golden sand, crystal-clear shallow water and a small island offshore you can swim out to. Blue Flag certified every year. Named after a lone fig tree planted by eastern traders centuries ago, it is now one of the most photographed beaches in Cyprus and earns every photograph. Water sports operate throughout the season: jet skiing, parasailing, paddleboarding and banana boats. If you want guaranteed warm water on the days you stay closer to home, our villas with private pools are within easy reach of the beach. It does get busy: by 10am in peak season the sunbeds are full. Arrive by 8:30am or return after 5pm when the light is golden and the crowds thin.
Best for: Families, first-time visitors, a full beach day with all facilities available.
2

Konnos Bay

Rocky Cove Blue Flag Cape Greco
8 min drive from central Protaras
Inside Cape Greco National Forest Park, flanked by pine-covered limestone cliffs dropping to exceptional water. The single finest snorkelling beach on the east coast: rocky edges support rich marine life including octopus, sea bream and parrotfish, and visibility on a calm day exceeds fifteen metres. Gets busier from 11am in summer. Bring your own mask and fins. Worth the drive even if Fig Tree Bay is five minutes from your villa. For more on what the Cape Greco area offers beyond the beach, see our things to do in Protaras guide. This is a completely different beach experience: wilder, more varied and consistently stunning.
Best for: Snorkelling, nature lovers, experienced swimmers, anyone who wants to escape the resort.
Facilities: Sunbeds, umbrellas, small cafe, watersportsParking: Tight, limited roadside spaces. Arrive before 9am in summer.
3

Sunrise Beach

Sandy Blue Flag Protaras
Central Protaras, 5 min walk from main strip
A well-organised, centrally located beach that sits between Fig Tree Bay and the smaller northern coves. Consistently calm water, good infrastructure and a manageable atmosphere even at the height of summer. Lifeguards operate throughout the season. The beach bar above the sand is one of the better-positioned waterfront spots in central Protaras, with good views along the coastline. A reliable choice for visitors who want a fully-equipped beach without committing to the scale and crowds of Fig Tree Bay.
Best for: Visitors who want central Protaras, full facilities and calmer conditions than Fig Tree Bay.
Facilities: Sunbeds and umbrellas for hire, showers, beach bar, toilets, lifeguard in season Parking: Roadside and small car park nearby
4

Malama Beach

Sandy Paralimni
6 min drive from central Protaras
The beach that local families with small children use precisely because visitors do not know about it. Sunk below a residential area on the map, easy to miss if you are not looking. The water is among the shallowest and calmest on the coast. Clean sand, a small beach bar with excellent views and an elevated sunbed area if you prefer height over proximity to the water. When Fig Tree Bay is at its most crowded in August, this is where to come instead.
Best for: Young families, calm shallow water, a peaceful day without the resort crowds.
Facilities: Sunbeds, beach bar with sea viewsParking: Small roadside area nearby
5

Kalamies Beach

Sandy Protaras
5 min drive, central Protaras
A small sheltered sandy cove in the heart of the Protaras resort area, consistently calmer than Fig Tree Bay and with a noticeably more manageable number of visitors. The shallow water is ideal for families. Sunbeds, umbrellas and a beach bar on the waterfront. No particular gimmicks: just clean sand, clear water and a comfortable experience at any point in the day. A good default choice when you want the convenience of a well-equipped resort beach without the peak Fig Tree Bay intensity.
Best for: Families, those who want a central Protaras beach with fewer people.
6

Green Bay

Cove Protaras
10 min drive from central Protaras
A small cove with exceptional water clarity and a gentle gradient that makes it ideal for all abilities. Loggerhead sea turtles are spotted here regularly: Green Bay is one of the established turtle observation points on the east coast. Several catamaran and boat tours depart from here. A small cafe provides the basics. Less developed than the main Protaras beaches and none the worse for it. On a calm morning the water visibility is extraordinary.
Best for: Snorkelling, turtle spotting, boat trip departures, a quieter swim.
7

Golden Coast Beach

Sandy Paralimni
12 min drive
A calm sheltered cove in the Paralimni area with shallow water ideal for families. Surrounded by a church, two excellent restaurants and the Por El Mar Beach Bar with a viewpoint worth climbing to. Less visited than the main resort beaches but with all the facilities. A genuine local favourite that rewards the extra few minutes of driving from central Protaras. The combination of the beach, the church setting and a long lunch at one of the restaurants above makes this a very complete day out.
Best for: Families, a combined beach and lunch day, those wanting a local rather than resort atmosphere.
Stay minutes from all six Protaras beaches. Our villas and apartments are positioned across the east coast resort area.
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Between Protaras and Ayia Napa

2 beaches
8

Sirena Bay

Hidden Cove On road to Ayia Napa
5 min from Protaras
The best-kept secret on the east coast. Most drivers pass Sirena Bay without knowing it exists, which is precisely what makes it worth finding. A small hidden cove with a single restaurant under the trees serving genuinely good Cypriot food, exceptionally clear water and almost no crowds even in peak August. No sunbed rows, no water sports operation, no noise. Just the sea, a shaded taverna and the kind of quiet afternoon that most people come to Cyprus hoping to find and rarely do outside of shoulder season.
Best for: Couples, those seeking genuine quiet, a perfect beach lunch that does not feel like a resort.
9

