Attractions in Town


Larnaka Salt Lake

The first site of immense interest encountered upon arrival at the Larnaka international airport is the Larnaka salt lake. Its past as a natural habitat of sea life is traced 3 million years BC and fossil life of that age can be found in the surrounding hills. The central salt lake in prehistoric times was a gulf. From 1700 BC was a secure natural port in the service of the large prehistoric town next to Hala Sultan Tekke, which was abandoned by its population at about 1050 BC, at about the time the gulf was closed, the natural port was destroyed and the central salt lake was formed. As excavations in the area show, this is perhaps one of the first natural ports of Cyprus that facilitated trade between Cyprus and the great civilizations of the area at the birth of international seafaring exchanges. The porphyra - red dies using the juices of the murex-shells, which were in abundance in the gulf and until now in the Larnaka bay, was one of the important and expensive exports of this prehistoric town and of Kition, the nearby town that succeeded. Salt was another expensive prehistoric product of the lake, which was extremely exploited through the centuries till a few years ago. Historians of Hellenistic, Roman, Frankish and Ottoman times report the great quality of this salt and its great income due to exports. But, the most interesting thing about the salt lake today is the migration of birds in winter. These migrations include flamingos, ducks, swans and tens of other flying species. Such a rich hunting place did not escape the attention of the ancient, who had at the shores of the salt lake one of the most famous temples of Atremisparalia (Diana of the seafront) goddess of hunt. Hunting is no more allowed, but watching the birds, walking the interesting surroundings and enjoying the famous red sunsets of the spot are strongly recommended. In the wider salt lake area covering about 5 square kilometers there are actually 4 lakes of exceptional natural habitat looked after by the Committee for the Protection of the Larnaka Salt Lakes, which is authorized under a relative Cyprus Law.


Palm Trees Promenade

One of the most pleasant entertainment seafront areas of the whole of Cyprus is the palm trees promenade or Athens Avenue in Larnaka. This beautiful avenue along a sandy beach on the popular seafront of the city accommodates some of the best hotels, cafes, pubs, clubs and restaurants in town. Along this famous “Phinicoudes” sandy beach of Larnaka, which is busy and friendly day and night summer, winter, springtime and fall, activity is a non-stop procedure, as the beach fans and swimmers mingle with the tourists visiting the museums, the historic buildings and all of them together with the locals enjoy the drinks, food and entertainment of the establishments and the free of charge walks on the promenade. Famous urban planner Angelos Demetriou designed the area in the early 1990’s and this new beautiful and pleasant municipal town project replaced the previous municipal setting of Mayors F. Zanettos and N. Kyriazis, who were also responsible for the plantation of the palm trees (phinicoudes) in the early 1920’s. 


Europe Square

It is at the beginning of Athens Avenue and it is decorated with the first colonial buildings the British Administration built in Cyprus in 1879. It was the first year the British occupied the island and Larnaka was the biggest port and urban center of the island, so the housing of British colonial administration had to get started from here. The Colony’s Governor building, the chief Port Master house and office, the Chief Customs Officer residence and office, the colonial port warehouses are some of these old buildings now restored to accommodate the Paleontology museum, the Municipal Gallery of Modern Art, the City-Museum and Archives and the District Administration of Larnaka. The restoration of the old colonial warehouses won the “Europa Nostra” award in 1996. The artistic composition “seagulls in flight” of sculptor Papagiannis was also placed in 1996, updating the area, and ‘Europe Square’ name was given by the Municipal Council to honor the European Union.


Larnaka Marina and the Colonial Pier

Opposite the colonial buildings of Europe Square is the entrance of the Larnaka Marina. It was built in the early 1970’s all around the Colonial Pier, which was constructed by the British in 1879 to develop the facilities of the Larnaka port at that time. The walk on the Pier is a traditional social activity of the people of Larnaka and it is strongly recommended because it is the only place you can have a look at the Larnaka seafront from the side of the sea and at the same time enjoy the feeling of a real sea-town where activities are extended in the open sea. All organized mini cruises in the Larnaka Bay and to Agia Napa and Protaras areas start from here and you can even choose a glass bottom boat to enjoy the deep, or you can chart your own yacht for a day cruise of your choice. Also, you can enjoy a submarine underwater mini cruise in the Larnaka Bay, which is full of smaller and bigger wrecks, the most famous being the Zenovia.


Kimon Square and Seafront Stage

Kimon Square is in the middle of Athens Avenue, and was named in the 1920’s to honor Athenian General Kimon, who in the 5th century BC arrived here with 200 triremes to free Cyprus from Persian rule. He besieged Kition (Larnaka), which was the stronghold of the Persians and he defeated the Persian fleet in the nearby open sea. He died here before final victory and his army, according to ancient historians, buried him in Larnaka and the people of Kition honored him since. General Kimon’s bust is an artwork of an Athenian sculptor and was placed here in the 1920’s. Next to the bust the municipality of Larnaka constructed the open air “Seafront Stage” where all free of charge summer festivities of the town are taking place. Of special interest are the Cataclysm’s festivities of the Pentecost in early June, where the Square is visited by thousands of people from all over Cyprus.


