Protaras is a quiet and charming resort town with beautiful beaches, crystal-clear waters, and excellent hotels, making it an ideal destination for families. If you’re planning a family vacation in Cyprus, Protaras offers the perfect combination of relaxation, convenience, and plenty of activities for children.
Why Choose Protaras for a Family Vacation?
One of the biggest advantages of a family holiday in Protaras is the selection of excellent all-inclusive hotels. These resorts allow parents to relax while kids enjoy pools, water slides, entertainment programs, and animation teams that keep them engaged all day. We’ve had vacations where we hardly left the hotel, making the most of everything it had to offer—from beautiful pools to excellent restaurants catering to all ages.
However, if you’re looking for more action and variety, plenty of attractions and activities outside the hotel will elevate your family vacation. Child-friendly beaches with shallow, calm waters—such as Fig Tree Bay, Green Bay Beach, and Kalamies Beach—are perfect for a day of sand play and snorkeling.
Additionally, water sports centers offer a range of fun experiences for the whole family, including kayaking, inflatable tubes, banana boats, snorkeling, and diving in stunning locations. You can also take a family glass-bottom boat tour, allowing you to observe marine life without getting wet.
If you’d like to explore beyond Protaras, Ayia Napa is just a 20-minute drive away and offers a variety of family-friendly activities. The WaterWorld water park, an amusement park with rides for all ages, and an impressive aquarium are just some of the attractions available.
Where to Stay in Protaras?
Still undecided about accommodation? I’ve written a detailed post about recommended hotels in Protaras, which can help you find the perfect place for your next holiday.
Cruise with mermaids to the Blue Lagoon
A 3-decker yacht cruise departing from Protaras and arriving at the Blue Lagoon in Ayia Napa. The cruise starts with a story time with a fairy and a pirate and when you reach the blue lagoon you meet two mermaids. You swim with them in the water and after that you can talk to them, take pictures with them and hug them on the deck of the yacht. There is also face painting and a mini disco. The cruise’s Facebook page.
The Protaras Promenade
The promenade of Protaras is a perfect place for a relaxing walk by the sea. It stretches along the coastline, with paved paths, benches, and scenic viewpoints. Along the way, you’ll find a variety of restaurants, cafes, and bars where you can stop for a nice meal or a cold drink with a sea view. Whether you’re looking for a delicious breakfast, ice cream for the kids, or a cocktail for the parents at sunset – there’s something for everyone.
We always bring the girls’ scooters with us so they can have fun and burn off energy while we enjoy the stroll. The wide and convenient paths make it a safe experience for children, even for bike riders or strollers.
We loved that the exit from the Louis Althea hotel led directly to the beach and promenade, and in fact, there are many hotels along the promenade.
Agioi Saranta Cave Church in Protaras
It was featured in MailOnline UK’s Travel News section as one of the strangest churches to visit in the world. Arrival instructions. We went there together with Maya and Sophie and we really enjoyed the place. It’s a really quiet place at about a ten-minute drive from the hotel. There is a short climb up the stairs to the church. Maya really enjoyed exploring the church inside the mountain and the view there was lovely. There is a bench outside the cave that is just nice to sit on and enjoy the peace and beauty that can be seen from it. After that we liked taking a little walk outside the cave. I think this is a nice activity for children and adults.
Snorkeling and Diving in Protaras
Protaras is known for its crystal-clear waters, making it a perfect destination for snorkeling and diving, even with children. There are several ideal beaches for this experience, such as Fig Tree and Green Bay, where you can swim among colorful fish and enjoy stunning underwater views. There are also diving centers that offer guided experiences, including introductory dives for children aged 8 and up.
Recommended Family Beaches in Protaras
One of the most popular family-friendly beaches is Fig Tree Beach, which offers shallow, clear water, lifeguard services, and convenient amenities like sunbeds and nearby restaurants. Another beach perfect for families is Vrissiana Beach, located near the central promenade, with easy access, calm water, and plenty of restaurants and shops nearby. For those who prefer a quieter beach, Pernera Beach is a great option with calm waters and opportunities for fun water activities. Kalamies Beach, located near a small fishing harbor, is an intimate and peaceful beach with exceptionally calm waters and an excellent restaurant nearby. If you’re looking for a beach suitable for snorkeling with kids, Green Bay Beach is a perfect choice, with clear waters and the chance to see colorful fish even at shallow depths. All these beaches offer an ideal beach experience for families, with safe conditions, a pleasant atmosphere, and leisure options suitable for all ages.
Dancing fountains in Protaras
Fountain show with lights and music at 21:00 in Protaras. The show also combines a laser and fire show.
If the day is windy, it is recommended not to sit with small children in rows 1-3 because the water may splash on you. You should arrive about half an hour before the start of the show.
Buying tickets for the dancing fountains in Protaras
Luna Park in Protaras
This Luna Park is really cute and though it is smaller than the amusement park in Ayia Napa, I think it has enough facilities for the children. If you have children aged 2-7, then it is completely enough to just go to the amusement park in Protaras and you don’t need to go to Ayia Napa. But for ages 7+, Ayia Napa is better.
The amusement park has a giant wheel, roller coasters for children and adults, a horse carousel, a trampoline for high jumping, and more. Each facility costs between 2-4 tokens. 12 tokens cost 10 euros. We spent an average of 30 euros on the two girls (Maya four-and-a-half-years-old and Sophie almost two). There are several food and drink stalls there. Directions.
A restaurant in Protaras that is suitable for children
The truth is that this is a section where I have almost no recommendations because we have always stayed at all-inclusive hotels that have excellent food, so we’ve only wanted to eat at the hotel. The only restaurant we have been to is the Doma restaurant, which was a three-minute drive from Louis Elias Hotel and it turned out to be an excellent choice.
I’ll start with the fact that there is a small playground there, which is already excellent for those who come to the restaurant with children. In addition to this, the service was one of the best we’ve received in Cyprus. A fast and kind service and Maya was given a free ice cream and watermelon dessert.
We ordered a mussel dish and an avocado shrimp salad, which were really delicious. In short, a restaurant with good food and great service, so I definitely recommend it warmly.
In conclusion, Protaras is an excellent destination for a family vacation, as well as for couples. It is beautiful and calm, with stunning beaches and good hotels. And it is just a short drive from the livelier Ayia Napa, so those who want a little more action can easily combine the two destinations.
Hope my post helped you. If so, I would very much like you to respond here in the comments, and if you have any more questions, you are also welcome to ask them there or write to me on the blog’s social networks: Facebook and Instagram.
Looking for more information about Protaras? I have more posts about Protaras and posts about Cyprus on my blog.
Pin below to save on Pinterest
More posts I wrote on that
Things to do in Protaras, Cyprus – The ultimate guide to the charming Town
Things to Do in Paphos: What You Shouldn’t Miss
Limassol for Families: Things to Do in Limassol with Kids
Village of Pano Lefkara in Cyprus: a magical family vacation
A picturesque village in Cyprus: Kalavasos
Recommended hotels in Protaras, Cyprus
Our top restaurants and bars in Larnaca
Awesome things to do in Bucharest