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Forget Ayia Napa. There is a particular kind of travel recommendation I trust more than a glossy “Top 10 Beaches in Cyprus” list. The one that starts with, “Where do the locals actually go?”, or “Cyprus Beaches Locals Love (Not Ayia Napa)” because when we were in Cyprus, that was exactly what I wanted to know.
I wasn’t looking for another beach surrounded by giant hotels, inflatable unicorns and someone selling a €14 cocktail. I wanted the beaches people who actually live in Cyprus go to when they have a free Sunday. And, luckily, we had a local connection.
During our Troodos baking experience, we met Yiota and her daughter Konstantina, who taught us how to make traditional Cypriot pastries in their home. Over coffee, food and the kind of conversation that makes you feel like you’ve accidentally been adopted by someone’s family, we started asking where locals actually spend their time, and what are the beaches they enjoy the most.
Book your own Pano Kivides: Cypriot Baking Class with Local Family Too
Spoiler alert, Konstantia, clearly understood the assignment. That is how we ended up hearing about places including Arminou, Governor’s Beach and the coast around Zygi.
The beaches I share below are exactly the kind of places we wanted to find.
Plan Your Cyprus Beaches Locals Love Visit
Use this Cyprus Beaches Locals Love (Not Ayia Napa) to plan your own beach trip in Cyprus when you want to hang with locals.
 Flight |  Stay |  Do |  Drive |
| Skyscanner | Agoda | GetYourGuide | QEEQ |
TIP: Best way to get to many of these beaches in Cyprus will be with a car. We rented ours with QEEQ. Book early if traveling during the peak summer season.
Cyprus Beaches Locals Love (Not Ayia Napa) Table of Contents
Cyprus Beaches Locals Visit Disclaimer
I’d not claim that every beach on the list is a secret locals-only beach. Petra tou Romiou (Aphrodite’s Rock) obviously isn’t, and Lady’s Mile is fairly well known. Instead, we’re saying these are places recommended to us by locals during the trip.
Where To Stay For Easy Cyprus Beach Access
Limassol self-catered accommodation, in Limassol was the best mid point for all the beaches I mention below and under a 45 min drive (max), making it the easiest base for your trip. This stay even has a rooftop pool for even more water access in Cyprus.
Book your accommodation too using Agoda
Beaches Cypriot Locals Actually Visit
Pissouri
If I had to choose one beach from this list for a lazy beach day, it would probably be Pissouri Beach.
It’s around 30 minutes from Limassol by car and the setting immediately feels different from the big resort areas. You get the cliffs, the open coastline and much more of that slow-Cyprus feeling. A beautiful beach, a swim and a very good excuse to do absolutely nothing for several hours.
We managed to get sunbeds and an umbrella for €7.50 for two thanks to the very friendly ice-cream truck owner. (Sunbeds may be paid with cash or Revolut)
If you’re staying in Limassol and want a proper beach day without heading all the way across the island, Pissouri would be my first choice.
Governor’s Beach
Governor’s Beach was one of the local recommendations that will make you realize how much you’d miss if you follow the standard Cyprus itinerary.
The coastline is known for its dramatic white rocks and deep blue water. With a boat, you’ll find a series of smaller coves along the shore. It will feel more authentic than the big resort beaches you’ll find in Paphos or Ayia Napa.
There are proper facilities including sunbeds, umbrellas, cafés and traditional restaurants.
Local Tip: Governor’s Beach is close enough to make a really good pairing with a seafood lunch in Zygi.
Which brings me to…
Zygi Beach
Zygi isn’t just somewhere I’d put on a beach list. I’d put it on a “where should we eat seafood in Cyprus?” list. It’s a small fishing village around a harbor. The area in Zigi is known for its fishing shelter and fresh-fish restaurants. There are numerous fish tavernas around the harbor and Zygi gives a working fishing village feel. So Governor’s Beach + Zygi is two of the spots I would combine for a full Cyprus beach day: Swim > Dry off >Drive to Zygi > Eat seafood.
