Where to Stay in Larnaca: Finikoudes, Mackenzie, the Old Town and Quieter Beaches

Most visitors to Cyprus land in Larnaca, but many head straight for Ayia Napa, Limassol or Paphos. That’s a shame, because Larnaca is one of the easiest and most relaxed bases on the island. Its palm-lined seafront, a walkable center with a thousand-year-old church, sandy town beaches and the airport only minutes away make it ideal for short breaks, winter sun and the first or last nights of a longer trip. Here’s how the main areas compare.

Larnaca areas at a glance

Area	Best for	Pros	Cons
Finikoudes and the center	First-timers, short breaks, no car	Seafront promenade, town beach and restaurants, as well as sights on foot	Busy promenade, especially on summer evenings
Mackenzie	Beach bars, couples, quick airport access	Sandy beach, lively in summer, also very close to the airport	Aircraft noise; also fewer large hotels
Skala (Old Town)	Character, longer stays	Historic quarter, potters’ workshops, quieter streets	Mostly small hotels and apartments
Dhekelia Road and Oroklini	Families, classic beach hotels	Beachfront resorts with pools, calmer than town	A bus or taxi ride to the center
Pervolia, Kiti and Mazotos	Peace and quiet, villas	Uncrowded beaches, rural feel	You’ll need a car
Lefkara (inland)	Village atmosphere, a night or two	Traditional stone village, lace and silverwork	No beach; about 40 minutes from Larnaca

Finikoudes and the city center

Finikoudes is Larnaca’s seafront promenade, named for its rows of palm trees (finikas in Greek). On one side is a long, sandy town beach with gently shelving water. On the other, meanwhile, are cafés, restaurants and hotels. Overall, it’s the most convenient base in Larnaca, with the main sights within a few minutes’ walk. The Church of Saint Lazarus, built in the late 9th or early 10th century over the tomb traditionally said to be that of Lazarus, is just behind the promenade, and the small medieval Larnaca Castle, which houses a museum, stands at its southern end. The marina is at the northern end.

This is the best choice if you don’t plan to rent a car, as the airport bus and intercity buses stop nearby. In July and August the promenade stays busy late into the evening, so light sleepers may prefer a room at the back or a hotel a street or two inland.

So if this area suits you, find hotels and apartments in Finikoudes and the city center (affiliate link).

Mackenzie

South of the center, on the way to the airport, Mackenzie has one of Larnaca’s most popular beaches, lined with beach bars, cafés and restaurants that stay lively into the night in summer. It’s also a 20–30-minute walk along the coast from Finikoudes. Planes pass low overhead on their final approach, which some visitors love and others find disruptive, so check the location of your accommodation if you’re sensitive to noise. On the positive side, you can be at the terminal in minutes.

Then, if you like the sound of it, find hotels and apartments in Mackenzie (affiliate link).

Skala, the Old Town

Behind Larnaca Castle, the Skala district is the old Turkish Cypriot quarter, with low houses, the Grand Mosque (Djami Kebir) and a cluster of ceramic workshops. It’s quieter than the seafront but still a short walk from the beach and the restaurants. Accommodation here is mostly small hotels, guesthouses and apartments, which suits independent travelers and longer stays.

Also, to compare prices here, find hotels and apartments in Skala (affiliate link).

Dhekelia Road and Oroklini

North-east of the marina, beachfront resort hotels line the coastal road towards Dhekelia, many with pools, gardens and all-inclusive options. It’s Larnaca’s main hotel strip and a good choice for families who want a classic beach holiday, though you’ll need a bus, taxi or car to reach the center. Inland, the village of Oroklini sits above a small lake that is an important wetland for birds.

So if this is your pick, find hotels and apartments in the Dhekelia Road area (affiliate link).

South coast villages: Pervolia, Kiti and Mazotos

South-west of the airport, the coast is much quieter than in town. Pervolia has an old lighthouse at Cape Kiti and a few small hotels and villas. The village of Kiti is home to the Panagia Angeloktisti church, famous for its rare early Byzantine mosaic. Further along, Mazotos has wide, uncrowded beaches. This area suits travelers who want peace and quiet, although a car is essential.

