Cyprus as a whole is very family friendly, with sandy beaches graced with calm, shallow waters, plenty of playgrounds and child-friendly eateries wherever you go. It’s also a very safe place to take children for a beach holiday, with over seventy Blue Flag beaches and the cleanest sea waters in Europe.
For travellers with young children, it can be difficult to find the right place to holiday. You need somewhere safe, somewhere with good amenities and plenty of child-focused resorts, restaurants, services and attractions. Ayia Napa ticks all these boxes, and with beautiful sunshine all-year-round, endless sandy bays and a massive selection of toddler-friendly attractions, this stunning seaside town is the perfect place for family-fun.
Here are three reasons why you should consider taking your little ones to Ayia Napa for your next summer holiday.
Clean, safe beaches
Ayia Napa alone boasts fourteen of the many Blue Flag beaches in Cyprus, all of which are consistently recognised for their cleanliness and high-quality water, as well as their eco-initiatives. Blue Flag beaches are also regularly patrolled, and have a good amount of well trained lifeguards with first aid equipment to hand. Add that to the naturally calm and shallow waters of the coastlines here, and you couldn’t ask for a safer beach for your little ones to explore.
For a quiet day soaking up the sun, head to Ayia Thekla beach, where you can enjoy the crystalline waters and golden sands without the crowds. Sandy Bay, or Vathia Gonia as it’s also known, is a great beach for rock pooling and the water offers brilliant visibility for an abundance of tropical marine life. Nissi beach is the most famous of the area and for good reason – you’ll find tourists and locals alike relaxing under a palm tree and swimming in the glistening ocean. There are also plenty of bars, cafes and restaurants close by.
Eating out is easy
As with the entirety of Cyprus, children are warmly welcomed and doted on by the locals, especially in cafes and restaurants. There’s plenty of variety when it comes to the menu, with plain grilled fish and meat, jacket potatoes, fries, salads and pitta breads in abundance. Most eateries will have crayons and paper, with some having a toy corner or outdoor playground too.
Whilst the kids enjoy their favourite, familiar dishes, you can indulge yourself by trying some of the more exotic options. As a country with a diverse history of cultural influences, Cypriot cuisine features an exciting mix of Middle Eastern, Asian and European flavours.
The fresh seafood is delectable, but be sure to also try some souvla, a popular dish of barbecued meat, salad and potatoes. For those with a sweet-tooth, grab yourselves a bag of loukoumades, which are little doughnut balls dripping with honey, cinnamon, nuts and sesame seeds.
Plenty of child-friendly attractions
Waterworld in Ayia Napa is an Ancient Greek themed park full of different pools, slides, sprinklers and play areas. Unlike a lot of theme parks, there are plenty of areas suitable for even the youngest visitors to play in. Babies will enjoy exploring the warm waters of Aphrodite’s pools, while adventurous toddlers will have the time of their lives running around in the sprinklers of Danaides Waterworks and the Atlantis Activity Pool.
For funfair style fun, Parko Paliatso Luna Park in Ayia Napa is a huge amusement centre with loads of fun activities for all ages. It’s a great place to spend a couple of hours and enjoy an ice cream.
If you enjoy coastal walks, you can’t beat the natural beauty of Cape Greco National Park, an idyllic headline joining Ayia Napa to Protaras. And if you do venture to Protaras, be sure to watch the Magic Dancing Waters Live Show, a spectacular display of lights in the early evening.
Explore the island
Using Ayia Napa as a base, why not hire a car to explore the rest of this paradisiacal island. There are many attractions and fun days out to be found in all directions. Driving southwest for about an hour will take you to Limassol Zoo, a haven of exotic creatures. There’s also a farm corner where children can pet the animals, a playground and a cafe at the zoo so you can enjoy a full day out.
Elsewhere on the island you’ll find pirate ship cruises, dolphin watching boat tours, ancient caves and historical monuments to explore. So, whatever the age of your little ones, there’s little chance any of you will get bored when holidaying in Cyprus.
