Hi, guys! This week, let’s explore Limassol, Cyprus! I went to this island last year for a business trip, but only now I feel like writing about this city.
Limassol is the second largest city in Cyprus (a small island near Greece and Egypt), which is perfect for those who like walking and relaxing. Think about a peaceful, calm, and healthy life!
When I say ‘peaceful’, I really mean it… because there’s only 1 small shopping mall! It’s not a bustling city but a beautiful, small island.
Limassol is a good destination for a temporary change if you live a hectic life.
However, if you’re a foodie and prefer city life, Limassol isn’t suitable for a long-term stay because you’ll get bored fast. Unless you have no choice, for example, you’re working there.
But hey, surprisingly, there are many foreign workers in this city! I chatted with a Filipino who sat next to me on the bus. I’ll tell you more about it later, hehe!
Alright, here are a few things that you can do in Limassol, Cyprus.
Go for Morning and Evening Walk, Explore Limassol by Foot
Bring your sunblock and walking/running shoes because you’ll walk A LOT in Limassol, Cyprus!
Exploring Limassol on foot is one of my favourite activities because there’s a very comfortable pedestrian road by the sea.
It’s very easy to explore the city comfortably, you just have to walk on a very, very long road… It’s like a never-ending straight road that connects both ends of the city.
When I was there, I loved my morning walk as I could absorb a lot of vitamin D, something I rarely could when in Malaysia because I always took trains to the office.
Then, I would have a short walk in the evening after work to enjoy the sunset and evening breeze 🥰🌊🌅
Clara, what should I do if I feel tired and can’t walk anymore? How do I go back to my hotel?
Don’t worry, you can take a bus! There are bus stops along the main road and the buses come every 15 minutes.
My favourite bus #30 takes you from one end to another end, so even if you stay far, far away, it will surely take you home. You may need to walk a bit from the bus station to your accommodation, though!
But if you’re travelling in a group, it’s better to take taxis because it could be around the same price. By the way, the taxis in Limassol are using Mercedes Benz ✨✨✨
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Take Bus No.30 to Catch a Glimpse of Limassol
Living in Limassol will make you healthier and sexier since you’ll walk a lot! But of course, you don’t want to be drenched in sweat all the time, right? Especially during summer ☀️
I highly recommend you hop on public bus to catch a glimpse of Limassol. With just 1.5-2 euros, you’ll get an idea of where the supermarket, shops, hotels, etc…
Some places that Limassol bus no.30 will take you to are:
- Old Port (tourist, souvenir and restaurant hub)
- Some shops
- Housing areas
- Shopping mall
- Lidl (supermarket)
- City of Dreams (luxury hotel and the only casino in Limassol)
- Most hotels (Crowne Plaza, Royal Apollonia, Atlantica Miramare Beach Hotel, The Icon, Parklane, Amara, etc)
The public buses in Limassol come on time (every 15 minutes), so you don’t have to worry if you miss one.
I suggest bus no.30 because it takes you from one end (the shopping mall) to another end (Parklane Hotel).
If you want to make a whole journey, let’s say you take bus no.30 from the shopping mall, then the last stop is at the Parklane Hotel (the last stop).
Tell the bus driver you wish to stay on the bus and continue the journey. This means you may pay more, but you’ll get more ideas about what to do and where to go in Limassol 😊
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Sit Down, Be Present, and Admire the Sea in Limassol
Did you know that starring at the see and doing nothing is very calming? In Limassol, you can do this almost any time.
Be it sitting on a rock, on a bench, on a beach, or on the pavement, the beauty of the sea is free for you to enjoy.
My favourite time? 5pm after work, because I could see the sunset and it wasn’t hot. I loved the feeling of the wind blew softly on my face, the sound of the ocean wave, the vast sea…
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Have Romantic Dinner or Bar Dates in Old Port, Limassol
You may want to bring some decent dresses and shirts for dinner dates. Although Limassol is a relaxing, coastal city, the Old Port area is very charming at night.
The alleys are a bit dim, surrounded by nice cafes and restaurants. You can find food starting from around 12 euros there.
Meanwhile, the restaurants at the main Old Port area are fancier and pricier, but they’re worth it.
On my last day in Limassol, I went to a very nice Italian restaurant, Tartufo. The atmosphere was very romantic, cozy, and warm… and my food was delicious!
The black ravioli with grouper and scallops + mineral water cost me 22 euros.
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Visit Agora and Eat Pistachio Gelato at Anita Gelato, Limassol
I swear I had pistachio gelato at Anita Gelato almost everyday when I was in Limassol, Cyprus. Its gelato was very creamy and nice, I could cry 🤧😍🍦
You can go there with online maps. Or if you’re relying solely on free WiFi like me, google the distance from your hotel to Anita Gelato and print the map 😁😁😁
There’s Agora, a food hall near Anita Gelato. There are many food stalls that offer different kind of foods, and the price is cheaper compared to the restaurants in the Old Port area.
So why not check it out and have dessert at Anita Gelato afterwards? 😉
Around this area, there are some small, cozy restaurants, bars, and coffee shops. I walked past this bar many times on the way to Anita Gelato, but never tried the food there.
