Best things to do in Larnaka District

Lined with palm trees, the wide Finikoudes Beach stretches along the main tourist promenade of the city. Rent a beach chair or spread your towel across the warm, soft sand and take in the open Mediterranean views at this widely popular, yet tranquil beach. You can try numerous water sports here and restaurants, bars, and cafes abound. Due to the beach's low incline, the shallow waters are suitable for children and non-swimmers. If you are an experienced diver, you can also view the world-famous Zenobia shipwreck at 42 m (138 ft) below the water's surface.

Church of Saint Lazarus has stood for over 1,000 years through lootings, destruction, and fires, thanks to centuries of work and restoration. According to Orthodox beliefs, the church is the resting place of Lazarus of Bethany--a man raised from the dead by Jesus Christ--who was forced to escape from Judea and chose to hide in Cyprus, where he died 30 years later for the second time. See this 31.5 m (103 ft) wide and 14.5 m (48 ft) tall church with three domes, featuring three internal aisles with bulky double pillars. Observe the wood and golden 18th-century iconostasis, which was heavily damaged by fire in 1970.

The Blue Flag Mackenzie Beach features shallow waters and fine gray sand, plus an array of water sports. Adjacent to tourist hotspots, this family-friendly site offers lounge chairs and umbrellas for rent, as well as areas where you can spread your own beach towel. Take a dip in the calm waters of the sheltered bay that stretches for about 1 km (0.6 mi) along the sea. If you like adventure, try out speed boating, sailing, and windsurfing here. Due to the proximity to the famous Zenobia shipwreck, you'll also have a chance to join a dive expedition from the site.

See Hala Sultan Tekke, an Islamic complex with a mosque, mausoleum, and a cemetery located alongside a salt lake. The cemetery dates back to the Bronze Age, two millennia BCE. According to popular belief, the remains of the Prophet Mohammed's foster mother also lies at the site. For that reason, it is considered one the highly sacred Muslim shrines of the world. Admire the pristine setting of the lake and the complex's subtropical landscape.

Grab the opportunity to see one of the world's top shipwreck dive sites, Zenobia Wreck. On June 7, 1980, this vessel, carrying over 300 million dollars' worth of goods including cargo of 104 trucks, sank due to a software error just outside of Larnaca port. Numerous extreme divers from all over the world have explored it. The site has become one of the most popular of its kind and was featured by numerous media sources. On a dive, you can observe the ship from some 15 m (50 ft) below the surface, or visit its interior parts and lowest portions, 42 m (138 ft) under the sea. Zenobia is the highlight of most of Cyprus' diving activities.

If you discover chunks of salt emerging from the earth, you may be at Larnaka Salt Lake. This spot serves as a migration point for pink flamingos, and it's home to Hala Sultan Tekke Mosque. Here you'll find a crystal-clear lake reflecting an image of one of the holiest shrines of Ottoman Islam surrounded by palm trees and flamingos--a common image at the site. Stretching across 1,585 hectares (3,920 acres) of scrubland, the lake hosts over 80 species of birds. The lake used to provide vast amounts of salt to the locals. During the dry months now, the entire place turns into a mixture of gray dust and piles of crusted salt.