Things to do in Agia Napa
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Monastery of Agia Napa
The beautifully cloistered Monastery of Agia Napa is incongruously sited next to the pub-and-club centre of the adjoining Square. Best visited in the early morning, after the revellers have gone to bed, the monastery is an oasis of calm amid the crass commercialism of Agia Napa's entertainment scene.
Built in around 1570 by the Venetians, the monastery is named after the 'holy handkerchief' that was used by St Veronica to wipe the face of Jesus as he carried his cross to Calvary. It is a remarkably well-preserved monastery, and was indeed used as such up until 1790. Visitors enter from either the north or south side. Outside the south gate is a prominently labelled enormo…
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Thalassa Municipal Museum of the Sea
The very swanky new Thalassa Municipal Museum of the Sea is dedicated to all things to do with the sea (thalassa means 'sea' in Greek). The centrepiece of the museum is the amazing reconstruction of the boat that was shipwrecked off the coast of Kyrenia in the 3rd century BC; it's original skeleton is displayed in Kyrenia Castle. The ship was reconstructed using traditional materials and methods. Behind it there is a large video projection of divers supposedly discovering the wreck in 1967.
The museum also has a stylish café, where you can have a quiet coffee, food or drink.
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Alfabet
Previously the Abyss club, Alfabet has the admiring crowd screaming when Robbie Williams and Tina Turner impersonators burst onto the stage along with fire-eaters and other circus performances. There's a large dance floor and an outdoor chill-out zone. This is one of the biggest clubs in town and has a mix of house, R & B, old school and garage. Look out for foam parties.
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Marine Life Museum
The small private Marine Life Museum, hidden away in the lower ground floor of the modern Agia Napa town hall, is a lot less flashy than the Thalassa museum. If you are into marine biology, fossilised shells, stuffed fish, sharks, turtles and sea birds, then drop in for a quick visit. The display is fairly limited, but well laid out and documented.
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Napa Bungee
What Agia Napa lacks in culture it sure makes up for in sheer exhilarating, gut-wrenching thrills and spills. For those with faux-suicidal tendencies, head to Napa Bungee, where you can hurl yourself from 200ft, alone or in tandem, above the deep blue sea. The staff here are friendly and promise not to push if you get cold feet.
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Scuba Base
The waters around Agia Napa and Cape Greco up to Famagusta are perfect for diving. The sea is calm, warm and clear, and a few operators are set up to cater for divers. The Scuba Base is a reputable local company that organises programmes ranging from an introduction to snorkelling to advanced open-water courses.
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Nissi Beach
Nissi Beach is the most popular of Agia Napa's beaches. It's long, beautiful and sandy, but incredibly crowded. The sea is shallow and calm, and there is a small island about 75m away. Nissi is around 2km from Agia Napa's centre, so a scooter or a bicycle is a great way to get here, or simply grab a taxi.
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Castle Club
Housed in a hideous mock castle, this place can take up to 2000 people. And there are still queues outside during the summer. There are three separate areas - two dance and one chill-out space - and the music mix is the ever-popular formula of house, R & B, old school and garage.
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Club Insomnia
'I can't get no sleep' reads the sign outside, like the Faithless hit. This is the place where nightaholics can always seek predawn solace and more drinks. Advertising 'quality chill-out time' and 'happy sunshine music', Club Insomnia is for serious all-nighters.
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Party Cruise
'Party' cruises include music and drinks (an extra cost) and stops for swimming. One outfit that operates such events is Party Cruise on the harbour; ask for Nikos. An evening cruise, dubbed the 'sex cruise', runs every Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday.
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Tsambra
For a change in style, try the shaded courtyard of this Lebanese-Cypriot restaurant. Good shish kebabs, barbecued lamb, tabouleh (bulgur-wheat and parsley salad), and for dessert, mahalabia (a light, rice custard, served cold).
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Potopoieion to Elliniko
A small, evenings-only Greek-style mezedopolio (a small restaurant specialising in mezedes) with grilled-meat meze, and zivania (local firewater), ouzo or wine as accompaniment. There's usually some live music too.
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Vassos
This place has been around since 1962, so it has a well-tried and successful formula: fresh fish and good service. It looks a rather large, impersonal place during the day, but it's right on the harbour and makes for romantic evening dining.
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Water World
If you just want the water and not the sand, head 3km west of Agia Napa for Water World, supposedly Cyprus' best water theme park. Here you can tube, twirl, splash and slide to your heart's content. Queues can be long in peak season.
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Fast Boast Safari
The high-speed, ex-Formula 3 offshore power boat of Fast Boast Safari takes you around the fascinating sea caves and the harbour. You do get to see the sights, but the speedy boat, which can go over 60mph is the real adventure.
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Carwash
Two London DJs take the party-goers through a mix of hits from the '70s and '80s from their VW Beetle deck room. Massive queues outside confirm the words of the management that Carwash 'is more like a party than a club'.
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Bagley's
The old Inferno Club, Bagley's still sports a four-way sound system and DJ Richie P from Shagwells in London. Richie plays the best of the '70s to '90s music. Dress up for the Austin Powers theme night.
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Alexander's
If you don't want to get too involved, but want to see it all, this place has an all-encompassing view of the action. It's a definite voyeur's favourite, located at the top of the Square.
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Limelight
This is an old favourite in town, with charcoal-grilled dishes such as steak, lobster, fish and chicken, as well as succulent suckling lamb and pig. Not a good place for vegetarians.
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Freedom Reggae Bar
A bar with a difference in that it opens for breakfast, when clubbed out punters head here for the exceptionally chilled-out atmosphere. Freedom even serves an early Sunday roast.
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Grease
Features classic tunes from the '70s to the '90s plus the soundtrack hits from the movie. Relive teenage bliss and dress up like Sandy and Danny. Rydell High is not out yet.
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Main Beach
The main beach is usually very crowded and strewn from end to end with umbrellas and beach loungers, but everyone seems to be able to find a spot for themselves somewhere.
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Black & White
The longest-standing venue in town and, according to some hard-core clubbers, the best. It has an eclectic mix of music nights, attracting just about anybody.
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Esperia
Close to the water, and boasting an upmarket décor and a good location. Enormous fish and meat dishes are available.
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Napiana
A busy establishment with exceptionally attentive service, close to central Agia Napa. Steaks are the big seller here.
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