When it comes to Cyprus getaways, holidays to Limassol usually top the pile. With a stellar beach scene, unsurpassed nightlife, and standout shopping, it’s easy to see why.

Bigger and better

Limassol, a busy port on the south coast of Cyprus, isn’t just the island’s biggest resort, it’s one of the best, too. It can easily match the capital, Nicosia, for cosmopolitan buzz. It can keep the pace with Ayia Napa in the nightlife stakes. And the beach life is on a par with any of the island’s top sandy stretches.

The beaches

On the east side of Limassol is Dasoudi Beach. It’s a busy Blue Flag stretch of golden sand and pebbles, with tonnes of watersports and eating options. To the west of town, close to the port, is Lady’s Mile Beach, which is where the locals head at weekends. And for something more intimate, a 20-minute drive away is Governor’s Beach, a small limestone cove with velvety black sand.

Old meets new

Around Limassol Castle, where Richard the Lionheart is said to have wed Queen Berengaria, is Limassol’s old town. There are pavement cafés and local restaurants housed in charming 19th-century buildings. To the north is Makarios Avenue, home to some of the most exclusive shops on the island. Hugging the seafront is a 7-kilometre promenade where you’ll find Limassol’s sophisticated nightclubs huddled together at its western end.

Further afield

Limassol also has tonnes of history and culture. Behind the promenade are the Roman ruins of Amathus, which include a well-preserved amphitheatre. There’s also the outstanding Folk Art Museum housed in a listed townhouse. And Kolossi Castle, a Frankish stronghold where the Knights Templar set up shop in the Middle Ages, is only a 10-minute drive away.