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Nissi Bay Beach is an extension of Nissi Beach. It is located west of Agia Napa and is accessible from Nissi Avenue through the entrance to Adams Beach Hotel. It has earned the Blue Flag Accreditation.

It is probably the most famous (and infamous) beach on the island and definitely the place to be during the summer if you are young and single. There are beach parties and DJ events at the beach bar several times a week during the summer months, usually organized by local radio stations and sponsored by hip brands.

It is not really a beach for families as it can get quite loud from the music. Nissi Bay usually attracts the beautiful crowd, the people who have been struggling all year to build the perfect body at the gym. Sometimes it almost feels like a swimsuit runway. This is a party beach.

For a more family-friendly beach in pretty much the same area, Nissi Beach or Sandy Bay are better alternatives.

The beach itself is sandy (golden and fine) and the water is crystal clear and relatively shallow, making it very easy to swim there. The characteristic feature of Nissi Bay is a land formation that once used to be connected to the beach with a thin sand "walkway". The thin strip has now sunk and left a small island around 50m from the beach that people swim to and jump into the water from. Also, the watersports facilities are based on the little island.

The beach also offers full amenities provided by the municipality and the local establishments. There is no cost to enter the beach, or to park behind the beach bar, through which you enter the beach area. Sunbeds and umbrellas are available at the standard rate, while changing rooms and toilets an be used for free. There are also showers at the beach bar that work with a timer that is activated by entering coins.

It is recommended that you get claim your spot before 11:00am, as Nissi Bay gets packed. Especially in the peak tourist months, around 2:00pm it is almost impossible to even find a patch of sand to lay your towel down (forget renting an umbrella and sunbed at this point). You should definitely bring your own umbrella just in case there are no spots available because the sun can get very hot. Also, drink lots of fluids and wear sunscreen or sunblock if you are fair-skinned.

Kyrenia Castle is the main landmark of the town that has the same name and is located at the entrance to its harbour, strategically protecting the port since the 1500s.

The first major castle at Kyrenia was built by the Romans, and then fortified by the Byzantines. The Byzantine structure of four towers joined by walls was later strengthened and enlarged by the Lusignan kings.

The current appearance of Kyrenia Castle dates to the time when the Venetians ruled the island, back in 1489.

The entrance of the castle is in the northwest through a bridge across the moat. From the first gate one arrives to a vaulted corridor that then takes you to the entrance of the Lusignan castle. A passage to the left of the corridor brings visitors to the cruciform Church of St. George. The dome of this church is resting on marble columns with Corinthian capitals that were recovered from an older building elsewhere and put here.

The Ottoman Admiral Sadik Pasha’s tomb is at the entrance corridor of the castle. He is the man who conquered Kyrenia in 1570. The hallway then leads to the castle's extensive inner courtyard, which is lined with guardrooms, stables and lodgings.

The arched rooms to the north and east of the yard, the Royal quarters to the west of the yard, as well as the big and arched windows of the little Latin Temple all date back to the Lusignan Period.

On the south of the yard there are fortifications and vestiges belonging to the Byzantine Period. Ramps lead to the defences on the upper sections of the walls. It is possible to climb the steps to the Lusignan royal apartments and a small chapel.

The lower levels of Kyrenia Castle contain dungeons, storage rooms and the powder magazines.

Off the courtyard, there is the Shipwreck Museum, a room displaying the finds from a very interesting maritime archaeological site that dates back to the 4th century BC.

Highlights:

• It was featured as one of Europe’s top 25 castles by a renowned travel website

• The view from the castle across Kyrenia harbour is spectacular. It gives you an idea of what the defending Byzantines and later Venetians look out for

• A castle that was never taken by force: it either helped defend the city successfully or was surrendered peacefully

Look Out For:

• The castle has not been in the control of the Republic of Cyprus since the Turkish invasion of 1974. Please read the related section in our Visitor Guide about visiting Turkish-occupied areas on the island.

• Avoid visiting the site in a rush. The castle might not look like much from the outside, but once you are inside you will not want to miss the opportunity to see it all.

Wonderful sandy beach. Easy to get to by car with large free car parks.