22 Best Attractions in Limassol Recommended for a Visit

Limassol is the southernmost city in Europe. At this tourist resort, you can enjoy the simple pleasures of Mediterranean life: clean sandy beaches, a favorable climate softened by the Troodos Mountains to the north, and charming taverns serving delicious mezze and exquisite local wine.

Taste authentic olive oil, sample traditional wine, explore the attractions of Limassol, and Cyprus will feel just a bit closer to you.

In this UNESCO-protected archaeological park, located west of Limassol, you can trace 6000 years of human history. Kourion flourished during the Roman era, and the city was mentioned in the works of Pliny the Elder and Ptolemy.

It is from this period that the best-preserved remains of ancient Kourion's structures date, and there is plenty to see here.

The amphitheater's terrace remains almost intact, and the house of Eustolios, with its adjacent Roman baths, preserves beautiful colorful mosaic images quite well. Later, the city embraced Christianity, which is reflected in its architecture. You can view the residence of the Bishop of Kourion, as well as two basilicas from the 400s and 500s.

Address: Kourion, Episkopi, Cyprus.

Colossi Castle, possibly the most elegant castle you will ever see, was built by the Knights of the Order of St. John in 1210 and is still considered a beautiful example of medieval military architecture. Colossi served as the main command center for the Jerusalem Knights of St. John until it came under the control of the Knights Templar in the 14th century.

You enter the castle by crossing a tiny drawbridge and are immediately met with a large room featuring a well-preserved fresco depicting the crucifixion of Jesus. A narrow spiral staircase leads to the second level, divided into two halls, and then to the fortified roof, which offers a beautiful view of the village of Colossi below.

Next to the main structure of the castle are the ruins of a medieval factory where the knights processed sugar cane.

Address: Kolossi Castle, Λεωφ. Αρχιεπισκόπου Μακαρίου Γ', Kolossi, Cyprus.

The Archaeological Museum of Limassol houses a rich collection of ceramics and household items created at different times, starting from the Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods.

Many of the terracotta figures on display are believed to be remnants of votive offerings. In this museum, you can see classical ceramics, jewelry, oil lamps, modern-looking glass bottles and flacons, as well as Greek and Roman statues from ancient Amathus.

Although this museum may seem rather dull compared to the Nicosia Museum, it is worth a visit for anyone interested in the fascinating history of the region.

Address: Archaeological Museum, Lord Byron, Limassol, Cyprus.

Molos is more than just a promenade along the border of the city and the sea. It is an amazing seaside park that stretches from the Old Port to the zoo. Molos transforms an ordinary walk into an exciting experience. Here you will find not only playgrounds, cafes, and benches along rows of palm trees, but also wonderful water features, interesting sculptures, and unique lawns.

On Sundays, families from Limassol flock to Molos for a stroll. If you like, you can rent a bike for a few hours to ride along this charming urban promenade.

Address: Molos, Limassol, Cyprus.

Molos partially borders Akti Olympion - Limassol's main city beach, marked with a Blue Flag. This bay is ideal for those wanting to spend a few hours on the shores of the Mediterranean without making a long trip.

Here you will find all the necessary amenities for a comfortable stay - from sun loungers and umbrellas to beachfront cafes. Various shops are just a few minutes' walk away.

The dark gray sands of the beach stretch for more than two kilometers, and in some parts, Akti Olympion is 40 meters wide, so it is usually easy to find a spot to comfortably lay out. You can reach Akti Olympion Beach by public transport.

Address: Akti Olympion A Beach, Pier, Cyprus.

Fasouri, the best waterpark in Cyprus, is sure to delight your little ones. You'll need to dedicate a full day to visit this attraction. Covering 100,000 square meters, this Polynesian-themed waterpark includes slides, pools, and snack bars. There are a total of 22 attractions, ranging from the Kamikaze slide for teens and adults to a shallow pool for toddlers.

While your children enjoy splashing in the warm water, you can book a massage at the spa located within the waterpark or simply relax on a sun lounger in the afternoon.

Address: Fasouri Watermania, Tserkezoi, Cyprus.

