Limassol in Cyprus was one of the first purpose-built beach resorts in the Mediterranean. Until then, vacations in a beach resort did not exist. In fact, the rich and famous of the day vacationed in luxury hotels in the Troodas Mountains to escape the summer heat. The first thing that strikes visitors to Limassol is the sheer size of the place. The waterfront area with its bars, restaurants and shops stretches for miles. There is a modern marina at one end and the harbor and old town area at the other. With more top-tier hotels and apartment complexes than you can imagine, there’s no shortage of quality accommodation either. However, there is much more to the city of Limassol than its role as a great Cyprus vacation spot.
When Turkey invaded Northern Cyprus in 1974, they wandered into the city of Famagusta and its fabulous holiday resort. Residents were driven out and fled with only what they could carry. As well as possibly being the best tourist center in the Mediterranean, Famagusta was also the main port. For this reason, the port of Limassol was hastily created, and the city has been a booming metropolitan area ever since. In addition to the port being the main thoroughfare for most goods imported from the islands, it is also the disembarkation point for luxury cruise ships to Egypt and the Holy Land. These 2 and 4 day mini cruises are a great idea if you want to add a little more sightseeing to your Cyprus vacation. The port of Limassol is also home to many of Cyprus’s navy ships and is a popular destination for shore-licensed navy sailors.
There is no doubt that Limassol has something to offer tourists to Cyprus whatever they are looking for. If you want night life, there is more than enough to explore the complex with many night clubs and lively bars. This does not mean that Limassol is not a great resort for families as well. There are miles of sandy beach, water sports and plenty of nice beachfront cafes where you can relax and enjoy the beautiful view of the Mediterranean. With several water parks in the area, the kids will never be bored. Speaking of the youngsters, Limassol also has its share of fast food outlets like Macdonalds and KFC so they will be very easy to please at least in the stomach department.
If you feel the need for some kind of retail therapy during your holidays in Cyprus, Limassol is the perfect recipe. With many major chain stores in Old Town and even a Woolworths branch on the Strip, shoppers will be able to satisfy their retail cravings. Just below the old town, near the port of Limassol, is the medieval castle built by the Byzantines around 1000 AD There is a legend that King Richard the Lionheart appeared on his way to his third holy crusade in 181 and married with Queen Berengavia of Navarre. He supposedly then crowned her Queen of England before setting off to kill some more pagans in the Middle East. Which just goes to show that weddings in Cyprus are nothing new.
If for some strange reason you run out of things to do in Limassol, the good news is that the city is well connected to the rest of the island. A modern network of coastal highways links the community to everywhere you may feel the need to explore. The capital of Cyprus, Nicosia, is less than an hour away with its many historical sites and museums making the city a great place to spend the day. On a darker note, Nicosia is the world’s last divided city since the Turkish occupation of the north. There are several places where the streets have been literally cut off by the 3 kilometer buffer zone and visitors can look over the border to the Turkish side. This area is guarded by UN peacekeeping troops and everything in the buffer zone remains as it was in 1974 when residents fled south.
Limassol is also perfectly located for trips to the beautiful Troodas Mountains, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. In the mountains, the air is fresh and clean, while it’s also a great escape from the hot summers. Much of this area is now a conservation area and there are also several beautiful monasteries to visit. The former president of Cyprus, Archbishop Makarios, is enshrined in a tomb near the Kykkos monastery and is still guarded 24 hours a day by Cypriot soldiers. Limassol remains a tourist hub that attracts tourists year after year, so you should find something you like there. There is no doubt that this great modern resort and busy city will continue to develop, so it might be time for you to take a look at Limassol, Cyprus.