We spent two days in the port city of Limassol on our Cyprus Road Trip; one wandering along the seafront and round the Old Town and another a little further along the coast visiting an ancient city and a castle. The following itinerary can be followed as one busy or two more leisurely days.
How to get to Limassol
Limassol is on the south coast of Cyprus, 42 miles from Larnaca Airport or 37 miles from Paphos Sirport. We flew into Larnaca and drove to Limassol, which is an easy drive along the motorway.
Parking in Limassol was a nightmare in February, so I dread to think what it’s like in the peak of summer. There are car parks lining the prom, but finding a space proved extremely difficult. In addition, the car parks aren’t linked and are on a dual carriageway. If you start from town and don’t find a space, to reach the next car park, you must turn left, head back into town, go round the roundabout and back to the next car park, try again, etc…
Getting around Limassol
The old town of Limassol is fairly compact and is best explored on foot.
Where to stay in Limassol
The coast either side of Limassol is lined with hotels. We opted to base ourselves three mile to the east of the city at the Harmony Bay Hotel. This almost beachfront hotel has clean, comfortable rooms with balconies offering a glimpse of the sea. The hotel provides free parking, Wifi and breakfast.
Limassol in 1 Day Itinerary
| Day 1 | Drive to Limassol Accommodation – Harmony Bay Hotel Ancient Kourion Kolossi Castle |
| Day 2 | Molos Seaside Park Limassol Old Port Limassol Castle Ayia Napa Cathedral Municipal Art Gallery Municipal Gardens |
Limassol Day 1
Drive to Limassol
The drive from Nicosia to Limassol takes just over an hour down the A1. We had planned to take the scenic route through the Troodos Mountains. However, it snowed overnight, so there are road closures in place. So, it’s back to Plan B and the motorway.
Accommodation – Harmony Bay Hotel
The Harmony Bay is off the strip just east of Limassol. It offers clean, comfortable rooms which have balconies with a glimpse of the sea. The hotel has a pool and beach access. Unfortunately, when we visited it was cold and wet, so we weren’t able to make use of these facilities.
Ancient Kourion
10 miles west of Limassol, on a hill overlooking the sea, is the archaeological site of Ancient Kourion. The city of Kourion dates back as far as the 13th Century BC. Remains include the House of Eustolius, the House of the Gladiators and the House of Achilles with their intricate mosaic floors.
The Roman Baths contained cold, warm and hot rooms.
A Roman Theatre overlooks the sea.
The site is open daily from 8.30 am until 5 pm (7.30 pm in summer). Entry costs €4.50 for adults. We got in free because the cashier decided we looked like pensioners!
Kolossi Castle
On the way back to Limassol, stop at Kolossi Castle. This inland castle was built in the 15th Century to protect the precious sugar crops. There’s not much to see inside, but you can climb to the ramparts to admire the view.
The remains of the Sugar Storage Building can be seen next to the castle.
The Castle is open daily from 8.30 am until 5 pm (7.30 pm in summer). Entry costs €2.50 for adults.
Limassol Day 2
On our second day in Limassol, we wander along the Promenade as far as the Old Port, then return through the charming Old Town with its ancient buildings, street art and souvenir shops.
Molos Seaside Park
Molos Seaside Park stretches for miles along the coast east of the old town, with a promenade and a series of curved jetties. It’s a great place for a stroll.
Running alongside Molos Park is a Sculpture Park with some fun interactive pieces.
Limassol Old Port
The Old Port is lined with yachts on one side and shops and restaurants on the other.
Limassol Castle
The 14th Century Limassol Castle is allegedly where Richard the Lionheart married. You can climb the ramparts for a view of Limassol and beyond. The castle also houses a Medieval Museum.
The Castle is open daily from 9 am (10 am at weekends) until 5 pm. Entry costs €4.50 for adults.
Ayia Napa Cathedral
The white, century old Ayia Napa Cathedral sits right in the middle of the Old Town.
Municipal Art Gallery
The Municipal Art Gallery houses one of the largest collections of Cypriot modern art with over 600 paintings and sculptures, primarily by Cypriot artists, exhibited across an old building and a more modern extension. The old building dates from the 1930s and was gifted by the house’s previous owners. We were not permitted to visit the gallery without a guide, who accompanied us and talked a lot about ridding the island of the British, which appears to be the theme of many of the paintings.
The gallery is open between Monday and Friday from 7.45 am until 2.45 pm. Entry costs €2.
Municipal Gardens
Just across from the Art Gallery, you will find the Municipal Gardens. There is also a small zoo.
The gardens are free to enter, however it costs €5 to visit the zoo. Alternatively, you can take photos through a gap in the fence…
- Trip taken: January 2024
- Updated: April 2025
I hope you found the above information useful. For guides to more destinations in the 50+ countries we have visited, check out my full list of Independent Travel Itineraries here.
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