Top 10 Lighthouses in Cyprus
Cyprus sits at the eastern end of the Mediterranean where the Levant coast, the Anatolian shelf, and the Egyptian approaches converge. Its position has made it a maritime crossroads since the Bronze Age, when Cypriot copper — from which the island takes its name — was traded across the ancient world. The island's lighthouse history reflects its successive colonial administrations: Ottoman structures built or improved from the seventeenth century onward, and then a more systematic British programme carried out after 1878, when Britain assumed the protectorate of Cyprus from the Ottomans and began upgrading the island's ports and navigation aids. The Department of Merchant Shipping, based in Limassol, maintains the current network of lights.
1. Paphos Lighthouse, Paphos District
The lighthouse at Paphos, on the south-western coast, is one of the most photographed in Cyprus. It stands in the grounds of the Paphos Archaeological Park, within metres of the Roman mosaic floors of the House of Dionysus, and the juxtaposition of the white-painted Victorian column against the ancient harbour ruins is striking. The tower was built in 1888 during the British administration, a round masonry structure about 22 metres tall, painted white with a red lantern. Its Fl W 4s character reaches about 16 nautical miles over the approaches to the new Paphos harbour. The lighthouse is not normally open to visitors — it is an active light within a fenced compound — but it is clearly visible from the archaeological park and from the coastal path.
2. Cape Greco Lighthouse, Famagusta District
Cape Greco, the south-eastern cape of Cyprus, is the island's most exposed navigational point toward the Levant. The lighthouse here is a white cylindrical concrete tower of about 12 metres, standing on the dramatic limestone cape within a national forest park. Its Fl(3) W 15s character marks the cape for vessels approaching from the east and south. Cape Greco is accessible by road from Agia Napa; the park contains sea caves, snorkelling sites, and a small chapel. The lighthouse can be photographed from the road above the cape, and the surrounding area offers excellent walking trails along the cliff edge.
3. Cape Kiti Lighthouse, Larnaca District
Cape Kiti, south-west of Larnaca on the south coast, marks a shoal extending from the cape into the approaches to Larnaca Bay. The lighthouse was first established during the British period and the current structure is a modest white tower standing on the flat coastal plain near the ancient church of Angeloktisti. Its light, Fl(2) W 10s, covers the Larnaca approaches and the busy shipping lane leading toward the port. The area is accessible by road from Perivolia village; the lighthouse is an active station and not open to the public, but it can be seen from the coastal track.
4. Kyrenia Lighthouse (Girne), Northern Cyprus
The lighthouse at Kyrenia harbour, on the north coast in the Turkish-administered northern part of the island, marks the entrance to one of the most picturesque medieval harbours in the Mediterranean. The tower is a small white column integrated into the quayside near the Kyrenia Castle; though modest in scale, it is photographed constantly by visitors to the castle and harbour. Kyrenia was the northern Cyprus's main commercial port through the Ottoman and British periods; the castle contains the remains of a fourth-century BC merchant vessel, the oldest recovered shipwreck in the world still on display at its site of recovery.
5. Cape Andreas Lighthouse, Karpaz Peninsula
At the extreme north-eastern tip of the Karpaz Peninsula — the 'tail' of Cyprus — Cape Andreas carries a lighthouse that marks the approach to the narrow channel between Cyprus and Turkey. The cape, named after the Apostle Andrew, houses the monastery of Apostolos Andreas, a major pilgrimage site for Greek Cypriots that has been under restoration since a 2015 agreement. The lighthouse is a functional concrete tower; the remoteness of the site, accessible only by an unpaved road the length of the peninsula, makes it one of the least-visited lighthouse stations on the island.
6. Limassol Pier Light
At the entrance to Limassol port, Cyprus's principal commercial harbour, a pier light marks the channel for the large container vessels and tankers that call at the eastern Mediterranean's busiest transshipment port. The structure is a functional steel-and-concrete tower; it lacks the architectural interest of the older coastal lighthouses, but Limassol's port handles a significant portion of the maritime trade between Europe and the Middle East.
7. Akrotiri Peninsula Light
The Akrotiri Peninsula, the southern sovereign base area of the British Armed Forces, has a lighthouse on its southern tip that marks the approach to Akrotiri Bay and Limassol from the west. The light is maintained by the base and is an active navigation aid for the considerable maritime traffic passing south of Cyprus. The peninsula is a nature reserve and a vital staging point for migratory birds.
8. Zygi Light, Limassol District
At the small harbour of Zygi, between Limassol and Larnaca, a pier light marks the entrance to the fishing harbour. Zygi is known for its fish restaurants and its proximity to the ancient site of Kalavassos-Tenta; the harbour light is a modest structure, but the waterfront setting, with the Troodos foothills rising inland, makes the village a pleasant stop on the coastal route.
9. Larnaca Pier Light
The entrance to Larnaca Marina and the adjacent commercial port is marked by a pier light at the end of the breakwater. The marina is the main base for yacht cruising in southern Cyprus and handles a large volume of charter vessels; the entrance light is an essential reference point for vessels arriving in reduced visibility or at night. The marina waterfront, with its promenade and fish taverns, is the centre of Larnaca's tourist district.
10. Cape Dolos (Kavo Gkreko Area) Secondary Light
A secondary light near Cape Greco provides additional coverage for the inner waters of Famagusta Bay and the approaches to Paralimni. The structure is a simple post light on the limestone headland, forming part of the coordinated system of lights that defines the eastern approaches to Cyprus for vessels coming from Israel, Lebanon, and Egypt.
The government-controlled area lighthouses are maintained by the Department of Merchant Shipping, and most active stations are not open to the public. The best lighthouse visits in Cyprus are the Paphos archaeological park (where the lighthouse is visible from the public area) and Cape Greco (accessible on foot through the national forest park). Spring — April and May — offers ideal conditions with wildflowers, mild temperatures, and good visibility over the sea. Open the map to locate every Cypriot light aid and plan your itinerary.