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Is Larnaca worth visiting beyond the airport? Yes. It has thousands of flamingos on the salt lake in winter, one of the best wreck dives in the world offshore, and a seafront built for walking.
Most visitors see it for twenty minutes on the way out of the airport, which is a mistake.
Staying a night or two? Browse Larnaca hotels and rates on Booking.com or see what Vio offers for the same dates.
Larnaca at a Glance
- Best for: Divers, birdwatchers and a real Cypriot city.
- Best part: The salt lake in winter, and the Zenobia wreck.
- Weakest part: The city beach, which is dark sand and average.
- Airport: Around ten minutes from the centre.
How Do You Get to Larnaca?
Larnaca has the island’s main airport, around ten minutes from the centre, so a taxi or transfer into town is short. The official tariff has no figure for Larnaca itself, so agree the price before you get in. Our Larnaca Airport review covers what to expect inside. A private transfer with GetTransfer fixes the price in advance.
From here, Nicosia is 40 to 50 minutes and Paphos around an hour and a half. Limassol is about 45 to 60 minutes, and the official taxi tariff for the 70 km is 54.52 euro by day and 63.86 euro at night. Ayia Napa is roughly 40 minutes, and the tariff to Ayia Napa Nissi is 42.26 euro by day and 49.58 euro at night. If you plan to explore, compare hire cars on DiscoverCars. Our guide to getting around Cyprus covers buses and taxis.
Is the Salt Lake Worth Seeing?
It is the main reason to come, and it looks completely different depending on when you do. From November to March it fills with winter rain and thousands of flamingos arrive, along with a substantial range of other migratory birds.
By late summer it has dried to a white salt crust, which is its own kind of strange. A flat 4km path runs around it, and it sits five minutes from the airport.
What Is Hala Sultan Tekke?
A mosque on the shore of the salt lake, built around the tomb of Umm Haram, a relative of the Prophet Muhammad. It is one of the most significant Islamic sites in Cyprus and one of the calmest buildings on the island.
It is open to visitors, with the usual expectations around modest dress and removing shoes.
Can You Dive the Zenobia Wreck?
Yes, if you are a qualified diver. The Zenobia was a Swedish ferry that sank off Larnaca in 1980 on her maiden voyage, and she is now consistently rated among the best wreck dives in the world.
She lies on her side in around 16 to 42 metres with the cargo of lorries still aboard. Certification is required for the deeper sections, and several operators run trips from the marina.
What Are Finikoudes and the Seafront Like?
Finikoudes is the palm lined promenade along the city beach, and the centre of Larnaca life. It is unremarkable in photographs and pleasant to actually be on, particularly in the evening when the whole city walks it.
The beach itself is dark sand and average, and its advantage is that it is right in the city. Our guide to the best beaches in Cyprus covers where the better ones are.
Why Visit Agios Lazaros Church?
It is a ninth century church built over the tomb of Lazarus, who according to tradition came to Cyprus after his resurrection and became the first bishop of Kition, the ancient city that became Larnaca.
The stone carving inside is exceptional, and the building is genuinely old rather than restored to look it.
Where Should You Eat in Larnaca?
The food is better than in the resort towns, because Larnaca serves its own residents rather than a tourist market. The seafront restaurants are convenient and the better food sits a street or two back.
We have not yet reviewed a Larnaca restaurant, but two of our best tables are within easy reach. Taverna tou Theodosi near Nicosia is under an hour away and the best traditional meal we know, and Pyxida Limassol and BEGE are around 45 minutes along the motorway. Our ranked guide to the best restaurants in Cyprus and our guide to the best fish taverns both cover the wider island.
Where Should You Stay in Larnaca?
For a night either side of a flight, stay near the seafront or the airport. For diving and birdwatching, the seafront and marina are convenient. For a beach holiday, the east coast around Protaras is better. Our guide to where to stay in Cyprus compares the regions, and we will add Larnaca hotel reviews as we publish them.
Hotels near Finikoudes, Larnaca
What Is Nearby?
Choirokoitia, the Neolithic settlement dating to around 7000 BC, is half an hour away and is the oldest thing you can visit in Cyprus. Stavrovouni Monastery sits on a peak nearby with views across the south of the island. A hire car makes both easy.
Not keen on driving? Pick up a guided day out from Larnaca on Viator or GetYourGuide.
Who Is Larnaca For, and Who Should Look Elsewhere?
- Good for: Divers, birdwatchers, a short first or last night given the airport, and anyone who wants a Cypriot city rather than a resort.
- Less good for: A beach base, where the east coast around Protaras is considerably better.
Frequently Asked Questions
When Are the Flamingos at Larnaca Salt Lake?
November to March, once winter rain has filled the lake. The numbers peak in the middle of winter.
Can Anyone Dive the Zenobia?
Qualified divers can, and the deeper sections need advanced or technical certification. Operators run from the marina.
Is Larnaca Worth Staying In?
It is for a night either side of a flight, or for diving and birdwatching. As a beach base, look east.
How Far Is the Airport?
Around ten minutes from the city centre, which is unusually convenient.
How Much Is a Taxi From Larnaca Airport to Limassol or Ayia Napa?
The official tariff lists 54.52 euro by day and 63.86 euro at night to Limassol centre, and 42.26 euro by day and 49.58 euro at night to Ayia Napa Nissi. There is no official figure for Larnaca itself.
Where Is the Best Place to Eat Near Larnaca?
Taverna tou Theodosi near Nicosia is the best traditional meal within an hour.
What Is the Oldest Site Near Larnaca?
Choirokoitia, a Neolithic settlement dating to around 7000 BC, half an hour away.
Is the Larnaca Beach Good?
It is dark sand and average. Its advantage is that it is in the city, and the east coast around Protaras is considerably better for a beach holiday.
Final Thoughts
Larnaca is a working Cypriot city with an airport attached rather than a resort, and it is more interesting for it. The salt lake in winter and the Zenobia offshore are both genuinely world class, and almost nobody staying on the island for a week goes to either.