Person sitting on a wooden deck facing the ocean, back to the camera, wearing a dark shirt with an orange graphic.
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Your ultimate guide to Ayia Napa Holidays (a 4 day itinerary)

Cyprus, Europe, Travel Guide, Weekend Breaks

Cyprus is an island I’ve long wanted to visit – where you can be at the most Eastern point of Europe and sit eating delicious mezze next to the clearest sea in the Mediterranean. I mean what’s not to love? After spending 4 nights staying at one of the world’s most beautiful beaches, Nissi Beach, I can confirm that there is a lot more to Ayia Napa than partying. In fact, it’s the perfect location for a mix of relaxing and adventuring, so here is a 4 day itinerary for all my fellow adventurers who are wanting to explore Cyprus.

(oh, and if you’re wanting to have more of a balance between adventures and relaxing, turn this into a 7 day itinerary for a perfect week long holidays to cyprus and use the extra three days for relaxing by the pool, by the sea or in the hotels gorgeous spa)

How to get to Ayia Napa with Jet2 Holidays

It is incredibly easy to get flights to Larnaca with Jet2 from over 9 airports across the UK, including flights from London Stansted Airport where we flew from. The flight was around 5 hours, and we landed late on the Saturday evening with a hotel transfer ready to pick us straight up from the airport and to our hotel.

Where to stay in Ayia Napa : NissiBlu Beach Resort

If you’re looking for a luxury holiday, Jet2Holidays has you coeverd. There’s a really wide range of hotels you can stay at in the Ayia Napa area, but I would always recommend NissiBlu Beach Resort after staying here for four nights. 

As soon as you walked in, there was an air of calmness (and a glass of prosecco to enjoy as we checked in!) and that carried on for the whole stay. The rooms were bright and spacious, with control panels next to your bed so you could turn lights on and off without moving an inch. The bed was huge and provided a very comfy nights sleep, recharging for all of the adventures we were heading on over the jam packed 4 days! 

NissiBlu Beach Resort Ayia Napa - Dimly lit hotel bedroom featuring a round wall art with a parrot, wicker headboard, and a pendant lamp over a wooden nightstand.
NissiBlu Beach Resort Modern white apartment hotel with multiple glass balconies, seen from poolside area with folded umbrellas and lounge chairs in foreground.
espresso from the balcony overlooking Nissi Beach

With a view over the pool and the sea, there truly was nothing better than sitting with a morning coffee (from the in room Nespresso machine), or watching the sun set as we got ready for our evening meals. 

The breakfast buffet was overwhelming – there were so many options, including freshly made omlettes, but it was delicious. Also worth noting that they did have decaf coffee as well, which always feels like a win as a decaf girlie! 

If you stay at NissiBlu Beach Resort with Jet2Holidays then you have the absolute joy of not needing to choose between whether to be by the pool or the beach. By the pool, you can find the comfiest sun loungers to relax on with the bar right next to the pool, as well as a coffee bar. If you’re fancying the sand between your toes and the calming beach waves, you can do the two minute walk to the beach where you’ll find the beach bar, more comfy sun loungers (charges apply) and one of the most beautiful beaches in the world – Nissi Beach. 

Poolside at a sunny resort with striped pink umbrellas and cushioned lounge chairs around a blue pool.
Outdoor cafe seating under striped gray-and-white awnings with wooden frames; signage reads Brasserie (artisanal cafe).
White modern building with glass balconies framed by palm fronds against a bright blue sky.

It’s the perfect location, where you can still easily get into the centre of Ayia Napa, however you have the tranquility of Nissi Beach on your doorstep. You can walk through the gardens around the beach (or along the sand) to get to some of the more livelier beach bars if you want to as well. 

Where to eat in Ayia Napa

There are two things you will eat a lot of when you visit Ayia Napa, and Cyprus in general; Cyprus potatoes and Mezze. 

