Limassol is the financial hub of the island and popular with the Russian community. It’s also home to some of the top rated football clubs on the island – Apollon and Apoel. If you’re in the city it’s well worth catching a game.
Hiring a car in the city will let you explore the wine making country of the Commanderia region in the city’s hinterland. The fortified wine is the oldest in the world dating back to the time of the Crusaders. A good excursion in the city is a tour of the Keo factory where the dessert wine is made.
Limassol Mini Guide
Limassol is a major cosmopolitan city which is rich in culture with a powerful industrial centre and surrounded by valleys steeped in vineyards. The second biggest city in Cyprus, Limassol is situated at Akrotiri bay on the southern coast of Cyprus at the foothills of the Troodos Mountains.
Limassol combines the laid-back feeling and high quality of life in Cyprus with the hustle and bustle of a port which is visited by ships from all over the Mediterranean. Accordingly, Limassol is at the heart of tourism and trade on the island.
Limassol is where Richard the Lionheart married Berengaria in the Castle of Limassol/Lemesos. It is the home of the Greco-Roman theatre which can be found on the sea cliff overlooking the Mediterranean and also nearby is the Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates, the protector of the city of Curium. The Kaningos Museum has an interesting collection of antiquities which have been found in the district of Lemesos (Limassol), which date from the Neolithic age to the Roman.
There is always something happening in Limassol which is home to the Cyprus University of Technology and attracts a large number of tourists to see its green, tree-lined boulevards and the spacious beaches on its beautiful seafront.
Many visitors also go for its lavish festivals, such as the festival of Ancient Greek Drama and the Yermasogeia Flower Festival in May. Limassol also has a sporting tradition with successful football, basketball and volleyball teams. The old port of Limassol has seen a rich history including attacks from Egypt, the visit of English King Richard the Lionheart during crusading times and the British take-over in 1878.
The city has since been renovated and there are modern cafes next to old-style Cypriot taverns, giving it a unique feel. There is also a new port which accommodates a great flow of traffic from commercial vessels. Because of Limassol’s position on the coast it is within easy reach of neighbouring countries and it is possible to take a cruise to Greece, the Middle East or Egypt if you want to. This location has made it a city where the influences of the Middle East and Europe co-exist in harmony.
Limassol is especially famous for its wine production, and many Cypriot wine companies are based there because of the ideal growing conditions on the slopes of the nearby Troodos Mountains. These wines and cognacs are top quality, having won plenty of international prizes. Boat-lovers will fall in love with Limassol, especially thanks to the new planned 1,000 berth marina which will be ecologically friendly and have built-in entertainments such as a recreational centre, walking paths, and restaurants. There will also be a church built there.
To arrive in Limassol you can either fly into Paphos or Larnaca International Airport which are both equidistant from the city, about an hour’s drive away. It is worth having a car in Limassol as taxis are expensive and this gives you the opportunity to explore the beautiful Troodos Mountains.
Boasting the longest coastline of any city in Cyprus, in front of every hotel you will find a beach where you can relax or swim in the sea. There are plenty of beach bars and restaurants to suit everyone.
Ladies Mile Beach is only a 10-15 minute drive by car from the town centre and near the port.
The water there is shallow and very clear, so it’s safe for children, and the sand runs for miles so if you prefer some peace and quiet you will be sure to find it there. Alternatively for the more energetic Ladies Mile Beach is one of the most popular windsurfing spots on the island and also has many other water sports to offer.
The village of Pissouri has its own lovely beach with clean warm and safe waters to swim in along with a great beach of sand and shingle. In the summer there are plenty of water sports available and a diving school for anyone who would like to learn scuba diving.
There is a good variety of nightlife in Limassol to suit families, young people and those looking for a quiet drink, many bars and pubs stay open till 2am. In the centre of the tourist area of Limassol there is a small area/alley which is filled with bars which attract mainly the young party goers. At 2am when the bars close you can then move on to the nightclubs and discos which are nearby.
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