Cyprus is renowned for being the perfect destination for beach bums and culture vultures alike – its mix of warm seas, sandy beaches and ancient culture make it one of the Mediterranean’s more diverse islands.
And if all that sun-worshipping and culture gets a bit too much, you can head out to any of the island’s larger towns and cities for some good, old-fashioned retail therapy – with Limassol being the top of the shops.
Shopping in Limassol
Limassol offers a range of shopping experiences to suit all tastes and budgets – if you’re in the market for traditional handmade gifts look no further than the palm-lined promenade and side streets, while if it’s more high-end designer goods you’re after, Makarious Avenue is packed with fashionable shops and boutiques.
Alternatively, you can do some shopping on the waterfront at Limassol Marina, which houses a range of shops, restaurants and boutiques from design houses like Ralph Lauren and Diesel, while you can pick up some bargain at the Limassol Sunday market, situated just around the corner from the Marina.
If you really want to shop until you drop though, you’ll have to take a trip out to MyMall – situated just a ten minute walk from the centre of Limassol, this retail mecca is the largest mall in Cyprus, with three floors of shopping, eating, drinking, and entertainment.
Here you’ll find familiar names from Adidas to Zara with everything from M&S to MAC and even a Hamley’s in between.
And once the retail therapy is sorted, you can grab a bite to eat from one of the mall’s restaurants, cafes, or fast food outlets before finishing the day with a spot of ice skating or bowling.
Eating out in Limassol
Once the shopping is out of the way, it’s time to sample some of the city’s food and drink joints – Limassol offers a massive selection of restaurants for food lovers from all over the world.
Take a trip to the city’s eastern quarters for traditional Cypriot cuisine and meze restaurants – for some of the city’s tastiest, most authentic, and most reasonably-priced, home-cooked meals try the family-run Chrysolemonia restaurant.
If you’re down by the Marina, the Meze Taverna is a few streets in towards town and is another family-run affair that offers great home-cooked food – the perfect place to while away a warm evening with a bottle or two of wine.
If it’s Italian you’re after, Mia Delicy serves up a great funghi risotto and spaghetti Napoli alongside other European favourites, while La Frenchie Bistro Parisienne serves up traditional Fench and Cypriot cuisine.
And if you’re eating on the fly, Limassol has a variety of fast food chains dotted around and about, with familiar favourites like Nando’s, Pizza Hut, TGI Friday’s and McDonald’s all located down by the beach.
Limassol has everything you need for a day or two of retail therapy, whatever your budget. Enjoy!