Cyprus has 109 beaches documented on this site, and almost every "best beaches" list you will find is somebody's opinion. This one is not. The beaches below are the ones people actually look for — ranked by how often each is searched for and found on this site over the last three months — then grouped by district so you can pick by where you are staying rather than by where a writer happened to go.
Where a beach holds the EU Blue Flag, which certifies water quality, safety and facilities, that is marked. Every beach listed here is plotted on our maps, linked at the bottom.
The ten most sought-after beaches in Cyprus
- Nissi Beach, Ayia Napa — the most searched-for beach on the island by a wide margin, and the one most people mean by "a Cyprus beach": golden sand, shallow turquoise water, and a full resort strip behind it.
- Makronissos Beach, Ayia Napa — on the south-western edge of the resort, powdery sand and a calmer atmosphere than Nissi. Blue Flag.
- Green Bay, Protaras — sheltered, shallow and clear, which is why it doubles as one of the island's better-known dive and snorkel spots.
- Alaminos Beach, Larnaca — between Larnaca and Kiti, and easy to drive straight past. Considerably quieter than its search volume suggests.
- Pyla / KOT Beach, Larnaca — golden sand at Pyla village, relaxed, and rarely crowded outside August.
- Sirena Beach, Famagusta — a quiet stretch of the east coast, good for a slow day rather than a busy one.
- Malindi Beach, Limassol — between Pareklissia and the Grand Resort, on the city's organised eastern strip. Blue Flag.
- Vrissi Beach, Protaras — next door to Fig Tree Bay and consistently less crowded, within walking distance of the promenade restaurants. Blue Flag.
- Kourion Beach, Limassol — a long open beach directly below the ancient city of Kourion, so you can combine the archaeological site and a swim in one afternoon.
- Melanda Beach, Limassol — secluded and genuinely quiet, on the coast west of the city.
Famagusta: Ayia Napa and Protaras
This is the busiest coast in Cyprus and the one most visitors picture. Beyond Nissi, Makronissos, Green Bay, Sirena and Vrissi above:
- Fig Tree Bay — the single most famous beach in Protaras, and the one that fills first.
- Konnos Bay — a sheltered horseshoe cove between the two resorts, calm and shallow because the headlands protect it, with walking trails into the Cape Greco forest park behind.
- Vrysoudia Beach, Paralimni — small and central. Blue Flag.
- Ayia Triada Beach, Paralimni — family-oriented and well equipped. Blue Flag.
The full set is under beaches in Famagusta.
Larnaca
- Finikoudes — the city beach, running along the palm-lined promenade. Its name means small palm trees, after those planted along the front in 1922.
- Mackenzie — the bar and restaurant strip, and the one where aircraft pass low overhead on approach to the airport. Blue Flag.
- Dhekelia Beach — the largest sandy beach in the district, and where most of Larnaca's hotels sit.
- Meneou Beach — small and peaceful, with bars for snacks and soft drinks.
- Kastella Beach — compact and central. Blue Flag.
- CESSAC Beach — a public beach with a thin strip of sand, next to the Dhekelia base where the coast road ends.
The full set is under beaches in Larnaca.
Limassol
- Governor's Beach — between Limassol and Larnaca, set against pale cliffs. Reliably overlooked by visitors who stay in the resorts.
- Zapallo Beach — a secluded cove, and the quietest option close to the city.
- Episkopi Beach — long and open, backed by dunes and cliffs, on Episkopi Bay.
- Lady's Mile — a very long flat sandy shoreline in the Zakaki area, past the port.
The full set is under beaches in Limassol.
Paphos and the Akamas
The west coast trades organised facilities for landscape, and the further north you go the wilder it gets.
- Coral Bay — a crescent of deep golden sand about 11 km north of Paphos, between two limestone headlands, and the busiest beach in the district. Blue Flag.
- Latchi Beach — on the far north-west coast, where the hills come down to the sea. Not endless golden sand, and better for it.
- Lara Beach — remote and undeveloped on the Akamas Peninsula, and a turtle nesting site; see the nesting season before planning a visit.
- Blue Lagoon — clear turquoise water in the remote north of the Akamas, usually reached by boat from Latchi.
- Petra tou Romiou — Aphrodite's Rock, on the coast between Paphos and Limassol. A landmark and a pebble beach rather than a swimming beach.
- Baths of Aphrodite — at the start of the Akamas trails, tied to the myth of the goddess bathing there.
The full set is under beaches in Paphos, and there is a separate top ten for Paphos.
Blue Flag beaches
The Blue Flag is awarded annually against criteria for water quality, safety, environmental management and facilities, so it is the closest thing to an objective measure on this page. Twenty-five of the beaches documented here carry it, spread across all four coastal districts — among them Makronissos, Vrissi, Vrysoudia, Ayia Triada, Mackenzie, Kastella, Malindi, Coral Bay and Paphos Municipality Beach.
Find them on the map
Which beach is best very often just means which beach is nearest. Every beach on this site is plotted with coordinates, so the fastest way to choose is geographically:
- Cyprus in 3D — the whole island in relief, with beaches, attractions and villages plotted. The terrain matters on the west coast, where the road to a beach is often the hard part.
- Cyprus maps — the district and road maps.
If you want a particular kind of beach
- Quiet and secluded beaches — the ones without a sunbed operation.
- Dog-friendly beaches — where dogs are actually permitted.
- Nudist and gay beaches.
When to go
The swimming season runs long here. Sea temperatures climb through spring, peak in August and September, and stay comfortable well into October — current readings and monthly averages for each coast are on our Cyprus sea temperature pages. July and August are the hottest and the busiest; late September and early October are the better trade-off if you have the choice.
Everything else is under all Cyprus beaches.
