Larnaca’s top attractions

On the southern coast of Cyprus is the attractive town and harbour of Larnaca, Greece. This flashy, cosmopolitan town looks more in keeping with the glitz and glamour of the French Riviera than the sleepy holiday island of Cyprus.

Glistening glass office and apartment blocks reflect the unabating summer sun; the wide, sheltered, white-sand bay is fringed by a pastel coloured promenade complete with joggers and roller-bladers and the yachts lining the harbour are sizeable, stylish but not too flashy that they start to look tacky.

For many, the raison d’être of this town is the beach, whilst for others it is the port. Either way, although both are good enough reasons to choose holidays to Larnaca, there’s actually a lot more to this town that initially meets the eye. On The Beach offers holidays to Laranaca all year round so you can get to grips with this addictive city whenever you please, and maybe even return for seconds. Planning your next vacation? Compare the best hotels in Larnaca.

Larnaca Fort

Founded way back in 1625 to defend the island from offshore attacks, Laranca Fort is a stunning example of Ottoman architecture and is well preserved to this day. You can walk around the fortified walls and there is also a small museum on site giving you a small insight into the town’s and the fort’s history.

Salt Lakes

There are a couple of salt lakes in Cyprus and one can be found just outside Larnaca. Depending on the season you can walk right over the dry salt lake, or alternatively you may be able to catch flocks of pink flamingos hunting down what little water remains. Right next to the salt lake is the Hala Sultan Tekke mosque, which is a major pilgrimage site for Muslims as it’s where the tomb of Umm Haram – the foster mother of Mohammed – lies.

Diving

The waters around Cyprus are incredibly clear and abundant with marine life for great diving. You can even see dolphins, sharks, turtles, rays and seals if you come at the right time of year. However, the biggest draw to Larnaca is the wreck of the Zenobia ferry from 1980. She sunk due to an onboard fault along with all her cargo, including lorries and cars. The wreck is now teeming with marine life and due to its shallow depth – around 18 metres – it can be enjoyed by even relatively inexperienced PADI divers. Dive-In diving school is full accredited by PADI, the international body monitoring and licensing scuba diving.