Limassol runs along the south coast of Cyprus. A medieval castle stands in the lanes of the old town, a few streets back from the old harbour, which is now a marina full of yachts, and a seafront promenade carries on east past the gardens. Inland, the Troodos hills rise towards the vineyards behind Commandaria, the island’s sweet amber wine. To the west, the coast road passes the cliff-top theatre at Kourion on its way to the rock where legend says Aphrodite rose from the sea.
Ships berth alongside here, so there’s no tender to wait for. The cruise terminal is at the New Port, though, about 3 km west of the old town, so reaching the castle and the marina means bus 30 or a taxi. By car it’s around 15 minutes.
Port Overview
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Port Type | Dock (alongside) at the New Port, where DP World Limassol runs the cruise terminal. There's no tendering, but the terminal is about 3 km west of the old town. |
| Distance to Town | About 3 km to the old town, around 15 minutes by car. Bus 30 runs from the terminal to the Old Port, and taxis are metered. |
| Currency | The euro. Cards are widely accepted and there are cash machines in town. |
| Language | Greek |
| Best Known For | The medieval Limassol Castle, where by tradition Richard the Lionheart married Berengaria of Navarre in 1191, the marina and old town, the ancient theatre at Kourion, and the Commandaria wine villages of the Troodos hills. |
- Cruise terminal , The DP World cruise terminal at the New Port, with the bus 30 stop outside
- Limassol Castle , The medieval castle and Cyprus Medieval Museum in the old town
- Limassol Marina , The marina beside the old harbour, with the Molos promenade running east
- Kourion , The ancient Greco-Roman city and cliff-top theatre west of the city
- Kolossi Castle , The Crusader keep tied to the story of Commandaria wine
- Aphrodite's Rock , Petra tou Romiou, the mythical birthplace of Aphrodite, on the coast road
- Omodos , A traditional Troodos wine village in the Commandaria hills
Limassol cruise terminal, New Port · View larger map
Getting From the Port to Town
Walking: The Best Option
Not recommended- Walk time: About 3 km to the old town
- It's about 3 km from the terminal to the old town, which is a long walk on top of a day's sightseeing, especially in summer heat. Once bus 30 or a taxi has dropped you at the Old Port, the castle, the marina and the promenade are all close together on foot.
Local Bus
€2 single by day, €3 after 21:00- Bus 30, run by EMEL (Limassol Buses), stops at the New Port passenger building and runs along the seafront to the Old Port, the stop for the castle and marina. A day ticket is €6. Some cruise lines also run a shuttle into town, free or charged depending on the line. Route 30 doesn't serve Kourion or the hill villages, so a tour or taxi is the practical way to reach them.
Taxi
Metered- Licensed taxis in Cyprus have to run the meter for the whole journey and give a receipt if you ask for one. For several sights outside town, a taxi hired for a few hours or a small-group tour saves finding a ride back from each one.
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Things to Do in Limassol
Limassol’s sights split between the town and the country around it. In town, bus 30 drops you at the Old Port, and the castle, the marina and the promenade are a short walk apart. Out of town, Kourion and Kolossi are to the west, Aphrodite’s Rock is further along the coast, and the wine villages are up in the hills. One of those alongside the old town fills most port days.
The Department of Antiquities sells a one-day entry card for €8.50, valid at all its museums and ancient monuments. It costs less than separate tickets for the castle, Kourion and Kolossi.
- Limassol Castle and the old town. The castle stands in the old town near the old harbour, built in the 13th century on the site of an earlier Byzantine castle. By tradition, Richard the Lionheart married Berengaria of Navarre in its chapel in 1191 and crowned her Queen of England. It now houses the Cyprus Medieval Museum (€4.50), open 09:00 to 17:00 on weekdays and 10:00 to 17:00 at weekends, and closed on public holidays.
- Limassol Marina and the Molos promenade. The marina sits beside the old harbour, with restaurants and walkways around the yacht berths, and it’s free to wander. The Molos promenade runs east from there along the seafront, past a sculpture park and gardens. Bus 30’s Old Port stop is right by the marina.
- Ancient Kourion. Kourion is a Greco-Roman city on a cliff above the sea, west of Limassol. Its theatre was built in the 2nd century BC, extended in the 2nd century AD and later restored, and it’s still used for performances, mainly in summer. The site also has the mosaic floors of the House of Eustolios, a Roman agora and an early Christian basilica. Entry is €4.50, and it opens daily from 08:30, closing at 17:00 from mid-September to mid-April and at 19:30 in summer.
- Kolossi Castle and Commandaria wine. Kolossi is a 13th-century keep, remodelled in the 15th century, that served as a headquarters of the Knights of the Order of St John. The Knights made and exported a sweet wine called vin de Commanderie, which became Commandaria, one of the oldest named wines in the world. Entry is €2.50, with the same hours as Kourion, and the two are close enough to visit together.
