Fig tree Beach

Fig Tree Beach: the most famous beach

Fig Tree Beach in Protaras is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in Cyprus. It often appears on lists of the world’s best beaches and offers ideal conditions for swimming, sunbathing and water sports.

With fine sand, a beautiful sea colour and a gradually sloping bottom, it is just like other beaches in the area. Thanks to this, the beach is very popular with tourists, which makes it quite crowded.

Fig Tree was pretty full, and since there are many similar beaches in the area with fewer visitors, we decided to go elsewhere after three hours. Even the kids didn’t like the fact that there were people all around them.

Fig Tree Beach and its beauty

Fig Tree Bay is a beach lover’s paradise. With its fine golden sand and clear waters, the bay is an invitation to swim. Additionally, the natural setting is complemented by the fig tree that gives the beach its name, which provides some shade on an otherwise sun-drenched beach. Furthermore, the calm sea makes it ideal for families with young children. However, for those with active children like us, it can be a challenge. Due to the increased number of visitors, some of the usual beach games have become difficult to enjoy.

Covering a length of approximately 500 metres, the beach offers spectacular views of a small island just off the coast, with most of the way on foot. Surrounding nature and gentle slopes create a picture-postcard scenery.

Fig Tree Beach is fully organized

On the beach you will find everything you need for a comfortable day in the sun. There are restaurants, beach bars with refreshing drinks and sun loungers for rent. Surrounding the beach are supermarkets where you can buy an inflatable for €30 (in comparison, it costs €12 at Coral Beach or other beaches in the south-west).

Fig Tree Bay’s shady side

Like Nissi Beach, Fig Tree Bay has also fallen victim to its popularity. It is often crowded, especially during the peak tourist season. Finding a free spot can be a problem, even on the unorganized stretches. Around noon you usually won’t find any available umbrellas anymore. As the water is shallow and warm, most people just sit or swim in it. However, this means that if you want to go for a swim, you have to zigzag between people and their stuff. Kind of like the crowded beaches in Italy during August.

Parking around the beach can be problematic as parking spaces are scarce and fill up quickly. We prefer quieter beaches, so Fig Tree Bay seemed too hectic and commercial to us. However, Cyprus offers some nicer places.

How to get here

Fig Tree Bay is easily accessible by public transport. From the centre of Protaras, bus line 102 takes you directly to the beach in a few minutes. You can get here by bus from Larnaca, but the journey takes longer. If you arrive by car and are lucky, there are a few free car parks behind the beach, but these are small and fill up quickly. We arrived around 10:00 and managed to find the last free spot.

Other beaches in the area

Twenty minutes’ walk south lies the beautiful, lesser-known beach of Παραλία Βυζακιά and Nisia Loumbardi Beach. These beaches are a paradise and also fully organised. A ten-minute drive will take you to Konnos Beach, where you can swim with the turtles. You won’t find resorts on these beaches, just smaller apartments, so these places provide a haven for locals and tourists looking for quieter places to enjoy nature.

Protaras is an ideal base for a trip to Famagusta or the former capital of Cyprus, Salamis.