Kourion Beach
Kourion is a local favorite, low-key, and a good final beach day, which is exactly how we used it. Sunbeds and an umbrella cost the same as Pissouri, around €7.50 for two, and you can pay by card. Head to Chris Blue Beach for the bathrooms and coin showers, and bring a few coins so you can rinse off before you leave.
Kourion Beach is close to the Troodos baking class that Konstantina and her mother Yiota host so could be paired together and you can personally thank her for these lovely recommendations. Think of it, you can pack the olive pies and ladyfingers you baked and eat them on the sand. Because a homemade beach snack tastes better when you make it yourself.
Arminou Beach
This is a recommendation I would never have found on my own as it isn’t something you find while scrolling through the usual Cyprus travel blogs.
This came directly from Konstantina, the daughter of Yiota, the woman who taught us how to make traditional Cypriot pastries in Troodos.
If you’re building a trip around getting away from the resort version of Cyprus, I’d put this beach on your radar too.
Lady’s Mile
Lady’s Mile is a slightly different proposition. It’s one of the beaches we were recommended around Limassol, but it’s more developed than the quieter spots above, despite the road to get here still being unpaved. So while this was also a local recommendation, it’s not exactly a secret for tourists and Konstantina didn’t flag this.
We went to Plage du Soleil for a more relaxed beach club day. (Book your sunbeds ahead if that’s the plan too.)
We had sushi and their small fruit platter, which was not as little as you would imagine and easily was enough for two. The portions are surprisingly generous.
I wouldn’t describe Lady’s Mile as a secret, but just like Konstantina, I would still include it because of how beautiful and relaxing it is and would just say to expect a little more tourist activity than you get at Pissouri or some of the smaller coves.
Petra tou Romiou (Aphrodite’s Rock)
While this beach is popular with tourists, you can’t visit Cyprus and miss stopping at Petra tou Romiou.
This is the iconic pebble beach along the coast between Limassol and Paphos famous for Aphrodite as it’s seen as her birthplace.
There are no rows of sunbeds so you will have to bring what you need. But there is a little shop across the road, which is useful if you need a drink or snack. I would treat Petra tou Romiou like a quick swim or a scenery stop rather than an all-day beach day.
While here there is a local tradition of finding a heart-shaped stones for luck in love. Naturally, I decided to participate and somehow, found one almost immediately. I’m choosing to take it as a sign.
Want to swap the beach for the water? Paphos is just down the coast road, and you can hop on the Glass Majesty shipwreck cruise for your beach/cruise day. This 2-hour cruise has a glass-bottom that stops over the Vera-K shipwreck and unlimited beer, soft drinks, water, and watermelon.
Which Cyprus Beach Should You Choose?
If you want…
| The beach I’d return to: | Pissouri Beach |
| The most dramatic scenery: | Governor’s Beach |
| Beach + seafood: | Governor’s Beach followed by Zygi |
| An easy Limassol beach day: | Lady’s Mile |
| The iconic Cyprus photo: | Aphrodite’s Rock |
| Activity + Beach | Troodos baking class followed by Kourion |
Cyprus Beaches Locals Love (Not Ayia Napa) Summary
These beaches weren’t spots we found by typing “best beaches in Cyprus”. Some were recommendations we picked up while talking to locals.
The best thing we did in Cyprus was hire a car and didn’t follow a strict itinerary. Since we based ourselves in Limassol, we were able to use this as the perfect mid-point in Cyprus to explore the coast, villages and mountains.
When we met locals, we asked one very simple question, “Where do you go?”, opposed to, “Where should tourists go?”. This simple alteration in the question took us to beaches, villages, tavernas and little corners of Cyprus that weren’t on our original itinerary. Best part, these were some of the places I remember most.
If you want the full route we followed including Pissouri, Troodos, Omodos, Nicosia and all the places we squeezed into nine days, read my Cyprus Without the Brits: A 9-Day Local Guide and use my Cyprus Google Map for every location we visited including more tips for each location.
Want to discover where else you can visit in Europe?
See my Travel Guide Section for tips and recommendations for other countries like Italy and Malta. Learn how to get there, where to stay, eat and what to do!
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