Kamares, the Old Aqueduct of Larnaka

At the exit from Larnaka towards the Limassol highway you see the most grandiose arches (kamares) of the 16 kilometers long, 18th century aqueduct of Larnaka. For the adventurer the old aqueduct of Larnaka offers a tremendous challenge. Walking straight line from these 1st arches at about 2-3 kilometers you arrive at the 2nd arches and after a walk of almost the same distance, but having to pass the airport “by-pass highway” you arrive at the 3rd and lower in height arches. At this point you have to look for the old mill, which was working with the aqueduct’s water, and then for almost 9 kilometers up to the river, the water-channel becomes underground, but every 30 meters you can see the “visiting wells” of this unbelievable project, which channeled the water of river Tremithos to Larnaka till the 1950’s. Many researchers and historians believe that this tremendous public work existed since Roman times (as it’s meniond in the writtings of Apostole Barnabas)and that the Ottoman Bekir Pashia reconstructed the whole project in 1745 on the basis of the surviving facilities. This argument is supported by the fact that a similar in construction and materials water channel exist in the archaeological site of the ancient port at Kilkis Street and at many other spots in the city.


Municipal Theatre, Library and Gardens

In a large city triangle formed by streets Afxentiou, Kiouppis and Pierides, known as the Public or Children’s gardens, co-exist in small distances the Municipal Theatre, the Larnaka Municipal Library, the Museum of Natural History, a birds zoo and a fantastic collection of children public games. All these in nicely formed and looked after municipal garden made for children and parents of all ages. The use of the games and gardens are free of charge as it is the lending of books from the Municipal Library, which also has a section specializing in Cypriot and Town literature, history, archaeology and anything a researcher might be interested to know about the city. The Municipal Theatre shows include children plays in Greek, especially on Sunday mornings from October to April, and it hosts all the cultural performing activity of the town on an everyday basis from September to June. The statue of Liberty is situated in front of the Library.


Zenon of Kition Statue

It imposes the little square formed by Pierides, Lena and Afxentiou streets, opposite the American Academy. Zenon of Kition, the most celebrated Cypriot scholar of all times and founder of the Stoic school of Philosophy was born in ancient Kition (Larnaka) in 330 BC. His father, Mnaseas was a merchant trading in Athens Porphyra reddies made here. At a very early age he was familiar with the writings of Plato that his father supplied him from Athens. He followed his father’s profession, but his ship with all his property sunk outside Piraeus and Zenon was obliged to sail from then on in the open seas of his intellect that established him as the most popular Philosopher of Hellenistic and Roman times. He is one of the few philosophers that the Demos of Athens honored during his lifetime by giving him the keys of the town and declaring him an Athenian citizen, which he did not accept because he was very proud of his mother city. So in history he is known as Zenon of Kition and his birthplace honored him upon his death with a copper statue, which was stolen from Larnaka by the Romans the year of conquering the island in 58 BC. The new marble statue of Zenon is a present to the city by the wellknown Larnaka Pierides family and was placed in the 1930’s. 


Piale Pashia Street and Psarolimano

This street is named after the Commanding General of the Ottoman navy and army that arrived in Larnaka in 1571 to occupy Cyprus. The Venetians resisted the Ottomans only in Nicosia and Famagusta. This street has been the seafront road of Larnaka in the Ottoman times and it is only in the 19th century that the city was extended towards Athens Avenue. The street is famous for touching the waves on the one side, for its traditional architecture on the other, and for its seafood and meze restaurants, which are extended up to the fishing harbor or “Psarolimano” and the Macenzy Beach, which ends at the airport fencing. Walking in the narrow streets vertical on the Piale Pashia street, just after the Castle, will give you the feeling of the 18th and 19th century Larnaka. This walk will also bring you across some of the Greek refugees that were obliged by the Turkish army to move in 1974 from their homes in Famagusta and take the place of the Turkish Cypriots mostly inhabiting this quarter before the invasion.


Traditional City Quarter (laiki gitonia)

The quarter of the town between Dionysos and Kosma Lysioti streets has been developed by Larnaka Municipality in the late 1980’s to represent a traditional quarter of the town of the early 20th century. The esthetic success of the endeavor was great. The result was that the whole quarter was turned by the private entrepreneurs into a very successful and busy entertainment area worth visiting in the night for a few drinks and a nice traditional meal. The area is characterized by its Cypriot traditional architecture.


Pattichio Open Amphitheatre and Park

The main entrance of the 2100 seats open-air amphitheatre of the town is on Artemis Avenue. It has been named “Pattichio” to honor the donors of the project, Nicos and Despina Pattichi. This modern amphitheatre hosts all performing arts events that take place in the city from May to October. The climax of its use every year is in the month of July that the city organizes the famous “July Larnaka Festival”. The “Pattichio” is placed in the middle of a large natural park, which is part of the greater Salt lake park. This separation was done in the 1980’s together with extensive construction of pedestrian paths, to protect a number of rare Cyprus plants blossoming here every winter on the one hand and on the other to facilitate visitors that would like to walk in the park without harming the rare plant and animal life of the area.