Travel to Limassol

Travel to Limassol

Limassol, the largest seaside resort in Cyprus, lies in the south coast of the island. Surrounded by the Troodos mountains, vineyards and sugar cane plantations the atmosphere of Limassol is very relaxed and laid back. However, the town does cater to a multitude of tourists who visit the island every year and has several hotels, a seafront esplanade, a busy port, quaint shops, several bars, restaurants and nightspots.

Transportation to Limassol

Several ferry companies sail from Athens to Limassol daily. There are also frequent ferry services from Israel, Lebanon, Italy, Rhodes, Patmos and Crete to Limassol. You can also fly to Cyprus from more than 30 international destinations that land at the Lanarca International Airport. The airport is about 40 kilometers away from Limassol but it is quite convenient to catch a taxi to the city. Radio taxis are readily available with Riga taxi operators being the most reliable. It can be difficult but not impossible to get a bus from the airport to Limassol. Public transport to the outer areas of Limassol is not well serviced and it would be best to hire a car to get to these areas where most of the tourist sites are found. However, there are fairly reliable bus services within the town. There is a four lane motorway connecting Limassol to Nicosia, Larnaca, Ayia Napa and Paphos.

What to see

Being a seaside resort tourists flock to several popular beaches including Governors Beach, Agio Tychonas Beach, Ladys Mile Beach, Curim Beach and Avdimou Beach. The beaches are unique in that they do not have the usual white or yellow sand instead the sand at Limassols beaches is mostly black and full of pebbles. The water is very clean and many beaches have won Blue Flag awards for cleanliness. Limossa Castle, a 14th century Byzantine fort is quite close to the city. This is where King Richard married Queen Berengaria. Kourion, a short drive away, has many archeological sites to visit including the ancient 2 BC Greco Roman Theatre. The theatre has been fully restored and is very impressive. There are also roman baths and dwellings to explore. Visitors interested in folk art will not want to miss stopping at the Folk Art Museum which is in an old restored house. The museum has a 2000 year old collection of Folk Art in addition to national costumes, embroideries and tapestries.

Day trips

Nicosia is about an hours drive from Limassol and has a rich past that goes back to the Bronze age. There are many museums, medieval buildings and churches to be seen in Nicosia. The city was once surrounded by fortress walls, built by the Venetians, for protection against invaders. Remnants of the wall can still be viewed at Nicosia today. The wine museum at Erimi is worth a visit. Lania village is a charming little place that has become the home of many artists. The Land Tavern is well known for the good food and drinks that it serves to the tired traveler. The old village of Omodhos, with its cobbled square, is another interesting village to explore.

Activities and leisure

There is plenty to do in Limassol and the surrounding areas. Land based activities include mountain biking, cycling, hiking, golfing and horse riding. There are also 4WD jeep safaris that cross rivers and mountains and give you an appreciation of the rugged areas surrounding Limassol. For water lovers there is surfing, scuba diving, snorkeling and fishing. Tours can easily be arranged to accommodate all the different activities.

Night life at Limassol is exciting with pubs having charming names like Smugglers Pub and Franx (named after Frank Sinatra). The pubs, bars and discos stay open till the small hours of the morning. Los Amigos is for the really serious Latin dancers.
Shopping in Limassol is a must for bargain hunters. The cobbled street of St. Andrew, in the old part of Limassol, is lined with shops selling souvenirs, trinkets, inexpensive leather goods and jewellery.

Safety issues

Limassol attracts hundreds of visitors a year but with them come the petty thieves who are experts at pick pocketing and snatching handbags and cameras. Visitors are always advised to be alert and careful of their belongings. To have a peaceful holiday it would be best to get travel insurance just in case you are the victim of bad luck.