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Is Limassol worth visiting? Yes, for the food and as a base, though not for the beaches. It is the most cosmopolitan city in Cyprus and has comfortably the best restaurants on the island.
It is also the most central, which makes it the practical base for almost any trip.
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Limassol at a Glance
- Best for: Food, a central base and city life.
- Best part: The restaurant scene and the restored Old Town.
- Weakest part: The city beaches, the weakest of the three coastal cities.
- Cost: The most expensive city on the island.
How Do You Get to Limassol?
Limassol is around 45 minutes to an hour from Larnaca airport and about an hour from Paphos airport. The official taxi tariff from Larnaca Airport to Limassol centre is 54.52 euro by day and 63.86 euro at night for the 70 km. A private transfer with GetTransfer fixes the price before you fly. If you want to see the rest of the island, compare hire cars on DiscoverCars. Within the city, taxis are plentiful but pricey, and our guide to getting around Cyprus explains the buses, taxis and apps.
Why Is Limassol Different?
Two decades of international business has changed the city substantially. Finance, shipping, tech and forex have brought in large communities from across Europe, Israel, Russia and Ukraine.
The result is a city that feels less Cypriot than the rest of the island and considerably more international, with the restaurant scene, property prices and pace that implies. Whether that is a draw or a drawback depends on what you came for.
Where Should You Eat in Limassol?
Food is the strongest argument for the city. The range runs from traditional taverns through to international fine dining, and we have reviewed a good deal of it. The full ranking is in our guide to the best restaurants in Cyprus.
- Best fish: BEGE on the St Raphael Marina, the best fish in Cyprus, and Pyxida Limassol for a relaxed fish tavern on the marina.
- Traditional Cypriot: Meze Taverna in the Old Town for a full meze, and Taverna Agios Epiktitos in the hills above for the view, though the food there trails the setting.
- Modern Cypriot: Dionysus Mansion in an old villa in the centre.
- Steak: Beefbar at the Amara or Prime at City of Dreams.
- Asian: Golden Monkey for Thai fine dining.
- High end: ORIS at Trilogy has the best cocktails in the city and food that has not caught up, and Matsuhisa is the most beautiful room and the least consistent kitchen. The LPM brunch is worth the money if you have the afternoon.
Is the Old Town Worth Visiting?
Yes. It has been restored over the past decade and is now the most pleasant part of the city to walk, with narrow streets around the medieval castle, where Richard the Lionheart is said to have married Berengaria of Navarre in 1191.
The castle houses the Cyprus Medieval Museum, and the surrounding lanes hold small bars, craft shops and the better traditional restaurants.
What About the Seafront and Marina?
The Molos promenade runs several kilometres along the coast and is genuinely well done, with sculpture, planting and space to walk or run. It is where the city exercises in the early morning and evening.
Limassol Marina at the western end has restaurants and shops, and the Trilogy towers above it have become the city’s most recognisable landmark.
Where Should You Stay in Limassol?
The seafront hotels east of the centre hold most of the luxury end, including the Amara and the Four Seasons, both of which have serious spas. We have reviewed several of them: the Amara, the Parklane, the Grand Resort, the NYX and the St Raphael Resort. For how Limassol compares with the other regions, see our guide to where to stay in Cyprus.
Hotels in central Limassol
What Is Nearby?
The central position is the practical advantage. Kourion and its Greco Roman theatre are twenty minutes west, the Troodos villages and the wine routes are around an hour north, and Aphrodite’s Rock is half an hour along the coast.
Our guides to the Troodos mountain taverns and hiking in Cyprus cover what to do with a day inland.
Want a guide for the day? Book day trips from Limassol on Viator or GetYourGuide and skip the planning.
Are the Beaches Any Good?
This is the weak point. The city beaches are dark sand and unremarkable compared with the east coast or Coral Bay. This year we have swum at Lady’s Mile, Limassol and St Raphael.
There are better options within half an hour: Governor’s Beach to the east with its white cliffs, or Pissouri to the west. Our guide to the best beaches in Cyprus covers both.
Who Is Limassol For, and Who Should Look Elsewhere?
- Good for: Food, a central base, city life and anyone staying longer than a fortnight.
- Less good for: A beach holiday, or for anyone wanting traditional Cyprus, which starts about twenty minutes outside the city.
If you are thinking of moving here rather than visiting, read our guide to living in Limassol.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Limassol Worth Visiting?
Yes, particularly for food and as a base. It is less rewarding if you came primarily for beaches.
Where Is the Best Place to Eat in Limassol?
BEGE for fine dining and fish, Beefbar or Prime for steak, Meze Taverna in the Old Town for a full meze and Pyxida Limassol for fish on the marina.
Where Should I Stay in Limassol?
The seafront east of the centre for resort hotels, or the Old Town and marina for a city break.
Are the Beaches Good?
The city beaches are the weakest of the coastal towns. Governor’s Beach and Pissouri are both within half an hour and considerably better.
How Far Is Limassol From the Airports?
It is around 45 minutes to an hour from Larnaca and about an hour from Paphos.
How Much Is a Taxi From Larnaca Airport to Limassol?
The official tariff is 54.52 euro by day and 63.86 euro at night to Limassol centre, a distance of 70 km. Germasogeia is 48.17 euro by day and 56.47 euro at night.
Is Limassol Expensive?
It is the most expensive city on the island, for hotels and for eating out.
Is Limassol a Good Base for the Rest of the Island?
Yes. Kourion is twenty minutes away, the Troodos around an hour and Aphrodite’s Rock half an hour.
Final Thoughts
Limassol is where you eat and where you base yourself, rather than where you swim. Given that the mountains are an hour away and half the island is within ninety minutes, that is a reasonable trade.