Walks in Larnaca: 5 Interesting Places

Larnaca is made for walking: here you can stroll along the sea under the palm trees, turn from the promenade into the old neighbourhoods, watch birds by the Salt Lake or watch the sunset in Mackenzie. And in August 2026, the city gained another interesting place — after a major renovation, Pattichio Park reopened with an unusual elevated pedestrian bridge among the trees.

• Pattichio Park and the New Elevated Bridge
• Finikoudes Promenade
• A Walk Along the Salt Lake
• Mackenzie: Sea and Planes
• The Old Skala Quarter
• Frequently Asked Questions

Pattichio Park and the New Elevated Bridge

The newest place in our selection appeared in Larnaca literally in August 2026. After an extensive renovation, Pattichio Park reopened to visitors — Larnaca's largest urban park by area, located next to the Salt Lake.

The main architectural element of the renovated park is a circular elevated pedestrian bridge built around the existing Pattichio Amphitheatre. This is not an ordinary bridge connecting two banks or two parts of a street, but an independent walking route.

The structure gradually raises pedestrians above the park grounds, and on some sections the walk takes place almost at the level of the treetops. The bridge offers views of the green part of the park and towards the Salt Lake. It is particularly impressive here in the evening: the upper section of the route has already become a popular spot for watching the sunset.

Who Designed the Unusual Bridge?

The renovation project was developed by the Cypriot architectural firm Chrysanthos Chrysanthou & Associates. During the official presentation in September 2023, the project was presented by architect Chrysanthos Chrysanthou.

The architects initially set out to connect the new facilities with the park's natural surroundings and the neighbouring Salt Lake. The bridge was therefore conceived not only as a striking architectural object, but also as a way to view the familiar landscape from a different level.

Construction work was carried out by Miltiades Neophytou Civil Engineering Constructors & Developers Ltd.

How Much Did the Renovation Cost?

The contract for the work was signed on 28 September 2023, and construction began on 23 October 2023.

The initial value of the construction contract was approximately €5.27 million plus VAT. After the project was completed, publications about the renovation cited a total cost of around €6.6 million.

The project was implemented with co-financing from the European Union במסגרת the THALIA 2021–2027 programme.

The work was initially planned to take approximately 18 months, but the renovation was completed around eight months later than expected. The reasons given for the delay included project changes and restrictions on carrying out work during the summer due to the risk of fire.

Why Did the Renovation Spark Controversy?

The story of the new Pattichio Park was not entirely straightforward. The park is located next to the ecologically sensitive Larnaca Salt Lake area, which is part of the Natura 2000 conservation network, so the scale of the planned construction prompted objections from some residents.

One of the main issues was the amount of concrete and other artificial structures in the green zone. Following the public reaction, the initial project was revised.

Among other things, the planned sports facilities, skate park and car park in the Faneromeni area were excluded. More environmentally friendly materials were chosen for the pedestrian paths. The revised project was reviewed by the Environmental Authority and received a positive opinion in March 2024.

Thus, the park's current appearance is the result not only of the original architectural idea, but also of subsequent changes made with consideration for its location next to a protected natural area.

What Else Was Added to Pattichio Park?

The bridge is the most noticeable, but by no means the only result of the renovation. The upgrade affected a significant area of the park.

New pedestrian and cycling routes, a children's playground, an open-air sports area, a botanical garden with aromatic plants, and places for relaxation and picnics have been added.

Two viewing platforms facing the Salt Lake have also been created. The connection between the park and the lake became one of the project's main ideas.

The entrances, lighting, street furniture and the area around the amphitheatre were also upgraded. Pattichio Amphitheatre itself received new seats.

The park has toilets and parking spaces. The area was made accessible to pedestrians, cyclists and people with reduced mobility.

A new café-restaurant building with a rooftop viewing platform was also constructed. However, at the time the park opened in August 2026, the restaurant was not yet operating: the municipality was conducting a procedure to select an operator, and the opening was expected later.

When Did the Renovated Pattichio Park Open?

The work was completed and the park was handed over to the municipality in summer 2026. The renovated area became accessible to visitors in August 2026.

However, opening to the public and the official ceremony are not the same thing. The formal official opening was planned for autumn 2026.

So for now, this is genuinely one of Larnaca's newest urban attractions.

Where: Pattichio Park, next to Larnaca Salt Lake
What to see: circular elevated bridge, botanical garden, viewing platforms, amphitheatre
Suitable for: walks, families with children, cyclists, watching the sunset
Cost: park entry is free

Finikoudes Promenade

If Pattichio Park shows the new Larnaca, then Finikoudes is its classic image. This is the city's central promenade with a palm-lined avenue, beach, cafés and restaurants.

The name comes from the Greek word for small palm trees. The first palms were planted here back in the 1920s, and over time they became one of the city's calling cards.

It is convenient to start the walk from the marina area and head along the sea. On one side there will be the beach, and on the other — restaurants, cafés and city buildings.

At the southern end of the promenade stands Larnaca Medieval Castle. From here, you can continue your walk into the old part of the city and reach the Church of Saint Lazarus.

Finikoudes is especially pleasant in the evening, when the daytime heat subsides, the lights come on and the promenade becomes one of the centres of Larnaca's evening life.

