Cyprus rewards the curious. On the coast, Larnaca (Larnaka) pairs palm-lined promenades and shallow-blue beaches with a deep past—Byzantine churches, Ottoman heritage, and a salt lake glowing pink with winter flamingos. Inland, Nicosia (Lefkosia) is Europe’s last divided capital, a living museum of layered cultures inside its 16th‑century Venetian walls.

In four days you’ll trace a neat line from seaside ease to old-town intrigue. Expect mornings with strong Cypriot coffee, afternoons wandering sunlit alleys and galleries, and evenings devoted to meze—small plates that turn dinner into a long, storytelling ritual. If you’re craving nature, bolt on a boat day to Cape Greco’s Blue Lagoon or a foodie foray into the Troodos Mountains.

Practical notes: the euro is the currency; English is widely spoken; driving is on the left. To walk from South to North Nicosia, carry your passport for the Ledra Street checkpoint (no stamp issued). Spring and autumn are balmy; winter is mild and great for museums and meze; summer brings warm seas and long beach days.

Larnaca (Larnaka)

Laid-back and walkable, Larnaca is a fine place to exhale. The Finikoudes promenade slides along a sandy city beach, while Mackenzie hums with waterside bars. Inland, Saint Lazarus’s 9th‑century church anchors a honey-stone quarter, and just beyond town the Salt Lake mirrors skies and, in winter, flamingos.

• Top sights: Church of Saint Lazarus; Larnaca Medieval Castle; Hala Sultan Tekke at the Salt Lake; Finikoudes and Mackenzie Beaches; Psarolimano fishing harbor.
• Local flavor: Classic kleftiko at Militzis, fish meze at Zephyros, and retro ambiance with Cypriot plates at Art Café 1900.
• Fun fact: The story goes that Lazarus—yes, that Lazarus—became the first bishop of Kition (ancient Larnaca) after his resurrection.

Where to stay (Larnaca): Beachfront polish at The Ciao Stelio Deluxe Hotel; value and a central base at Onisillos Hotel; resort-style pools and gardens at Palm Beach Hotel & Bungalows. Or browse apartments and villas on VRBO Larnaca or hotels on Hotels.com Larnaca.

Getting in: Fly into Larnaca (LCA). Within Europe, compare fares on Omio (flights). From outside Europe, search Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Nicosia (Lefkosia)

Nicosia is Cyprus in microcosm—medieval walls, Ottoman caravanserais, British-era facades, and modern cafés stitched together by sunlit lanes. The Old Town’s museums unpack 10,000 years; across the Green Line, Selimiye Mosque and Büyük Han add a different cadence.

• Top sights: Cyprus Museum (don’t miss the terracotta warriors of Ayia Irini), Leventis Municipal Museum, Ledra Street and its rooftop views, Famagusta Gate, and the Venetian bastions.
• Eat and drink: Legendary meze at Zanettos (since 1938), souvlaki at Piatsa Gourounaki, seasonal Cypriot plates at To Anamma, and destination cocktails at Lost + Found Drinkery. Craft beer? Pivo Microbrewery.
• Coffee culture: Brunch at Edem’s Yard, specialty shots at Brew Lab, or a slow Cyprus coffee in a sun-dappled courtyard.

Where to stay (Nicosia): Browse boutique stays and apartments on Hotels.com Nicosia or VRBO Nicosia.

Larnaca → Nicosia: Morning intercity bus, ~55–70 minutes, about €4–7 one-way. Check schedules and book regionally on Omio (buses), or pay onboard if buying locally.

Day 1: Arrive in Larnaca • Promenades, Saint Lazarus, and Seaside Meze

Morning: Fly into Larnaca (LCA). If arriving early, drop bags and stretch your legs along Finikoudes Beach—the palm-lined boardwalk sets the holiday rhythm. Grab a first Cyprus coffee and tahinopita (sesame tahini pastry) from a bakery on the strip.

Afternoon: Wander the old quarter to the 9th‑century Church of Saint Lazarus; step inside for icons and cool stone. Continue to the Larnaca Medieval Castle and Psarolimano harbor to watch the day’s catch come in.

Evening: Dinner at Militzis for crackling-skinned kleftiko and tangy village salad; or go harbor-side at Zephyros for fish meze—grilled octopus, calamari, and red mullet. Nightcap at Ammos Beach Bar or Lush Beach Bar Resto on Mackenzie: DJs, sea breeze, and long drinks under string lights.