Then, to check availability, find hotels and apartments in Pervolia and Kiti (affiliate link).

Lefkara and the countryside

About 40 minutes inland, Lefkara is one of Cyprus’s best-known villages, famous for its embroidered lace and silverwork. UNESCO lists Lefkara lace as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. A night or two here also makes a nice contrast with the coast. On the way, you can also stop at the Neolithic settlement of Choirokoitia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

So if this area suits you, find hotels and apartments in Lefkara (affiliate link).

Things to see around Larnaca

• Larnaca Salt Lake: in winter, the lake usually attracts flocks of greater flamingos. On its shore stands Hala Sultan Tekke, one of the most important Muslim shrines in Cyprus.
• Zenobia wreck: a ferry that sank off Larnaca in 1980 and now ranks among the best wreck dives in the Mediterranean. Dive centers in town run trips, but only for certified divers.
• Kamares Aqueduct: an 18th-century Ottoman aqueduct on the western edge of town, lit up at night.
• Day trips: Nicosia is less than an hour away, and the beaches of Ayia Napa and Protaras are within about 40 minutes by car.

Which area of Larnaca is right for you?

• Short break or no car: Finikoudes and the center.
• Beach and nightlife close to the airport: Mackenzie.
• Family resort holiday: Dhekelia Road.
• Quiet villa or long stay: Pervolia, Kiti or Mazotos.
• Winter sun: Finikoudes or Skala, where shops, cafés and restaurants stay open year-round.

Larnaca: good to know

• Season: the beach season runs from about May to October, while Larnaca’s mild winters make it popular for winter sun and walking. Our Cyprus winter flights guide shows which UK airports keep flying to Larnaca from November to March.
• Driving: cars drive on the left in Cyprus, as in the UK.
• Currency: euro (EUR).
• Mobile data: EU visitors can usually roam at home prices, but many UK mobile plans now charge a daily fee in Cyprus. Check your plan before you go, or buy a local data eSIM in advance, for example a Cyprus eSIM from Airalo (affiliate link).
• Plugs: Cyprus uses the same three-pin plugs (Type G) as the UK.

Getting to Larnaca

Larnaca International Airport is just a few kilometers south-west of the center, so transfers are short. Public bus 425 runs between the airport, Mackenzie and Finikoudes in about 20–25 minutes, with frequent departures in summer; check the current timetable with Cyprus Public Transport before you travel. Taxis wait outside the arrivals hall, or you can pre-book a private transfer with GetTransfer (affiliate link), which is handy for a late arrival or if you’re heading to the Dhekelia Road hotels or the villages. Airport shuttle buses also connect Larnaca Airport with Nicosia and Limassol. Our guide to getting from the airport compares every option.

For airlines and routes, read flights to Larnaca from the UK and Europe, and if you’re still choosing between the island’s two airports, see Larnaca or Paphos: which airport should you choose?

Plan the rest of your trip

• Where to stay in Ayia Napa and Protaras, about 40 minutes east
• Where to stay in Limassol, about 45–50 minutes west
• Where to stay in Paphos
• Cheap flights to Paphos from the UK

How we research: this guide is based on official sources and published airline and transport schedules, not on a sponsored visit. We checked this information on October 8, 2026. Schedules, routes and prices change, so confirm with the airline, operator or venue before you travel.

Sources

• Deputy Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Cyprus: visitcyprus.com
• Department of Antiquities, Cyprus (Larnaca Castle, Kamares Aqueduct, Choirokoitia, Hala Sultan Tekke): mcw.gov.cy/mcw/da
• UNESCO World Heritage List, Choirokoitia: whc.unesco.org
• UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, Lefkara laces (Lefkaritika): ich.unesco.org
• Cyprus Public Transport (bus routes and timetables): publictransport.com.cy
• Hermes Airports (Larnaca International Airport): hermesairports.com

Featured image: Finikoudes promenade and beach in Larnaca. Photo: A.Savin, January 8, 2017, via Wikimedia Commons (file “Larnaca 01-2017 img27 Finikoudes.jpg”), Free Art License (artlibre.org/licence/lal/en). Resized and compressed.