They are two culinary staples, and they are both incredible. During this trip we got to sample a real mix of places – from traditional Taverna’s to modern beach bars, and here are the places I really recommend;

Riva Beach House by Frame

This place is honestly a vibe. We arrived on a Sunday lunchtime, they had a DJ but it wasn’t too loud, and added to that relaxed beach vibe. The gentle breeze was welcome on a hot afternoon, and gently moved the incredible material ceiling. 

Beachside restaurant seating with cushioned sofas, wicker chairs, and set tables under a shaded canopy, with the ocean and beach umbrellas outside.
A top-down view of a social table with various dishes including salads, dumplings, fried orange snacks, and sauces.
Dumplings on orange sauce, garnished with chopped chives, arranged on light gray ceramic plates.

With a refreshing Hugo Spritz in hand, we pursued the menu, as basically a mezze starter arrived. A gentle smoked paprika hummus and flat bread (YUM), light and delicious chicken and truffle dumplings, and the most incredible crispy rise with avocado, steak and caviar – genuinely one of the best things I’ve eaten. 

For my main, I opted for the tempura shrimp, which were super tasty, and hands down the best chips I’ve ever had in my life. They were curved, they were soft in the middle and crispy on the outside, light and fluffy and sweet, with a spicy mayo. If I ever get to go to the Dream Restaurant (ala Off Menu), this right here will be my side dish. It’s over a week since I ate this as I write, and my mouth is watering at the thought of them.

Taverna Ploumin

If you’re wanting a truly traditional Greek Cypriot Mezze experience, then look no further than Taverna Ploumin. It’s around a 15 minute drive from Ayia Napa, in the beautiful village of Sorita. 

Woman in a red dress stands at the open blue gate of a stone tavern entrance, smiling at the camera.
Cozy rustic dining area with checkered tablecloths, wooden chairs, and vintage posters on white plaster walls under dark ceiling beams.

We were welcomed by the owner, and you could just feel his passion for his home, his country, and his food. This place truly is a hidden gem, and you can expect a true authentic home kitchen style mezze. It was delicious and some of my personal favourites were the cyprus sausage and the souvlaki – absolutely devine. 

Taverna Napa, Ayia Napa

Based in the northern entrance of Ayia Napa for 50 years, this traditional Cypriot taverna promises to ​​serve the kind of food that brings people together around the table, and they really did. 

We started the meal with a first taste of Cyprus’s national cocktail – the brandy sour – and this sweet refreshing drink was the perfect way to relax into an evening of non stop eating. 

Woman in a blue patterned dress stands in a warm, lantern-lit outdoor market with wooden stalls, barrels, and flowers at dusk.
Person holds a tall, patterned glass of iced drink with a black straw inside a busy restaurant.

And boy did we eat, with some standouts of the meal being the scrambled eggs with grilled vegetables (honestly devine and I couldn’t stop eating it!) and  the meatballs – but everything was delicious. It’s safe to say you need to come here hungry, because you will be served so much (tasty!) food.

AVRA, Ayia Napa

You’ll find AVRA in the heart of Ayia Napa, and compared to the other places we ate, there was more of a touristy party vibe going on outside. However, you can still expect delicious traditional Cypriot food, which keeps coming by the plate load. 

Outside of the restaurant
Platter of grilled halloumi cheese slices with grill marks, served with pita bread, dips, and a vegetable salad with feta and olives.

There were again some incredible dishes here – the octopus and shrimp were sweet and tasty, the koftas were soft and flavourful and the stifado – an aromatic beef stew with Cyprus potatoes – was heartwarming and delicious. However the standout for me was the Lamb Kleftiko; succulent lamb which just fell off the bone, slow roasted potatoes that melted in your mouth, all seasoned with garlic, lemon and herbs. Honestly I could eat this again and again and again, it was incredible. 

Usually by the end of the meal, there was limited space for dessert, however a special shout out has to go to the homemade vanilla ice cream that we had. Made on site, and with vanilla pods going through it, this vanilla ice cream was genuinely one of the best I’ve had. So make sure you leave a little bit of room at the end of your meal for this! 

