Limassol
Introduction
Limassol, also called Lemesos, sits on the southern coast of Cyprus and is the island's most populated municipality. It is also the capital of the Limassol District.
Beyond the city itself, Limassol anchors one of Cyprus's largest urban areas, second only to Nicosia.
Before you go
Limassol is a major tourist destination and a principal hub for international business in Cyprus, which gives it a more cosmopolitan feel than other district centres on the island. Renovation projects in the old town and old port area are rejuvenating the historic centre, making it more accessible and interesting for sightseeing, so expect parts of the centre to be in transition. Before you go, check the Limassol Tourism Board website for local information.Getting there
Limassol sits roughly a 40-minute drive from both Larnaca International Airport (LCA) and Paphos Airport (PFO). Larnaca mainly handles traditional airlines, while most Ryanair flights land at Paphos. Official airport taxis run on a fixed fare that has not been updated in years, so in practice drivers will quote you a higher price per car with luggage; pre-booked transfer companies found online tend to come in a little cheaper, and transfers from Larnaca are slightly cheaper again. A regular shuttle bus also links both airports with Limassol, but arrange your pick-up carefully, as the shuttle stops sit away from the central areas, and the driver may be able to help you arrange a taxi onward.
If you are already in Larnaca or Paphos rather than coming straight from an airport, intercity buses run to Limassol; they are usually green, stop in several places within the origin and destination cities, and make no stops once on the highway, with routes also serving Troodos and Nicosia. Limassol Airport Express runs a direct shuttle from either airport roughly every hour, with tickets sold at a desk in the airport, though its final stop is next to Agios Georgios Havouzas Church in the outer suburbs, so plan on a taxi or rental car for the last stretch. Travel Express operates shared minibuses between the major towns, can pick up from both airports, and takes you door to door; it costs more than the intercity buses but far less than a taxi, and bookings must be made in advance. By sea, Limassol has the island's biggest commercial port plus a reasonable passenger port, with regular cruise routes including Louis Cruise Lines from Agios Nikolaos (Kriti), Beirut, Haifa, Port Said and Rhodes, and St. Raphael Marina on the outskirts; Scandro Holding also runs a ferry between Piraeus and Limassol, crossing once or twice a week in summer and fortnightly off-season.
Getting around
Limassol is long and linear rather than compact, stretching east along the coast from the historic centre around the castle and Old Port, so how you get around depends on where you're staying. Three roads form the backbone of most journeys: the Beach Road, Makarios Avenue, and Griva Digeni, which becomes Kolonakou and then Spyros Kyprianou as it continues east. There is no rail, metro or tram network, so your practical options are buses, taxis, bicycles, rental cars and walking.
- By bus: The city service has more routes and better schedules than it once did, but waiting times can still be long. The principal route for visitors is the #30, running along the beach road from the Le Meridien hotel up to the New Port and on to the Old Port, roughly every 15 minutes. Detailed information and maps are on the EMEL bus company website. Green intercity buses connect Limassol with Larnaca, Paphos, Nicosia and Troodos, with multiple stops in each city but none on the highway.
- By taxi: Taxis are the most popular way for tourists to get around, but they are expensive and drivers commonly ignore the meter. Sharing a taxi can work out to a more reasonable fare. Bolt calls an official taxi and runs the meter through the app; the initial value is slightly higher than hailing one yourself, but drivers usually stick to the app, especially if you pay within it. Availability is patchy and cars are regularly unavailable. You're unlikely to catch a taxi even a kilometre or two from the few central tourist spots, and companies may decline to send a car, particularly outside the ring road or at peak hours. Business cards handed out by drivers typically represent the same taxi companies. Expect to pay more than the official rate, and don't count on finding a taxi outside the city or in a random location.
- By bicycle: The beach road has a dedicated bicycle lane from the Old Port to the Dasoudi area, though it gets very hot in summer, so plan rides for cooler parts of the day. Shared bikes operated by Nextbike are available in the centre and along the lane to the east, with the easternmost location near the Grand Resort, well beyond the centre.