If life allows me to visit Limassol again, I’d like to eat or drink at this bar because it looks very vintage and chic. Don’t you think so?😊
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Eat Affordable Seafood at Ocean Basket in the Shopping Mall, Limassol
What if I tell you that you could eat yummy fish and chips, made from thick slices of fresh hake fish, for around 8 euros? Or more premium fish for around 15 euros?
I took bus no.30 and went to Limassol’s one and only shopping mall a few times just to eat at Ocean Basket!
The best part? I could opt for vegetables instead of chips! It was amazing because I needed fiber to stay healthy but didn’t want to spend a lot for salad 😁😁😁
Oh, in this shopping mall you could also shop for sports attire/equipment (there’s Sports Direct) or nice clothes because many Inditex clothing stores are there (Zara, etc).
CLARA15
Buy Some High-Quality Olive Oil and Argan Oil-Based Products in Limassol
I don’t know why I didn’t take photos of the shops or products… Sorry! 😣😣😣
Cyprus is famous for its olive oil, so you’ll find a wide range of olive oil and olive oil-based products here. In Limassol, there’s a big souvenir shop in Old Port and some similar shops on a nearby street.
In the souvenir shops, you can find not only olive oil-based, but also argan oil, volcanic lava, donkey’s milk, and even Dead Sea’s mud-based products at reasonable prices.
You can also buy some products as souvenirs for your friends and loved ones. For example, one olive oil soap bar costs around 1-1.5 euros. Soap bars aren’t heavy and don’t take up much space in your luggage!
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Buy Cypriot Snacks in Limassol, Cyprus
Since Cyprus is very near with Turkey and Greece, the local snacks are mostly sweet like the neighbouring countries. For example, Loukomi aka Cypriot Delight is similar to Turkish Delight.
Loukomi is made from water, sugar, and cornstarch, then sprinkled with powdered sugar. It’s like jelly and comes in various flavours and colours, as rose flavour, pistachio, orange, strawberry, etc.
When in Limassol, many travellers buy Loukomi for souvenirs because besides it’s a traditional dessert, it’s nicely packed and the price is also reasonable. It’s around 2 euros/box, perfect for sharing (i.e. colleagues, families).
Another great Limassol snack to buy for souvenirs is nuts. Almonds, cashew nuts, pistachios, pecans, hazelnuts – you name it! There are many types of sweet, savoury, and raw nuts.
For those who love caramel popcorn, you’ll love Cypriot caramelized nuts! For the health-conscious, there are raw, roasted nuts too.
The most popular Cypriot snack chain in Limassol is The Nutcracker House, you can find them in an alley near Old Port (Agiou Andreou 99 Street) and other places in the city.
My favourite? Nuts coated chocolate, strawberry-coated chocolate, halva, and raw nuts 😋
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Last But Not Least… Hotel Hopping in Limassol
For me, accommodation in Limassol is very expensive. When I extended my stay after the business trip, I had to pay for the accommodation myself.
Luckily, I got a nice homestay in the middle of the city + near the main road and bus stop. It’s a decent room that cost me 432 euros for 6 nights! So, it’s around RM333/night.
It’s still expensive for me, but considering I didn’t pay for the flight tickets, I closed my eyes and just booked it.
That’s why, I was curious what do luxury hotels in Limassol look like. If my decent room cost me that much, maybe big hotels in Limassol were very fancy?
Btw Clara, Limassol is very small, why would you extend your stay until 6 nights?
Because… I took day trips to explore other cities in Cyprus! Thank you, Ascot tour!
This isn’t a paid post, let’s say I’m helping a local business because I feel very grateful for the opportunity to visit this country for free 🙏🙏🙏
Sorry for the long intro! Okay, so I took bus no.30 and made a few stops. I stopped at Parklane, Amara, and City of Dreams.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t enter Amara because only the hotel guests can enter the hotel. Or, if you made a reservation at any of the restaurants.
The Parklane Hotel in Limassol was HUGE! It had some villas and a hotel. Since I came by bus, I had to walk for a bit, passing by the beautiful villas, before reaching the hotel lobby.
City of Dreams was also HUGE! It’s almost the last stop of bus no.30. You need to walk a bit to reach the hotel lobby as well.
There were many Filipino staff at COD because it has a branch in the Phillippines. The Filipinos here were happy earning euros because they could send more money home.
Also, from my conversation with a Filipino staff whom I met on the bus, the hotel gave them free accommodation (room and food).
Although they were obviously not staying at the hotel but somewhere else, they weren’t cramped in a room. The man told me that he shared a room with another male staff, and his room had a sea view 😲
In terms of exterior and interior design, City of Dreams has a modern minimalist approach. I like how minimalist the shops were and the design of this alley:
Alright, so Parklane Hotel and City of Dreams were very nice, comfortable, and luxurious… but with the price, I’m sorry I didn’t feel they were special.
This is a personal opinion of an ordinary office employee.
Maybe because of the location… If I had that much money to spend per night, I’d rather book a nice stay in AlUla, Uganda, or a luxury Nile cruise 😍😍😍
Ok guys, our Limassol day trip has come to an end! I hope you enjoy reading this blog post and get some insights on what to do in Limassol, Cyprus 😊😊😊
CLARA15
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