- Aphrodite’s Rock (Petra tou Romiou). On the coast road towards Paphos, roughly 40 km west of Limassol, a sea stack stands off a pebble beach at the spot where Greek myth places the birth of Aphrodite. It’s free and open, and it fits best into a tour heading west.
- The Troodos hills and Omodos. Inland, the land climbs into the Troodos mountains, with vineyards and old stone villages on the lower slopes. Omodos is about 40 km north-west of Limassol and around 800 m up, a wine village built around a monastery, with cobbled lanes, tavernas and Commandaria to taste.
Eating Near the Cruise Port
- Docks, about 3 km out
- About 3 km to town
- Euro (EUR)
What to eat in Cyprus
The thing to do here is a meze, which isn’t a starter but the whole meal: twenty or more small plates arriving in waves until you ask them to stop. Halloumi is Cypriot and it belongs on the grill, because it holds its shape and crisps instead of melting. Souvla is the big one, chunks of pork or lamb turned slowly on a long skewer over coals, and it’s the Sunday food. Kleftiko is lamb sealed in an oven and cooked until it collapses.
What to drink
Commandaria is a sweet amber wine from the Troodos foothills, and it has a claim to being the oldest named wine still made. Zivania is the other end of the scale, a clear grape spirit that runs at 45% and upwards. Keo and Leon are the local beers. Cyprus coffee is served thick and unfiltered, and you order it by sweetness.
Where to find it
The berth is about three kilometres from the centre, so it’s bus 30 or a taxi. The seafront promenade and the old town around the castle are where most restaurants are. The marina end is polished and priced for it. Village tavernas in the hills do the proper meze but they’re a drive, and that’s the trade-off.
Good for a short port call
A full meze takes two or three hours and it’s not something to rush. On a short call, eat grilled halloumi and a souvlaki in the old town instead.
Getting Around
If your cruise starts or ends here, the Limassol Airport Express runs to Larnaca and Paphos airports around the clock. It costs €9 for adults and €4 for children up to 12, paid to the driver. A metered taxi to Larnaca airport is around €60.
Essential Travel Tips
The castle, Kourion, Kolossi, Aphrodite’s Rock and the Troodos villages are all in the south of the island, so a normal Limassol day doesn’t go near the crossing points to the north.
Summer runs hot and dry from mid-May to mid-September. With a transfer at each end of the day, there’s less time ashore than the arrival and All-aboard times suggest, and a shore excursion to Kourion or the hills leaves straight from the terminal.
Cyprus uses the euro, so euros left over from another trip will do for spending money. On weekdays many shops in town close from 13:00 to 15:00, and on Sundays only the malls are open.
Frequently Asked Questions
They dock. Ships berth alongside at the New Port, where DP World Limassol runs the cruise terminal. It’s about 3 km west of the old town, so you’ll still need transport into the centre.
Not really. It’s about 3 km to the old town, which is a long walk on top of a day’s sightseeing. A taxi takes around 15 minutes, and bus 30 runs from the terminal to the Old Port.
Bus 30 stops at the terminal, at New Port – Passenger Building, and runs to the Old Port by the castle and marina. A single ticket is €2 during the day. Taxis are metered, and some cruise lines run their own shuttle.
The euro. Cards are widely accepted, and there are cash machines in town.
If you like ancient sites, yes. Kourion is a Greco-Roman city on a cliff above the sea, with a restored theatre, mosaics and an early Christian basilica. Entry is €4.50, and Kolossi Castle is nearby, so a tour or taxi can take in both.
Yes, as your one big outing. Omodos is about 40 km north-west of Limassol and around 800 m up, so a tour or taxi is the practical way there. Combining the hills with Kourion in one port day leaves very little time at either.
No. British citizens can visit Cyprus without a visa for up to 90 days. Your passport needs a date of issue less than 10 years before you arrive and an expiry date at least 3 months after you leave. Cyprus isn’t in the Schengen area or the Entry/Exit System, and the UK’s ETA is for visiting the UK, so it doesn’t apply here.
Petra tou Romiou is a sea stack on the coast road towards Paphos, roughly 40 km west of Limassol, where Greek myth places the birth of Aphrodite. It’s free, with a pebble beach, and easiest to visit on a tour heading west.
Ready to Explore Limassol?
Bus 30’s Old Port stop is a couple of minutes from the marina, so there’s time for a last coffee by the water before the ride back to the ship.
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What We Check
- Berth and terminal details, including whether the port is walkable or requires a transfer
- Transport options and realistic return timing for different port types
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