Limassol...

One of Cyprus's largest seaside resorts, and arguably the least attractive. The main tourist area, some 2 mls E of town, consists of a 7-ml-long stretch of coast, just ½ ml wide, lined with a mixture of medium- to high-rise apartments and hotels. Shops, bars, discos and tavernas are plentiful along the traffic-heavy seafront road, which is also the main route through the resort - so driving in Limassol can be frustrating and time-consuming. Other centres of activity include the old port area, with some upmarket dining opportunities, and the Old Town, where more traditional outlets - shoemakers, tinkers, quilt makers and ironmongers - are found alongside fast-food eateries and yet more discos. In the distance, N of Limassol, are the Troodos Mountains, in whose fertile foothills most of the country's grapes are grown.

Mid- to upmarket couples, young singles and families seeking sun, sea and sand. Principally British and German clientele, with a growing E European presence.

Some 4- and 5-stars but mainly 3-star hotels and B-category apartments. Medium- to high-rise blocks, the majority situated along the busy seafront road.

Limassol has a beach of dark coarse sand and pebbles but the resort's main beach is Dassoudi, 2½ mls E of town. It is equipped with modern changing rooms, a snack bar, restaurant and car park, and offers water sports; the beach itself is dark pebbly sand. Lady's Mile, 3 mls W of Old Town, is a 5-ml stretch of dark brown sand. Curium, 10 mls W of Limassol, has a quiet expanse of coarse, dark, pebbly sand at the foot of high cliffs. The area is generally considered safe for swimming.

Numerous souvenir shops in the tourist area, but the best buys are in the old part of town, with an overwhelming variety of leather, shoe and jewellery shops; there is a reasonably sophisticated shopping area of fashion boutiques on the edge of Old Town. The market place has one of the area's largest selections of fish, vegetables, nuts etc. Minimarkets - as well as a huge cash-and-carry - dot the main coast road.

Daytime: exploring the more historic buildings within the Old Town including the medieval castle/museum near the old port; a few other museums; water sports at Dassoudi Beach including scuba-diving, jet-skis, paragliding and banana boats (most major hotels also provide water-sports facilities). Nightlife: lively, with lots of discos, bars and tavernas, many with live music; mainly located in the Potamos Yermasoyias area, 2½ mls E of the town centre.

A vast variety of restaurants line the main coast road - typical Cypriot tavernas, pizzerias, fish restaurants, kebab bars and fast-food joints. Fine dining around the old port. Eating out is relatively inexpensive.

Local buses run frequently from early morning until late evening. Buses link Limassol to all the major resorts. A cheap shared taxi service operates 6am to 6pm.

Half day: Curium's ancient mosaics; Kolossi Castle; wine factories. Full day: Cyprus's walled capital city, Nicosia; ancient ruins of Paphos; Troodos Mountains, with the 15th-century Kykko monastery and church; coastal boat trip.

At the centre of the S coast, 50 mls S of Nicosia. 26 mls SW of Larnaca international airport; 36 mls E of Paphos international airport.

On dry open coastal land sloping gently towards the sea.

Telephone Area Code: 25
Website: www.vtourist.cy.net/limassol/

Airport : International
Airport Code: PFO
Flight time from ther U.K.: 4 hrs 15 mins