Limassol is a city on the southern coast of Cyprus and capital of the eponymous district. Limassol is the second largest urban area in Cyprus, with an urban population of 200.000. Limassol has been ranked by TripAdvisor as the 3rd up-and-coming destination in the world, in its Top 10 Traveler’s Choice Destinations on the Rise. The city is also ranked 87th worldwide in Mercer’s Quality of Living Survey (2015).
Population
Limassol is the second largest town in Cyprus after Nicosia, with a population of approximately 200 000. Apart from being a major tourist destination, it is also a principal hub for international business in Cyprus.
Language
Greek is the most commonly spoken language in Limassol. But in tourist areas, English and Russian is prevalent due to a major influx of Russian holidaymakers.
Currency
As Limassol is on the southern coast of Cyprus, the local currency used is the Euro. There are ATM machines and foreign exchange facilities around the resort, but we suggest that, for convenience, you buy your travel money before you leave your Country. You can buy Euros online or from any Thomas Cook branch.
History
Limassol (Lemesos) is positioned between two of the most important historic city-kingdoms, Amathus to the east and Kourion to the west, both of which are being extensively excavated. In 1911, the city-kingdom Amathus was destroyed by King Richard the Lionheart and through its downfall led the formation of Limassol.
According to the Synod (451 BC), the bishop of Theodossiani Sotir along with the bishops of Amathus and Arsinoe were part of the initial development of Limassol. The city was known as Neapolis around the 7th Century and in the 10th Century, Constantine V11 Porphrougenitus (the son of the Byzantine emperor Leo VI) had referred to Limassol as ‘Nemesos’.
In 1191 A.D. the Byzantine domination of Cyprus came to an end. During 1192, the island was sold to the Templars, rich monks and soldiers, but their knights began to collect high taxes to make a return from the purchase of Cyprus. This was not welcomed by the Cypriots, demanding the King to abolish the bond of the promise, which King Richard accepted. Cyprus then came under the rule of the Frankish Dynasty; the Lusignan kings of the medieval Cypriot kingdom.
The city of Limassol flourished during the period of 1192-1489. It experienced several attacks and influences of Germany, Egypt, Ottoman and Turkey. During the years 1754-1821, since the Turkish domination did not contribute to any development, the church acted as an educational base. They taught Greek history, Turkish and French.
The following schools were established in the city of Limassol: The Greek School – 1819, The Public school – 1841, The Girls’ School – 1861.
In 1878, the British occupied Cyprus and they began various development plans in Limassol. The first British governor of Limassol, Colonel Warren carried out many improvements in the structure of the city: Roads were cleaned and fixed, trees were planted, docks were constructed for the loading and unloading of ships, and lanterns were installed for lighting in main roads etc. Furthermore, job opportunities were created with the development of the port and industrial sectors.
The tourism in Limassol began just after 1974 when the Turkish army illegally occupied the northern part of Cyprus. At the time, Famagusta was the most commercially advanced city, being the main tourist area of Cyprus, with luxurious hotels, restaurants and entertainment areas etc.
Thus, after the invasion of Famagusta and other towns, the port in Limassol became the central port of Cyprus. Today, the city is the home for several industrial units as well as being a popular tourist destination.
Geography
The city of Limassol (Lemesos) is geographically situated on the southern coast of Cyprus. It is the largest city of Cyprus in geographical size that holds around 176,900 people (2005).
The district of Limassol is bordered by the district of Larnaca in the east, the district of Paphos in the west, the capital; Nicosia in the north, with Akrotiri Bay to the south.
The port of the city is the largest in the Mediterranean transit trade and is considered to be an excellent base for those companies doing business with the Middle East, North Africa or Eastern Europe.
Geographical Coordinates: 34° 40′ 0″ N, 33° 2′ 0″ E
Climate
Limassol has a wonderful Mediterranean climate. The city experiences long, dry, warm summers and short mild winters. The summer temperature varies between 22°C and 39°C, whilst the winter temperature varies between -1°C and 23°C. The temperature of the sea allows swimming almost all year round.
The image on the right indicates the average temperatures in December.
Culture
Limassol’s population comprises of mostly Greek Cypriots as it is located in the south of Cyprus, whereas, the majority of Turkish Cypriots are located in the northern part. However, within the past 20 years Cyprus in general has been inhabited by many other nationalities such as the British and Russians, as well as more Eastern Europeans in recent years.
The locals of Limassol are a closely knit society with a friendly nature. Furthermore, traditions are still up-kept by many, offering plenty of cultural events throughout the year. Some events are performed in the open air Greco-Roman theatre of Kourion by local and visiting theatre companies. The city hosts two major festivals; the spring Carnival with its traditional Parade and the late summer Wine Festival, which are both very popular amongst the tourists.
Economy
The Republic of Cyprus is a country located in the north-eastern part of the Mediterranean and is divided into the south, Greek Cypriot community and the north part, occupied by Turkish troops since 1974, which will be part of the European Union after the island is re-united. The population is 1,150,000 out of which 300,000 are Turkish Cypriots and Turks, 29,000 are Greeks, 24,000 are British and 8,000 are Russians (more than 40,000 if we include the ones that travel often and were not recorded during the last census).
The island is divided into 6 regions (districts): Nicosia (or Lefkosia), Famagusta (or Ammochostos), Limassol (or Lemesos), Larnaca, Paphos and Kyrenia. All six districts maintain small-size cities that bear the same names.
A city where you will be surprised to find a surprisingly extensive selection of art galleries, Limassol is certainly the place to come if you are interested in art appreciation of the Cypriot kind. The Limassol Municipal Art Gallery should certainly always be your first port of call, followed soon after by a trip to the one of the multitude of commercial galleries to pick up a souvenir with a difference.
Tourists often enjoy a visit to the city’s Folk Art Museum, while the Limassol Sculpture Park is another magnet for art lovers. This unusual Sculpture Parks spans just over 1 mile / 1.6 km and stretches along the scenic coastline of Twin Cities Park, comprising some 20 sizable, stylish contemporary sculptures in total.
Get in
By plane
Limassol is about a 40 minutes drive from both Larnaca and Paphos international airports. Larnaca mainly serves traditional scheduled airlines, whilst all of RyanAir’s flights land in Paphos. There is a regular shuttle bus service from Larnaca and Paphos airports . As of Aug 2013, the shuttle bus has a stop opposite the Grand Resort Hotel in Limassol’s tourist area, which is also serviced by Bus #30 that goes around the sea road, thus allowing for easy transfer to hotels. The other stop at Ag. Georgios is located a long distance away from hotels and central intra-town bus routes.
By boat
Limassol is home to Cyprus’ largest commercial shipment port and a reasonable passenger port, with several regular cruise routes:
Louis Cruise Lines from Agios Nikolaos (Kriti), Beirut, Haifa, Port Said and Rodos.
St. Raphael Marina St. Raphael Marina on the outskirts of Limassol.
magic 1 from Ashdod, Israel.
By bus
There are special Green Buses which operate intercity. Buses are available for Troodos, Larnaca, Pafos and Nicosia. It is best to confirm timings from the closest CTO Tourist Information Center.
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Activities in Limassol |
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 Sayious Adventure Park |
 Ascot Travel and Tours |
 Crest Dive Centre |
 Dive-In Limassol |
 Aloha Divers |
 SUP Club Limassol |
 Vikla Golf Club |
 Cyprus Smart Tours |
 Luxury Cruises |
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Accommodation in Limassol |
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 Booking.com |
 Hotels.com |
 Lastminute.com |
 HotelsCombined |
 Agoda |
 Amathus |
Car Rental In Limassol
