Larnaca is a great, modern, summertime destination for those taking flights to Cyprus on the lookout for fun, sun and sand. Despite its recent rise as a place to relax in the Mediterranean, Larnaca has a long and prestigious history, stretching back centuries. The town has many attractions from ancient times that visitors will find of interest should you tire of lazing around on the beach or enjoying the cool, blue seas surrounding the island.
Larnaca’s attractions
- Grand Mosque, 16th century building that is still used today.
- Archaeological Museum, houses a collection of prehistoric and Roman finds.
- Larnaca Fort Museum, interesting exhibitions and great views of the area.
- Larnaca Marina where you can book trips and cruises around the coastline.
- Museum of Natural History is a small local museum located in the pleasant Municipal gardens and details Cyprus’s wild life and its numerous plant life.
- Palm Tree Promenade, is a tree lined street that is teeming with tourist bars, restaurants and shops.
- Great Salt Lake, this is especially worth a visit in the summer when thousands of pink flamingos flock here.
- St Lazarus Church, said to have been built on the tomb of the original, biblical character raised from the dead by Jesus.
Beach-life
Cyprus is renowned for its beach life and seafront entertainment and Larnaca is no different, it has some beautiful beaches with plenty of activities in which visitors can take part. Diving is one of the most popular things to do and such attractions as the wreck of the 1980’s cargo ship, the Zenobia always rates highly.
Finikoudes Beach is the main seafront destination for sun and sand worshippers; here you will find a great selection of restaurants, lots of sea fun and expanses of gorgeous sand and shallow waters where you can laze about in the sun or enjoy yourself splashing about.
Nightlife
Larnaca’s reputation for putting on a party has been enhanced in recent years and you are guaranteed to find a bar, club or beach party to suit your taste. The Strip and the promenade are two of the favourite destinations with clubbers, locals preferring the more sedate surroundings of the Promenade, while visitors tend to choose the buzzing bars, clubs and pubs of the Strip, on the northeast of the city.
Walking tours
The Larnaca tourist board organises daily, free, guided tours around the town and this provides a great opportunity to discover the attractions, galleries and local craftsmen. The guides provide an enthusiastic and interesting account of the area and are a great source of local information, be it historic or travel related.
Larnaca makes a great seaside resort destination with boundless entertainment or simple beach relaxation. The area normally has gorgeous warm weather most of the year and is extremely popular during the summer months.
Our guest author, Robert Gear, is a freelance writer who offers tips and advice for travelers. For more information on travelling to Larnaca or flights to Cyprus, seeing the corresponding detail pages.
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Don't forget to visit the Cornaro Institute, near St Lazarus Cathedral. It is an arts centre, with contemporary artists studios, art gallery and cafe, and they often hold talks on art there. And it's free.