Budget car hire in Ayia Napa, Protaras, Larnaca, Paphos and Limassol.

Limassol

Limassol or Lemesos in Greek lies to the south coast of Cyprus and it's the second biggest city in Cyprus with approx 175.000 population. To the western side of city we find one of the most important ports of eastern Mediterranean  due to its position, crossroad between Asia and  Europe, where a lot of transit trade takes place. Lemesos the name, originates from the ancient Greek word "Anamesos" which means in between as this town used to be in between two ancient kingdoms the one of Amathus to the east and Kourion to the west. These kingdoms can be visited today as archaeological sites.

The medieval castle of Limassol, which is close to the old harbor and old town has a great history as in this castle the King of England Richard the Lion heart married his fiancée Berengaria de Nevarra (Venetian princess) and for the first time in history an English queen was throne outside England (11th century AD). This fort today houses the medieval museum of Cyprus. Around the castle people can rest while gazing at the fort in small cafés, restaurants, snack bars or they can visit  the time machine of Limassol, a pleasant way -for children and adults- of learning the most important events in the island's history. The time machine is located behind the Castle next to the Carob mill museum. Further from the castle  lies the old town with upgraded pedestrian streets filled with souvenir shops, handicraft centres, shoe market, leather market, jewellery shops and all sorts of things. To the centre of the old town is where you may find the central bus station of Limassol (EAL buses) that can transfer people to different locations within the town limits of Limassol or to other towns and areas outside of Limassol. Very close to the Bus station is the Municipal market of Limassol where traditional products are being sold. People come directly form their villages, their plantations and groves to sell their goods in these markets.

Limassol is the island's major wine centre, with several large wineries and every September it holds a wine festival one of the biggest events in Cyprus. It is usually the first ten (or 12) days of September, where people can go to the municipal gardens of Limassol right across from the beach and they can drink all the wine they can handle for free. During the festival there are spectacular fireworks on the opening and closing nights where traditional dancing and music can be enjoyed throughout the period of the celebrations. Visitors can join in the traditional way of producing wine which is taking off their shoes and stepping on the grapes which they place in big oak barrels.

The tourist area just like the town grows along the coast and it is to the eastern side of Limassol. Hotels of one star up to luxurious five star hotels can be found here, as well as self catering apartments of all categories, hundreds of restaurants mainly on the water front, discos and pubs to Germasogeia area, karaoke bars, souvenir shops, car hire (Car hire Cyprus is recommended) and tour agencies, water parks and many more. The new upgraded pedestrian zone and bicycle zone, right on the beach is very popular amongst locals and visitors. It is a zone which covers approx 18 Km distance a straight way along the coast from one end of the town to the west (old harbor) all the way to the other eastern side (to Hawaii & Elias beach hotels) with great view. Places of interest near Limassol areas are the Kolossi medieval castle and  the ruins of a medieval sugar cane factory, the ancient site of Kourion and Amathus kingdoms, the traditional wine producing villages of Omodos and Laneia and the Akrotiri salt lake for the bird watching funs.