In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · Cyprus
Larnaca
Λάρνακα
Use Larnaca as an arrival or departure city, not a destination in itself: one night near the palm-lined seafront covers the Church of Saint Lazarus and the Hala Sultan Tekke, then move on to Limassol or Paphos.
Larnaca has the island's main international airport and a palm-lined seafront promenade. Landmarks include the 9th-century Church of Saint Lazarus and the Hala Sultan Tekke mosque by the Larnaca Salt Lake, where flamingos gather in winter. It's a practical first or last night rather than a multi-day base.
- Country
- Cyprus
- Local name
- Λάρνακα
- Best months
- Apr–Jun and Sep–Nov: pleasant temperatures for walking the seafront
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (frequently above 35°C (95°F), humid near the coast)Jul–Aug (frequently above 95°F (35°C), humid near the coast)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- The euro (EUR) is used in the south; the north uses the Turkish lira, though euros are often taken.
- SIM and data
- In the south, Cyta, Epic and Primetel sell prepaid SIMs with passport ID; EU roam-like-at-home applies to EU SIMs.
- Emergency
- General emergency (police, fire, ambulance) 112 · Police direct line 199
- Plugs
- Types G · 240 V · 50 Hz · British three-pin sockets; bring a UK adapter if you come from continental Europe or the Americas.
- Tipping
- Tavern or restaurant: About 10% if no service charge; check the bill first.; Café: Leave the coins.; Taxi: Round up.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: €1–2 per bag or night.; Guide or boat crew: €5–10 a person for a day.
- Water
- Tap water in towns is treated and generally safe, but much of it is desalinated and many residents drink bottled water; mountain villages vary — ask.
- Toilets
- Western toilets everywhere; in older buildings and villages paper goes in the bin, not the bowl. Beach toilets at Blue Flag beaches.
Get in
By air
- LCA · Larnaca International
- Close to the town centre; taxi around 10–15 minutes, or local bus — check the current operator
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Language, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The centre is walkable end to end. Buses and taxis serve the airport and the salt lake area; intercity buses to Limassol, Nicosia and Paphos run from the central bus station but on a limited schedule.
See and do
Known for
- Finikoudes palm-tree promenade
- Church of Saint Lazarus, one of Cyprus's oldest surviving churches
- Hala Sultan Tekke mosque on the salt lake
- Flamingos on the salt lake in winter
- Larnaca Marina and old town lanes
Sleep
- Finikoudes seafront
- Beach, cafés and restaurants, walkable to the marina.
- Old town
- Quieter, closer to the Church of Saint Lazarus.
Language
Greek in the south and Turkish in the north, each with a strong Cypriot dialect. English is a legacy of British rule until 1960 and is spoken by most people you will deal with. Signs are bilingual Greek–English or Turkish–English.
- Place names differ by side: Kyrenia/Girne, Famagusta/Gazimağusa, Morphou/Güzelyurt. Maps may use either.
- Using northern place names in the south, or southern ones in the north, is noticed; neutral English names are safest.
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and a smile; friends and family kiss on both cheeks; avoid: Being brisk — small talk first, business second
- Hospitality: Accept a coffee or a sweet when offered in a village; it is part of the visit; avoid: Refusing everything; one small taste is enough
- The Cyprus issue: Listen if people bring it up; many have family stories from 1974; avoid: Offering opinions on who is to blame
- Churches: Light a candle if you wish (small donation), keep voices low; avoid: Shorts, bare shoulders and flash photography
- Dress in town: Casual but covered; shirts on away from the beach; avoid: Swimwear in shops, villages and churches
- Time: Relax: meals and meetings run slower than in northern Europe; avoid: Rushing a waiter for the bill — ask for it when ready
- Naming: Use the English or local name of the side you are on; avoid: Using Greek names in the north or Turkish names in the south in a pointed way
Scams and watch-outs
- Cars drive on the left.
- Intercity public transport is infrequent; check timetables in advance if you're not hiring a car.
- Midday summer heat is strong; the salt lake and mosque have little shade.
- The salt lake is dry and odourless most of the year, so don't plan a visit around it outside the winter flamingo season.
Larnaca is low-risk and geared toward transiting visitors; the main things to plan around are transport schedules and summer heat.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Larnaca yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Finikoudes palm-tree promenade
- Church of Saint Lazarus, one of Cyprus's oldest surviving churches
- Hala Sultan Tekke mosque on the salt lake
- Flamingos on the salt lake in winter
- Larnaca Marina and old town lanes
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Visit Cyprus: www.visitcyprus.com/
- Wikivoyage — Larnaca: en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Larnaca
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/larnaca). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.