LIMASSOL
Area: Cyprus


Location:
At the centre of the S coast, 50 miles S of Nicosia. 26 miles SW of Larnaca international airport; 36 miles E of Paphos international airport.

Telephone code from UK:
357 25

Website:
http://www.cosmosnet.net/azias/cyprus/c-tour.html

Position:
On dry open coastal land sloping gently towards the sea.

Description:
Cyprus's largest seaside resort, and arguably the least attractive. The main tourist area, some 2 miles E of town, consists of a 7-mile-long stretch of coast lined with a mixture of medium- to high-rise apartments and hotels. Heavy traffic along the main route through the resort makes driving in Limassol frustrating and time consuming; shops, bars, discos and tavernas are plentiful along this busy seafront road. Limassol has two ports, both entirely functional and of little interest to tourists. Limassol's more traditional ways can be observed in the old town, where small factories house the shoemakers, tinkers, quilt makers and ironmongers. In the distance N of Limassol are the Troodos Mountains, in whose fertile foothills most of the country's grapes are grown.

Suitability:
Mid- to upmarket couples, young singles and families seeking sun, sea and sand.

Accommodation:
Some 4- and 5-stars but mainly 3-star hotels and B-category apartments. Medium- to high-rise blocks, majority situated along the busy seafront road.

Shopping:
The marketplace in the old town has one of the area's largest selections of fish, vegetables, nuts, etc. Numerous souvenir shops in the tourist area, but the best buys are in the old part of town, with an overwhelming variety of leather, shoe and jewellery shops.

Beach:
Limassol has a beach of dark coarse sand and pebbles. 2» miles E of town is Dassoudi, the resort's main beach. It is equipped with modern changing rooms, snack bar, restaurant, car park and water sports; the beach itself is dark pebbly sand. Lady's Mile, 3 miles W of the old town, is a 5-mile stretch of dark brown sand. Curium, 10 miles W of Limassol, has a quiet expanse of coarse, dark, pebbly sand at the foot of high cliffs.

Entertainments:
Daytime: visits to the medieval castle near the old port of Limassol, now a museum. Two other museums, and ancient buildings within the old town. Dassoudi Beach has a variety of water sports. Most major hotels provide good water-sports facilities. Nightlife: found in the Potamos Yermasoyias area. Lots of discos, numerous bars and tavernas, most with their own live bands.

Eating:
A vast variety of restaurants line the main coast road _ typical Cypriot tavernas, pizzerias, fish restaurants and kebab bars. Eating out is relatively inexpensive.

Public-transport:
Local buses run frequently from early morning until late evening. Buses link Limassol to all major resorts. Cheap, shared taxi service 6 am_6 pm.

Local-excursions:
Half day: Curium's ancient mosaics, Kolossi castle and wine factories. Full-day trips: Cyprus's walled capital city Nicosia. Ancient ruins of Paphos. Troodos Mountains, with the 15th-century Kykko monastery and church. Coastal boat trip.