All three have fine sand, calm and shallow water, lifeguards from June to October, and a Blue Flag in 2026. The difference is the day around the swim. Oroklini, east along the coast road, gives you the hotel strip, a nature reserve behind the beach and lunch on the water. Finikoudes puts the town on your doorstep, and Mackenzie has the bars and the planes coming in overhead.
We run a fish tavern in Oroklini, so we know this stretch best. The facts below come from the municipality, the tourism authority and the local press.
Our pick for lunch after the beach
Mer Bleue, Oroklini seafront. A family run fish tavern since 2004, with terrace tables a few steps from the water. Fresh fish from the daily display, a fish meze at 33 euro a head for two or more, grills and sushi. Open every day, 9:00 to 23:00. See the menu or book a table.
The three beaches side by side
| Oroklini (Yanathes) | Finikoudes | Mackenzie | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where | East along the Dhekelia road | The town seafront | About 3 km south of the centre, next to the airport |
| Beach | About 300 m of fine sand | About 600 m of fine sand | About 1 km of fine sand |
| Blue Flag 2026 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Lifeguards | June to October | June to October | June to October |
| Parking | Car and bike parking at the beach | Several car parks, free spaces hard to find in summer | Large municipal car park, paid |
| Character | Hotel strip, local plants, a wetland behind | Palm promenade, castle, marina, the busiest | Beach bars, clubs, DJs, planes overhead |
The Blue Flags come from the Larnaca Municipality announcement of June 2026, which also lists Kastella beach.
Oroklini: for the hotel strip and the lake
East of town, the Dhekelia road runs along a string of beach hotels in Oroklini. The Blue Flag beach here is Yanathes, 300 metres of fine sand with toilets, showers, changing rooms, sunbeds, parking for cars and bikes, and disabled access. The tourism authority describes it as suited to families and younger crowds. Behind the coast lies Oroklini Lake, a Natura 2000 wetland where flamingos winter. For lunch, Mer Bleue sits on the seafront about 1.2 kilometres west of Yanathes, the one fish tavern we know of right on this stretch of water.
The rebuilt Dhekelia road opened through Oroklini in July 2026, and its service roads are due to be finished by the end of October, so expect some works on the way in until then.
Finikoudes: for a day in town
Finikoudes is the town beach, right below the palm tree promenade, with the medieval castle at one end and the marina at the other. You can swim, walk into the old town for lunch and be back on the sand in the afternoon without a car. It is the busiest of the three. If you drive, there are municipal and private car parks nearby, but free spaces are hard to find in summer.
Mackenzie: for bars, music and planes
Mackenzie sits about three kilometres south of the centre, next to the airport runway, and planes come in low over the beach. It has the liveliest scene of the three, with beach bars, clubs and DJs. It suits a last swim before a flight. Since December 2025 the municipal car park is paid: the first 30 minutes are free, then 2.50 euro for up to three hours or 4 euro for up to seven, and it is free from 5:00 to 10:00.
Which beach for which day
- Lunch with your feet near the water: Oroklini, at Mer Bleue.
- Staying on the Dhekelia road: Oroklini, often a short walk from your hotel.
- A beach with nature behind it: Oroklini, with the lake and its flamingos in winter.
- No car: Finikoudes, with the town, buses and taxis all around it.
- Last day before a flight: Mackenzie, next to the airport.
- Nightlife: Mackenzie.
- Accessible swimming: all three areas appear on the tourism authority's 2024 list of accessible beaches, with floating wheelchairs.
Where to eat after the beach
After a day on the Oroklini side, walk over to Mer Bleue, a family run fish tavern on the seafront about 1.2 kilometres west of Yanathes beach. Tables sit a few steps from the water, a grilled sea bream is about 19 euro, and the fish meze is 33 euro a head for two or more. We are open every day from 9:00 to 23:00. See the menu, or read our Oroklini Beach guide for the walk along the bay.
If you end up in town instead, our guide to seafood restaurants in Larnaca by area covers Finikoudes and Mackenzie too, and restaurants by the sea in Larnaca shows where each table sits.
Questions people ask
What is the best beach in Larnaca?
It depends on your day. Yanathes in Oroklini sits on the hotel strip east of town, with a wetland behind it and fish taverns on the water nearby. Finikoudes is the town beach with the promenade and old town, and Mackenzie next to the airport has the bars and nightlife. All three have a 2026 Blue Flag.
Which Larnaca beaches have a Blue Flag in 2026?
Larnaca Municipality announced four Blue Flags for 2026: Finikoudes, Kastella, Mackenzie and Yiannades (Yanathes) in Oroklini.
Is parking free at Mackenzie beach?
No. Since December 2025 the municipal car park is paid: the first 30 minutes are free, then 2.50 euro for up to three hours or 4 euro for up to seven, and it is free from 5:00 to 10:00.
Are Larnaca beaches good for children?
Finikoudes, Mackenzie and Yanathes all have fine sand, calm shallow water and lifeguards from June to October. The tourism authority describes Yanathes in Oroklini as suited to families.
Where can I eat after a day at the beach in Oroklini?
Mer Bleue Beach Restaurant is a family run fish tavern on the Oroklini seafront, about 1.2 kilometres west of Yanathes beach, open every day from 9:00 to 23:00.
Out for the whole day? Check the Larnaca sea temperature by month, or see the terrace in the gallery.