Ayia Napa

Once a small fishing village in the southeastern corner of Cyprus, Ayia Napa is now a hotspot for holidaymakers looking for a lively vacation. Over 250,000 clubbers swarm into this party capital each summer and the atmosphere in its scores of bars and nightclubs is nothing short of amazing.Located in the centre of the market garden area of the island, Ayia Napa also boasts a string of superb golden sandy beaches and vestiges of its cultural heritage. There's a Venetian-decorated monastery fronted by a 600-year-old sycamore tree, and a quaint harbour filled with colourful fishing vessels. Just a few miles from Ayia Napa, the resort of Protaras is more restrained and suited to family holidays. Both resorts have excellent beaches, the most famous being Fig Tree Bay.Other popular beaches include Nissi Beach and Nissi Bay, two miles (3km) west of Ayia Napa; Cape Greco to the east, where the challenge is to leap from the rocks into the sea; and Konnos Bay, just past Cape Greco, where there is a beach café and speedboats for hire.