- By car: Driving here mirrors the rest of Cyprus — often aggressive, with a lax attitude toward traffic rules. Fixed red-light and speeding cameras are installed across the city, and you're most likely to encounter them along the coastal road. Traditional rental is available at both airports and within Limassol. RideNow offers minute-by-minute rental covering nearly the whole city, often significantly cheaper than a taxi for short trips; cars are scattered throughout most areas and rented via an app, but you must hold a European driving licence to create an account.
- On foot: Walking works well within the historic centre around the castle and Old Port, and along the beachfront, but the linear layout means longer hops between the centre and the eastern suburbs are better done by bus, bike or taxi.
Where to stay
Limassol has a wide range of places to stay. Alongside local luxury and boutique hotels, you'll find many branches of international hotel chains, and low-budget accommodation is easy to come by. Renting a private apartment or villa is an increasingly popular option, and studio apartments with cooking facilities are plentiful, available for both long and short stays.
- L'Onda — the forerunner of a new wave of boutique hotels; pricy but classy, with a highly rated and expensive restaurant and a good selection of local wines. Popular with locals and tourists alike.
- Parklane Resort & Spa (formerly Le Meridien) — considered one of the best hotels on the island, but you pay for what you get.
- Amathus Beach Hotel — a member of The Leading Hotels of the World; a five-star hotel that does not belong to a globalised conglomerate but is nonetheless a worthy rival.
- Four Seasons — a five-star hotel, not affiliated with the global Four Seasons chain. A room facing the road can mean noisy nights, as the road becomes a race track for locals after dark.
Food & drink
For a filling, affordable meal, look to kebab, or try the popular mousaka and kleftiko. Your best bet, especially if you are hungry, is a traditional Cyprus meze, meat or fish, which brings a spread of small hot and cold dishes at a reasonable price. Seek out places that cater to locals rather than colourful tourist cafes, which tend to be over-priced and serve low-quality sandwiches or English breakfasts; you should not hit a language barrier, as virtually everyone speaks English. Budget options cluster in the city centre, including Hfwlia Tou Koukou, Sykaminia Cook Shop, Megaro Restaurant, Souvlaki Livadias, Fries with Benefits, Manoushe Lebanese Food & Bakery and Diomedes Psistaria. In the Yermasoyia tourist area you will find Monastiraki Athens, Aristos & Kiki Kebab House and Rio Bravo Saloon. Mid-range choices include Kyrenia Fish Tavern, a beach-side spot in Yermasoyia, Ocean Basket Germasogeia, a Syrian restaurant in the same area, and Draught Microbrewery in the Carob Mill next to Limassol Castle, which specialises in grills. For a splurge, consider The Steak House at the old port, Dionysus Mansion or CETI Locale. Major western chains are present too, among them McDonald's, KFC, Burger King, Pizza Hut, TGI Fridays and Taco Bell. Limassol has a reputation among locals as the party capital of Cyprus, powering on through winter when Ayia Napa hibernates, and drawing a local crowd especially during carnival season. Potamos Yermasoyia is packed with bars and pubs for every taste and budget, while the old medieval town centre is more popular with locals and offers classier, pricier establishments. Most hotels have their own bars, often open to non-residents. Sport is religion here, so sports bars abound and football is everywhere, particularly the British and Greek leagues; if a big European match is on, book ahead or you may struggle to find a table. Tap water is generally safe to drink, and most apartments and hotels provide a separate tap for water that bypasses the roof storage tank. Try zivania, the local equivalent of grappa or eau de vie, though frozen shots are best approached with caution, and Commandaria, a sweet dessert wine speciality of Limassol worth tasting after a meze. Coffee shops are scattered throughout the city, with popular chains including Nero, Starbucks, Costa and Coffee Island, most offering bottled beer, water, soft drinks and free WiFi. For something more local, GSpot Beach Cafe is a laid-back beachfront spot on the coastal road near Limassol Zoo, popular with locals for coffee or a smoothie. Mid-range drinking includes Chesters, an Irish-style bar in the tourist area, Salut Bar & Restaurant near Saripolou Square with creative cocktails, brunch and live music, and Pralina Blu, a beach-side restaurant and cafe in the tourist area. For a splurge, 7Seas in the Old Town is among the classiest live music nightclubs in town, while Dolce, next to the Amathus excavation, often hosts live music and international DJs.What to see and do
