Larnaca Tourist Attractions and Sightseeing

(Larnaca, Cyprus)



Promenade viewAs one of the most popular seaside resorts on the entire island, tourists won't be stuck for attractions to see and places to go in Larnaca. As well as its plethora of Blue-Flag beaches, 25-km / 16-miles of coastline and relating tourist attractions, Larnaca is also home to some highly recommended guided walking tours and a very colourful nightlife.

Wherever you are in Larnaca, you simply cannot help but be drawn to its beautiful Mediterranean coastline, where the scuba diving opportunities and underwater attractions really don't come much better. If you are on holiday with children and scuba diving really is out of the question, then all is not lost, since tourists can head down to the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea onboard the ever-popular SADKO Tourist Submarine.


Guided walking tours photo, taken next to the Church of Saint Lazarus

Guided Walking Tours

Address: Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO), Plateia Vasileos Pavlou, Larnaca, Cyprus
Tel: +357 2465 4322
Regular chaperoned guided walks of the city are offered by the Cyprus Tourism Organisation, completely free of charge. These tours provide an insight to many of Larnaca's tourist attractions and main places of interest, and is a good way to acquaint yourself with the resort and much of what is on offer, learning a little history en route. The tour is entitled 'Larnaka - Past and Present' and usually draws a good crowd, while nearby and at the fort, the 'Skala - Its Craftsmen' walking tour departs each Friday morning at 10:00
Open hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday - 08:15 to 14:30, 15:00 to 18:15; Saturday - 08:15 to 13:30
Admission: free

SADKO Tourist Submarine

Address: Larnaka Marina, Larnaca, Cyprus
Tel: +357 2462 2138
Certainly one for the children and those not so keen on scuba diving, the SADKO Tourist Submarine takes you to the floor of the Mediterranean and allows you to view the famous sunken wreck of the Zenobia ferry. Trips are around one hour long and tend to start on the hour until 12:30, with the very last submarine excursion of the day leaving at 13:30 in the afternoon, from the marina. The submarine is simple to board, through its large hatch, and is capable of accommodating up to 40 passengers, in air-conditioned comfort.
Open hours: Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday - 09:00 to 13:30
Admission: charge, discounts for children, all children must be at least five years old

Scuba diving picture

Scuba Diving

The coastline surrounding Larnaca is where you will find some of the very best dive sites available in Cyprus, including some simply awesome shipwrecks. In fact, it is the Zenobia ferry wreck of 1980 that serves as the biggest magnet for keen scuba divers and impressively often appears in the top ten of the best wrecks on the planet. The Zenobia is roughly 200 metres / 656 feet in length and still features its actual cargo, just 42 metres / 138 feet below the surface of the Mediterranean. Many huge fish now live within the Zenobia and you are virtually guaranteed to see some huge tuna, barracuda and eels, amongst many other creatures. The waters surrounding the wreck are so clear that the shadow of the Zenobia is visible by planes heading to Larnaca Airport. Other good dive spots in this part of Cyprus include the Helicopter Wreck, which is a sunken British Army Air Corps helicopter around 16 metres / 52 feet deep, known for its octopus inhabitants.
Open hours: daily - seasonal variations
Admission: charge

Quad Bike Safari

Address: Dhekelia Road, Larnaca, Cyprus
Tel: +357 2464 7729
If you are a thrillseeker looking for attractions other than those related to the beach and coastline, then do consider joining an action-packed quad-bike safari. Based just across from the Golden Bay Hotel, these exciting quad bike safaris are suitable for novices and tailored according to ability, with detailed instructions and advice before you actually set off. The Quad Bike Safari attraction was founded in 2005 and can now cater for groups of up to 15 people. Once riders have familiarised themselves with the controls on tarmac, the group is led into the extremely scenic hills surrounding Oroklini, Pyla and the village of Troulli, covering around 30 km / 19 miles in two hours.
Open hours: Monday to Saturday - April to October - 10:00 to 18:00; November to March - 09:30 to 17:30
Admission: charge

Image of sailing boats at a Larnaca marina

Sailing and Boat Cruises / Cruising

The city's marina can be a hive of activity and from here an array of pleasure cruises and boat trips are available to holiday makers. Featuring superb views of the shoreline and its endless attractions, from the perfect vantage point, Mediterranean cruises offer endless photo opportunities and often stop off along the way, to allow the passengers to dive in for a quick swim or snorkel, before returning to a barbecue lunch prepared onboard. Other boat trips and cruise packages include fishing expeditions from Yanathes Beach, and cruises to both Agia Trias and Ayia Napa.
Open hours: daily - seasonal variations
Admission: charge

Photo of restaurant on seafront promenade

Nightclubs and Entertainment

Evening and night-time entertainment abounds in Larnaca, coming in the form of raucous bars, lively nightclubs and frequent beach parties, which usually last well into the early hours of the morning. Many tourists head to the lengthy strip, some 8 km / 5 miles to the north-east of the city centre, where much of the late-night action takes place, while locals generally prefer to simply hang out around the promenade. The best nightclub attractions in Larnaca include the Corridor on Karaoli, Encounters on the Leoforos Athinon, and the Venue off the Thermopylon. Alternatively, consider spending a night at the trendy XU club, which has become known for its enormous aquarium.
Open hours: daily
Admission: charge for entrance to nightclubs