Limassol is almost officially considered "the most Russian region of Cyprus": it is popular with our tourists, Russian is best spoken here, almost all coastal restaurants have a Russian menu, so you can relax here without even knowing the language. People come here for a beach holiday: the Mediterranean Sea warms up well by June, and you can swim in it until mid-autumn. But many come here in winter, when you can go mountain trekking or visit the numerous monasteries on the high hills without suffering from the heat.
Still, beach holidays here are the main direction of tourism. The beaches of Limassol have grayish volcanic sand. This is not the most beautiful shade, but such sand is considered to be healthy for the skin. All beaches are municipal: admission is free, but you have to pay for sunbeds and an umbrella.
Limassol districts
The capital of the district is the city of Lemesses or Limassol. It is a large resort town lined up along a large stretch of beaches. But the beaches and resort villages stretch further east and west, so the following areas of Limassol can be distinguished for tourists:
- Historic center of Limassol;
- Tourist area of Limassol;
- Akrotiri;
- Pissouri;
- Agios Tykhonos;
- Pyrgos.
Historic center of Limassol
City center east of the port of St. Nicholas and a medieval castle, it stretches along the embankment and it is here that all the main attractions are concentrated. The castle itself houses a wonderful medieval museum. It is said that it was here that Richard the Lionheart got married. This is not so, because the castle appeared a little later, but these places really remember Richard. The picturesque church of Agia Napa stands on the waterfront, and there is an ethnographic museum not far from the beach. Almost opposite this beach, a little in the depths of the block, there is a market square. This site ends with a city park and an archaeological museum, which is located almost next to it.
The city park should be kept in mind for those who want to participate in the wine festival in late August - early September, the festival is held here. The park is decorated with many funny sculptures, some of which are specially designed for photo sessions. There is also an open stage where concerts are held in the evenings.
This is the center of city life, but at the same time the embankment itself is not a “resort” one, but a city one: there are many green squares and playgrounds, but not all restaurants and shops. There is also a little noisy nightlife in this area, there are public buildings, embassies and offices, several quarters of the old buildings of the early 20th century have been preserved. Expensive restaurants and shops are concentrated around the port - in the evening you can walk here, the port is very beautifully illuminated.
In general, this is an area for those who prefer city rest: in this part there are no beach hotels, but only city hotels, more or less far from the embankment.
Tourist area of Limassol
The area located east of the center of Limassol is almost officially called "tourist". There is more greenery, along the promenade in the area of the beach called Dassoudi, there is a pine and eucalyptus grove. This section of the beach is considered the best in the city: it is the widest and greenest. But the historical center of the city is quite far from here, however, bus number 30 runs along the embankment every 15 minutes.
But it is here that Guaba Beach Bar is located - this is the main place for dancing and nightlife in Limassol. On Sundays it is not crowded here, but on weekdays, dance parties take place right on the beach every day.
Souvenirs are a little cheaper than those of the old castle, and the prices in restaurants are not so high - and if you move away from the first line to the second or third, they will become even cheaper.
In general, this is exactly what a resort is in the full sense of the word: five-star hotels, discos, restaurants, souvenirs, the crowd on the waterfront.
Akrotiri
Akrotiri is a peninsula that lies south of Limassol. It is here, in the town of Trachoni, that the Fasouri Watermania water park is located. It occupies over 100 thousand square meters. m., and it has more than 30 different slides - from high-speed and high to those intended for children. There is a Kamikaze, a deep pool with real ocean waves, and a dry play area for young children with different climbing devices.
From Akrotiri it is closer to the huge shopping center My Mall. If you are interested not only in magnets, but in full-fledged shopping, it makes sense to look there. In addition, on the peninsula there is a convent of St. Nicholas, which is popularly called feline - there are so many cats wandering around its territory. There is a salt lake in the center of the peninsula. Its shores are swampy, and many migratory birds nest here: storks, flamingos, cranes, herons. On the shore of the lake there is a small educational center, and in fact - a museum, with a local history exposition telling about the local nature and folk crafts of this area, and around the museum there is a small botanical garden with a pharmaceutical garden.
The popular Lady's Mile beach is located on Akrotiri. Its length is 8 km, and part of this beach is a protected area where two species of turtles can be found. These are the caretta turtle and the green turtle. There are informational posters about them here. At the southern tip of the peninsula lies the village of Akrotiri, which gave it its name. There are two churches and some interesting shops. Akrotiri is the center of basket weaving made from swamp reeds that grow along the shores of the lake.
In general, this is a great place for family and ecological holidays. There is no nightlife, noisy entertainment on the shore, but this is the cleanest place in the Limassol area and the most suitable for unity with nature. There are hotels here both by the sea and by the lake itself, as well as next to the water park.
Pissouri
Pissouri is the westernmost resort village of Limassol, located 37 km from the capital. Very quiet, secluded and beautiful place. Half of the inhabitants are British - after all, a British military base is very close, and this whole territory is under British patronage. As is often the case in Cyprus, the historical part of the village is located just above the coast, about 3 km from the beach, and on the beach there is a resort part with hotels.
The beach is pebbly, rather narrow, but perfectly clean, it has a Blue Flag, and is surrounded by very beautiful white limestone cliffs. The depth comes quickly here. Along the beach there is a promenade with cafes and shops, there is a parking lot on it, and as an attraction there is the church of St. Spiridon.
The historic part has a post office, ATM and supermarket, while the main life is concentrated in a small square. Here is the main church of the village - the church of St. Andrew's, an amphitheater where performances take place, and a beautiful view of the beach and the sea opens from the observation deck. There are several large beachfront hotels here, and there are many apartments located in the historic center.
Agios Tykhonos
Amathus Beach Hotel Limassol
The eastern suburb of Limassol is perhaps the most popular resort town in its vicinity. The length of the beach is 4.5 km (there are 7 beaches in total, but in fact they are not separated from each other and the names are conditional. These are Castella Beach, Onisilos Beach, Armonia Beach, Aphrodite Beach, Vouppa Beach, Loures Beach, Santa Barbara Beach All of them are marked with the Blue Flag. There are many beach hotels that provide all-inclusive services. There are water pools on the beaches. There are jet skis, bananas, pedal boats, you can rent a windsurfing board, fly a parachute, book an excursion. There are also playgrounds (though quite simple, but mostly new).
But all the main fun and infrastructure are located closer to the western side of the village, the eastern beaches are less equipped, but on the other hand, they are usually much less crowded. To the west, the main attraction of this part of the city is located - the ancient ruins of the city of Amathus, which once was here. The city is partially submerged, along the coast there is an embankment, where you can see it. Agios Tykhonos is the ideal place for a traditional beach holiday.
Pyrgos
Resort village to the east of the city, 13 km from it. There are many orchards here, and, in addition, residents claim that they grow the most delicious tomatoes in Cyprus. Once there was a suburb of ancient Amathus, in which metallurgical production was located, copper was smelted here. Now there are several attractions here: an old mill and a temple from the beginning of the 20th century.
Pyrgos beach is cut with very shallow bays: there are places where the depth begins immediately, and very shallow paddling pools, where it is convenient with children. This is not a cheap place; many large five-star hotels have been built here. Just east of Pyrgos is the famous Governors Beach, Governor's Beach. This is the center of ecological tourism: there is a large camping nearby, and several trekking routes are laid in the surrounding mountains.
