Larnaca Travel Guide

Larnaca is an excellent base from which to get to know the central and eastern section of Cyprus, and its proximity to the International Airport and a number of luxury hotels that have been developed along its beautiful sandy beaches make this a popular holiday choice.

Larnaca was originally known as Kition, or Khittim, and legend has it that the first settlement at the spot was founded by Noah's grandson Khittim.
The town was not to regain its standing until the 17th century, when it became the consular and commercial centre of Cyprus, and i's port once again flourished with trade. It was here that the British landed in 1878 to begin their rule of the island.
Much smaller than Nicosia or Limassol, Larnaca has a population of 62.000 and has managed to retain a relaxed, leisurely atmosphere. Its main shopping area is Zenon Kitieos Street, a typically busy road of small shops, with a wonderfully colourful fruit and vegetable market at the far end.

Larnaca resorts

Larnaca tourism

Due to the mild climate in the winter and the genuine hospitality of the local people, Larnaca enjoys tourism at very high occupancy rates all the year round. Larnaca with its wider area has 9.500 hotel beds, about 10% of the total all island tourist capacity. Along the Larnaca bay there are luxurious beach hotels as also hotel apartments or holiday apartments of very high standards a prices generally lower from the rest of the island. Larnaca being in the centre of the country is the ideal base for exploring the rest of Cyprus

Things to do in Larnaca

Larnaca culture

It's also forbidden to take photographs of military installations and government buildings. In the Christian dominated South of the island the dress code is much more relaxed; however shoulders and legs should still be covered when visiting a monastery.Traditional costumes are now generally only donned for the benefit of tourists, but you can still see the occasional local male wearing a pair of baggy black trousers, or vraka, supported by woven belt known locally as a sostra, with an embroidered waistcoat underpinning a white shirt on the top half and a pair of high black boots on the bottom half. Standing in Nicosia the capital of Cyprus on one side you can see the Greek Orthodox churches and on the other the Muslim mosques.

Read also about Larnaca history