Larnaca

Larnaca's luxury properties are strung along the coastal road outside of the centre. The Golden Bay Beach Hotel (Larnaca-Dhekeleia Road) is fabulous if you're seeking a peaceful retreat with rooms snuggled amid lush gardens, overlooking the sea. The town centre, near Phinikoudes Beach, is where most of the mid-range and budget accommodation is based. Les Palmiers (Athens Street) has comfortable rooms with lots of natural light, while the spacious rooms at Achilleos City Hotel (Dimosthenous Mitsi Street) are also a good deal. For budget holidaymakers, the simple studio-style accommodation at Tuck Inn (95A Athens Avenue) is one of the best bargains in town.

Chewy Cypriot loukoumia (a local sweet), delicate handmade lace and locally made leather products can all be found on Larnaca Promenade, which borders the beach area from the marina down to the museum. An open-air market (Ermou Street) is held from 10am to 1pm every Sunday and is a great chance to rummage for cheap local crafts or just to check out how the locals shop. Larnaca's fashion and jewellery boutiques tend to have cheaper price tags than elsewhere in Europe so it's a good place to sniff out a designer bargain. Check out Bagatt for Italian leather and Joakim for jewellery (both on Zenonos Kittieos Street), and Calzedonia (Ermou Street) for beachwear.

It's all about Mediterranean flavours and good-value dining in Larnaca. Even slap-up feasts of Cypriot classics won't break the bank. Koutsonikolias Tavern (2 Agiou Vassiliou Street) does some of the best meze spreads in town while Abu Dany (3 Lordou Vyronos Street) is the local favourite for Levantine cuisine. Dionyssos Fish Tavern (7 Agkyras Street) serves up a tasty seafood menu right on the harbour. For a laid-back drinking den, you can't get more atmospheric than Art Café 1900 (6 Stasinou Street), with its walls crammed full of memorabilia and long wine list.

Larnaca Festival of Classical Music

April

One for classical lovers, the Larnaca Festival of Classical Music brings opera, orchestra, brass bands and chamber music to town for a series of concerts.

Cyprus Senior Cup

May

Part of the Tennis Europe circuit, this eight day-tournament for senior tennis players is a good chance to watch some live sporting action.

Larnaca Summer Festival

July

Dance, music and theatre, plus poetry readings and film screenings all feature on the programme of this festival which attracts international as well as local performers. Many of the events take place in the atmospheric courtyard of Larnaca's medieval fort.

Byzantine Days

July

A chance to discover a music tradition of old, the Byzantine Days Festival hosts concerts of authentic Byzantine music performed by ecclesiastical choirs and musicians. Most concerts are staged in the Agios Lazaros Church.

Larnaca Amateurs Artistic Creation

November

One of the best chances visitors have to see local musicians, dancers and actors perform. The Larnaca Amateurs Artistic Creation Festival brings together Cyprus' best performing artists, folk dance groups and musicians for a series of concerts, plays and events at the Larnaca Municipal Theatre.