Limassol, this Cypriot port city, looks back on an eventful past. Even before the Cyprus conflict escalated, this city in the south of the island in the Mediterranean Sea was just a tiny fishing village.

 

Today, however, Limassol has the largest port in the country, and more than 200,000 people live in this city.

 

With such an eventful history, it will certainly not surprise you that you can also discover numerous sights in this beautiful city.

 

Like the entire southern part of Cyprus, this town is more Greek in character, unlike those in Northern Cyprus. In this short guide, you will learn how to get to Limassol and what you can do there.

 

 

How You Get To Limassol

 

The easiest way to get there is, of course, by plane. The two closest airports from which you can get to Limassol are those in Paphos and Larnaca. You can find flights to both of these cities on Skyscanner.

 

From both cities, you can reach your destination within about an hour with the Limassol Airport Express. The shuttle bus runs several times from each of the two airports to the large port city in the south of Cyprus. A one-way trip costs you not even ten euros.

 

If you are already in Cyprus, you can also take the bus to the former fishing village. Among other things, you have the possibility, in addition to the two cities where you land by plane, also from the capital Nicosia to Limassol. Within 90 minutes, you’ll be at your destination.

 

 

The Best Time To Visit Limassol

 

The southern Cypriot port city enjoys a typical Mediterranean climate. For you, this means that you can expect not only hot and dry summers here but also a fairly mild winter.

 

Sun worshippers will especially consider the period from June to September as the best time to travel. It gets hottest in August; this month, the temperatures are about 30 degrees Celsius.

 

But because of the year-round pleasant weather, you can, of course, visit Limassol during the cold season. Especially if you want to escape the frosty weather in your country, a trip to Cyprus’ largest port city is worthwhile.

 

By the way, you can also find a city guide with the best travel times for all of Cyprus on our blog.

 

 

Activities You Can Do

 

In this city in the south of Cyprus, you can spend your time in different ways. Here you get a brief overview of all the exciting activities you can pursue in or around the city.

 

Of course, this is only a small selection. If you’re looking for even more suggestions, check out TripAdvisor.

 

The Old Town: In the historic center of the city, you’ll find numerous old buildings. Since many of them have even been extensively renovated within the last few years, they are also excellent.

 

The Promenade: Limassol has a beautiful beach. Along it runs the promenade, under whose shady palm trees you can seek shelter from the sun. And at the harbor, you can also admire one or the other luxury boat up close.

 

The Limassol Fortress: Built by the Ottomans in the late 16th century, this fortress is home to the Medieval Museum.  In it, you can admire, among other things, ancient weapons and armor. From the roof, you also have a fantastic view over the port city. For the entrance to the fortress, you have to pay a fee of 4.50 euros.

 

Agia Napa: This three-nave church is not quite as old as many other buildings in Limassol; it was built at the beginning of the 20th century. But it stands on the ruins of a much older church, dating back to the Byzantine Empire. Inside you will find, among other things, beautiful frescoes and an iconostasis. Especially the icon of Agia Napa, which is wrapped in silver, is guaranteed to take your breath away.

 

 

Day Trips You Can Take

 

Archeological Park Kourion: Near the town of Episkopi, about town is located kilometers west of Limassol, is an impressive archaeological park. In this, you get the opportunity to explore the traces of thousands of years of history with your own eyes. For this reason, the excavation site is also under the protection of UNESCO.

 

Especially the theater of Kourion is still excellently preserved. In addition, you can discover in Kourion and numerous old houses, the ruins of ancient baths, and a lot of beautiful mosaics. The entrance fee to the archaeological park is 4.50 euros.

 

Castle of Kolossi: The city of Kolossi is located about 10 kilometers to the east of Limassol. Its landmark, the Castle of Kolossi, stands just at the southern entrance to this city. The fortress dates back to the 12th century, while the distinctive tower was added later, 300 years later.

 

From the castle, the inhabitants could defend their own lands against enemies. Of course, since the soil is very fertile, many other rulers wanted parts of it. Today you can also examine the castle from the inside for an entrance fee of 2,50 euros.

 

Krassocheria: This settlement area is about 40 kilometers north of the largest port city in Cyprus, but the journey is definitely worth it. Here, at the foot of the Troodos Mountains, you’ll find plenty of idyllic villages from which you can enjoy breathtaking views of the steep hills in the surrounding area. In addition, you can also taste the local wine here; the Krassocheria region is mainly known as a wine-growing area.

 

Akrotiri Salt Lake: This wetland is one of very few in the eastern Mediterranean. While the lake may be pretty large, it is not particularly deep. Even at its deepest point, the bottom is no more than a meter below the surface.

 

During the migratory season, numerous birds pass by here, so the salt lake is top-rated, especially with birdwatchers. In addition, in winter, you can also admire oodles of flamingos on the shore of the saline lake Saline.

 

Of course, you can also visit many other places near Limassol. Even the other cities on the island, such as the Cypriot capital Nicosia or Larnaca, are definitely worth visiting.

 

If you need more suggestions, just check out Tripadvisor.