How to Spend 4 days in Ayia Napa

It’s incredible how much you can fit into four days, and it’s safe to say this is a jam packed itinerary so take what floats your boat, leave what doesn’t, and if in doubt extend the holiday to fit in a few more relaxing days! 

Day 1: The best things to do in Ayia Napa 

For your first full day in Ayia Napa, it’s time to see some of the sites. Starting with Nissi Beach which, if you’re staying at NissiBlu Beach Resort, is literally on your doorstep. Regularly voted as one of the best beaches in the world, the crystal clear blue water is just asking you to come and swim in it. It’s beautiful here, and the perfect way to start your day. 

If you’re looking for a quieter beach to start your day at, head to Makronissos Beach. From there you can take a short stroll to the Makronissos Tombs. Here you can find 19 rock-cut tombs, a small sanctuary and an ancient quarry from the Hellenistic and Roman Periods. It’s completely free to look around and is quite interesting. 

Lifeguard post on the beach with a red-yellow flag and a white hotel building in the background under a blue sky.
Woman in a white t-shirt and denim shorts stands at the entrance of a rocky crevice in a sunny desert landscape, wearing sunglasses.
Row of thatched beach umbrellas and lounge chairs along a sandy shore, with turquoise sea and a blue sky beyond.

I was surprised to find that Ayia Napa had some museums – and all of them are slightly quirky and things I’ve not seen before.

We’ll start with Thalassa Municipal Museum – the most traditional of the three I’m going to recommend. It’s all about the seafaring history of the island, and is a great one for if you love fossils! Downstairs, you will also see their huge collection of taxidermy animals from the island. Truly I’ve never seen anything like it! If you’re looking for an activity to escape from the sun for an hour or so, this is a brilliant place to come and see a different side of Cyprus. 

Two scuba divers swim among tall purple balloon-shaped plants in a clear blue underwater scene with bubbles rising above the sandy seabed.
Credit Cyprus Deputy Ministry of Tourism | wwwvisitcypruscom

For the more adventurous of you, you need to spend the afternoon at MUSAN, Cyprus’s underwater sculpture park. Sadly, when we were there it was too windy to go, however it looks absolutely incredible. You can either snorkel, scuba dive, or free dive your way to see incredible sculptures hidden under the water. There’s nothing else like it in Europe, and an absolute must do. 

Close-up of a large beige stone statue head with angular lips and stylized hair, set on a pedestal against a clear blue sky.
Stack of white-painted spheres forming a vertical column rising above a green hedge against a clear blue sky.

Once you’ve seen the underwater sculptures, head to the free Sculpture park that overlooks the sea. Here you will find hundreds of sculptures from over 50 artists from around the world who have participated in the annual Sculpture Symposium. What’s incredible is that year on year the sculpture park changes and grows and I can’t wait to see how it changes when I go back again. 

Day 2: The boat trip you need to book in Ayia Napa (plus exploring Cape Greko, Protaras and the iconic Lovers Bridge)

If there’s just one thing you do when you come to Ayia Napa, let it be one of the blue lagoon boat trips that go daily from Ayia Napa. 

The boat trip takes you along the coast line of Cape Greko national park and to two swimming points – the Blue Lagoon and Konos Beach. It was a brilliant trip, and whilst we didn’t quite get to see any turtles this time, you have a great chance to see dolphins and turtles on this trip. 

I’ve done a full breakdown of the boat trip and what to expect here.

Beige lighthouse with a white lantern on a rocky coastline, red-roofed building nearby, waves crashing at the shore under a blue sky with clouds.
Woman in a black swimsuit stands on a boat railing, holding an orange drink, with blue ocean and rocky coastline behind him/her.
Rocky cliff overlooking clear turquoise water with a few people standing near the edge against a bright blue sky.

Once you’re back on land, spend the afternoon exploring Cape Greko national park and the coastline up to Protaras. There are some stunning view points including the beautiful Agioi Anargiroi church which genuinely feels like you’re in Mamma Mia, the Cyclops Cave, and the stunning Agioi Saranta which is a small church which has been built into the rocks. 

