Top places to visit

It is not really possible to see the whole city within a day, but you can still catch some of the main attractions if you start early and plan accordingly. The Choirokoitia settlement is one of the main places to visit in Larnaca and you can do so if you start very early in the day. The settlement will keep you occupied until lunch time when you can head back to the main city and grab some traditional Cypriot meals on the way. After lunch you can make a trip to the St Lazarus Church and the District Museum, since both are in the same area. It won’t take more than an hour or two to visit each and you can then spend the rest of your day either at the Camel Park or at one of the many beaches in Larnaca, where you can take part in many activities like water sports and sand games.

This is the most frequently visited monument and shrine in Larnaca, popular among locals as well as tourists. The St Lazarus Church, also known as the Church of Áyios Lázaros, was built in the 9th century. The church belongs to the Greek Orthodox community, and is believed to contain the tomb of Lazarus, who is also the patron saint if Larnaca. It is said that Saint Lazarus lived in the area after being baptized by Christ, and was then ordained Bishop. Visitors are welcome during most times of the day, and can also take a look at the museum located behind the church.

A must visit especially for families with children and young ones, a whole day can be spent at the Camel Park. Kids will be thrilled to see baby camels trying to walk, and take a ride on the large beasts. There is an adventure trek through the park, and visitors can get a desert or tropical adventure within the premises. You can also pick up many souvenirs from the Bedouin tents, and children can explore the Noah’s ark and feed the animals.

This is the best place for those looking for a bit of adventure and extreme water sports. The dive center specializes in scuba diving, snorkeling and other water sports. They have many training courses and short courses, and also rent equipment. With professionally trained staff and highly specialized medical teams and divers, you can be assured that you are in good hands. For those who are not interested in diving under water, there are plenty of other sports to choose from and they cater to all age groups and crowds, like parasailing, kayaking, paddle boats and cruises.

Known to be the source of the city of Larnaca, the site of the Ancient Kition is considered sacred and full of ancient history. The ruins of the city date back almost 3000 years, and is considered by locals to be the birthplace of Zeno the philosopher and also the bishop Lazarus, Larnaca’s patron saint. Visitors can see the ruins and sites of many shrines and ancient temples, the remains of what is left after the modern town was built over it. One of the largest shrines on site are is that of the goddess of fertility, Astarte. The ancient city is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 2.30 pm.

The Ancient Neolithic settlement in Choirokoitia was made an official UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site in 1998. it is known to be one of the best preserved historic sites in the region, and draws a large number of tourists, archeologists, students and scientists every year. Originally discovered in the 1930’s, some of the artifacts and ruins are known to date back to 7000 BC. Visitors can learn and discover how the ancient settlements lived, and explore the tombs and ruins of the city. It is usually open from 8am until 7 in the evening, but timings vary in different seasons so it is advised to call in advance and schedule a tour.

One of the most prominent natural wonders in the region, the Salt Lake district of Larnaca is made up of a network four salt lakes or different sizes, Aliki, Orphani, Soros and Spiro. The Larnaca Salt Lake forms the second largest salt lake in Cyprus, after the Limassol Salt Lake and covers an area of about 2.2 kilometer square. It is a popular tourist spot for birdwatchers and nature lovers, who can delight in the almost 100 different species of water-birds. The highlight of the site is the beautiful array of exotic pink flamingos that live and breed on location.

Situates in a village 7 kilometers south of the city center of Larnaca, is the Angeloktisti Church, meaning ‘Built by Angels’. This Byzantine church was built in the 11th century on top of the ruins of an early Christian basilica. The church holds some of the rarest and finest surviving pieces of Byzantine art, like the priceless mosaic of the Virgin Mary and child in between two archangels, made sometime during the 6th century. The church itself is an architectural wonder.

Stravrovouni, which means Mountain of the Cross, is a rocky perch on which the famous monastery stands. It is believed that the monastery was founded by Saint Helena, mother of Constantine the Great, in the 4th century. The mountain is very significant not only for Christians, but for also the Greek pilgrims who used to visit the temple for Aphrodite. Entrance to the monastery is pretty strict, even today, with restricted timings for women. The Exaltation of the Cross takes places every year on the 14th of September, and there is a lot of celebration and festivities in the area for the event.