Day 2: Coast Adventure—Cape Greco Blue Lagoon or Waterpark Fun (from Larnaca)

Choose your flavor: a photogenic Blue Lagoon circuit with sea caves and cliff vistas, or a splashy day at Europe’s myth-inspired waterpark in Ayia Napa. Both are easy from Larnaca.

• Cape Greco Blue Lagoon & Ayia Napa Tour (from Larnaca): Scenic coves, Konnos Bay, and crystalline swims, with time in Ayia Napa’s old harbor. Book on Viator

  

• WaterWorld Themed WaterPark (Ayia Napa): A full day of rides themed on Greek myths—Aeolos Whirlpool, Poseidon’s Wave Pool, lazy river sections for downtime. Great for families and hot days. Admission ticket

  

• Food & Wine People? Trade the coast for a culinary road trip into the Troodos—village bakeries, boutique wineries, and a sit-down Cypriot feast, with transport included. Troodos Mountains Villages: All Inclusive Food & Wine Day Tour

  

Back in Larnaca, linger over dinner at Art Café 1900 (try afelia—red-wine pork with coriander) or graze mezze at To Kafe Tis Chrysanthi’s in a leafy courtyard. For a low-key night, stroll Finikoudes with gelato.

Day 3: Larnaca → Nicosia • Museums, Ledra Street, and Old-Town Meze

Morning: Bus from Larnaca to Nicosia (~55–70 minutes; about €4–7). Use Omio (buses) to compare departures, or buy onboard. Drop bags, then start at the Cyprus Museum—prehistoric ceramics and Bronze Age gold set the scene for the island’s story.

Afternoon: Walk the walled city: Famagusta Gate, Faneromeni Square, and the bastions. Browse the Leventis Municipal Museum for everyday life exhibits, then amble down Ledra Street. If you want, cross the checkpoint to North Nicosia (passport required) to see Büyük Han and Selimiye Mosque.

Evening: Book a table at Zanettos—a procession of meze arrives until you say stop: sheftalia, smoked lountza, village sausages, and garden dips. After, sip award-winning cocktails at Lost + Found Drinkery (ask for something with commandaria for a local twist) or try Cypriot craft pints at Pivo Microbrewery.

Day 4: Nicosia Slow Morning • Return to Larnaca and Departure

Morning: Brunch at Edem’s Yard (fluffy pancakes, shakshuka) or espresso at Brew Lab. Loop Laiki Geitonia’s narrow lanes for last souvenirs—silverwork, olive-wood spoons, handmade lace. If time allows, climb a Ledra Street terrace for a final panorama over domes and ramparts.

Afternoon: Bus back to Larnaca (~1 hour) for your flight. If you have a buffer, swing by Mackenzie Beach for a sea-view bite—grilled halloumi and a Greek salad work wonders before travel.

Evening: Departure from LCA. If staying on, pivot to a relaxed seafood dinner at Psarolimano and watch the fishing boats bob under the lamps.

Dining notes and hidden gems: In Larnaca, Maqam Al-Sultan on Finikoudes plates excellent Lebanese grills and mezze; at Mackenzie, Re.Buke Lounge is stylish without being stuffy. In Nicosia, Piatsa Gourounaki serves smoky pork souvlaki and pita; To Anamma leans traditional with clay-oven stews; vegetarians love Elysian Plant‑Based Kitchen Bar for creative mains and desserts.

Seasonal tip: From roughly November to March, pink flamingos feed on Larnaca Salt Lake—bring binoculars and a long lens. Summer swimmers should time Cape Greco boat trips for late morning to early afternoon for the best light in the coves.

Trip planning tools: For Europe-origin flights use Omio; from beyond Europe check Trip.com or Kiwi.com. For bus options within Cyprus, try Omio (buses). Book Larnaca hotels on The Ciao Stelio Deluxe Hotel, Onisillos Hotel, or Palm Beach Hotel & Bungalows; or browse Hotels.com Larnaca and VRBO Larnaca; for Nicosia, see Hotels.com Nicosia and VRBO Nicosia.

In four days, this Larnaca-to-Nicosia itinerary threads beaches, shrines, museums, and memorable meals into a compact, story-rich sweep. Come for the sun and sea; leave with a pocketful of flavors, a feel for Cyprus’s layered history, and a vow to return.