Located in the old town, the low-profile Limassol Castle is a piece of history reflected in many of Cyprus's defensive structures. The castle was built by the Lusignans during the Crusades. Recent excavations revealed that it stands on the foundations of a Byzantine fortress and an Early Christian basilica.

Limassol Castle withstood attacks from the Genoese and Mamluks from Cairo. In the 16th century, during the Ottoman period, it was significantly strengthened. After active military actions ceased, the castle was turned into a prison and served this function until the 1950s. Today, Limassol Castle houses a Medieval Museum displaying coins, weapons, and pottery from various historical stages of the city.

Address: Limassol Castle, Limassol, Cyprus.

Not sure what to see in Limassol? Then head to the Oleastro Olive Park. Olive oil and olives, as you may know, are staple products of Cypriot and Mediterranean cuisine, which is why getting to know local food culture should start at an olive press. Oleastro is the largest producer of olive oil on the island.

They extract oil only from the 'Koroneiki' variety of olives. The factory grounds, surrounded by olive groves, house an interesting thematic museum. There, you will learn about the entire olive oil production cycle - from cultivating olives to bottling the finished product.

The significance of olive oil in the region is so great that it has always been surrounded by many myths and legends, as well as local folklore. These will also be introduced to you by the museum guides.

Address: Oleastro Olive Park, Anogyra, Cyprus.

Limassol Marina is the epitome of Cypriot luxury. Cyprus has always had a knack for harmoniously blending Eastern and Western cultures, and Limassol Marina perfectly demonstrates this. In this unique, elite complex, you will find luxury apartments, upscale shops, exquisite restaurants, and even a harbor for mooring yachts and boats, plus its own beach.

Here, you can water ski, windsurf, dive, sail, or fish.

Address: Limassol Marina, Limassol, Cyprus.

This museum, once a laureate of the prestigious Europa Nostra award (an EU award for contributions to cultural heritage preservation), features exquisite ethnographic exhibits. Here, you will see traditional Cypriot costumes, furniture, and local agricultural implements, as well as stunning examples of tornaretti embroidery (a traditional style of silk embroidery) and other textile items.

The museum occupies six rooms of a beautifully restored stone house, a splendid example of typical old Limassol architecture.

Address: Municipal Museum of Folk Art, Agiou Andreou 253, Limassol, Cyprus.

This collection, once belonging to an enthusiastic amateur actor, will introduce you to the history of theater in Cyprus through photographs, scale models, costumes, posters, and audiovisual exhibits. The museum's displays cover different periods of the island's theatrical culture - from ancient theaters of the Hellenistic and Roman periods to contemporary Cypriot theater.

Address: Panos Solomonides Center, Androutsou, Limassol, Cyprus.

The Limassol Zoo, while quite modest in size, provides good living conditions for its animals, which vary widely, including giraffes and crocodiles. For 3 €, children can ride ponies, and there is a large, well-equipped playground nearby. The zoo is located in a green city garden, just 1.5 km from the old town, if you walk along Christodoulos Hatzipavlou promenade.

Address: Municipal Zoo, Lord Byron, Limassol, Cyprus.

The exhibition at the Medieval Museum offers an interesting mix of Byzantine and medieval artifacts, including tombstones, weapons, Ottoman ceramics, ritual items, and armor. Unfortunately, all of this museum's exhibits are merely copies.

Address: Limassol Castle, Limassol, Cyprus.

By visiting the Natural Sea Sponge Museum, you will learn about the sponge collecting process and how living beings are transformed into the substance we use in baths or showers. Younger children will be entertained by the American cartoon 'SpongeBob SquarePants,' which tells the adventures of a talking sponge. Naturally, you can purchase natural sponges at the kiosk located in the museum.

Address: Old Port Sea Sponges Exhibition Center, Agias Theklis, Limassol, Cyprus.

Aphrodite's Rock is the very spot where the goddess Aphrodite is said to have emerged from the waves, according to ancient Greek myths. The Greek name for the rock, 'Petra tou Romiou,' translates to 'Rock of the Greek,' relating to the legend of the Byzantine hero Digenis Akritas. It is said that he held off Arab pirates here by throwing stones down from the hilltop.

