What makes it great
Impressive city: Much like Paphos, Larnaca is a lovely city which has beautiful sights around almost every corner. Within the city you’ll see ancient temples, 13th century BC ruins, Byzantine churches and charming municipal gardens. You could even see the otherworldly evaporated salt lakes that now have only salt crystals left behind.
Conveniently close to everything: As the city of Larnaca is close to the major Larnaca airport, transfer times are often under 15 minutes. And staying in Larnaca is just as convenient if you fancy a few nights out in lively Ayia Napa or Protaras – they’re only an hour away by car.
Sights worth seeing
Kitium: Larnaca was originally named Kitium or Kition in ancient times and this site is certainly the most interesting of all the ruins in Cyprus. That’s largely because of their age – some of the remains of the temples here date back to the 13th century BC, making them over 3,000 years old! You’ll be able to see the ruins of the famous giant Cyclopean walls which were created by the Mycenaean Greeks all that time ago.
Fort of Larnaca: This rectangular fort was built by the Turkish in 1625. It was primarily created as a means of defence for Larnaca, which lies close to the sea and is therefore open to attacks and piracy. Nowadays however, it’s used for much more sedate purposes, with an interesting museum and pleasant open-air garden inside.
The Church of Lazarus: This beautifully ornate church has a long and illustrious history dating back to 890 AD. The body of St Lazarus was missing for hundreds of years until a tomb was found on this site with his named inscription. It was after this discovery that it was decided to build a church here, where St Lazarus’ body is now held in a marble sarcophagus surrounded by glistening golden decorations and ornaments.
Things to do
Camel Park: Only 15 minutes from the centre, this fun park makes the perfect day out on family holidays. The highlight of the park is obviously the camel rides – children will love the excitement of riding on these unusual desert animals. There’s also a swimming pool, a playground and an open zoo with goats, donkeys and even ostriches that you can feed by hand.
Larnaca Salt Lake: Close to the beautiful Islamic shrine Hala Sultan Tekkesi, this majestic mirror-like salt lake is awash with water in the winter, but then evaporates during the hot dry summer months. The result is a pure white lake of rock salt which is stunning to see amongst the arid dusky brown landscape.
Palaeontology Museum: If you think all museums are dour, boring places, then this palaeontology museum in Cyprus will make you think again! Inside there are amazing fossils which are up to 500 million years old, as well as exhibits of extinct animals including pygmy elephants which used to roam on Cyprus.
Beaches
Phoinikoudes Beach: This pleasant beach is very centrally located, and follows a clean promenade of the same name. The Blue Flag status of the beach means you can be sure it’s kept clean and safe at all times. Being the most conveniently placed beach in Larnaca, it can often get busy in the summer months, but the large expanse of sand should still be enough for you to find a good sunbathing spot.
McKenzie Beach: Another beach in Larnaca which has been awarded Blue Flag status. Luckily, this one’s a little quieter too as it’s on the outer edge of town, near to Larnaca airport. The sand is just as good though, and you’ll appreciate the whirlpool warm water with calm waves.
Yanathes Beach: This inviting golden beach is based in Oroklini, a quiet little village based 8km north of Larnaca. It’s actually worth your while taking a quick tour of the area itself, as it’s quite a charming resort in its own right. There is a good selection of restaurants and pubs as well as some amazing views if you venture to the top of Oroklini Hill. The beach is well facilitated with showers, toilets and many water sports activities available.
Tasty places
Art Cafe 1900: This quirky combined restaurant and bar has walls literally covered from top to bottom in paintings and newspaper clippings. It’s understandable then, that the owners are artists themselves! At your table you can listen to the soothing sounds of jazz whilst eating delights such as lamb with spinach and lemon, and a huge variety of wines and cheeses.
Militzis: A great place to go if you fancy some authentic Cypriot cuisine. Juicy slow-cooked lamb and beef are served here, as well as tasty vegetarian dishes such as bulgur wheat and grilled halloumi. The set menu also represents fantastically good value too.
Campanario: An excellent steakhouse with a distinctly Italian-sounding name! When you’re here it’s best to try their speciality – juicy flame-grilled steak served with a range of butters and sauces.
Nightlife
Traditional drinks: While certainly not as lively as nearby Ayia Napa, Larnaca has a good selection of pubs and clubs, some of them British-based and some of the traditional type. One of the best with an authentic Cypriot character is Moti Mahal – inside it’s like a cosy wooden cavern softly with candles. There’s also the Savino Cocktail Bar, which has a quaint traditional village style on the exterior and interior. In complete contrast, there are some stylish modern clubs and bars too, like Corridor Club and Scaliano. All the action is centred on Laiki Yeitona near the seaside promenade. Of course, if you prefer your nightlife even livelier you could head to Ayia Napa, one of the biggest clubbing capitals in Europe. It’s only about an hour away by taxi.
Shopping
Markets and boutiques: Being a large city, Larnaca has plenty of choice whether you’re looking for market bargains or designer boutiques. If you’re after famous fashion labels like Cavalli, DNKY and Dolce & Gabanna you’d be best off heading to Ermou Street. Although funnily enough, you’ll also find a lively market at the end of this street too! The stalls here sell all kinds of things, from fresh fruit and vegetables to cheap clothes and bargain electrical items. The centre of town also seems to specialise in jewellery, and you can’t fail to be taken in by the glittering, elegant designs of shops such as Charalambous and OroFino. They’ll make the perfect gift for bringing back home from holidays in Larnaca.
