Fig Tree Bay
Golden sand in central Protaras, with clear water, beach facilities and places to eat nearby.
Families and swimmers who want calm water
May to October
Paralimni, Kapparis, Ayia Napa
Protaras is the calmer side of the eastern resorts, built around one famous bay. Fig Tree Bay takes its name from a fig tree brought by conquerors from the east in the 17th century; it holds a Blue Flag, a Green Beach title, and about 500 metres of golden sand. The whole coast here is known for its water — shallow, clear and so clean it is regularly counted among the cleanest and clearest in Europe.
A coastal promenade threads the whole resort. The paved seafront path runs for more than four kilometres, beginning near the little white church of Ayios Nikolaos and following the water towards Vizakia Beach, passing one small bay and family beach after another. Wooden platforms step out over the sea, benches catch the light, and almost anywhere along the way you can drop down for a swim.
By day the bays stay shallow and clear, with pedaloes and water slides running all summer; by evening the resort fills out and finds its rhythm. Around Protaras square you will find tavernas and local food, live music, karaoke and easy places for a drink — lively and full of atmosphere, yet gentler and more family-minded than the strip around the headland in Ayia Napa.
Perfect for
Calm swimming, families, water sports and coastal walks
Protaras today
Air: MET NorwaySea: NOAA Coral Reef Watch
About 500 metres of golden sand and Blue Flag water so clear it is regularly counted among Europe’s cleanest — one of the island’s standout beaches for sheer clarity. The sand runs south towards Yianna Marie Beach, a shallow, boardwalk-backed stretch a short walk down the coast.
Beyond the main bay, a run of smaller sandy coves — Vizakia among them — stays shallow, calm and quiet, made for easy family days away from the busier centre.
Pedaloes, water slides and glass-bottom boats on calm, shallow bays — Protaras is the gentle, family end of the eastern coast.
Find places to stay, eat, explore and experience the area.
Beaches & Coast
Blue-flag beaches, promenades and seaside spots.
ExploreSightseeing
Churches, landmarks, museums and historic places.
ExplorePlaces to Stay
Hotels, apartments and places to stay in Protaras.
Places to Eat
Restaurants, cafés and places to eat in Protaras.
Golden sand in central Protaras, with clear water, beach facilities and places to eat nearby.
A golden sandy beach in central Protaras, with a seaside promenade, sunbeds, lockers and places to eat nearby.
Turquoise water, a small sandy cove and a beach bar at the northern end of Protaras, between Pernera and Kapparis.
Clear, shallow water below the Cavo Maris headland in Protaras — small, sheltered and easy to reach on foot from the strip.
Dedicated to the patron saint of sailors, whose miracles were nearly all worked at sea — which makes the setting above the water the point.
A small church on a rock above Protaras, reached by a long flight of steps — and worth the climb for the view back over the bay.
The most unlikely church on the island — hidden inside a cave in rough ground near Profitis Elias, and easy to walk straight past.
Driving on the left, cards and cash, whether you need a car at all — the practical questions, answered.
Good to KnowChoose your kind of day
Build a Protaras visit around the shoreline, then give its churches and Cape Greco their own time. The beach guides help you choose a base; the sightseeing guides take you beyond the resort strip.
Choose Fig Tree Bay or Vizakia for the beach part of your day, then consider Profitis Elias for a different view of the area. Treat Cape Greco as a separate coastal outing rather than an extra stop squeezed in at the end.
Fig Tree Bay is the starting point for a practical resort-beach visit; Vizakia is another option to compare nearby. Konnos belongs to the neighbouring Ayia Napa guide but is useful when planning this stretch of the eastern coast. Check the dated facilities and rental information on each page before deciding.