Limassol Beaches and Water Sports

(Limassol, Cyprus)

Generally speaking, the beaches of Limassol can be divided into two main groups - those that are near to the city itself, and those located further away. The beaches closest to central Limassol tend to feature wave breakers and provide a choice of water sports, catering well for the influx of summer tourists and holiday makers.

The further you travel from Limassol, the more natural in appearance the beaches become, being noticeably darker to the east, and lighter to the west and often more pebbly and rugged. Also of note, the westerly beaches are known for their rough seas and so swimming is not always possible at these locations.

General Information

Around Limassol, the most popular beaches are listed in the following selection below. All of these choices are within easy reach and offer a little more privacy than the central beachfront:

Aphrodite's Beach (Aphrodite's Rock / Petra Tou Romiou)
Regarded by many as being the most famous of all the beaches on Cyprus, Aphrodite's Beach is an almost mythical part of the island, since legend says that this is actually the birthplace of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, fertility and beauty. This beach is also the location of the eye-catching Aphrodite Rock and is connected to the car park by an underground tunnel. Those driving from Limassol should head out on the B6 road, towards Paphos.

Avdimou Beach
Appearing almost completely deserted, Avdimou Beach can only be reached by car and is usually very quiet when it comes to sunbathers. With a combination of fine sand and small pebbles, Avdimou Beach really is an extremely tranquil place to come and relax, away from the crowds elsewhere.

Governor's Beach
Located around 30 km / 19 miles to the east of Limassol, Governor's Beach is easy to get to, since it is connected by a regular private bus. Day trippers often choose to spend an entire day here, soaking up the Cypriot sun on the dark sand. The beachfront itself it backed by dramatic chalky cliffs and features a couple of popular restaurants. However, the view of the distant Vasilikos power station is something of a blot on the landscape.

Kourion Beach
Kourion Beach is an appealing expanse of pale grey sand and tiny pebbles, some 17 km / 11 miles to the west of Limassol. The breezes here are notoriously strong and much favoured by experienced windsurfers. Locals often choose to park their cars on the beach itself. A handful of tavernas are on offer if refreshments are required. Tourists are strongly advised to combine their trip to Kourion Beach with a visit to the nearby Ancient Kourion site.

Lady's Mile Beach
A lengthy 7-km / 4-mile stretch of sand and pebbles, Lady's Mile Beach is one of the nearest beaches to Limassol and certainly amongst the very best. Lady's Mile is named after a horse once owned by a colonial governor, and runs south, beyond the New Port. There is nothing in the way of shade here, and so locals tend to bring their own parasols, arriving here in large numbers at the weekends.

Melanda Beach
A narrow sandy stretch with some pebbles, Melanda Beach is near to Avdimou and is quite exposed, meaning that seaweed is particularly plentiful. Melanda draws crowds of tourists from Limassol, who come here to enjoy is multitude of available water sports, such as windsurfing, jet-skiing and fun boat rides on inflatable bananas.

Pissouri Bay Beach
Providing something different to the peaceful Mediterranean beaches of the Akrotiri Peninsula, Pissouri Bay Beach is a leading tourist resort in this part of Cyprus and simple to reach from Limassol. With bars, restaurants, nearby shops and exciting activities for all ages, it is easy to see why Pissouri Bay has become such a tourist magnet. The surfing conditions at Pissouri Bay are frequently excellent and a ride on of the banana boats is always enjoyable.