White cross atop a blue curved roof, likely a church, against a clear blue sky.
Open doorway frames a seaside view: rocky foreground, calm blue sea, and clear horizon under a pale sky.
Cave opening in orange rock above a white stone wall with a bright blue wooden door; a turquoise bench sits to the right and small yellow flowers grow nearby.

Carry on to Protaras, where you can visit Fig Tree Bay and spend some time relaxing by the beautiful water, before taking  the 150 steps up to Profitis Ilias church and getting panoramic views over the town. 

Tree wrapped with colorful fabric ribbons tied around branches under a blue sky, a wishing tree scene.
Stone bell tower of a church with arched openings and a hanging bronze bell against a blue sky.
Rocky coastline with a natural rock arch over the blue sea and waves crashing beneath it.

Finish your day by heading back to Ayia Napa via Love Bridge for golden hour. Believed to be the most romantic place on the island, you can see why people come here for sunset – it’s breathtakingly beautiful. 

Day 3: How do do a day trip to Larnaca from Ayia Napa

If you’re ready to explore more of the island from your base in Ayia Napa, Larnaca is a perfect spot as it’s only a 40 minute drive, and there’s great bus links as well if you don’t want to hire a car. 

Start your day with a morning in CyHerbia – a botanical garden with a maze, a medicinal herbal garden where you can learn all about which herbs will help your ailments, and forest walks. They also have a garden tea room, and their herbal iced tea is the perfect refreshing drink on a baking hot morning. Whilst we were there, we went to their soap and body mist making workshop and had a lot of fun making our own lavender soaps and body sprays. If you’re looking for some calmness and serenity, here is the perfect place to come.

Manicured hedge maze in a sunny garden with a white building at left and tall trees in the background under a blue sky.
Woman taking a selfie in a round bronze-framed mirror surrounded by ivy and red roses; she wears a red sleeveless top and jeans, holds a phone.
Hand holding a brown paper bag with a green plant design; a blue ceramic flower rests on the bag in a store setting.

From CyHerbia, we carried on into the city of Larnaca, which is every history lovers dream. From medieval castles, to one of the most stunning churches, the Church of St Lazarus, I’ve ever been in. After spending some time exploring the city, we headed to Sunmoon Hospitality for an incredible lunch and cocktail making class. It was honestly such a fun lunchtime learning about the history of this famous cocktail, and being in such a cool space. On Thursday evenings, it opens as a bar and it is well worth a visit. 

Cozy cafe corner with framed black-and-white photos on a textured wall, an orange woven pendant lamp, a round white table, and black chairs.
Bartender in a black shirt mixing drinks behind a bar, with an orange pendant lamp and bottles in the background.
Bar counter scene with an orange cocktail in a glass, a large labeled liquor bottle, and a wrapped bottle beside it; warm orange lamp in the background.

Our final stop on our day in Larnaca was to Studio Ceramics Cyprus, where we had a pottery workshop and I also picked up a beautiful mug from the shop. This is a working studio and it was so interesting to see the clay come to life. 

Yellow storefront sign reading'CERAMICS WORKSHOP' with blue doors and shutters on a coastal street.
Dimly lit workshop interior with shelves on both sides and a bright work area at the end of a narrow aisle.
Wall mural of a French press and an espresso cup labeled'ESPRESSO ITALIANO,' with coffee beans and red flowers nearby on a peeling wall.

Day 4: A slow morning and heading home

The beauty of a late afternoon flight home is there’s just enough time to squeeze in some relaxing in the sunshine. After spending the morning on Nissi Beach (the joy of it being a stone throw away from the hotel!), we headed off back to Larnaca for lunch before our final stop to the airport. 

Close-up view of a woven thatch roof at the beach, with a blue sky and calm sea in the background.
Overhead view of a blue table spread with bread, green olives, orange halves, shrimp, salad, fries, and dips in metal sauce boats.

If you’re looking for a fresh fish mezze, then make sure to visit Zephyros Restaurant. Situated right on the shore, the fish mezze here is regarded as one of the best, with fresh seabass, octopus, squid, prawns and more. 

