Share the article
If you’re heading to Europe in the coming months, chances are that places like Amalfi, in southern Italy, Santorini, Greece’s iconic caldera island, or the glitzy and glamorous St. Tropez in France will be on your radar.
We don’t blame you.
They are the ones who kill travel influencers year in and year out, and where most first-time visitors to Europe end up.
Either because they don’t actually mind the high price tag, and have become desensitized to the petty thefts that now plague most European destinations, or they just don’t know any better.
The point is: you actually not I don’t have to spend $800 a night on a waterfront villa just because it’s in Positano, nor do I have to spend on a rooftop dinner in Oia where the cheapest starter costs $25:
This lesser-known destination is one of the cheapest across the pond, and if safety remains your primary concern when flying abroad in this volatile geopolitical climate, you’ll be happy to hear this summer paradise back to be one of the safest Eurosummers:
Ayia Napa is that one missing puzzle piece to that epic Euro summer
We’ll take a guess and say you’ve never heard of Ayia Napa, and if you’re at all familiar with its motherland, the island nation of Cyprus in the Mediterranean, you won’t even know where to look for it on the map.
Don’t take this the wrong way; that’s completely understandable.
Although Cyprus is a prosperous countryAs a destination for Europeans, who host millions of Brits and Germans in particular every summer, Americans are nowhere near the top 10, perhaps even the top 20, of nationalities that visit the country the most.
What you should What we know at the moment is that Cyprus is the most south-eastern country in Europe, just south of Turkey and practically against the Levant. In reality, it’s so far east that it is on the Asian tectonic plate, despite being culturally European, populated mainly by ethnic Greeks, and a member of the European Union.
I know, total mind blower.
Moreover, Cyprus will join the Schengen zone at the end of this year, a step that will have direct consequences for travel rules for American visitors.
Before you fly to Europe, Cyprus or elsewhere this season, do a little destination check with our free-to-use Entry Requirement Checker to make sure you have all your documentation in order and are ready to go.
Now let’s zoom in on Ayia Napa:
Is this the official Caribbean of Europe?
Cyprus does packaged with vibrant beach hotspots where it’s somehow summer all year round, from Larnaca to Limassol to Paphos, but Napa in particular takes the cake for a number of reasons.
First, are So cheap compared to comparable Mediterranean getaways. Think of it as a European Punta Cana:
Many visitors arrive on charter flights and through all-inclusive deals, which puts downward pressure on prices, and many hotels compete for tourists, especially now that demand for Cyprus has taken a big hit – we’ll get to that in a moment.
Moreover, Cyprus has an unusually long tourist seasonlasting roughly from early April to early November, with daytime temperatures rarely dropping below 68°F. This spreads demand more than for destinations in the Western EU with shorter seasons.
As a result, prices are dramatically lower than in places like Ibiza, Mykonos or the French Riviera.
Then there is The Mediterranean charm of Ayia Napa yourself.
It features some of the clearest waters throughout the Mediterranean, and unlike Croatia’s Dalmatian coast or godforsaken Amalfi, the beaches here aren’t paved with jagged shingles and pebbles. It’s Caribbean-like white sand.
Add to this a rapidly developing seaside resort, a great nightlife, especially popular with British stag and hen parties, and a dash of ancient culture here and there, and you get the perfect recipe for a well-rounded, balanced European summer.
That’s a lot of words, but how exactly affordable is Ayia Napa?
That’s how cheap it is in Cyprus’ top resort hotspot
How does a four star hotel in Nissi Beach Resort work, directly on paradise Nissi Beach, with overnight rates from just $220 per night?
Maybe a 5 star Atlantic Aeneas Resort? It features Europe’s largest lagoon-style swimming poolsa 10/10 family-friendly environment and peak summer rates from $250.
On a tighter budget? A stay at one of those local, family-run guesthouses, just a few blocks away from the beach, will take you back to only $49 – $63 per night.
Cyprus is also notorious for its budget restaurants, with places like Isaac Tavern, within walking distance of the main tourist street, serving fresh fish and grilled octopus for between $20 and $25.
