Gay Cyprus: the complete travel guide for LGBTQ travelers

What's the best part of Cyprus? Us! Cypr-“us”… get it? Ok, sorry, that was bad…

As the humble Greek/Cypriot part of your favorite duo, it gives me immense pleasure to gush all about the marvels of traveling this island. It’s a land of superb beaches, old buildings, seaside restaurants, delicious food, tons of mythological sites, and gorgeous people – if I may say so myself! 

Gay life has been quite a challenge for local Cypriots, but it is slowly evolving, becoming more and more vivacious with each passing generation. When it comes to gay parties and festivals, Cyprus is no Tel Aviv or Mykonos, but it’s still a huge draw for LGBTQ travelers and couples.

Cyprus is the third-largest island in the Mediterranean, located south of Turkey and close to Greece. It has a politically chequered past, with the nation being divided between the occupied North and the Republic of Cyprus in the South following a military coup by Turkey in 1974. Please read my story about how my family fled the Varosi Ghosttown of Famagusta to get an idea of the history.

In our gay travel guide, we will focus on the Greek Cypriot part of the island, located in the south.

LGBTQ+ rights in Cyprus

The lingering presence of the Greek Orthodox Church has meant that many people in Cyprus hold very conservative attitudes. The LGBTQ rights of Cyprus are quite progressive, on par with Greece and Italy, but still behind the rest of Western Europe. For example, gay marriage is still not law, but civil unions have been allowed since 2015, although these don’t provide the same rights and legal protections as marriage.

Since Cyprus joined the EU in 2004, the country's acceptance rate for its LGBTQ community has improved massively. They’ve introduced a robust set of anti-discrimination laws, which includes a ban on LGBTQ discrimination in employment. And in 2017, the Ministry of Education started an initiative coined “HOMBAT = Combating Homophobic and Transphobic Bullying at Schools”, which aims to train teachers to be more aware of bullying.

Accept is the leading LGBTQ-rights organization in Cyprus that does amazing work in progressing the rights of gay Cypriots, including putting together the annual Cyprus Pride parade. All their upcoming activity can be checked out via their Facebook page.

Look out for the BEAUTIFUL United By Pride march in September. LGBTQ+ communities from both sides rally through the streets of Nicosia – the Greek Cypriots in the South, Turkish Cypriots in the North. Then the two meet and join together at the Ledra Palace Hotel UN Buffer Zone, where they tie together the two rainbow flags in a remarkable show of unity. Find out more by watching our reel about the United By Pride event.

Is Cyprus safe for gay travelers?

Despite strong conservative views, Cypriots love welcoming foreigners. Hospitality is a big deal in Cypriot culture, so you can expect to be treated well when you visit, regardless of whether you’re straight or gay.

The good news is that gay culture is growing – and pretty fast! Several places like Paphos, Limassol, Larnaca, and Nicosia have a few gay bars/clubs. There are also 3 unofficial gay beaches on the island to check out.

The annual gay Cyprus Pride event in June/July in Nicosia has proven to be a massive success since starting, each year growing bigger and better since its inception in 2014 (canceled in 2020/2021 due to Covid). Organizers of Cyprus Pride had originally expected a strong pushback from right-wing groups but were gobsmacked when they received nothing but a warm embrace from locals.

The one thing we would say is that when it comes to PDA, it’s best to keep this to a minimum unless you're in queer-friendly spots, particularly in more rural areas.

Is there a gay scene in Cyprus?

There is no specific gay area or ‘gay village' in Cyprus for the very simple reason that it has a tiny population of around 800,000. There are, however, a handful of gay scenes to check out across the big cities – Nicosia, Limassol, Paphos, and Larnaca, which we’ve set out below.

There are also an impressive 3 gay beaches on the island worth checking out – one in Ayia Napa, another between Limassol and Larnaca, and the third between Limassol and Paphos – more on this below.

Look out for the occasional private gay parties that happen, which are usually spread by word of mouth. The most common is the gay boat party that happens several times in the summer months, organized by the owner of Lube Bar in Larnaca. Check the Lube Bar Facebook page for the latest info.

Are there any gay hotels in Cyprus?

Whilst there are no outright gay hotels in Cyprus like you'd find in Fort Lauderdale and Key West, there are a whole bunch of local and boutique hotels. Each of the hotels spots on our list below are places we’ve tried, tested, and loved – that were not only gay friendly but also had that extra je ne sais quoi that completely captivated us…

The gay scene across Cyprus is, at present, like a baby flower. It’s small, dainty, and a bit meek, but honey, a beautiful thing is about to emerge! As public acceptance evolves, gay spaces in Cyprus are beginning to flourish at a higher rate than ever before. Across almost all the main cities, you are close toat least one gay hangout. We've summarized them all below:

Are there any gay beaches in Cyprus?

We have 3! Although they are quite secluded and mainly rocky.

Kermia Gay Beach in Ayia Napa

Ayia Napa is a favorite for tourists. The white sands and shining blue waters are truly irresistible for holidaymakers. But unbeknownst to the majority of travelers, a gay portion of the beach lies tucked away…*it’s our furry pink secret*! Locally, we call it “Kermia Beach” because it’s close to the Kermia Beach Bungalows. It's not a sandy beach, so be prepared. You’ll need to climb the rocks to reach it, so wear shoes or flip-flops rather than going barefoot.

