Making the most of Larnaca
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
A massive project is underway to make Larnaca one of the leading cruise destinations in the Med.
The new dock is very close to the center of town.
Printable map to take along.
Larnaca (officially Larnaka since 1996) boasts an uninterrupted history as a settlement dating back over 4,000 years. Famous for its beautiful sea front, Larnaka sports clean sandy beaches with clear blue waters. The 'Phinikoudes,' a strip of cafés, bars, clubs and restaurants on the beach front, is a prime tourist destination.
The beach is right in the middle of the town center about 20 minutes walk from the cruise port.
The most important site of Larnaca are the ruins of Ancient Kitium. The earliest architectural remains date back to the 13th century BC. The area was rebuilt by Achaean Greeks. The remains of the Cyclopean Walls, made of giant blocks and the complex of the five temples, are particularly interesting.
Another place of interest is the Marble Bust of Zeno, which stands at the crossroads near the American Academy. Zeno was born in Kition (ancient Larnaka) in 334 BC. After studying philosophy in Athens he founded the famous Stoic school of philosophy.
Getting around
Taxis are not cheap and not reliable. Locally they have a very bad reputation for ripping unsuspecting visitors off. Best to hire a car or a guide for the day.
A loop of the villages of Lefkara, Kato Drys, Ora and Odou, with a stop at the monastery at Agios Minas, is a suggestion.
Nearby places
Near Larnaca International Airport there is the Larnaca Salt Lake. It fills with water during the winter and is visited by flocks of flamingoes who stay here from November till the end of March. It dries up in the summer.
The Old Aqueduct known as "The Kamares", stands outside the town on the way to Limassol. It was built by the Ottoman Governor Koca Bekir Pasha in Roman style in 1745 to carry water from a source about 6 miles south of Larnaka into the town. The aqueduct is illuminated at night.
Head to the city of Famagusta and check out its eerie old quarter. This place was abandoned when the Turks invaded in the Seventies, and hasn’t been touched since.
Pay a visit to Nicosia – the last divided capital city in the world. After the Turks invaded in 1974, half of the city fell under Turkish rule, and the other half remained Greek.
Food and shopping
Stroll along Phinikoudes promenade. Lined with cafés, restaurants and bars, it’s a great place for people-watching – preferably over an iced coffee.
In nearby Lefkara lace is a good buy and is famous throughout the world as one of the products most closely associated with Cypriot workmanship; the name originates from the village Lefkara, situated on a hill on the Nicosia-Larnaca road.
Money
Euro
Staying connected
Language: Greek
Opening Hours and
Public Holidays in Cyprus