Travelling To Limassol

Limassol is situated on the southern coast of the island of Cyprus, approximately 45 miles from the capital, Nicosia. The island is tucked away in the top right hand corner of the Mediterranean and is close to Europe, Asia and Africa, acting as a stepping stone to the three continents. Cyprus has international airports at Larnaca and Paphos, which receive flights from Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. Taxis are available at all hours and buses connect the majority of towns and villages in Cyprus. Ferries arrive here from Athens, Crete, Patmos, Rhodes and Israel.

By car

Due to its location, most visitors arrive at Cyprus by air. Hiring a car during your stay is a good option and there are reasonable surfaced roads complying with international traffic requirements that link the towns and the various villages. Four-lane motorways connect Nicosia with the coastal towns of Limassol, Ayia Napa, Larnaca and one part of Paphos.

Minor roads and forest roads are usually kept in good condition, although they may be un-surfaced. Many mountain roads close in the winter. Driving is on the left hand side of the road, as it is in Great Britain. The cities can be very crowded and the streets narrow; parking is scarce and traffic is very slow. Please note that in recent years, Cyprus has ranked among the top three European countries (per capita) for traffic fatalities. The most common causes of traffic accidents include speeding, tailgating, overtaking and a disregard for traffic lights.

By rail

There is no train system on Cyprus, but many people use the European rail network en route to the island in combination with ferries. The easiest route is to travel through Turkey, via Istanbul, to the town of Karaman. Take a bus or taxi from Karaman to Sifke and Tasucu; Sifke is the main town in the area; Tasucu is its port nearby. You can then complete the journey by ferry to Girne in northern Cyprus. Buses are available for the connection to Limassol.

By bus

It is possible to arrive in Cyprus from mainland Europe by bus, but this is an exhausting way to start a holiday. The majority of visitors choose to travel by air. Buses connect the majority of towns and villages in Cyprus at a reasonable cost, and there are services between towns every day except Sunday, although bus services can be fairly erratic at times.

You can reach Limassol by various bus lines and they all stop at one of the three main bus stations. The KEMEK buses have a terminal at Enoseos and Eirinis Streets, and they run services to Nicosia and Paphos. Kallenos lines have their terminal at the corner of Araouzou and Hadjipavlou Streets. They travel to Larnaca and Ayia Napa. The third bus station is used mainly by urban buses and is on Andreas Themistokleou Street in the town centre.

By air

If you are travelling by air to Limassol, you will arrive at either Larnaca or Paphos airports.

Larnaca International Airport is 70kms from Limassol. It is relatively small, with only one terminal, but is especially busy during the peak tourist season between May and November. Airport facilities include refreshments and meals provided by several cafs. An exchange bureau, newsagents and other small shops are also available. Car parking is situated in front of the terminal and is charged by the hour. There is no long-term car park. Taxis are available 24 hours and are located immediately outside the terminal. Intercity buses operate between 06:30 and 16:00, linking all major towns and cities.

Paphos International Airport is Cyprus second international airport and is also 70kms from Limassol. The single-terminal building has a limited range of facilities including a fast-food restaurant and snacks and small duty-free shops. There are ATMs and an exchange bureau located in the terminal, with the bureau de change also offering limited banking facilities. Short and long-term parking is available near the terminal. Buses and taxis can be found near the exit.

By ferry

Limassol Port accounts for over 90 per cent of all passenger vessels arriving and departing from Cyprus. The port is located on the western side of Limassol Town, and has all the normal facilities you would expect of a modern international passenger port. Duty-free shops, banks, cafeteria, comfortable waiting lounges and a tourist information centre can be found on-site. Passenger ferry routes operate to many other Mediterranean countries such as Greece, Israel, Egypt and the Greek Islands.

Taxis

Apart from the normal city taxis, Limassol is also connected to other towns by a network of shared-taxi lines. Although generally at least twice the price of buses, they are faster and much more frequent. There are two shared-taxi terminals; Akis Express can be found at 21 Thessaloniki Street and Kypros Company is located on 49 Spyrou Araouzou Street.