Golden Bay, the five-star on the Larnaca coast

Larnaca has few five-star hotels, only two on its official list, and Golden Bay is the one outside town, facing the sea at the end of the tourist strip that runs towards Dhekelia. I go through its entry, its facilities and why it’s handy at the start or end of a trip. The others are in Larnaca hotels.

What the list says

The ministry’s Larnaca list of August gives it five stars, 193 rooms and 386 beds on the Larnaca-Dhekelia road. It carries the P of properties still being classified. It’s one of the district’s two five-stars, alongside Radisson Blu Larnaca, as listed in luxury hotels in Cyprus with the rest of the island.

What it offers

The hotel describes itself as a seafront five-star set in mature gardens. The main pool is lagoon-style, surrounded by lawns, and there’s an indoor pool with a jacuzzi, heated in winter. The spa, Golden Bay Spa by Cavo D’Oro, has a gym open from 09:00 to 20:00. There are two artificial-grass tennis courts with free equipment and lessons, and water sports through partner firms, from jet skis to water skiing. Children get a daily activities programme, a playground and an evening mini disco. Nearby there’s a sailing club and an archery club.

Once your dates are set, check which hotels are still free in Golden Bay Beach Hotel Larnaca before prices climb.

Practicalities

This is where the hotel makes life easy. Check-in is at 14:00, late check-out costs €40 until 16:00 and €60 until 18:00, parking is free and there are two electric car chargers at €0.50 per kWh. Reception hires out cars and bicycles, and there’s one accessible room with a walk-in shower. There’s no airport shuttle, but it books taxis, which take about 20 minutes. For Larnaca town, around 15 minutes away, there’s a bus stop at the entrance. If you’re hiring a car, read car hire in Cyprus first.

Getting there

The hotel gives 15 km to the airport on its homepage and 24.3 km by road in its directions, about 19 minutes. Those directions take you onto the A3 motorway, past the Kalo Chorio and Aradippou roundabouts. At check-in, photo ID is required for every booking. Connecting rooms are available too, but they have to be requested in advance and can’t be guaranteed. For the terminal and its services, see Larnaca airport, and the ways out of it in airport transfers.

If you would rather have a local show you round, book a guided tour in Larnaca and choose by the reviews.

My take

For the first or last night of a trip round the east of the island, or a few quiet beach days near the airport, I think it’s an excellent choice. For anyone wanting to stroll Finikoudes and eat in town every night, it’s too far out.

In 2026 the hotel also hosted the blitz chess tournament of Kataklysmos, Larnaca’s Festival of the Flood, according to the municipality.

A car frees you from timetables: search car hire in Larnaca on DiscoverCars and compare companies.

Once your dates are set, check which hotels are still free in Golden Bay Beach Hotel Larnaca before prices climb.