Limassol boasts an abundance of Blue Flag beaches with clear blue waters and dark golden sand. Yet as beach visitors discover there is a great deal of exciting adventures to be had in the areas around the town’s beaches. From archaeological sites to natural treasures and a vibrant dining and entertainment scene, beach goers looking for something beyond sun and sea do not have to venture far from the beach to find what they are looking for.
1) Dasoudi Beach
Located in the heart of Yermasoyia area on the main Georgiou A street, Dasoudi is a Blue Flag beach surrounded by a mature eucalyptus forest. It is one of the few beaches in Limassol that offers natural shade, making it an ideal spot for children. Children will also enjoy the large and revamped play area that was launched a few months ago by the owners of Dasoudi restaurant. The restaurant also features a beach bar and serves an array of local and international cuisine dishes.
Dasoudi beach features the dark sand found in most beaches within Limassol, as well as clean water. Wave breakers have been placed in the sea, making the water calm and safe. The beach is quite organised, featuring sun beds and umbrellas for rent, beach volley ball nets, and water sports, including rowing and kayak. Changing room and toilet facilities can be found nearby, in addition to those offered by the restaurant. There are two large parking areas by the main beach.
Due to the central location of Dasoudi Beach, dining options abound in the area and are not limited to the beach restaurant. The main Yermasoyia tourist area with its large selection of cafes, bars and restaurants is just a few metres from the beach. The main road just off Dasoudi also hosts supermarkets, kiosks, as well as clothing and accessories shops.
A walkway passes through the Dasoudi Beach eucalyptus forest, comprising part of the seafront walkway that stretches over 23 kilometres from Amathus area to the Old Port of Limassol. The coastal walkway itself is considered a major attraction in Limassol, offering visitors an excellent way of experiencing the breathtaking scenery and beautiful landscape of the town’s seafront. Visitors can easily join the walkway at any point throughout the path, which is lined with cafes, restaurants and hotels along the way for a stopover refreshment or meal.
2) Olympion Coast (Akti Olympion)
Olympion Coast covers the seafront area from the edge of the Molos promenade to the beach below the Grand Plaza hotel. Essentially, this is the only organised beach that lies within the borders of Limassol Municipality, making it the quintessential city beach of the town. Olympion Coast is a blue flag network of beaches that offer excellent facilities and recreation options, while the coastal walkway passes directly through the area.
Recent additions to the network of beaches that make up Olympion Coast are ‘Danala’ and ‘Cosmo’ beaches found opposite the ‘twin towers’ of Olympic Residence buildings. These are designated ‘green beaches’ that aspire to follow sustainable practices, as well as offer exceptionally high standards of service and comfort to visitors.
Danala and Cosmo have an exotic ambience featuring bamboo umbrellas, wooden trails to the sea to avoid stepping on the hot sand, as well as comfortable sun beds, including twin sun beds for couples. Other amenities on offer include free wi-fi, safe boxes to store valuable belongings, a place to safely park bicycles, as well as showers, changing rooms and toilets. Upon leaving the beach, staff members offer to bring water for visitors to wash their feet with before leaving. There is a beach café serving fruit, cold sandwiches, refreshments and sweets. It is also possible for people to have food delivered to the beach by nearby restaurants.
The two beaches participate in the project titled ‘Green Cyprus Beaches’, which is implemented by the Cyprus Tourism Organisation, the UK Tourism Board, and the Cyprus Association of Sustainable Development. Danala and Cosmo were designated ‘green beaches’ following a series of upgrades to the sites that included placing ashtrays and recycling bins; planting native tree species and posting signs with the name and characteristics of the plant; as well as using eco-friendly beach equipment and furnishing. Daily sea water quality measurements, as well as daily beach cleaning take place at Danala and Cosmo.
3) Curium Beach
Located on the old coastal road between Episkopi village and the SBA Episkopi garrison, Curium Beach is a spectacular landscape of steep cliffs and caves lining a long stretch of clear water beach. The beach has risen in popularity in recent years, but continues to be a nesting ground for Green and loggerhead turtles.
Curium Beach features an array of café restaurants serving good food and snacks, while organised beach facilities are also in place. It is advisable that visitors swim in the area towards the restaurants as the sea at the entrance of the beach is considered occasionally dangerous due to underwater currents. The beach is a combination of white pebbles and sand, while the sea water is generally clean. Due to the strong winds that usually prevail in the area the sea tends to be wavy. The site’s trademark wind also makes it a popular spot for kite-surfing and paragliding.
The mountain just above the beach is host to the ancient kingdom of Curium, which dates to the Neolithic period (4500-3900 BC). According to tradition, Curium was founded by Argives in the 13th century BC, during the first wave of the Mycenaean expansion and others followed the Argives in the 12th century as a result of the Dorian invasion of Greece. The site presently forms the archaeological park of Curium, which features significant monuments from the Roman and Hellenistic period. Most of the monuments in the site are wheelchair- accessible, while the western side of the park can be accessed via a special entrance that can be opened by the site’s guards. Summer opening hours are daily: 8am – 19.30pm. For more information call 25934250.
4) Lady’s Mile Beach
Probably the most popular beach with locals, Lady’s Mile comprises 5km of dark golden sand and pristine pale blue water. The beach is located on the west of Limassol, next to the new port and lies within the Sovereign British Bases area. It is a two minute drive from My Mall and a ten minute drive from the town centre. Road access to the beach has improved significantly in recent years, although the 5km seafront road leading to various points along the strip continues to be a dirt road. Yet, locals and visitors alike have accepted this minor inconvenience as part of the Lady’s Mile experience, which definitely makes up for the trouble. You cannot claim to have experienced Limassol beaches if you haven’t been to Lady’s Mile.
The beach features five restaurants that are open for lunch and dinner, serving fish meze, grilled mains, snacks and refreshments. There are sun beds and umbrellas available for rent on the beach near the restaurants, although visitors can bring their own kit. The first restaurant located at the entrance of the seafront strip, Oasis Fish restaurant, serves quality fresh fish meze, although the beach below this restaurant has pebbles instead of the golden sand found in other spots along the strip. Captain’s Cabin restaurant at the middle of the strip is a popular spot that features aqua play areas for children, although it can get particularly busy in weekends. An aqua play area and a small playground can also be found at the last restaurant of the strip.
Lady’s Mile is an ideal place for children as the water is quite shallow and clear. So clear, indeed, that you can usually see the starfish and tiny fish that frequent its waters. Children will also enjoy collecting seashells, found in abundance on the beach.
Nature lovers and birdwatchers will also appreciate Lady’s Mile area, which is part of the Akrotiri wetland- the largest aquatic system in Cyprus designated as a wetland of international importance by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. The site features a large salt lake and sand flats that are situated in the centre of the Akrotiri peninsula and the Fassouri marshes to the north of the lake. The lake and surrounding salt marsh is important for a range of wetland birds, in particular greater flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber. As an indication of its significance, 260 bird species have been recorded on the peninsula, representing 70% of the total of 370 in Cyprus. Akrotiri beaches are one of the few nesting sites on the island for Green and Loggerhead turtles, while mammals including seals, bats and dolphins have also been sighted in the area.
If you are interested in learning more about the area’s nature, you can visit the nearby Akrotiri Environmental Education and Information Centre. The centre offers environmental education programmes to school groups from all over Cyprus. In addition to organised school visits the Centre is also open for individuals, families and other groups. For more information call 25826562, email [email protected], or visit http://www.english.akrotirienvironment.com/.
