Larnaca

Larnaca is the third largest city of Cyprus, just ten minutes away from Larnaca International Airport. Its main street ‘Foinikoudes’ (meaning palm trees), is buzzing with life, the Mackenzie coastal area is the place to to party, dine or enjoy drinks, the newly revamped Tasos Mitsopoulos Avenue is ideal for walks by the sea and the old city centre is full of places to see, visit and discover. In addition, the Dekhelia area, just a few minutes drive away from the city centre, is packed with many hotels and other accommodation options. One thing is for sure, Larnaca, is a lovely holiday destination all year round.

Best Time to visit

The best time to visit Larnaca is from May till June and from September till October. During these two periods, you will find better deals, great weather and great spots on any beach.

July and especially August is high season, so expect high rates, high temperatures, busy beaches, restaurants, bars, clubs and streets.

Places to visit in Larnaca

Built in the Mycenaean age, Larnaca used to be a major kingdom and port, because of its important location in the Mediterranean Sea. You can track down its fascinating history by visiting the city’s major sites and museums. For example, the Ancient Kition location (Kition used to be Larnaca’s name in the ancient times), in the north west of the city, where ruins of temples can be found and the Choirokoitia Neolithic Settlement, 40 minutes drive away. Artefacts from the prehistoric times to the Byzantine era etc., are exhibited in the Pierides Foundation Archaeological Museum and the Archaelogical Museum of the Larnaca District. On the other hand, a must visit is to the magnificent Salt Lake, home to near 85 species of migratory water birds. If you are lucky, during the winter months, you will see flamingos!

Nearby, there is also the Hala Sultan Tekke, one of the most important monuments of the Islamic World. The mosque is built on the tomb of Umm Haram, the Prophet Mohamed’s aunt, who died falling from a horse. Another mosque worth visiting in the city is the Grand Mosque Djami Jebir. Right next to it, at the end of the Foinikoudes Avenue, there is the Larnaca Castle. Built in the 14th century, it is now the home of artefacts from the early Christian Ages until the 19th century. St. Lazarus church (there is also a Byzantine Museum in it), built in the 9th century AD and Phaneromeni Church built around 80 BC, are important monuments in the city. Finally, in Larnaca district there are some beautiful villages you should check out, such as the picturesque Lefkara village, famous for its lace and silver handicrafts and beautiful Kato Drys village.

Finikoudes Promenade

Hala Sultan Tekke

Things to do in Larnaca

Along Foinikoudes avenue and in the Mackenzie area, there are long stretches of beach, where you can sunbathe, swim and of course, do various water sports e.g. stand up paddle boarding ( SUP), water skiing and kite surfing. On the other hand, if you fancy spending your day in the sea, you should visit the Larnaca Marina, located at the beginning of Foinikoudes and get on one of the organised boat trips, that sail around the area or even hire your own private yacht! Mind you, if you are a keen diver, the activity to most definitely put in your calendar, is visiting the Zenobia Wreck Diving Site. This impressive shipwreck, ranked in the world’s top, is about 16 metres deep, and it has many challenges, for both the amateur and the experienced diver.

Furthermore, the sea in Pervolia, Mackenzie, Dhekelia and Phoinikoudes are ideal for scuba diving, snorkelling or even something more relaxed, such as fishing. To fully enjoy the city and its surrounding areas, there are cycling routes you can take for example, the Rizoelia Forest route, the one that starts from the city’s beaches, passes through Hala Sultan Tekke Mosque and ends Meneou village and the Kofinou-Larnaca one. On the other hand, if you prefer, to explore the area on foot, you can take the European Trail E4, that passes from Larnaca and goes through pine forests, mountains and monasteries.

Top Tours & Activities

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All Tours & Activities

Private Diving at Zenobia Wreck

Shopping in Larnaca

Larnaca has many shopping centres and modern boutiques and is famous for purchases like handmade laces, silver work, pottery, jewellery and many more things. You will find most of the shops along the Finikoudes promenade and surrounding streets, from high street and high-end fashion to international fashion brands. Independent jewellers and watchmakers are abundant, particularly along the Ermou Street in the centre.

Time spent shopping for Cyprus souvenirs in Larnaca is always an enjoyable experience, with lots of choice and quality gifts being available. Larnaca is particularly famous for its pottery, with many beautiful ceramics being produced within the historic Turkish Quarter, around the Ak Deniz.

When shopping for ceramics in Larnaca, always take plenty of time to peruse the goods, which will no doubt come in an array of different sizes, styles and prices. And if you choose to buy several pieces of pottery in one go, then the store will often present you with a small gift.

During the summer most shops open at 9:00 or 10:00 in the morning and are open right through until 10:00 or 11:00 in the evening. Have in mind that on Wednesdays some shops close in the afternoons and many shops, like clothing stores, do close on Sundays. Most tourist shops stay open 7 days a week.

During the winter most shops close altogether, and those that are open are working only from 9:00 am until 7:00 pm.

Don’t forget to try some local wines and spirits, and maybe take a bottle or two back home as gifts.