Aphrodite's Rock attracts a large number of tourists not only for the myths and legends associated with it but also because it's a stunning place for photography, especially at sunset.

Address: Aphrodite's Rock, Kouklia, Paphos, Cyprus.

According to legends, it was here that the hero Theseus parted ways with the pregnant Ariadne after battling the Minotaur. Amathus was founded around the 10th century BC and was one of the first four city-kingdoms on the island.

Its early inhabitants were likely Mycenaeans, though there is no definitive proof to confirm this. The remains of structures that have survived to this day primarily date back to the Roman and Byzantine eras.

Address: Amathus Ruins, Agios Tychonas, Cyprus.

A couple of kilometers west of the ancient city of Kourion lies a temple complex that was once the most significant religious site on the island. From around 700 BC to 300 AD, pilgrims from all corners of Cyprus gathered here to worship Apollo Hylates - the god believed to be the protector of the island's forests.

Today, large fragments of the sanctuary remain, including parts of the wall and portico of the temple, its stairs and columns, as well as outer buildings - rooms where pilgrims stayed, utility buildings, and an arena where sporting competitions and celebrations in honor of Apollo were held.

Address: Sanctuary of Apollo, Episkopi, Cyprus.

The road from Limassol to the southern foothills of Troodos does not take long. A reason to make this trip could be a desire to ride along the numerous picturesque villages located here, thriving on viticulture.

Krassohoria is a place where small settlements are lost against the backdrop of steep hills, with terraced vineyards 'carved' into them. A wonderful example of such a mountain village is Omodos - a colorful little village with winding cobblestone streets, situated at an altitude of 900 meters above sea level.

It is surrounded by fruit orchards where plums, pears, apples, apricots, and peaches grow.

Address: Omodos, Cyprus.

Akrotiri Lake, one of the few wetlands in the eastern Mediterranean, occupies the center of the eponymous peninsula. Despite the lake's large area, its water depth never exceeds a meter, with much of it being even shallower. The shallowness has made the lake a haven for birds.

There are especially many birds in Akrotiri during migration periods, when whole flocks stop on the island on their way to or from Africa. If you find yourself in Limassol during the winter months, you can visit the shores of the lake to see several thousand greater flamingos that winter here.

Address: Akrotiri Salt Lake, Cyprus.

Not far from the road from Limassol to Paphos lies the picturesque village of Anogyra, where carob trees have been grown for many centuries. The carob tree thrives on the dry slopes descending to the sea. The sweet pulp of its pods is used to make syrups for pasteli - a local sweet that resembles toffee with a slight bitter taste.

Anogyra boasts three museums where you can learn everything about the carob tree and its cultivation, as well as the meticulous process of making pasteli by hand.

Address: Anogyra, Cyprus.

We already know that the Limassol promenade is a complex that includes, among other things, a modern beach with lots of amenities primarily targeted at tourists. However, sometimes you may wish to spend a quiet day by the sea in a spot where there aren't many beachgoers. Such places do exist - both to the east and west of the city.

To the west of Limassol lies Avdimou Beach - a sandy and pebbly wide curve that is too large to ever be crowded. The curve of the beach juts deeply inland, causing the water in the bay to remain no higher than knee-deep unless you venture far from the shore. This is exactly why Avdimou Beach is favored by families with small children and nervous swimmers.

Address: Avdimou Beach, Cyprus.

The village of Pedoulas, nestled in the Marathasa Valley, part of the Troodos mountain range, is home to many cultural attractions, including the Church of Archangel Michael, a fantastic Byzantine museum, and a Folk museum.

The Church of Archangel Michael, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the village's most famous tourist attraction, dates back to 1474. Its interior is adorned with frescoes depicting biblical scenes. The Byzantine museum, dedicated to icons, boasts a fair collection of richly decorated exhibits.

Meanwhile, the Folk museum is a lovely place to learn about the local culture. Its halls showcase exhibits directly related to the history and unique lifestyle of the Marathasa Valley's inhabitants over the centuries.

Address: Pedoulas, Cyprus.