In Limassol's old town you'll find historic houses from both the Ottoman and British colonial periods, and the area around Limassol Castle has been renovated. Explore the castle and the surrounding old town, and visit Anexartisias street, a popular shopping area for tourists and locals alike. For a walk by the sea, head to Akti Olympion, a beach-side walking park stretching from the Municipal Gardens to the Old Port, or take the wooden promenade along the water opposite the archaeological site of the Kingdom of Amathus. The Municipal Garden along the beach road is a pleasant place to spend time and see interesting flora. Beyond the city, the ancient royal city of Amathus lies to the east, while to the west you'll find the Kourion archaeological site, with its well-preserved Greco-Roman theatre, the House of Achilles, the Altar of Apollo and views over Curium Beach, as well as Kolossi Castle, a former crusader stronghold. St. Catherine's Church, a Roman Catholic church, is another old-town sight. For the beach, Governor's Beach offers a long sandy stretch lined with fish restaurants and a white stone coast to the west, while Lady's Mile Beach, mostly pebbly with some sand and several fish restaurants, is also a spot for watching birds at the nearby salt lake. Limassol's calendar is busy: the Wine Festival each September, the colourful Carnival in February/March, and the Cyprus Rally in autumn. In the evening, Potamos Yermasoyias, known as "Galatex", has pubs, night clubs and cafes, and you can visit one of the traditional buzukia for live music. Football fans can watch Apollon, Aris or AEL, the city's three First Division clubs, who share Tsirio Stadium, and the Limassol Marathon is held in February/March.When to go
Limassol has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate, with long, dry, sunny summers and mild, wet winters, separated by short, warm, sunny springs and autumns. Summer is the longest season, running about six months, and you can expect sunshine every day with rain rare. June and September are a little cooler than the peak of July and August, when the heat is at its strongest. Sea mist can occur in June, usually clearing early in the morning.
Spring is mild to warm and pleasant, sunny almost every day, though rain showers and thunderstorms are common, especially in late March and April, and Saharan dust sometimes degrades air quality. Autumn is warm and usually sunny, beginning at the end of November and into December, and the weather varies greatly from year to year, ranging from very wet with violent thunderstorms to very dry. Winters are unsettled, rainy and windy, with heavy rain and frequent but short thunderstorms, and snow is very rare. Hail is rare and usually falls between October and April.
Three days in Limassol
Day one: Arrive at Larnaca International Airport (LCA) or Paphos Airport (PFO), then reach Limassol by shuttle or bus. Settle in and take a first walk along Beach Road, the seafront promenade that links the city's beaches with the Old Port. In the evening, explore the Old Port area and the streets around Makarios Avenue and Griva Digeni for a sense of the city's everyday rhythm.
Day two: Head into the Limassol District to see Agios Georgios Havouzas Church, then continue to the St. Raphael Marina for a slower stretch by the water. If you want a change of scene, consider a day trip to Nicosia, or go further into the Troodos mountains. Back in Limassol, spend the late afternoon around the Old Port, where Louis Cruise Lines runs services to destinations such as Piraeus, Rhodes, Port Said, Haifa, Beirut, Agios Nikolaos and Kriti.
Day three: Use your last day to revisit the parts of Limassol you liked most, whether that is the seafront, the Old Port or the central avenues. The Limassol Tourism Board and Travel Express can help with onward transport, and the Limassol Airport Express connects the city back to Larnaca. If your flight leaves from Paphos, allow time for the transfer before you depart.