Car Hire Ayia Napa

Ayia Napa Mini Guide

Ayia Napa is the perfect place for a family holiday or a weekend break with your mates to enjoy sunny weather, sandy beaches and all kinds of water sports. Located to the south of Famagusta city on the eastern coast of Cyprus, every year the beach resort of Ayia Napa welcomes thousands of visitors from all over Europe. Only 25 minutes from the nearby Larnaca Airport, Ayia Napa is easily accessible for tourists who can also get to many award-winning beaches and nature parks in the area.

The name Ayia Napa means 'Holy wooded valley' and it is also the site of an ancient monastery and icon of the Virgin Mary. The three main beaches Nissi, Makronisos and  Grecian Bay must all be seen, though the latter two are far less crowded than the famous Nissi Beach. If you long for somewhere much quieter, head north to Paralimni and find Konnos Beach, set in a beautiful natural parkland and much quieter, even in peak season. If you do want to go to Nissi you need to arrive early if you want to get a good spot. Scuba diving, snorkelling and water skiing can all be done on the white sands of the famous Nissi Beach during the day, while at night there are many clubs such as the Bedrock Inn and the Black and White club for revellers to visit.

This once sleepy fishing village was famed throughout the 1990's as a clubbing hotspot. For those who are not into clubbing and dance music, there are also Ayia Napa seasonal festivals which display all the best acts which perform Greek cultural songs and plays. Water World Park in Ayia Napa is the biggest water based theme park attraction in Europe and therefore it is a great place to take children for a day out.

Hiring a car is the cheapest way to get from Larnaca Airport (or Paphos Airport) to the resort and is an excellent way to explore the surrounding areas of Ayia Napa. Whatever you do don’t drink and drive though as the local authorities are cracking down on this. Once you have arrived in Ayia Napa it is possible to rent bicycles, mopeds and even quad bikes so that you can zip around the main strip while keeping your tan going. If you need somewhere to stay in Ayia Napa there is something for every taste including self-catering villas and bungalows to rent within the bustling centre and luxury apartments in the quieter surrounding areas such as Paralimni and Protaras. Ayia Napa has become a popular place to invest in property as well and much of this is due to its ever increasing facilities, such as the planned marina which will hold 600 vessels when completed.

Ayia Napa has a reputation as a party town to rival Ibiza. In recent years it has shaken off its ‘lager lout’ reputation and with beautiful white sandy beaches now appeals to families. A number of five star hotels have opened there to encourage wealthier tourists too.

Hiring a car for a couple of days will let you visit the spectacular Cape Greco with its stunningly clear water and great views of the town. In Ayia Napa itself, spend some time visiting the monastery; the oldest part of this busy town which was once surrounded by forest.