Just down the hill is Kourion Beach, a mixture of sand and pebbles with swimmable water and a restaurant that’s great for sunsets. There’s disabled access, and it’s easy to get here on foot, bus, bike or car. Just take a slight detour off the road between Limassol and Paphos, near the village of Episkopi. Before you leave, make time for the nearby Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates – a former religious centre for worshipping Cypriot god Hylates, now a peaceful place to soak up the island’s ancient past.
How to get there: Google Maps location
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Ayia Thekla
If you like your beaches clean and calm, then Ayia Thekla is worth knowing about. Just 6.5km west of Ayia Napa (far enough to dodge the crowds, close enough to dip in for the nightlife if you want it), this Blue Flag beach has golden sand, clear water and the kind of atmosphere that makes you want to abandon your phone and just float in the shallows for a while. In summer, there are loungers for hire, a lifeguard on duty, and a smattering of sun-bronzed bods playing volleyball or paddling out to sea on SUPS.
You can arrive by car, bus or on foot. A pedestrian path winds its way here from the picturesque fishing harbour of Potamos tou Liopetriou in one direction, or Vathia Gonia beach in the other, so you can make a long walk of it, should you wish.
The beach takes its name from the blue-and-white Ayia Thekla church nearby, which also has a secret cave chapel tucked below it, filled with seashells, icons and votives dedicated to Saint Thecla. The area is especially lovely at sunset, when the light turns honey-hued, and the whole place takes on a magical charge.