Nature
Larnaca Salt Lake & Hala Sultan Tekke
In winter, thousands of flamingos wade across a mirror-flat salt lake; on its shore stands the palm-ringed Hala Sultan Tekke mosque. A flat walking trail circles the water.
Jan–Mar · flamingosDirections
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East Cyprus
Things to do in Larnaca & the Plains
Larnaca is the working, local end of coastal Cyprus: a palm-lined seafront, a city beach with planes drifting in overhead, and a salt lake that fills with flamingos every winter. Inland, the plains rise to Lefkara — the lace-making village — and the preserved stone hamlets of the Machairas foothills, all within an easy drive of the island’s main airport.
Free to visit
Free spots in Larnaca & the Plains.
Genuinely free — no tickets, no gates. Tap any spot for directions and the best time to go.
Village
Lefkara Village
A hillside warren of cobbled lanes famous for handmade lace and filigree silver, with blue shutters, shaded courtyards and a coffee at every turn.
Year-roundDirections
Heritage
Kamares Aqueduct
A graceful Ottoman aqueduct of tall pale arches striding across the plain on the edge of town — floodlit after dark and reflected in the pools that still gather at its feet.
Floodlit at nightDirections
Beach
Finikoudes Promenade
Larnaca’s palm-lined seafront: a sandy town beach, a working marina and a long stroll past the medieval fort to the church of Saint Lazarus — the heart of the city.
EveningDirections
Viewpoint
Cape Kiti Lighthouse
A slender 19th-century lighthouse on a low rocky headland south of Larnaca, ringed by tide pools and open sea views — a quiet, windswept spot to watch the sun go down.
SunsetDirections
Beach
Mackenzie Beach
Larnaca's lively town beach, best known for the aircraft that roar low overhead on final approach to the airport — plane spotters line up here for a reason. The sand is grey-gold and the water shallow and calm, backed by a busy strip of bars and tavernas. Free to visit, though sunbeds are paid and summer weekends get crowded.
May-Oct · afternoonDirections
Where to eat & drink
Best hotspots in Larnaca & the Plains.
Only the genuine local favourites — sorted by rating.
Cypriot meze
To Kazani
A village-style meze taverna locals send visitors to for endless small plates and real hospitality.
Known for Village meze
OrokliniDirections
Bistro café
Art Café 1900
A characterful café-bistro in a restored colonial house full of antiques and stories.
Known for Daily specials & wine
Stasinou StDirections
Car hire
Petsas Rent a Car
One of Cyprus’s longest-running car hire firms — in business for over 60 years, the company says — with desks at Larnaca and Paphos airports and offices in Nicosia, Limassol, Paphos town and Ayia Napa.
Larnaca & Paphos airports + 4 town officesDirections
Mediterranean
Ammos at Mackenzie
A chic white-on-blue beach restaurant and bar — brunch, Mediterranean plates and sunset drinks.
Known for Beach brunch & cocktails
Mackenzie BeachDirections
Car hire
Green Motion Cyprus
The Cyprus franchise of the international Green Motion brand, with branches in Larnaca, near Paphos Airport, in Ayia Napa and in Limassol. Its Larnaca and Paphos branches are off-airport rather than in the terminals.
Larnaca, near Paphos Airport, Ayia Napa & LimassolDirections
Cypriot meze
Voreas Tavern
A taverna-meets-folk-museum serving a vast traditional meze surrounded by rural Cypriot antiques.
Known for Folk-museum meze night
Livadia villageDirections
Seafood
Zephyros Tavern
A Larnaca seafront institution for fresh-fish meze on the Piale Pasha waterfront.
Known for Fresh fish meze
Piale Pasha seafrontDirections
Traditional Cypriot
Militzis Tavern
Famous for clay-oven kleftiko and charcoal grills, a seafront landmark for generations.
Known for Kleftiko (clay oven)
By the fort & seafrontDirections
Courtyard café
Stou Roushia
A picture-perfect courtyard café in lace-making Lefkara — cool stone, vines and homemade sweets.
Known for Homemade loukoumades
Lefkara villageDirections
Ranked shortlists
Best of Larnaca & the Plains
Curated, rating-ranked picks by category and town.
What’s on
Every event Coming up in Larnaca & the Plains
12Nov12–15 Nov
SportRiders from €60
Lefkara Classic (cycling)
Pano Lefkara · The Agora Hotel & Pano Lefkara square
An endurance ride from Pano Lefkara on Sunday 15 November: the Grand route climbs 4,750 m over 166 km and the Demi 2,000 m over 74 km, through the Machairas monastery area and the Pitsilia wine villages. It closes a four-day race week in the village with social rides, talks and cycling films.
November 2026Details Directions
15NovSunday
Sport · Every yearFree to watch
Larnaka International Marathon
Larnaca · Finikoudes seafront (Palm Beach Avenue), Larnaca
Larnaca's flat, scenic road race starts on the palm-lined Finikoudes seafront, close to the salt lake where flamingos spend the winter, in November when the weather is ideal for running. Alongside the full and half marathon there are 10 km, 5 km, corporate 5 km and 1 km children's races, so it suits club runners and families alike. Entrants pay a fee, but cheering from the promenade is free.
November 2026Details Directions
6JanWednesday
Tradition · Every yearFree entry
Epiphany · Blessing of the Waters (Ta Fota)
Larnaca · Procession from Agios Lazaros Church to Larnaca marina
On Epiphany, 6 January, a procession leaves each seaside town's cathedral for the water at about 10.30am; the bishop throws the Holy Cross into the sea and young men dive into the winter water to bring it back. Larnaca's ceremony, from Agios Lazaros Church to the marina, is the island's best known, and the same rite takes place at Limassol's old port, Paphos harbour, Latsi and Ayia Napa harbour. A short, moving piece of living Orthodox tradition, free to watch.
January 2027Details Directions
Explore other regions
West Cyprus
Akamas & Paphos
Wild peninsula, sea caves and turtle beaches.
Things to do Centre CyprusTroodos Mountains
Pine forests, waterfalls and stone villages.
Things to do South CyprusLimassol Coast
Chalk cliffs, long bays and quiet coves.
Things to do East CyprusAyia Napa & Protaras
Cape Greco caves and impossibly clear water.
Things to do