Finishing this whirlwind trip with one final mezze felt just right (and it filled us up for the 5 hour plane journey back to Stansted!). 

Is Ayia Napa good for travelling with a chronic illness?

In short, yes Ayia Napa is good for travelling with a chronic illness. I live with Ulcerative Colitis, an ileostomy bag and fibromyalgia and I felt genuinely comfortable throughout the whole trip.

NissiBlu Beach Resort is a great base as there are fridges in the room (great for keeping medication cool) and they brought fresh bottles of water every day. There’s also shops nearby to easily get bottled water from as well. 

Food wise, everywhere we went asked about dietary requirements, and what is good to know is that the food isn’t spicy at all – perfect for if you have sensitive digestive systems! 

Woman taking a mirror selfie in a hotel room, wearing a yellow-black checkered top and dark pants with a camera hanging from her neck.
Person standing on a rocky coastline, gazing toward the open sea under a clear blue sky.

The area is designed for tourists, so there are long promenades, plenty of seats and the pace of everything is gentle. There’s no need to rush, plenty of places to sit and rest, and siesta time is encouraged in an afternoon! 

The one thing to plan for is the heat. If you have a stoma, staying on top of hydration is more important than usual as output can increase in warmer temperatures. I always travel with ORS Hydration  to pop in my water in the evenings, and brought my favourite water bottle with me which keeps water cool throughout the day! 

If you are sensitive to heat, definitely visit Cyprus in the shoulder seasons, as in the summer it can easily reach the high 30s. May brought the perfect weather, mid 20s and  a light breeze.

For my fellow ostomates who might be worried about the boat trip, don’t be. There were 4 toilets on board, with plenty of space, and there was space on the boat I was on where you could even do a bag change if you needed to. 

Answering your FAQ’s about Cyprus

Is Ayia Napa just for clubbing and parties?

No, Ayia Napa is not just for clubbing and parties. 

You can find so much to do here, as you can see from the itinerary. From snorkelling at an underwater sculpture museum to boat cruises, pottery workshops and traditional meze in a village taverna there’s a genuinely adventurous side to Ayia Napa that most people completely miss.

How many days do you need in Ayia Napa? 

4 days in Ayia Napa is perfect. It gives you enough time to cover the main experiences without rushing, while still leaving room for slow mornings and long lunches. However you can easily extend this to a week for the ultimate relaxing holiday.

What is Ayia Napa like in May? 

Ayia Napa in May is the perfect time to visit. Mid-20s, light breeze, noticeably quieter than peak summer, it really is the best time to visit before the summer rush (and heat!) arrives.

Is the Blue Lagoon cruise from Ayia Napa worth it? 

Yes, the Blue Lagoon Cruise is worth doing, in fact I would say it’s the one thing you should definitely book to do whilst you’re in Ayia Napa. 

Do you need a car in Ayia Napa?

No, you don’t need to hire a car. There’s good public transport between the main tourist hubs, and taxis are a reasonable price as well. However, if you’re wanting to explore further afield, like visiting more of the villages like Sotira, or want to do a coastal roadtrip under your own steam, then hiring a car in Cyprus could be beneficial.

Have a question about visiting Ayia Napa that I haven’t answered? Drop it in the comments and I’ll help.

And there is my microadventure’s guide to Ayia Napa. Whether you’re looking for full on adventure, or some little micro ones to have around your time relaxing by the pool or beach, Ayia Napa is a destination you shouldn’t overlook.  If you’d told me before I went that I’d be recommending Ayia Napa as one of the best long weekend destinations in Europe for adventurous travellers, I wouldn’t have believed you. But here we are.

For more long weekend inspiration from across Europe, start here. And if you’re travelling with a chronic illness and want the unfiltered version of what it’s really like, my chronic illness travel hub has everything you need (and I have a lot more content coming soon to it as well!)

This trip was hosted by Jet2holidays and Visit Cyprus. As always, all opinions, recommendations and slightly embarrassing levels of enthusiasm for Cypriot meze are entirely my own

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