Protaras may not be the most charming part of Cyprus, but it does have one of its best beaches, Fig Tree Bay, and there are plenty of quiet, sandy bays along this rocky east coast. It's ideal for those seeking a short-haul beach break in the Med. Hotels cater well for families and there are water parks and other attractions in the area.Protaras | from visitcyprus
If you want little more than to laze in the sun by day and watch sport on big-screen TVs in pubs by night, purpose-built Protaras is the one for you. For the party animals in the group, Ayia Napa – with full-on nightlife and lovely beaches – is just around Cape Greco.
Getting there/getting around Protaras
Larnaca International Airport is the hub for Cyprus and is around an hour's drive from Protaras.
The resort area of Protaras is small and easily walkable – but hire a car if you want to see more of the country.
Beaches in Protaras
Glorious Fig Tree Bay boasts more than 10 miles of sandy beach and has earned a Blue Flag for cleanliness and services. Plenty of shops, restaurants and cafes line the beach, but be warned: it does get very crowded in high season. For quieter and smaller coves, visit Ayia Triada Bay, Kapparis, Pernera Bay and Sirena Bay. Ayia Napa has some of the best beaches on the island, from the small cove at Ayia Thekla to the busy beach bars of Nissi, both awarded Blue Flag status.
Protaras is a great base for divers, too, with some of the finest diving in Cyprus. Nearby you'll find fantastic reefs, caves and canyons and the largest wreck in the Mediterranean, the Zenobia, a ferry which sank in 1980 with more than 100 lorries on board. Today, it is rated among the world's top 10 wreck dives and is home to diverse marine life from tuna and rays to barracuda.
Sightseeing in Protaras
There are few attractions to hold your interest in the immediate area, but if you can drag yourself from the beach, the Church of Profitis Elias is worth seeing, reached by a hike up 100 steps. Paralimni offers more shops and typical Cypriot tavernas than you'll find in Protaras, or head into Ayia Napa to see the 16th-century monastery, with its marble fountain and courtyard and the Marine Life Museum.
Blow away the cobwebs on the headlands around Cape Greco on hiking or mountain-bike trails. Alternatively, join a glass-bottom boat trip, or be a daredevil and dive off the cliffs into the crystal-clear waters below.
Family attractions in Protaras
Protaras is geared for families, with endless watersports from sailing to snorkelling, pedalos to parascending. At night, take the kids to see the resort's water and lights show, which never fails to impress. For a day out, head to Waterworld in Ayia Napa, with chutes, slides, lazy river trips, geysers and spray columns.
Nearer the resort is Protaras Fun Park, which is not in the same league as Waterworld, but is entertaining none the less. Try Ayia Napa's annual Children's Festival – a day devoted to kids every June.
Day trips in Protaras
Day trips to the cool, rural Troodos Mountains are possible, as are sea cruises around the coast. Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded the north. Staying in Protaras, you're quite near the border and a boat trip north along the coast will show you the ghost town of Famagusta, deserted by Cypriots when the Turks invaded.
Protaras is part of Paralimni, a region often called "the land of windmills" so keep an eye open for them as you drive through wild countryside and red-soiled fields visiting Kokkinochoria, or Red Villages.
Eating out in Protaras
You have to try a Cypriot meze – the table fills with anything from 10-30 little dishes, shish kebab of marinated lamb or moussaka, oven-baked layers of mince, potatoes, aubergines and cheese.
Protaras has loads of restaurants such as Georgios and Bambos, fast-food joints and a range of international eateries, including Japanese. If you prefer a traditional atmosphere, head to Paralimni.
Nightlife in Protaras
Eden Square is a pleasant place to start your night out. The strip is where the volume gets cranked up at night, with a good choice of lively DJ bars or karaoke spots. Try the Ghetto Bar, Boogies or the Cinnamon Pub.
Serious clubbers will be better suited to a night in Ayia Napa, five miles away.
Shopping in Protaras
Protaras offers all you need for basic holiday shopping, from beach clobber to tacky souvenirs, as well as the obligatory lace, leather and jewellery, which is so common and of good value on the island.
Shopping at Paralimni, 10 minutes away, is more sophisticated, as it's one of the largest towns in the area.
If you like Protaras, take a look at the following travel guides:
