Limassol, on the south coast of Cyprus, is the island’s largest seaside resort. The town, framed by the Troodos Mountains, spreads along the coast for ten miles. It has many beaches of dark shingle, a large modern marina and a host of leisure activities to entertain the holidaymaker.
Limassol has a relaxed, cheerful holiday atmosphere and is renowned for its love of festivals. There is much of interest to see, both within the town and in the surrounding area. Visitors are well provided with restaurants and shops and the nightlife is claimed to be the liveliest on the island.
A Limassol holiday has so much to offer that it appeals to all age groups. Families, young singles and couples all come to Limassol in their thousands.
The summer season begins in April when the temperature is a pleasant seventy degrees. This can soar to the high eighties from June until September. Winters are pleasant at sea level but remember that winter is the rainy season and there can be snow in the mountains.
Limassol is spread around Akrotiri Bay on the south coast of Cyprus. It is a very welcoming town where the locals have a genuine interest in making your holiday memorable.
Holiday accommodation is mainly to the east of the town and consists of luxury hotels, apartments and villas. The wide seafront promenade which skirts the shingle beach is lined with cafes, bars and souvenir shops. There is good provision of pubs and bars, tavernas and cafes and nightclubs.
There is a wide choice of beaches in the area. While those in the centre of the resort can become very busy in summer, there are those on the outskirts which do not. Ladies Mile is one such beach and it has the added attraction of being sandy. Governor’s Beach to the east of Limassol can be accessed by bus. It is a quiet place with a very safe beach, well suited to children and weak swimmers.
A recently completed large marina has room for over a thousand yachts and pleasure boats.
There are many interesting historic sites in the area. To the west of Limassol, on the road to Paphos, are the remains of an ancient city. The Graeco-Roman theatre dating from the second century has been restored and is once again being used to entertain people with theatre and concerts.
Amathus is one of the largest ancient kingdoms and there are many myths surrounding its history. Excavations have unearthed a temple built high on the cliffs in honour of Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love.
Visitors and locals alike flock to Limassol to partake in the many festivals that the town celebrates. The wine festival in early September is very popular as there are free wine tasting sessions as well as music and dance. The ancient Drama Festival at Kourion is also a popular attraction.
A Limassol holiday is one to remember and many satisfied visitors make return visits.
Nightlife in Limassol is said to be the best on the island by those who love to party through the night. Although there are a large number of bars, discos and clubs playing a wide range of loud music, there are ample opportunities for those who enjoy more mellow entertainment.
Limassol has a wide range of shops from the modern boutiques and jewellers of Makarios Avenue to small handicraft stalls. St. Andrews Street, close to the promenade, is a narrow lane with overhanging terraces with a numerous small shops selling interesting items.
The restaurants of Limassol serve a wide variety of dishes catering for most tastes. Fish features prominently on Cypriot menus with calamari, red mullet and sea bass being particularly popular. Halloumi, a cheese made from goat and sheep’s milk is an island speciality. It is often served grilled and served as an appetiser. The Cypriot equivalent of the Spanish tapas is mezze and it is a good way to sample the variety of local food.
Local wines are tasty and inexpensive.
