Limassol

Limassol (Lemesos) is Cyprus's second-largest city and a major Mediterranean port on the island's southern coast. Its long seafront promenade, modern marina and busy commercial centre give the city an open, resort-like character, while the Old Town and nearby archaeological sites reveal a much older history.

The city is closely linked to the Third Crusade: Richard the Lionheart married Berengaria of Navarre in Limassol in 1191, and Limassol Castle, now home to the Cyprus Medieval Museum, marks the area around that story. The ancient city-kingdom of Amathus, on the eastern edge of the city, preserves ruins that date back more than three thousand years.

Visitors can walk the car-free Molos promenade, explore Limassol Marina and the restored lanes around the castle, or head to the beach and hotel district of Germasogeia. The wider Limassol district includes the Greco-Roman theatre at Kourion, Kolossi Castle and traditional wine villages in the foothills of the Troodos Mountains.

Limassol is a centre for shipping, international business, technology and professional services, and it hosts major events such as the Limassol Carnival and the Wine Festival. Its restaurants range from harbour-side seafood tavernas to contemporary wine bars, with Cypriot meze and local Commandaria wine among the regional specialities.

For both leisure and business travellers, Limassol works as a relaxed coastal base with beaches, conference facilities, historic sights and wine-country excursions within easy reach.