Weekends
Larnaca: what a sub-one-hour flight changes about planning
Cyprus is the shortest flight from Israel, and because of that the usual rules for a weekend abroad behave differently.
Under an hour, and what that buys
The flight to Larnaca is about 0.9 hours — the shortest from Israel. In practice that means a Cyprus weekend still works when you leave in the afternoon, which is very nearly untrue of anywhere else.
It also widens the list of operators: El Al, Israir, Arkia, Tus Airways, Cyprus Airways and Wizz Air all fly it. The booking window we aim at is correspondingly short — three to eight weeks — and the cheaper days are usually Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
Larnaca airport is about 8km from town. Bus 425 or 429 takes roughly a quarter of an hour to the centre, and a taxi is about €15.
Two seafronts, two holidays
Mackenzie is the front row on the sea with the restaurants — and it is also under the approach path. Finikoudes is quieter at night. That is very nearly the whole difference, and it is worth choosing deliberately rather than discovering.
Budget: Larnaca town centre and Drosia. Mid: Finikoudes and Mackenzie. Premium: the Mackenzie beachfront, and Pyla / the Dhekelia coast.
When the sea is warm, and when this is not a beach destination at all
Peak is July and August. The recommended window is May–June or September–October: warm sea without August pricing.
And the note that prevents the most disappointment: from November to April Cyprus is pleasant for touring but the sea is cold. In those months it is a touring destination, not a beach one — and a beach holiday booked in February is a different holiday from the one imagined.
The car, and the left-hand side
There are buses in town, but for exploring the island a hire car is close to essential. Cyprus drives on the left.
Most cars are automatic, but that is worth confirming on the booking rather than assuming. And if this is your first time driving on the left, take the first day slowly.
No visa is required for Israeli passport holders: Cyprus is in the EU and stays of up to 90 days are permitted.
Larnaca is the one destination where an afternoon departure still gives you a whole weekend. Choose between Mackenzie and Finikoudes on how quiet you want it, aim at May–June or September–October, and remember that in winter it is a touring destination rather than a beach one.
Where to go from here
The facts in this article come from our own destination knowledge. They are not a measured price: prices on this site always carry the date they were measured.
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