Where: Larnaca city centre
What to combine it with: marina, Finikoudes Beach, Larnaca Castle, Church of Saint Lazarus
When to go: practically any time of year; in summer, mornings and evenings are especially comfortable

A Walk Along Larnaca Salt Lake

For a completely different walk, you only need to travel a short distance from the centre. Larnaca Salt Lake is not only a place where people come to see flamingos in winter, but also an area with an official nature walking trail.

The Larnaka Salt Lake Nature Trail is about 4 km long. The route has two main entry points: one is near the old Kamares Aqueduct, and the other is on the Artemis Avenue side.

Information boards about the local vegetation have been installed along the way, and there are benches. The route forms part of the European long-distance walking path E4.

The character of the lake changes considerably depending on the season. In winter, it fills with water and becomes a wintering ground for migratory birds. Flamingos can usually be seen here from November to March, although their numbers and presence on any given day depend on natural conditions.

In summer, the landscape is completely different: the water recedes, and the surface of the lake takes on a characteristic whitish hue.

The lake itself is a protected natural area and is included in the Ramsar and Natura 2000 networks. Birds should therefore be observed from a distance, and visitors should stay on the designated routes.

Walk to the Kamares Aqueduct

You can finish the walk at the Kamares Aqueduct. It was built in 1746 on the initiative of Larnaca's Ottoman governor, Bekir Pasha, and supplied the city with water from a spring approximately 10 km from Larnaca.

More than twenty arches have survived to this day. The structure looks particularly impressive in the evening, when the lights come on.

Nature trail length: about 4 km
Suitable for: a leisurely walk, observing nature and birds
Most interesting time: winter — because of the water and migratory birds; evening — for the sunset

Mackenzie: A Walk by the Sea and Planes Overhead

Mackenzie is another option for a long walk along the sea, but the atmosphere here is completely different from Finikoudes.

A wide promenade with cafés, restaurants and places to relax runs along the beach. You can walk or cycle along it, and in the evening the area becomes especially lively.

But Mackenzie became famous for more than just its beach. Larnaca Airport's runway is very close by, so planes approaching to land fly low over the beach area.

Plane watching has become a distinctive local attraction. However, the schedule and approach direction change, so it is not always possible to see a plane directly over the chosen point along the walk.

The route can be combined with Finikoudes: if you want to walk along the sea for a long time, you can gradually head south from the central part of the city towards Mackenzie.

Where: south of Larnaca city centre, near the airport
What is interesting: the sea, a long promenade, cafés and planes
When to go: in the morning or closer to sunset

The Old Skala Quarter

To see Larnaca from a completely different perspective, it is worth moving a few streets inland from the sea. Skala is Larnaca's old quarter south of the medieval castle.

Here, the walk is no longer centred around a particular attraction, but around the urban environment itself: narrow streets, low-rise houses, old façades, small workshops and details that are easy to miss if you limit yourself to Finikoudes.

Historically, Skala was a Turkish Cypriot quarter. After the events of 1974, the composition of the population changed, but the area retained a significant part of its traditional urban development.

Today, craft workshops operate here, including ones connected with ceramics. Skala is therefore well suited to a slow walk without a pre-planned route.

It is most convenient to combine it with the historic centre: Church of Saint Lazarus → old streets → Larnaca Castle → Skala → sea. This way, one walk can take in several completely different parts of the city.

Where: the area south of Larnaca Castle
What is interesting: traditional buildings, small streets, workshops
What to combine it with: Church of Saint Lazarus, the castle and Finikoudes

Which Walk Should You Choose?

If you want to see something new, it is worth starting with Pattichio Park and its elevated bridge. For your first walk around Larnaca itself, the logical choice is Finikoudes, continuing the route through the castle into the old quarters.

The Salt Lake is better suited to those looking for nature and open space, especially during the winter months. Mackenzie is a good option for the sea, sunset and plane watching, while Skala allows you to see the city without its familiar resort-style image.

These routes do not necessarily have to be taken separately. Larnaca is compact enough that several places can easily be combined into one extended walk.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where Is the New Pedestrian Bridge in Larnaca?

The new elevated pedestrian bridge is located in the renovated Pattichio Park next to Larnaca Salt Lake. It runs around the existing Pattichio Amphitheatre and forms part of the park's walking route.

When Did the New Bridge Open?

The bridge became accessible to visitors together with the renovated Pattichio Park in August 2026. Construction and the renovation of the area began in October 2023.

Who Designed the Bridge?

The Pattichio Park renovation project, including the circular elevated pedestrian bridge, was developed by the architectural firm Chrysanthos Chrysanthou & Associates.

How Much Did the Pattichio Park Renovation Cost?

The initial construction contract was valued at approximately €5.27 million plus VAT. After the work was completed, the total project cost was reported to be around €6.6 million. The project was co-financed by the European Union under the THALIA 2021–2027 programme.

Do You Have to Pay to Visit Pattichio Park?

No, Pattichio Park is a public urban park, and entry is free for visitors.

Can You See the Salt Lake from the New Bridge?

Yes. One of the ideas behind the renovation was to visually connect the park with the nearby Salt Lake. In addition to the elevated walking route, separate viewing points facing the lake have been provided in the park.