Everyday is a Gift Shop

Orofino jewellery

Best Beaches in
Larnaca

In Larnaca, there are many beaches where you can enjoy the sun and the sea. First and foremost there is the long stretch of beach, along Finikoudes promenade. The water is shallow (as in most beaches in this district), and the sand is dark coloured. Along this beach, there are some fully equipped beach bars where you can lounge and enjoy your drinks, food and snacks. If you would like to combine partying until the late hours and spend some time at the beach, the Mackenzie Area is ideal. Packed with restaurants, cafes and bars, this is the place to swim, sunbathe, see and be seen.

On the other hand, to get some peace and quiet, we recommend driving to more remote beaches near Larnaca. For example, in Pervolia village, there is the Faros beach, located near the lighthouse, then there is the Mazotos beach, the Alaminos beach and the small bay in Agios Theodoros village.

Along the Dhekelia road to the east, you will find Yannathes beach in Voroklini village and further down in Pyla village, the CTO beach and the Dasaki Pylas beach surrounded by trees. Most of those beaches have blue flags, water sports, lifeguards, facilities, sunbeds and lounges for rent.

Finikoudes Beach

Mackenzie Beach

Best Beaches in Larnaca

Explore the best and most popular beaches in Larnaca and nearby areas

Accommodation in Larnaca

Larnaca is a great destination for families and couples because of its many hotel and apartment options. From budget accommodation to 5 star hotels, there’s something for everyone. The main resorts and biggest hotels in Larnaca come complete with their own swimming pools, often offering all-inclusive packages.

There also are plenty of private villas to choose from, in more relaxing and quiet areas, like nearby Dhekelia and Pervolia, often overlooking the Mediterranean. Most villas offer accommodation for a minimum of four guests and can be surprisingly good value for money, especially during the peak season.

If you are looking for holidays during the summer months and you are looking for a great accommodation near a beach, you should book well ahead. Good choices include the Radisson Blu Hotel, the Golden Bay Beach Hotel, the Lordos Beach Hotel & Spa and the Radisson Beach Resort all of which stand alongside Larnaca’s beachfront.

Check our Selected High Rated Hotels at booking.com below or search your stay using the map below showing all Hotels and Holiday Rentals in Larnaca!

Selected Hotels

★★★★★
Radisson Blu Hotel

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★★★★★
Golden Bay Beach
Hotel

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★★★★★
Radisson Beach Resort

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★★★★
Lordos Beach Hotel & Spa

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★★★★
Sun Hall Hotel

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★★★★
The Ciao Stelio Deluxe
Hotel (Adults only)

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★★★★
Sentido Sandy Beach
Hotel & Spa

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★★★★
Hotel Indigo Larnaca
Adults Only

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★★★
Frangiorgio Hotel

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★★★
The Josephine Boutique Hotel

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Places to eat in Larnaca

This is the place of some of the best restaurants in Cyprus. To start with, check out Larnaca’s many fish and seafood restaurants. Most of them are located along the Tasos Mitsopoulos Avenue, although there are quite a few good ones in Dhekelia area and in the coastal villages of the district. If you fancy local food and specialities, good news! In the city of Larnaca you will find some of the best traditional taverns and restaurants on the island. Kebab, sieftalia, halloumi and lountza (cured pork on the grill), slow cooked meat in the plinth oven, roasted vegetables, cracked wheat cooked with tomato sauce, are only a few of the delicacies served in the local taverns in and around the city.

On the other hand, in Larnaca you will also taste excellent Japanese food, Chinese, Lebanese, Italian, fusion cuisine, Greek food, pub food served with a twist and so on. There are many good restaurants along the Phoinikoudes promenade, while it is worth discovering some excellent places in the old town. Furthermore, in the Mackenzie area, a good food scene has developed in the past few years, that you should most definitely check out. Lastly, along the Dhekelia road, you will find some really good places to eat, such as two excellent Indian restaurants.

Bastet Artisan Experience

Voreas Tavern

Top Restaurants

Aldente Cucina Italiana

Italian | Get Directions

To Kazani Traditional Tavern

Cyprus, Greek | Get Directions

Maqam Al Sultan

Lebanese | Get Directions

Bastet Artisan Experience

European, Fusion | Get Directions

Voreas Tavern

Cyprus, Greek | Get Directions

Aldente Cucina Italiana

Italian | Get Directions

To Kazani Traditional Tavern

Cyprus, Greek | Get Directions

Maqam Al Sultan

Lebanese | Get Directions

Bastet Artisan Experience

European, Fusion | Get Directions

Voreas Tavern

Cyprus, Greek | Get Directions

Nightlife in Larnaca

In the past few years, the place to have fun in Larnaca has been the Mackenzie area. There are more than fifteen bars along the promenade and in front of the beach. During the day, most of them operate as beach bars, but during the night, the coloured lights are turned on, the guest DJs start playing their music and as the night progresses, Mackenzie turns into a big party neighbourhood. Especially during the summer months, there are many events taking place in the area, such as live performances from famous Greek bands and singers, DJ sets from world-renowned artists, theme parties and so on.

In the city, especially in the old part, cocktail bars have emerged in the past couple of years that are worth checking out, while if you are a rock music and blues lover, Larnaca has some really good bars that play this kind of tunes and serve a wide array of beers. And of course, along the Phoinikoudes area there are quite a few choices, from an oriental themed bar to pubs and bars that you can have a great time. To just relax and chill out, head to the bars in the outskirts of the city, where you can listen to lounge and deep house music and sip your cocktails and chilled wine a few metres away from the sea.

Ammos Bar