Larnaca Hotels

Life in the third-most populous city in the country radiates from a dynamic seaside promenade that lines some of the best Blue Flag sand in the Mediterranean region. That alone constitutes success as a tourist dynamo but away from the water and beach the city unfurls one jewel after another. The labyrinthine old Turkish quarter is awash with furtive, gritty charm and marketplace sensorial delights. Classic cafés and restaurants seem to effortlessly combine traditional and contemporary and evince a seductive rustic elegance.

This, in a sense, is what defines Larnaca and helps explain why the city of 72,000 people has become Cyprus’ dominant expat haven. When the human traffic starts to grate, get your feet out of the sand and flee to star landmarks like the Ruins of Ancient Kitium, village of Lefkara, Pieridis Museum of Antiquities and Mosque of Umm Haram.

Larnaca’s Top 10

Larnaca Events

The conditions for water sports in Larnaca, most notably for avid and neophyte divers, are as good as they come in the Mediterranean region.

The annual Festival of the Flood takes place 50 days after Orthodox Easter and is a linchpin of Cypriot cultural pride. Larnaca’s version, held on the seafront promenade and beyond, is the most famous on the island.

Side trips along the coast of southeast Cyprus reveal astonishing scenery and a tidy ensemble of enchanting, sun-baked villages.

When To Go

A telltale Mediterranean climate is why so many find holiday succor in Cyprus. Larnaca is no exception, with low precipitation levels, hot summers and mild winters.

Temperatures from June to September run anywhere from 68°F (20°C) to 91°F (33°C). The weather from December to February is not entirely unpleasant, with conditions in the 45.5°F (7.5°C) to 65°F (19°C) range and some modest rain showers.

The most amenable compromise, of course, is to visit in the months of April, May, October and November, when temperatures crest at a manageable 82.5°F (28°C) and dip as low as 53.5°F (12°C).

Getting Around

Larnaca International Airport is tops in Cyprus and in the top 100 in Europe in terms of total annual passengers. The allure of idyllic seaside beach time is obviously powerful: close to 6 million people pass through the terminal every year.

The hub serves a wide variety of minor and major destinations, from Belgrade to Tel Aviv, London to Luxembourg, Paris to Moscow.

While Larnaca is easy to navigate on foot, taxis provide a basic and cardinal service. Drivers can be stubborn about meters, however, but do insist it be put to good use.