Larnaca

Larnaca town centre is just a 20 minute drive away with its wide range of shops, bars, international restaurants, and lively nightlife. The new Marina and local beaches in Larnaca also provide visitors with the opportunity to try out a wide range of water sports and associated activities.

Larnaca is the oldest existing city in Cyprus, but it is also one of the most modern with an estimated population of around 72,000 inhabitants. With its excellent infrastructure, Larnaca has been a popular tourist destination for many years. It has a new international airport capable of processing over 7 million passengers each year; a new marina with a capacity of over 200 yachts; a modern harbour, and a number of beautiful beaches, which stretch for over 25km and offer countless water sports and leisure activities. The most famous of these is Phinkoudes Beach with its palm tree lined promenade, clean golden sand and warm safe water; al just a short walk away from the city centre and its various amenities.

Given its long history, Larnaca has a wide range of interesting historical and archeological sites; buildings and museums, many within easy walking distance of the city centre. During the winter months the great Salt Lake near to the airport is also home to a multitude of colourful flamingos lazily grazing on the plankton.

Larnaca is a small city and prices in Larnaca are generally lower than elsewhere in Cyprus. The main shopping streets in Larnaca are Ermou Street, Zinonos Kitieos and Grigori Afxentiou Avenue, where you will find numerous shops to suit every taste. Ermou Street is especially famous for its jewelry and watchmakers shops. The three streets also form an open triangle, linked by smaller side streets and tree shaded courtyards where you can sit and enjoy a coffee in one of the many cafes. For more extensive shopping a short drive to Stratigou Timayia Road, in the North West of the city, may be necessary because of the large international clothing chains that can be found there as well as a number of other smaller shops.

Eating out in Larnaca is a pleasurable experience, with the beaches being lined with numerous seafood restaurants, all serving up the latest catch of the day. If you are struggling to choose a restaurant in which to dine, the most reliable thing to do is to look for the restaurants that are filled with locals, as they will know which places are worth visiting time and time again. The choice of dishes is vast, with nearly all restaurants offering continental and international cuisine, but it is still well worth sampling some of the local dishes such as a varied Meze meal or fasoulaki, which is lamb in red wine with French beans.

Nightlife is quite varied in Larnaca. There are all kinds of different clubs and bars in Larnaca ranging from the international clubs to the local bars and tavernas. There are also several venues in Larnaca that have live music on offer, generally local bands and musicians playing a mix of modern and traditional styles. Much of this nightlife is concentrated in the tourist area alongside Mackenzie Beach. The open air amphitheatre and indoor municipal theatre also put on shows throughout the year, where artists, actors and singers from around the world come to perform.