Limassol – the most detailed information about the city with photos and videos. The main sights of Limassol with a description and the best beaches in the guide with a map.
Limassol or Lemesos is the second-largest city in Cyprus and a popular coastal resort located in the Gulf of Akrotiri in the south of the island. It is an ideal place for those who want to mix a beach vacation with an unforgettable cultural experience. Limassol has a pretty Old Town full of cozy taverns, a medieval castle that “remembers” Richard the Lionheart, and a chic modern marina. The city is also an excellent starting point for visiting the stunningly beautiful mountain villages of Troodos and Mandaria. But among all the sights of Limassol, the real gem is the ancient Curion – the majestic ruins of the ancient city and one of the main archaeological sites of Cyprus.
Limassol stretches along the wide beach of the Gulf of Akrotiri and is located on the southern coast of Cyprus, northwest of Nicosia. The city has a typical Mediterranean climate with hot and dry summers and pleasant winters, which are separated by short spring and autumn, usually warm and sunny. The water temperature in the sea reaches 24 °C by June and remains comfortable for swimming almost until November.
The best time to visit Limassol and enjoy a beach vacation is June, September and October (as July and August in Cyprus can be very hot). Spring or late fall is perfect for outdoor activities and sightseeing.
Limassol emerged from a modest market settlement between the ancient cities of Amathus and Curion. It is likely that Limassol was founded after the destruction of Amathus, although the settlement may have existed long before that, according to archaeological findings. The first written mention of Limassol dates back to the Byzantine period. By the 10th century, a city known as Lemesos had grown here.
Lemesos flourished from the 12th to the 15th centuries. After the capture of Famagusta by the Genoese in 1372, the local port became one of the main ones in Cyprus. Limassol gradually fell into decline from numerous invasions between 1414 and 1426 and the subsequent Turkish occupation in 1570. After a devastating earthquake, its population dropped to 150 by 1815.
The revival of Limassol began in the 19th century under British rule. In 1974, a new port was built here, which is now one of the main sea harbors of Cyprus.
Limassol is about a 40-minute drive from Larnaca and Paphos international airports. Larnaca air port mainly serves scheduled flights, while most charters land in Paphos. Limassol can be reached from these two airports by bus. Regular bus routes also connect the city with Nicosia, Paphos, Larnaca and the Troodos region.
The port of Limassol is the largest in Cyprus and has passenger connections with some Mediterranean ports, such as Rhodes.
Limassol is one of the best places in Cyprus to buy traditional souvenirs such as lace from Lefkara, olive oil, wine, and ceramics.
Limassol produces one of the oldest vintage wines in the world, Commandaria. This drink was produced in the south of Cyprus during the Crusades in the 12th century and was highly praised by Richard the Lionheart. This makes Commandaria one of the oldest alcoholic beverages produced in the world to date.
Cypriot cuisine is a kind of synthesis of Mediterranean, Greek and Turkish gastronomy. Fried halloumi cheese is probably the most famous product of Cyprus, and its popularity extends far beyond the island. Dolma and souvla (grilled meat with fresh vegetables), various versions of meze (traditional snacks) are also very popular.
In addition, in Cyprus, you can try the famous moussaka (fried chicken baked with onions and spices), stifado (meat with onions served with rice, potatoes or bulgur), afelia (pork with red wine and spices, usually served with rice), sheftali (traditional Cypriot kebabs), loukaniko (traditional Cypriot sausages with a unique fennel flavor).
Several important ancient ruins are located in the vicinity of Limassol, and the city itself has a charming historic center with a medieval castle and a large Christian cathedral.
Kourion is by far the most famous landmark in the vicinity of Limassol and one of the most important archaeological sites in Cyprus, of course, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. This ancient city-state was inhabited as early as the Neolithic period and is one of the oldest settlements on the island. Here, among these vast ruins, 6000 years of history has been frozen, but most of the surviving monuments date back to the Greco-Roman period.
Kourion is located about 20 km west of Limassol.
The small Greco-Roman theater is one of the best preserved sites in Curion. It had a capacity of 3500 spectators and was built in the 2nd century BC and then expanded by the Romans. The theater was completely reconstructed after being destroyed by an earthquake in the 4th century A.D. It offers a magnificent view of the coast and the Mediterranean Sea.
Another interesting monument is the House of Eustolius with beautiful ancient mosaics. In the Roman era, there was a luxurious villa here, and in the Byzantine period – a public bath. Closer to the cliff edge are the ruins of a 5th-century Byzantine basilica, the Roman nymphaeum (a decorated fountain) and the large remains of the baths.
3 kilometers west of Kourion are the ruins of the majestic ancient temple of Apollo Gilat, the patron saint of the ancient city. These ruins have structures from the 8th century BC to the 4th century AD. Most notable are the columns of the main sanctuary – the only well-preserved part of what was once a rather impressive religious complex. You can also see the priest’s house, where the remains of a mosaic have been preserved. The tourist route then runs along the southern portico and down the stairs to the ruins of the sports arena.
Amathus is another important archaeological site, located 11 km east of Limassol and inferior in size to the ancient Curion. Amathus was inhabited a thousand years before Christ and was one of the four original city-kingdoms of ancient Cyprus. The city was probably founded by the Mycenaean Greeks, although most of the buildings date back to the classical Greek and Roman periods. In the Roman period, Amathus was an important port. The city fell into decline in the 4th-5th centuries AD after a series of devastating earthquakes.
According to Greek mythology, it was here that Theseus left the pregnant Ariadne after the battle with the Minotaur.
Kolossi Castle is one of the most famous monuments of the Middle Ages in Cyprus. The castle was built in the 13th century by the Knights Hospitaller and is located on the road between Limassol and ancient Curion. It is an excellent example of military architecture. After being built for a century, the castle served as the main command center of the Order of St. John until it was captured by the Knights Templar in the 14th century.
The castle is accessed by a tiny drawbridge, which leads to a large room with a well-preserved fresco depicting the crucifixion of Jesus. A narrow spiral staircase leads to the second level with two stone chambers, and then to the crenellated roof with a beautiful view of the village of the same name. Next to the castle are the ruins of a medieval factory where the knights processed sugar cane.
The heart of Limassol is the Old Town with its charming narrow streets that diverge from the old fishing harbor. A walk through the historic center of Lemesos will reveal the city’s centuries-old history and will definitely give you a vivid experience. Right in the center, on the main square, is the main city attraction – the medieval castle. The square, which is almost always full of life, is surrounded by cafes, bars and restaurants.
A popular place in Limassol is the promenade called Molos. This long promenade stretches along the picturesque coast and is framed by rows of palm trees.
Limassol Castle was built by the Lusignans in the 14th century during the Crusades. Recent archaeological excavations have confirmed the assumption that this structure was built on the foundation of a Byzantine fortress. The castle withstood the sieges of the Genoese and Egyptian Mamluks before being fortified by the Ottomans in the 16th century. Today, it houses a Medieval Museum with a fascinating collection of armor, weapons, religious icons and tombstones.
To the east of the main square is a bulky cathedral with a magnificent neo-Baroque facade, built at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. Down a winding alley you can find a small mosque surrounded by palm trees.
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