Ayia Triada Beach

Sandy Paralimni
5 min drive
A small cove next to the Church of Ayia Triada, with a small marina and one of the more atmospheric beach bar settings in the area. The Tulum Beach Bar above the beach has good cocktails, music that does not overpower conversation and sea views that make it an ideal sunset location. For the best evening events across the east coast, see our Cyprus festivals guide. The beach itself is modest in size but the overall combination of church, marina, beach bar and sunset light makes this a genuinely enjoyable evening destination beyond the main Protaras strip.
Best for: Evenings, sunset drinks, a relaxed social atmosphere away from the main resort.
A
Water quality across all east coast beaches: The beaches of Protaras and Ayia Napa are assessed annually under the European Bathing Water Directive by the European Environment Agency. The consistently Excellent ratings across the area reflect real water quality measurements taken throughout the season, not marketing claims. This is measurably some of the cleanest bathing water in Europe.

Ayia Napa

2 beaches
10

Nissi Beach

Sandy Blue Flag Ayia Napa
12 min drive from Protaras
Cyprus's most famous beach, and the reputation is deserved. White sand, extraordinarily clear shallow water and a natural sandbar that lets you walk out to a small island at low tide. At its liveliest in July and August, Nissi Beach is genuinely lively: beach bars, DJs and a social energy unlike anywhere else on the east coast. At its quietest, early morning in September, it is one of the most beautiful beaches in Europe. Both versions are worth experiencing. The water quality is consistently exceptional.
Best for: The unique sandbar island, the social beach atmosphere, anyone who has not yet seen Cyprus at its most famous.
Facilities: Full facilities, beach bars, restaurants, watersports, sunbeds, showers, toilets, lifeguardParking: Large car park adjacent to beach
11

Makronissos Beach

Sandy Blue Flag Ayia Napa
15 min drive from Protaras
Three individual coves with chalk-white sand. The furthest two coves, reached by walking a short path behind the main beach, are consistently quieter than the first and offer one of the most pleasant beach experiences on the Ayia Napa side of the coast. Most day visitors stay on the main cove and never find them. The Makronissos Tombs, ancient Hellenistic burial chambers cut into the rock at the edge of the beach, are free to visit and add an unexpected historical layer to a beach day that most visitors never anticipate. For a deeper archaeological experience, the Tombs of the Kings in Paphos is 90 minutes away and one of the finest ancient sites in the Mediterranean.
Best for: Those who like to explore, anyone wanting a quieter Ayia Napa alternative to Nissi Beach.
Planning a couples trip? Our dedicated guide covers the most memorable experiences for two people on the east coast: Protaras for couples.
Read the Guide

Worth the Drive

2 beaches
12

Pissouri Bay Beach

Pebble Blue Flag South Coast
1 hr 45 min drive from Protaras
A Blue Flag beach on the south coast backed by dramatic white limestone cliffs and vineyard-covered hillsides. The combination of the cliffs, the deep blue water and the green hills gives it a visual character unlike anything on the east coast. The beach is pebble rather than sand: bring water shoes. Calm and clear, with watersports and scuba diving available from the bay. Significantly quieter than Protaras or Ayia Napa. Combine with the village square above for a long lunch and you have one of the best full days available as a trip from Protaras. See our full Pissouri guide.
Best for: A day trip from Protaras, diving, those who prefer a quieter and more dramatically scenic beach setting.
13

Aphrodite's Beach

Pebble Near Paphos
90 min drive from Protaras
The beach where, according to Greek mythology, Aphrodite was born from the sea foam. The dramatic limestone stack known as Petra tou Romiou rising from the water gives the site a visual power that photographs do not fully convey. The beach is pebble and requires water shoes. Sunsets here, when the low light turns the limestone pink and the water glows around the rock, are among the most spectacular in Cyprus. Worth combining with the Tombs of the Kings in Paphos for a complete day, and the village of Lefkara makes a natural stop en route. See our Cyprus exploration guide for the full day trip plan.
Best for: A mythology and scenery day trip, sunset photography, combining with Paphos cultural sites.

