Experience in Ayia Napa
Ayia Napa is arguably the most popular tourist destination on the island of Cyprus. During my three day visit to the city, I attempted to figure out why this might be the case. How did a once quaint fishing village turn into the party capital of the Mediterranean?
There is no single answer to this question, nor is there any way to quantify a particular aspect of the city. Ayia Napa is the party capital because it’s the party capital, i.e. the reputation precedes the city itself. This idea is echoed in the often repeated chant, “Ayia, Ayia, Ayia F*cking Napa!” Any visitor to the city will undoubtedly hear this at some point. It won’t be heard from the locals, but rather the swarms of young European tourists who frequent the bars and clubs every night of the week.
Within the first day, I realized that getting around would be much easier by simply renting a bike. The local buses are too unreliable, while the price of taxis is unreasonable. Aside from the monetary incentive, pedaling a bike around allows you to travel up and down the gorgeous beach paths. In hindsight, the bike rental was the best investment I made while in the city. For those who may be looking for a vehicle of some kind, there are many rental shops that can hook you up with scooters, motorcycles, and an assortment of ATVs.
The majority of the coast around Ayia Napa consists of rocky beaches. While not particularly pleasant to lie on, these beaches are breathtaking to look at. The most popular sandy spot would have to Nissi Beach. The beautiful sand, clear water, and unique little rock-island make it a perfect place to relax or recreate. There is also a bar located on Nissi that is popular for its live music and wet t-shirt contests.
Ayia Napa’s nightlife is overwhelming. There is a vast assortment of bars and clubs to choose from, all within a few blocks radius. The loud music, neon lights, and multitude of languages come together to create a truly surreal experience. You should also expect to be annoyed as you walk by the many people attempting to lure you into clubs. Some of these places even hire attractive young women to sweet-talk men into buying drink tickets, not to mention the scantily clad dancers who hump air among the entrance ways.
I left Ayia Napa feeling like there was much more to see. It is a place that lends itself to being explored, particularly with a group of close friends. I’m looking forward to going back there in order to get a better sense of everything the city has to offer.
