Larnaca Castle stands at the seafront end of the Finikoudes promenade, so you can pair a look around its historic rooms with a walk along the waterfront. From Tuck Inn, an aparthotel in Larnaca, the castle is about a three-minute walk, making this a compact stop in the city centre.
- Location: at the end of the Foinikoudes promenade on Leoforos Athinon.
- The museum’s artefacts span from the Early Christian period to the Ottoman period.
Where Larnaca Castle stands
Larnaka Medieval Castle stands at the end of the Foinikoudes promenade on Leoforos Athinon in Larnaka. That position makes the route easy to follow: visit the castle first, then step onto the seafront promenade for a longer stroll.
For a broader route through the area, read this one-day Larnaca walking itinerary.
What to see at the castle
The castle’s origins are disputed. One account dates its construction to the reign of King James I of Lusignan, from 1382 to 1398; 18th-century sources instead attribute it to the Ottomans in 1625. After the Ottoman period, the British used the building as a prison. Executions took place there, and the gallows remained in use until 1948.
Today, the castle houses the Larnaka Medieval Museum in three rooms. Its collection includes artefacts from the Early Christian period (4th–7th centuries) through the Ottoman period (18th–19th centuries). The castle is a square building with a central courtyard, used for cultural events, especially in summer.
To add another cultural stop nearby, read about the Pierides Museum and its collections.
How do you walk from the castle to the waterfront?
The castle sits at one end of Foinikoudes, a pedestrian seafront promenade that runs to Europe’s Square. You can simply leave the castle and continue along the promenade; palm trees have lined the seafront since they were planted in the 1920s.
Foinikoudes beach offers disabled access, including a special wheelchair at the lifeguard tower for assisted entry into the sea. If you’re planning more time by the water, compare Finikoudes, Mackenzie and Kastella beaches.
Checking opening hours and visitor access
Visit Cyprus lists the castle as open all year except on public holidays. Its seasonal schedule gives weekday hours of 08:00–17:00 in winter, from 16 September to 15 April, and 08:00–19:30 in summer, from 16 April to 15 September. Weekend hours are 09:30–17:00 in winter and 09:30–19:30 in summer.
Standard admission is €2.50. Organised groups of more than 10 people receive a 20% reduction, and the pensioner fee is €1.25. Department of Antiquities entry cards cost €8.50 for one day, €17.00 for three days or €25.00 for seven days. Visit Cyprus cautions that hours and fees may change, so check the official site before you go.
FAQs
Where is Larnaka Medieval Castle?
It stands on Leoforos Athinon at the end of the Foinikoudes promenade in Larnaka.
What is inside Larnaca Castle?
The castle houses the Larnaka Medieval Museum in three rooms.
Is the Finikoudes promenade pedestrian?
Yes. Foinikoudes is a pedestrian seafront promenade stretching between Europe’s Square and the castle.