Limassol Car Hire

What to do in Lymassol?

Limassol is an up-and-coming holiday destination which has much more to offer than just its millennia of history and ports ̶ there’s something special to satisfy everyone.

Sanctuary of the gods

At the marina in the Old Town is the famous Limassol Castle. Its exact date of construction is unclear, but it may date as far back as 1000 AD and since religious artefacts have been unearthed there, it may have been a cathedral first. The castle has been damaged by earthquakes and fighting over the years and its current incarnation dates from Ottoman restorations in 1590. Just 20 minutes from Limassol is the ancient ruined city of Kourion, an entire archaeological site that you can wander around and wonder at. The oldest remains on the settlement date back to the Middle and Late Bronze Ages, among them the well-preserved stadium, the theatre, the Complex of Eustolios and the Achilles Mosaics. One of the main religious centres of Cyprus is The Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates, where Apollo was once worshipped as the god of the woodlands. Dating back to the 8th century BC, the majority of the monuments can still be seen today, including sublime statuary, the foundation of the temple structure and a stone platform which could have been used for rituals and dances around a grove of sacred trees.

Beating stone heart

Limassol is a busy, vibrant and modern city, but at its core lies its ancient heart, Limassol Old Town. This is a place of winding, cobbled streets, ancient castles, and soft, sandstone buildings worn smooth by centuries of use. The Old Town still has that medieval feel to it, and the air is filled with the warm scent of herbs and fresh baking wafting from ancient doorways. This is the real Limassol, and it’s a wonderful place to discover more about the town and escape the crowds for a few hours. The heart of Limassol Old Town is the castle, supposedly where King Richard the Lionheart married his sweetheart in 1190, the first royal marriage of an English king to take place outside of England. There are no designer shops here, only boutiques sequestered in stone doorways and markets selling fresh fruits or marvellous cheese and meats. The Archaeological Museum takes you through the centuries, while the Folk Art Museum displays Cypriot clothes and cuisine of yore.

Party time!

One of the main party spots in Cyprus, Limassol nightlife never really goes to sleep. Quaint little bars like Poe Bar by the marina can kickstart your night off, The Library Bar offers live music sets while the Foyer Wine and Cocktail bar is a popular location with the locals and boasts a wide selection of wines. Alternatively, sports lovers will be pleased to know there’s a variety of bars which host regular live events throughout the year on the big screens, such as the Hamlet pub which serves traditional English food as well as live football. Alterantively, dance under the stars at the Retro Metropole Club then head to Santa Barbara Beach to the Guaba Bar for themed hedonistic clubbing.

Eating out in Limassol

Limassol has restaurants of all stripes (and qualities), and in high season it can be hard to find the gems amidst the tourist places. However, we’ve highlighted some of Limassol’s legendary eateries so you don’t miss the most sumptuous Cypriot cuisine.

French Limassol?

Just off the main square in front of Limassol Castle is La Frenchie. Think mouth-watering French cuisine, black and white movies streaming on the walls over the weekends, a vibrant atmosphere and attentive staff. It’s popular with locals (always a good omen) and busy at weekends, so it’s definitely worth booking ahead.

It can be hard to find a quiet spot for lunch sometimes, especially around the marina, but Marina Breeze is great for a quick lunch with friends or a fine dining experience with cocktails. They have huge windows that open up so you can enjoy a fresh sea breeze along with some tasty culinary treats. The menu was very creative and the food lived up to the hype.

Best restaurants in Limassol

Pyxida Limassol is also in the marina ̶ a high-end restaurant which serves seafood on a high elevation above the marina. Fresh farmed mussels are the menu highlight here, as are dishes like Wild Alaska Salmon carpaccio. The starters are excellent (try the taramás and mushrooms) and all mains come with sides of chips and vegetables, while the bread basket comes with very fine hummus. There’s an ambitious wine list, with foreign and Cypriot beers also available. A seafood meze – large sharing platter popular with locals – is a reasonable €24, while the typical price per head is about €30.

Ariadne is perfect after a winery tour in the Limassol foothills. It’s a welcoming, family-run restaurant serving stuffed vine leaves topped with farm-fresh sheep’s yoghurt, black-eyed peas with celery, stuffed courgette blossoms, turnovers stuffed with soft anarí cheese and a couple of daily-changing dishes, all washed down by a carafe of wine or from said wineries. The original, upper level enclosed patio is nicer than the lower seating area. It’s located 1 km south of Vassa village near the bypass road, and prices for an evening 3-course meal are around €19.

Special mention

Cyprus previously had a reputation for slightly bland fare (which is still prevalent in the touristy cafés), but Terry’s Place is rewriting that trope. It’s not much to look at from the outside, but inside it’s warm and welcoming, with friendly staff and superb food.. Highlights include moussaka (which came with enough salad for three people), seafood pizza (just sublime) and mussels and octopus.

Transport in Limassol

Airports

The international airports on the island are Larnaca (LCA), the main international gateway to the island, and the smaller Paphos (PFA) on the southwestern coast. This is commonly used by tourists visiting the west of Cyprus, and is the usual airport for Limassol, 50 km (31 mi) away.

Buses

There are plenty of reasonably priced buses in Limassol in summer, fewer in winter. They connect all major towns on the island. There are no trains on Cyprus.

Driving Tips

Drive on the right-hand side of the road in Limassol and with great care. The speed limits are 130 km/h (80 mph) on the motorway, 90/110 km/h (55/70 mph) on normal roads and 50 km/h (30 mph) in built-up areas.

When driving in Cyprus the following documents should be carried ̶ a full, valid driving licence, proof of insurance, proof of ID (passport) and proof of vehicle ownership (V5C certificate). Furthermore, while driving in Cyprus you’re required by law to carry the following items ̶ headlamp beam deflectors (depending on your car, you’ll either need deflector stickers or have to adjust the beam manually), a warning triangle, fire extinguisher and first aid kit.

Be aware of the possibility of rock falls and other road hazards like single-track roads. Many of the roads in Limassol (and Cyprus) are cobbled, very narrow, have unclear signage and the locals drive rather erratically.

However, the island is small, so you’ll never get lost for too long. Always drive at or below the speed limit (if you’re holding up speeding locals behind, pull over to let them past), and never drink and drive – this is strictly enforced.

If possible avoid driving west in the late afternoon, as a glare of the setting sun can be disturbing and potentially blinding; wear sunglasses to shield your eyes.

Cyprus isn’t a big island and you can drive from one side to another (Oia to Akrotiri) in less than an hour. With the above safety tips in mind, here are a couple of scenic drives:

The Troodos Forest National Park is one of 10 on Cyprus. Covering the Troodos Mountains—home to Mount Olympus (1,952 m/6,404 ft) and the largest mountain range on Cyprus—here you’ll find mountain resorts, Byzantine monasteries (check out Kykkos Monastery), churches on mountain peaks, and villages which cling to terraced hills. The area has also been known since antiquity for its mines, which previously supplied copper to the entire Mediterranean. In the Byzantine period it became a centre of Byzantine art, as churches and monasteries were built in the mountains away from the vulnerable coastline. There are hiking paths here, excellent biking trails and even an electric scooter route!

Akrotiri is a sleepy village on the south-west part of the island that’s well known for its Bronze Age prehistoric settlement. This Minoan town was covered by ash after a huge eruption and that’s why the site is still very well preserved – it’s called the ‘Greek Pompeii’. A large amount of ancient pottery has been found here and it reveals many insights on how inhabitants lived their lives, as certain styles were used as vessels for cooking ingredients and for carrying bathing water, but remnants of beds, tables and chairs have also been unearthed.