MUSAN in Ayia Napa - museum of underwater sculpture

MUSAN in Ayia Napa is a unique underwater sculpture park. The Cypriot sculpture park, inaugurated in summer 2021, can be seen while diving or snorkelling. Naturally, we were curious and made our way here.

MUSAN in Ayia Napa

It was when we visited Cyprus during a press trip last week that we decided to make a detour from the programme. We wanted to see MUSAN in Ayia Napa - the Museum of Underwater Sculpture. We did, and here we tell you about the adventure. However, our underwater photos were not good, so we have supplemented with some press photos from Visit Cyprus.

MUSAN is located underwater off Ayia Napa, in the eastern part of Cyprus.

An excursion to Ayia Napa

We left our friends at a hotel in the Trodos Mountains and travelled to Ayia Napa by taxi. We spent a night in a fantastic hotel - which we'll tell you more about below - and then made our way to the harbour in Ayia Napa.

The walk down to the harbour was intensely decorated for Christmas. Reindeer, sleighs and elves were crowded with palm trees, while the sun rose and warmed more and more.

Boat trip to visit MUSAN

We had to take a small neon green boat out on the water to find the MUSAN. First we were equipped with wetsuits and other equipment - Peter for diving and me (Helena) for snorkelling. Only Peter has taken a diving course, and I'm also quite shy in water, so diving is definitely not my thing.

Peter's wetsuit was extremely difficult to get on, as it was too small, but the sun was shining and we were excited. Let's go!

Ready for diving and snorkelling at MUSAN

When the time came, Peter got help with the diving equipment and jumped into the water. Unfortunately, that's where his diving adventure ended. After putting on the too tight weight belt, on top of the too tight wetsuit, he found that he couldn't breathe. He got back on the boat and chose to snorkel with me instead. It should be a fun experience, not a hard one.

Instead, we swam together to the buoys, which show where to find the MUSEUM, and snorkelled there to check out the sculpture park from above.

The sculptures are located at a depth of 8-10 metres and the water is generally very clear here, so it is possible to experience the sculptures by snorkelling. We did that too, and it was fascinating to see both figures and twisting "plants" below us. I often say that I like art in natural settings - and this was certainly a way to take the phenomenon one step further!

Unfortunately, dark clouds - and waves - arrived shortly, so visibility was not as good as it usually is. Our slightly muddy underwater photos do not do the park justice at all, so we have borrowed press photos from Visit Cyprus.

MUSAN - Museum of Underwater Sculpture Ayia Napa

The MUSAN Sculpture Park was inaugurated in the summer of 2021 in a festive manner, with the artist, Jason deCaires Taylor, in attendance.

The park resembles a fairytale forest, filled with imaginative trees, playful plants and expressive statues. A truly exciting and different place!

Lunch at Vassos Fish Tavern

After the excursion to the sea, we were of course hungry, and then it was fine with a lunch at the restaurant Vassos in Ayia Napa's harbour. Just when we arrived it was raining so we sat indoors, but when the sun comes out there is a nice outdoor terrace overlooking the harbour.

Here we had a fish meze, that is, a meal with fish. lots of fish-themed appetisers. "Plenty" is no exaggeration - before the meal started, the staff asked us to move to a larger table so that all the plates would fit ...

Cold dishes were served first, then deep-fried dishes, then dishes from the grill and finally stews. Very good! We particularly enjoyed the grilled seabass, mussels in garlic sauce and the super tasty vegetables.

Were we able to eat everything? No, we did not. The staff asked if we wanted to take the leftovers with us in a lunch box. We liked the question but had to decline, and were then told that the leftovers would go to the cats and chickens. Apparently that's what they do in the restaurants here. Happy cats and chickens in other words!

More to see and do in Ayia Napa

There is of course more to see and do in Ayia Napa, for those who wish. First of all, you can of course sunbathe and swim. Nearby you will find Blue Lagoon, Nissi Beach, Landa Beach, Makronissos Beach, Konnos Beach and the beaches of Protaras.

The port of Ayia Napa is also a cosy place to stroll, and serves as a starting point for many different boat excursions.

There are also a number of attractions in the area. For example, you can visit the Ayia Napa Monastery, the WaterWorld theme park or the Cape Greco headland. There is also a sculpture park on land, filled with modern sculptures depicting mythical beasts and ancient gods. However, we found the sculptures below right in the harbour.

AT Herbal Hotel in Ayia Napa

There are many different hotels to choose from in Ayia Napa. We stayed at AT Herbal Hotel, located in Protaras, a quarter of an hour from the centre of Ayia Napa by taxi. This turned out to be a really nice and fresh hotel.

We loved our room, which was very neat and beautifully designed. We especially appreciated the lovely balcony, with a large round "bed" and lovely views of both the pools and the sea.

There is a nice spa at the hotel, with indoor pool, sauna and treatments. There were no treatments for us, but it still felt luxurious to sneak down to the pool before breakfast for a (cooling!) dip.

We had a dinner at the hotel, but were not impressed with the dishes included in the half board. However, we appreciated the breakfast. It is possible that this hotel serves a buffet breakfast during the high season, but now in the low season we had to order from the menu. We each had an omelette and a creamy Greek yoghurt. Good and lovely to have breakfast outdoors!

More to see and do in Cyprus

Ayia Napa is a popular tourist resort, but there are of course many other great places to visit in Cyprus. We can recommend, among other things Pafos, Limassol and Larnaca, as well as attractions such as Kourion and Aphrodite's rock. Moreover, it is exciting and interesting to discover The Cyprus countryside, where you can experience good food, vineyards and cosy villages.

Have you visited MUSAN or Ayia Napa?

Have you experienced MUSAN? Or maybe you have visited Ayia Napa? Please tell us about your experience!

Facts about Musan in Ayia Napa

• Location: In the sea off Ayia Napa
• Country: Cyprus
• Name: MUSAN, which stands for Museum of Underwater Sculpture Ayia Napa.
• Depth: 8-10 metres
• Inauguration: 31 July 2021
• Artist: Jason deCaires Taylor
• Guidelines for visitors: Diving at MUSAN requires a diving licence. For snorkelling there are no special requirements.
• Read more: You can find more information at Underwater Museum website.

Top image in the article: Press photo from Visit Cyprus.