To reach the Kermia gay beach, add the following coordinates to your GPS: 34.973000, 34.033167. This takes you to the car park. Note, there is a direct link to the car park from the main road, but Google Maps doesn’t quite pick up on this. From the car park, walk straight towards the sea over the rocky terrain, right to the edge cliff, then down below you’ll spot the gay area.

Heads up, from the car park, as you view the sea, head left for a few minutes, and the bush area is a popular cruising area.

Also, from the car park, facing the sea, walk towards the right along the park, and you'll notice this sign for a Nudist Beach.

This area attracts mixed couples, but when I've been it's mainly gay men here.

From the path, you'll need to scootch over some rocks in the direction of the sea. You'll notice another sign here showing NUDIST BEACH. This section of the sea is a cool spot to head for a more intimate moment with your special someone, especially at sunset 🙂

Pissouri gay beach near Paphos

Pissouri is located just outside of Paphos towards Limassol. It’s a long stretch of sand – one end of it is the unofficial nude area where both straight and gay couples congregate. The bit right at the end of this is the gay bit. It’s a bit of a trek, but as a result, it’s secluded.

To reach Pissouri gay beach, add the following coordinates to your GPS: 34.6482630, 32.7352600. This is the actual location of the gay beach. To reach it, drop your car at this location in your GPS: MP2F+6QP, Pissouri 4607, Cyprus. From here, walk down to the beach and walk East (ie, left) until you reach a load of rocks. Climb over these and keep walking along. You’ll first reach the general nudist area – keep walking beyond this (climbing around a few more rocks), and you’ll eventually arrive at the gay area.

Governor’s Gay Beach near Limassol

Located a 20-minute drive from Limassol (towards Larnaca) is Governor’s Beach. It’s right on the border between the Limassol and Larnaca regions, which has a mix of beaches and coves, most of which are served by a restaurant or beach bar. 

To get to the gay area of Governor’s Beach, use the restaurant area of Governor’s Beach as a point of reference. Leave your car here, then walk down to the beach and head west side (i.e., on the right) towards the quayside until you hit the “Aspra Vrahia” (White Rocks). The gay beach is beyond those rocks. Put this address in your GPS to get a more precise location: P743+78, Pentakomo 4528.

When is gay Pride in Cyprus?

Rising from the ashes of a once ultra-conservative country, Cyprus Pride has grown in popularity since its inception in 2014. Government-supported, star-studded, and socially adored, you can’t help but get caught up in the magic when Pride comes to the Cypriot city of Nicosia.

Accept, the country’s national LGBTQ-rights organization, has run the festival each year. They put together a massive parade route through the city every June/July (except the Covid-affected years of 2020/2021), in which a variety of groups participate. 

A few famous faces, like Anna Vissi and Eleni Foureira, have been known to pop up for a singsong, to honor their queer fandom. It’s a fun-filled, campy day out for all. Check out the Pride’s Facebook page to see what events are happening this year, and don't forget to read our post about experiencing Cyprus Pride!

Are there any gay saunas in Cyprus?

There are currently no active gay saunas in Cyprus. The Vinci Sauna in Larnaca was the only gay sauna in Cyprus but has been temporarily closed since Covid-19 hit. In any case, the gay sauna scene in Cyprus has been slowly disappearing over the past decade due to the rise in the popularity of gay dating apps.

There are, however, many popular cruising grounds in Cyprus, mainly in and around the gay beaches which we mentioned above.

What are the best restaurants in Cyprus?

If you’re going to Cyprus, having ‘mezedes' in an authentic village taverna is the way to go. “Mezedes” or “meze” is like tapas – lots of small local dishes served in large quantities. It’s the best way to get a flavor of the local food. Across the island, there are a bountiful number of excellent tavernas to try. These are some of the ones that we loved the most.

Heads up: if heading to any of these during the peak months of July/August, especially on weekends, make sure you call ahead to book a table!

• Mousikos Tavern in Sotira village: super traditional local village restaurant. Their meat meze is worth ordering. The highlight is their halloumi – trust me!
• Old Simos Tavern in Sotira village: located next door to Mousikos. Come here if Mousikos is fully booked, although recently, we locals argue that Old Simos is better than Mousikos. Try both and let us know what you think.
• Agios Epiktitos in Limassol: super romantic – the views over Limassol are impressive. As is the food, especially the meat meze.
• Piatsa Gourounaki in Nicosia: it's a famous chain, but our favorite branch is in the Old Town close to the Ledra Street crossing. The meat is really good, and it's super affordable.
• Vassos Psarolimano in Agia Napa: a very popular fish restaurant with both locals and tourists. It's right by the harbor, so I recommend calling ahead to book a table outside close to the sea for the best views.

What are the best things to do in Cyprus?

The #1 thing to do in Cyprus is to get your sweet dose of Vitamin Sea! Cyprus has some of the best beaches in Europe, especially the eastern side of the island around Ayia Napa. Thanks to its location in the southeast Mediterranean Sea, Cyprus has an incredible climate almost throughout the year. Beyond the beaches, be sure to also check out the mountain villages, many of them famous for their vineyards. We've put a summary of all this and more of our favorite highlights of Cyprus right here:

Practical tips to plan your trip to Cyprus

Gay map of Cyprus

We've put together our very own gay map of Cyprus. Our pleasure 🙂

Read more travel adventures like this in our book!

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