Handily located in the Eastern Med, Cyprus has set its sights on becoming a top nautical destination. A handful of dazzling marina projects, backed by the government, have been launched recently – some are completed, others have suffered delays. We peer through our spyglass to bring you a quick update on where you can park your boat on this scenic island…
Sea dog or landlubber, we all love a gentle stroll around a marina or watching the sun set behind bobbing boats, halyards chiming against masts in the soft breeze.
Where better to enjoy this than in Cyprus, which has embraced nautical tourism in recent decades? The island’s current tally of four operational leisure marinas, namely at Limassol, Ayia Napa, St Raphael and Larnaca, will become five when the new Paralimni Marina opens for business. And when plans to extend Latchi Marina and build a whole new one at Paphos come to fruition, the total should rise to seven. But that’s a few years off yet.
Meanwhile, Larnaca’s Marina is overdue for an upgrade. An ongoing dispute between the government and the concession holder for redeveloping the current site has delayed things. A decision on the project’s future is due as this story was published.
Here is an update on Cyprus’s leisure maritime offering as of May 2024.
Aerial view of Limassol Marina
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Limassol – top of the pile
Cyprus’s second city is the epicentre of its maritime activity, as well as home to its burgeoning high-end property market. Things changed for Limassol with Turkey’s occupation of Northern Cyprus in 1974 – overnight it became the island’s principal seaport, taking over from Famagusta.
Limassol was the natural choice for the island’s first superyacht marina, which opened in 2014 as part of a major mixed-use development on the site of its disused shipyard area. One of few true superyacht hubs in the eastern Mediterranean, today Limassol Marina remains a landmark infrastructure project in the recent history of Cyprus. A short stroll from the city’s beaches, historic sites and old town, it boasts 650 berths for yachts up to 110 metres.
More than just a marina, the development includes 285 residential units, made up of small waterside apartment blocks and luxury villas with private berths or exclusive water space, with access to world-class fitness, leisure, dining, shopping and cultural amenities.
Marina in St Raphael
St Raphael – one of the first!
Just 15 minutes east of Limassol city centre is the all-inclusive five-star St Raphael Resort with its marina. At the time of opening in 1986, it was the first and largest privately owned marina in the Eastern Mediterranean. Today the marina has 237 berths for yachts up to 30 metres and offers all modern amenities. The leisure amenities, restaurants and beachfront of the resort are all just a short stroll away.
Luxury yacht moored in the new Ayia Napa marina
Ayia Napa – sparkling new superyacht resort
The most recent of Cyprus’s flagship developments, the recently opened Ayia Napa Marina is the island’s second geared towards superyachts and a luxury lifestyle. Located between the beaches of Ayia Thekla and Makronisos just west of the main tourist resort, the new world-class marina has 360 berths for yachts up to 110 metres, as well as 240 dry berths. The marina opened in summer 2020, followed by the commercial zone – the largest in the Famagusta district – a year later, with the various residential phases just about completed. Besides luxury beachfront and waterside villas, the centrepieces of the development are the two twisted-design apartment blocks. Amenities include international-branded restaurants and bars, boutique shopping and fitness and leisure facilities.
Ayia Napa is part of the recently formed Eastern Mediterranean Marinas Network (EMMN), whose other members include marinas at Rhodes, Symi and Kos. EMMN was created to promote nautical tourism in the Eastern Med and enable member marinas and their clients to benefit from each other.
Sea port city of Larnaca, Cyprus
Larnaca – on the cusp of an upgrade?
Cyprus’s third-largest city, Larnaca, is also home to the island’s second-largest port and oldest marina. It is popular for its central location, being next to Phinikoudes, a palm tree-lined promenade, and a short stroll from the historic city centre. Larnaca Airport is only 15-20 minutes’ drive. In its current format, the marina has around 350 berths (accommodating up to 450) for yachts up to 50m.
In 2020, a contract worth €1.2billion and commencing in 2022 was awarded to operate and redevelop the marina and port area. It would become the largest project of its kind in Cyprus’s history. But progress has been slow and the government is currently in a dispute with the concession-holder. The master plan includes a state-of-the-art new marina with circa 650 berths for yachts up to 115 metres and a new port that could accommodate the world’s largest superyachts. Development phases include commercial, residential and educational elements.
Paralimni, Famagusta sees a lot of property action.
Paralimni – a new star in the east
In the advanced stages of construction, the new Paralimni marina at Pernera will become the second leisure marina in the Famagusta district and the fifth on the island once it opens. Complementing the 300 berths of the new marina, the development includes 195 residential units, predominantly waterside apartments, as well as 27 spaces for commercial use, including restaurants, bars and retail outlets.
Aerial view of Latchi port
Latchi & Paphos – ones to watch!
Not to be left behind, western Cyprus has two potential maritime developments in the pipeline. After three decades of deliberating, plans for a new marina in the Paphos area are inching towards being realised. Local press reports that tenders for the project, the site of which is near the coastal village of Kissonerga, could be announced this year. Meanwhile, the small harbour at Latchi (Latsi) in Polis Chrysochous has been earmarked for expansion, with plans put forward for 350 new yachting berths and new marina facilities, in addition to the small boat berths currently there.
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