10 Best Things To Do In Larnaca

Larnaca, home of the airport on Cyprus with the most international arrivals, is often overlooked as a place to stay in light of nearby Ayia Napa and Protaras, which offer better beaches and easier access to more beautiful sites. Yet southern seaside Larnaca is worth a stop with beaches of its own and several interesting things to see and do. Even if you don’t stay here, it’s worth a stop, even if just for a few hours, for the sites and to see some of the local charm this city has retained due to less tourism. This post covers the 10 best things to see and do in Larnaca, Cyprus.

But first, a few interesting facts on Larnaca’s history that are noteworthy. First, it’s the oldest town in Cyprus, continuously inhabited for more than 4 thousand years. Very few cities can boast this. Second, in the 13th century BC, this was the city-kingdom of Kition. According to the New Testament, the city got its name after Noah’s grandson, Kitim, who founded it. This really surprised me. After this, the city grew and prospered for many centuries under the rule of many, including the Phoenicians, Egyptians, Romans, Venetians, Ottomans, and English, until finally gaining independence. A fascinating crossroads of many cultures.

10 Best Things To Do In Larnaca

If you visit Larnaca as a day trip, the first 5 of the best things to do in Larnaca (below) can easily be done in a few hours. These 5 sites are all within a relatively short walking distance from each other. Or stay a day or two to see them all.

Stroll The Beachside Promenade

The palm tree-lined, beachside promenade in Larnaca, runs from the marina, to Larnaca Castle and beyond, all the way to Mackenzie Beach, closer to the airport. It’s the perfect place for a daytime stroll to see the area, watch beachgoers, enjoy the sun yourself, or enjoy some ice cream.

In Old Town Larnaca, at Finikoudes Beach, the promenade runs along the main street where Larnaca airport buses stop and intercity buses come and go. This makes it super easy to make a short stop here to see the sites between buses. If you’re staying longer than a few hours, this promenade is the place to be at night, known for its beach parties after the sun goes down.

Enjoy Finikoudes Beach

Finikoudes is the beach near the center of Old Town. It offers a long stretch of dark sand, clear water, and calm seas. With a range of cafes, restaurants, bars, shops, and hotels nearby, this is a great beach for families and people of all ages.

It gets is name from the palm trees that line the promenade here, as finikas means “palm” in Greek.

As with most beaches in Cyprus, lounge chairs and umbrellas for are available for rent.

See Larnaca Castle

Located across from Finikoudes Beach, on its southern end, is Larnaca Castle, one of the top tourist sites here. The fortress standing today was built in the 16th century by the Ottomans. The fortress before this was built by Lusignan King Iakov I in the 14th. Prior to this there were other historical fortifications here, dating back to the time this harbor was the main port of Cyprus.

The castle fell into disuse in the 18th century, and was abandoned after Cyprus gained its Independence in 1959. It is now a tourist attraction, with the Larnaca Medieval Museum on its second floor. This museum showcases antiques and artifacts from the 4th to 19th century.

In summer, the castle courtyard is an open air theater for a variety of cultural venues.

Explore Old Town Larnaca

The Old Town of Larnaca, also called the Turkish Quarter, is just across from Finikoudes Beach. It offers rows of charming old buildings filled with amenities for tourists: cafes, restaurants, bars, souvenir shops, and beachwear.

It has a friendly, laid back feel, so you won’t feel pressured to purchase anything. If it’s a hot day, this is the perfect place to find some shade.

Visit Saint Lazarus Church, or Ayios Lazarus

This historic Greek Orthadox church, Ayios Lazarus, is located about a 5-minute walk from Finikoudes Beach. It’s picturesque, both inside and out, with delicate chandeliers hanging in old brick arches and detailed, guilded architectural details.

Built in the 9th century, it’s named after Lazarus of Bethany, who, according to the New Testament, was raised from the dead by Jesus. He reportedly fled here to Cyprus later in his life, where he was anointed as the first Bishop of Kition (now Larnaca). He went on to live here 30 more years. This church was reportedly built over his second tomb.

On Lazarus Saturday (eight days before Easter), there is a procession honoring him, with the icon of Saint Lazarus taken through the streets of Larnaca.

Visit Mackenzie Beach

Another popular beach in Larnaca is Mackenzie Beach, on the southern end of the promenade, closer to the airport. Also a dark sand beach, during the day there are plenty of families and younger crowds, while at night, this is a clubbing destination, mostly for the young.

There are also plenty of cafes, restaurants, and bars, making this a vibrant place to enjoy the sun. And as with most beaches on Cyprus, there are lounge chairs and umbrellas for rent.

Since this beach is close to the airport, you’ll see planes flying overhead, which gives it a very unique feel.

Enjoy Larnaca’s Nightlife

Although not equal to the best party city in Cyprus, Ayia Napa, the beach parties in Larnaca (at Finikoudes and Mackenzie) are lively, attracting a variety of people, in a variety of dress, to party until late. As mentioned above, however, the clubbing scene at a Mackenzie beach is mostly for the young crowd. Both beaches have plenty of clubs and cocktail bars nearby as well.

Kamares Aqueduct

The Kamares aqueduct, with its 75 arches, is located about a 10-minute drive west of Larnaca Old Town. Although no longer in use today, it was built in the 18th century under Ottoman rule.

See Larnaca Salt Lake

There are actually multiple interconnected lakes here. They are most famous for the flocks of colorful flamingos that feed off the shrimp and brine here in winter, plus a variety of other birds.

This lake is located along the main road to Larnaca airport, so if you’re flying into this airport, it will probably be the first thing you see when you arrive. The Salt Lake, however, often dries out in the summer, leaving only a crispy, salt pan.

The salt from this lake was once a major export of Cyprus, however its export became too cost prohibitive.

See Hala Sultan Tekke

Hala Sultan Tekke, or the Mosque of Umm Haram sits on the West Bank of Larnaca Salt Lake. This peaceful mosque serves as a shrine to Umm Haram, foster-mother of Mohammed, whose tomb is reportedly under the mosque. Because of this, this Mosque is an important pilgrimage site for Muslims.

This Mosque is located about 3-4 miles (6 km) from Larnaca on the western edge of Salt Lake.

Want To Learn More About Cyprus?

Cyprus, the third largest island in the Mediterranean, offers a variety of beautiful beaches, intersting history, fascinating ruins, and lovely landscape.

To see all the highlights of this unique island, it’s best to rent a car and zoom around to see the highlights in Ayia Napa, Nicosia, Larnaca, Limassol, Paphos, Protaras, and nearby scenic areas. I’ve listed them all in one place in Top Tourist Attractions of Cyprus.

I also created a Travel Guide for Cyprus to see the highlights, as well as how to get around, safety, visa issues, money matters, and more.