Konnos Bay – a sheltered cove of golden sand by Cape Greco

Konnos Bay is a small beach in a large setting. Four kilometres east of the centre of Ayia Napa, on the road between Cape Greco and Protaras, a path drops through pine trees to a cove of fine golden sand about 200 metres long, its calm, clear water sheltered from heavy winds. It is the last beach before the boundary between Ayia Napa and Paralimni, and the Deputy Ministry of Tourism counts it among the most picturesque on the island. What makes it more than a pretty cove is what lies behind it. Konnos sits at the edge of Cape Greco National Forest Park, a protected Natura 2000 site, and two of the park's marked trails start at Konnos – so a morning on the sand can turn into an afternoon on the cliffs above. The beach is on Ayia Napa's list of Blue Flag beaches for 2026, and high-end hotels overlook it.

01The beach

For its size, Konnos is well equipped. The tourist board lists toilets, changing rooms, sunbeds, umbrellas, a beach bar with music and water sports on the beach, and restaurants and convenience stores close by. There is also a transit point for small boats: the neighbouring coves are used for anchoring and diving. Lifeguards with lifesaving equipment and first aid are on duty from April to October.

The approach is part of the pleasure. The path down to the sand runs through pine trees and greenery, and the tourist board singles out the view from the top. The car park sits some 25 metres above the sand, according to the tourist board's trail data, so allow for a short climb on the way back.

02Sunbeds and the beach bar

The beach is public; sunbeds and umbrellas are hired. For 2026, Cyprus's central beach committee raised the national ceiling for a set of two sunbeds and one umbrella from €7.50 to €10, and municipalities may charge less. Ayia Napa's mayor, Christos Zannettou, called it the first substantial adjustment in around two decades, according to Cyprus Inform, and told the Cyprus Mail that single sunbeds can be rented and that free areas remain for people who bring their own. No official source publishes a separate 2026 price for Konnos, so count on no more than the ceiling.

Insider tip

Lifeguards April–October; two Cape Greco trails start here.

The ceiling was set by the central beach committee for the 2026 season; local prices may be lower. Read on 29 October 2026.

03Walks from the sand

The shorter of the two trails, Konnoi – Cyclops Cave, is a 1.7-kilometre loop from the Konnos car park that takes about 45 minutes and carries the lowest difficulty grade. It follows the rugged shore through low shrubs – coastal boxthorn, prickly burnet, Phoenician juniper – to the natural Cyclops Cave, then drops down towards the beach before a final climb back to the start. The tourist board promises unbroken views of the turquoise water and golden sand of Konnos all the way, with the church of Agioi Anargyroi in sight.

The longer loop, Konnoi – Agioi Anargyroi, runs 4.8 kilometres and takes about two hours. For the first two kilometres it follows the coast to the little church of Agioi Anargyroi, built above a sea cave where, by tradition, saints lived as hermits; it then turns south through low shrubland to Kamara tou Koraka, a natural rock bridge, passes the ruins of a temple of Aphrodite and ends in a small pine wood. Shade is scarce in the park, the Cyprus Mail warns, so go early or late in summer and carry water.

04Getting there

Konnos is easy to reach on foot, by bicycle or by car, and there is a car park above the beach. From Ayia Napa it is about four kilometres east; Fig Tree Bay and the centre of Protaras lie further up the same coast road to the north. The tourist information office in Ayia Napa, at 12 Kryou Nerou Avenue, is open Monday to Friday from 08:30 to 16:00.

For a weekend. For a lifetime.