Things To Do in Larnaca Area

Cape Greco has 9 hiking trails, the remains of a Venetian lighthouse and sea caves to explore. But, what most people look for when they come to this national park is a glimpse of the mysterious Ayia Napa Sea Monster. The locals reckon the creature lurks in the sea off Cyprus' south east coast. With 6 heads, 12 limbs and the body of a giant maiden, it would definitely be one for Facebook.

Better known as the Rock of Aphrodite, this is thought to be the birthplace of the goddess of love. Legend says if you swim around the rock 3 times you’ll find true love. And if you do it by moonlight, you’ll never age – just like Aphrodite. It's just a half-hour drive from Limassol and, if you bypass the motorway and head for the old road, you can enjoy fantastic coastal views en route.

This beach is perfect chill-out territory. You’ll find it in the resort of Pernera, at the northern end of the main Protaras strip. As for what you get, expect gold sands, calm seas, and a neat cluster of trees to laze under.

The governor’s palace and the houses of this ancient site were once the homes of wealthy Greeks – and it certainly shows. The real talking point is the spectacular mosaic floors. They depict scenes from ancient mythology, and are some of the best examples in Europe. The main sites are the House of Dionysos, the House of Aion and the House of Theseus.

For interior decoration with real wow factor, you can’t beat the spectacular Paphos Mosaics. Even 2,000 years after they were laid, they’re still eye-catching. The marble and stone squares depict scenes from Greek mythology, and back in Roman times, they were a sign of mega-wealth. The main sites are the House of Dionysos, the House of Aion and the House of Theseus.

If Petra Tou Romiou doesn’t ring any bells, its other name – the Rock of Aphrodite – probably will. This rocky outcrop near Pissouri village is said to be the birthplace of the goddess of love herself. Don’t be surprised if you spot a string of swimmers doing loops around the rock – if legend is to be believed, you’ll find true love if you swim round it 3 times.

Protaras’ most popular sandy spot – named Fig Tree Bay because of a lone tree by the beach – might not be the widest in Cyprus, but it more then makes up for it in length. The white sand goes on for miles and lines up every watersport you can name check.

This annual festival celebrates International Children’s Day, and it’s sees a string of fun activities ushered in for little ones. There are crafts, painting and pottery for the creative types, Cypriot cooking classes for mini chefs-in-the-making, and face painting, puppet shows and magicians for everyone else.

If you’re into plane-spotting, you’ll love this beach. It’s not far from Larnaca Airport, about a 45-minute drive from Ayia Napa, and the planes fly so low overhead they practically skim the beach towels lined up along the shore. As well as 787s, soft, caramel-coloured sand greets you here.

Stretching across most of Cyprus’ western side, the Troodos Mountains are home to 9 UNESCO-listed churches, a handful of old-world mountain villages and – in winter – ski fields. Plus, hike through these pine-clad hills and you might come face-to-face with one of Cyprus’ mouflon sheep. These woolly creatures are left to roam wild in the mountains here.

During the annual summer festival, village squares across the region spring to life with local dancing, traditional plays and fireworks displays. The most spectacular celebrations take place in Larnaca Town’s Pattichion Amphitheatre and the Medieval fort.

This golden beach fronts Larnaca Town’s centre, about 40 minutes’ drive from Nissi Beach. As such, it’s really lively, and comes with a backing of restaurants, bars and ice-cream counters to keep its many visitors happy. It’s also great for watersports – you can pay for things like jet skis, pedalos and banana boat rides.

The biggest mountain range in Cyprus, the Troodos Mountains have long provided a cool refuge from the searing heat of the coast. The Troodos National Forest Park covers an area of 90 square kilometres and, as well as pine forests, is home to babbling brooks, citrus groves and pretty villages. There are all sorts of wildlife here, too, including rare birds, and you’ll also find over 800 species of plants.

This ancient seaside city of Kourion, about a 15-minute drive from Protaras, showcases more than 1,000 years of Greek, Roman and early Christian history. The showpiece of the ancient site is its impressive Greco-Roman theatre, which was built back in the 2^nd century BC and has been painstakingly restored. It’s still used today, but the gladiatorial contests have been replaced with classical plays and concerts.

Europe’s biggest themed waterpark is set in the heart of Ayia Napa, and it’s been designed to look like an ancient Greek city. You’ll see rides like ‘The Quest of Heracles’, ‘Poseidon’s Wave Pool’ and ‘Aphrodite’s Bath’ sitting alongside replica temples and statues. Plus, there are plenty of white-knuckle numbers, like kamikaze slides and sudden-drop chutes.

You can’t miss Limassol Castle – it’s plum in the middle of the city's café and restaurant scene, and you’ll spot its chunky sandstone walls a mile off. Inside, there's the Medieval Museum – crammed with Ottoman pottery, crumbling tombstones and rusty suits of armour. And there are steps leading up to a rooftop terrace, where you’re greeted with widescreen views of the city below.

Lefkara is one of the prettiest villages in Cyprus. Set on the slopes of the Troodos Mountains, about an hour-and-a-half from Ayia Napa, it’s all stone houses, cobbled streets and balconies overflowing with blooms. It’s the association with lace that really puts it on the map, though. Apparently, Leonardo da Vinci stopped off in Lefkara in 1481 and bought some of the frilly cloth for Milan cathedral’s main altar. Production is still going strong today.

This white-sand cove is hidden in a national park about a mile up the road from Ayia Napa. It’s a Blue Flag award-winner, and is framed by pine trees and cliffs that shelter it from the wind. There’s just one café here, serving up classic Cypriot dishes. And, save for the starfish that frequent the shallow waters near the shore, visitors are few and far between.

Don’t get this place muddled with Egypt’s Valley of the Kings – there are no pharaohs here. Instead, it’s the burial place of about 100 aristocrats from the 3rd century BC. Their sleep hasn’t exactly been undisturbed – some tombs were used as workshops during the Middle Ages. While you’re here, take a look at the stone pillar which, according to legend, St Paul was tied to for preaching the news of Christianity.

Carved into the bedrock of a hill, about 2 miles from Paphos’ old harbour, these underground tombs are Cyprus’ star attraction. They date back to the 4th-century BC, and feature well-preserved frescoed walls and Doric columns. The caverns might not have actually been built for kings – it’s more likely they were for aristocrats and high officials – but that doesn’t make them any less impressive.

The remains of this centuries-old city are just outside Limassol, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Back in the day, Amathus was one of the biggest settlements on the island – nowadays it’s a bit worse for wear, but the city ruins are worth a good hour or two’s potter. Standout features include the marketplace, city walls and Aphrodite’s Temple.

True to its dual name, the capital city of Cyprus has 2 sides to its story. It was divided by Greece and Turkey in 1961, and is still the only divided capital in the world. The heart of the city is surrounded by 16th-century Venetian walls. Step inside them and you’ll find cobbled alleyways and Medieval-esque souvenir shops. In the modern part of the city, meanwhile, there are shopping malls, theatres and restaurants.

Despite the singular name, this is actually a chain of coves a few kilometres from the Larnaca-Limassol motorway. The waters here are really shallow, so kids are in their element. And as well as white cliffs, each cove is backed by a taverna set in leafy gardens.

There’s more than one reason to call in to the Kykkos Monastery, high up in the Troodos Mountains. First off, there’s the library of 15,000 books and more than 100 Greek manuscripts. Second, there’s one of the three surviving icons of Saint Luke, covered in silver gilt and stashed away in an elaborate shrine. On top of that, this place has an ornate golden altar and some intricately-painted frescoes.