Where to stay in Cyprus
Beachfront hotels, city life, restaurants and a cosmopolitan atmosphere.
Best for restaurants and city + beach. The guide below covers what the area is actually like, how easy it is to get around, and who tends to enjoy it most.
Limassol is for travellers who would be bored by a pure beach resort. It is a real, year-round city with a port, a business community and a strong food scene, wrapped around a long seafront. Choose it if you want restaurants, bars, shopping and culture in walking distance, and are happy for the beach to be a good extra rather than the entire point of the trip.
The old town and the area around the medieval castle are the most characterful parts, with narrow streets, cafes and independent shops. East of there, the marina and the seafront promenade give the city a modern, polished face, and further east again the tourist strip runs past hotels and apartment towers. The overall feel is urban and cosmopolitan rather than sleepy, with an international mix of residents and a genuine winter season.
Limassol sits roughly halfway between Larnaca and Paphos airports, so transfers take longer than to Larnaca town but the position is excellent for exploring. The seafront promenade makes walking and cycling along the coast easy, and city buses cover the main routes. A car is worth considering if you want to reach the Troodos mountains, the Commandaria wine villages, Kourion or the beaches west of the city.
Families are comfortable here, especially in the seafront hotels east of the centre where there is direct access to the promenade and space to walk in the evening. The city's parks, marina and cultural attractions help on non-beach days. The main caveat is the beach itself: it is a long usable urban stretch, but the sand is darker and coarser than in the east of the island.
Excellent for couples who like eating out. The restaurant range is the broadest in Cyprus, the marina and old town both work well for evening walks, and there is a good supply of design-led and higher-end hotels. It also holds up outside summer, which makes it a strong choice for a shorter off-season break.
Lively but city-style rather than resort-style: wine bars, rooftop terraces, restaurants that run late, live music venues and clubs used by locals as well as visitors. It is easy to have a busy evening without staying in a loud area, because the nightlife is spread across the city rather than concentrated in one strip.
A mix of large seafront resorts on the eastern strip, business and boutique hotels in and near the centre, serviced apartments popular with longer-stay visitors, and restored townhouse properties in the old town. Self-catering apartments are widely available thanks to the city's residential character.
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Example onlyLimassol, Cyprus
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Example onlyLimassol, Cyprus
Curated stay recommendations are being prepared for this area.
Hotel recommendations and booking links will be added after partner verification.
Example onlyLimassol, Cyprus
Curated stay recommendations are being prepared for this area.
Hotel recommendations and booking links will be added after partner verification.