For a quick takeaway souvlaki on the way back from the all-white beach party, En Yevo Tavernaki is a local favorite, and wraps start from a shockingly cheap $12.
Fancy a Cypriot barbecue and generous meze dishes? Opa’s Tavern is a locally frequented taverna with main courses ranging from $12 to $25, and Cypriot wine served straight from the vase for $5 (if available, opt for the Maratheftiko).
Napa beyond only Nissi Beach
Ayia Napa works great as an idle beach holiday, but if you’ve been bitten by the discovery bug, it’s also the perfect base for exploring the area. southeastern tip of Cyprus.
Makronissos Tombs is a series of ancient rock-cut burial chambers just off the beach, some of which are older than the pyramids in Egypt.
THALASSA Museum is one of the coolest museums you will ever visit, which not only describe the maritime history of Cyprus, but also show a reconstruction of an ancient Greek merchant ship.
About inside Cape GrecoYou’ll find sea caves, clifftop lookouts and epic coastal walks leading to small turquoise bays.
The neighboring town Protaras has an iconic blue domed church right on a soft sandy beach, and if you ask me, it’s as beautiful as the cliffs of Santorini.
You don’t even have to stray too far from the tourist zone to get the wow factor of Cyprus: Monastery of Ayia Napa is a well-preserved medieval monastery right in the city center and one of the most important historical monuments in the country.
How safe is Cyprus now?
Now, about the safety issues.
If you’ve been curious enough to check out Cyprus on Google Maps, you may have been a little surprised to discover that it has a number of Middle Eastern countries among its closest neighbors. There is of course Turkey… and then there is Israel, Lebanon, Syria.
Granted, there is at least 90 kilometers separating Cyprus from the Levant, but that moderate distance was not enough to protect the area from an accidental Iranian shelling a few months ago.
No casualties, just a wandering drone that struck a virtually deserted military base in the south of the island, and no further incidents recorded in the aftermath.
An incident that immediately led to the US State Department issuing a… Travel warning level 4 for Cyprus. In non-technical jargon, the Americans were specifically told not to visit Cyprus, at least for the time being.
Americans aren’t exactly a big market for Cyprus, but even mainland Europeans have pulled the plug on their travel plans. It took just a few weeks for Cypriot businesses to beg their government to take action, and for Cyprus to start courting potential tourists with price cuts.
That said, we have good news for Cyprus (and for you).
With no new developments in the war in the Middle East that have directly affected Cyprus, the country is now back in the good graces of the US government, which awarded the country again a level 1 destination.
In short, not only are Americans no longer discouraged from visiting, they can also take normal precautions when hopping on that one- or two-stop Homeric transatlantic voyage to this remote island in the Mediterranean.
In fact, safety perception on the Traveler Safety Index, based on reports from recent visitors, has recently fallen from mid 70s to 88/100 within a few weeks.
Yes!
Cyprus is once again one of the safest destinations in Europe, and apart from the geopolitical downturn or upswing, the island has far fewer pickpockets and petty crime than Western European beaches, and the incidence of crime is virtually negligible. violent crime.
Already sold in Cyprus? Don’t just stop in Ayia Napa:
Where else to visit in Cyprus this summer
- Nicosiathe island’s capital, is one of the weirdest yet coolest places you can visit in Europe
- Paphosin the west, is known for its ancient Greek tombs and natural lagoons that are a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Limassol is the Dubai of Cyprus, with a palm tree-lined promenade and a unique mix of skyscrapers and ancient fortresses
- Larnaca is more than just an airside hub: it’s an equally exciting coastal gem, anchored by a medieval castle overlooking the sea
- Northern Cyprus is the obvious outlier: it’s a Turkish-majority area, it officially functions as its own country although it has limited international recognition, and it can even be cheaper to visit than the euroized south
However, if you are traveling to the northern third of the island, be sure to familiarize yourself with the entry rules and passport requirements beforehand.
You know where to go.