Tips for Cyprus Beaches

Arrive early. Every popular beach fills by mid-morning in July and August.
Factor 50 sunscreen. UV index reaches 9 to 10 in summer. Apply before leaving.
Bring water shoes. Pissouri and Aphrodite's Beach are pebble. Even sandy beaches have rocky approaches.
Hire a car. No meaningful public transport. Essential for reaching the hidden coves.
The hidden coves beat the famous ones. Sirena Bay and Malama Beach consistently outperform the big resort beaches for atmosphere.
Come back at 5pm. Golden light, cooler temperature and half the crowds of midday.
→Sea temperature peaks in August at 27 to 28°C and stays above 24°C through October. See our Cyprus weather guide for the full month-by-month picture.
→Avoid pebble beaches if you have children who are unsteady on their feet. Malama, Kalamies and Golden Coast Beach are the safest choices for very young children.
→For snorkelling, bring your own equipment. Hire gear at beach kiosks is functional but limited. A good mask makes a significant difference to the experience at Konnos Bay and Green Bay.
→All beaches on this list have free public access. Sunbed hire is optional and charged per sunbed, typically 5 to 8 euros per day. You are never required to hire one.
→Turtle nesting season runs May to August. Protected nest sites are marked discreetly on Fig Tree Bay and Green Bay. Dawn walks occasionally reveal fresh tracks from overnight nesting females.
→The Blue Lagoon excursion from Protaras harbour takes you by boat to the most spectacular swimming water in the area, inside Cape Greco. Our private yacht trips offer the same coastline on your own schedule. If you want to combine a beach day with a Troodos mountain excursion, see our Cyprus wineries guide.

The Beach Starts at Your Front Door

Our villas and apartments in Protaras put you minutes from the finest beaches on the east coast. Browse our full collection.

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We can help

Frequently Asked Questions about Best Beaches in Cyprus

Fig Tree Bay is consistently ranked the best beach in Protaras and one of the finest in Europe. Half a kilometre of fine golden sand, crystal-clear shallow water, a small island you can swim to offshore and Blue Flag certification every year. It gets busy by mid-morning in peak season, so arriving before 9am gives you the best experience. That said, Konnos Bay inside Cape Greco National Forest Park is the better beach for snorkelling and natural scenery, and many visitors who know the area well consider it the superior experience overall.

Most beaches in and around Protaras are sandy. Fig Tree Bay, Sunrise Beach, Kalamies Beach, Malama Beach, Nissi Beach and Makronissos Beach are all sandy. Konnos Bay has a mix of sand and rock at the water’s edge, which makes it excellent for snorkelling. The south coast beaches further from Protaras, including Pissouri Bay and Aphrodite’s Beach near Paphos, are predominantly pebble and require water shoes.

Malama Beach is the top choice for families with very young children: exceptionally shallow, calm and rarely crowded. Sunrise Beach and Kalamies Beach are also good family options with full facilities and calm water. Fig Tree Bay works well for families but gets busy in peak season, so arrive early. Golden Coast Beach in the Paralimni area is another excellent family option with shallow water and good facilities including a lifeguard in season.

Konnos Bay is the best snorkelling beach on the east coast without question. The rocky limestone edges of the bay support rich marine life including octopus, sea bream and parrotfish, and visibility on a calm day regularly exceeds fifteen metres. Green Bay is also good for snorkelling and is where sea turtle sightings are most common. Bring your own mask and fins for both: hire equipment is available but your own gear makes a significant difference to the experience.

Yes. Nissi Beach is twelve minutes from Protaras by car and worth visiting at least once. The beach itself is genuinely beautiful: white sand, crystal-clear shallow water and a sandbar that lets you walk out to a small island at low tide. In peak July and August it is lively with beach bars and DJs, which some visitors love and others find too much. The best time to visit from Protaras is early morning in September, when the summer crowds have eased and the sea temperature is still at its peak. The water quality is consistently exceptional.

Yes, several. Sirena Bay, on the road between Protaras and Ayia Napa, is a small hidden cove with a single taverna under the trees and almost no crowds even in August. Malama Beach below a residential area in Paralimni is where local families go specifically because visitors do not find it. The back coves of Makronissos Beach near Ayia Napa, reached by walking behind the main beach, are consistently quieter than the first cove. Golden Coast Beach in Paralimni is also significantly less crowded than the main resort beaches.

Fig Tree Bay, Sunrise Beach and Kalamies Beach are within walking distance of most Protaras accommodation. Konnos Bay and Green Bay are 8 to 10 minutes by car. Malama Beach and Golden Coast Beach are 6 to 12 minutes by car. Sirena Bay is 5 minutes on the road toward Ayia Napa. Nissi Beach and Makronissos Beach in Ayia Napa are 12 to 15 minutes by car. Pissouri Bay on the south coast is 1 hour 45 minutes and Aphrodite’s Beach near Paphos is 90 minutes.

For the main Protaras beaches including Fig Tree Bay, Sunrise Beach and Kalamies Beach, a car is not necessary as they are walkable from most accommodation. For Konnos Bay, Green Bay, Malama Beach, Sirena Bay, Golden Coast Beach and all the Ayia Napa beaches, a car is strongly recommended. Cyprus has minimal public transport and the hidden coves that offer the best experiences are not accessible without one. Hiring a car from Larnaca airport from day one is the single most useful practical decision for a Protaras holiday.

ay, June, September and October offer the best combination of warm weather, comfortable sea temperatures and manageable crowds. The sea reaches 22 degrees in May, 25 degrees in June and peaks at 27 to 28 degrees in August, staying warm through October. July and August deliver maximum heat and the liveliest beach atmosphere but also the most crowded conditions and the highest prices. Early June gives you full summer conditions with noticeably fewer people than peak season. See our Cyprus weather guide for the complete month-by-month sea temperature and sunshine data.