Limassol, Cyprus’ major port on the southern coast is also home to historical treasures and some world-class resorts including the five-star luxury Royal Apollonia. The hotel a quiet haven in the heart of cosmopolitan Limassol has recently been renovated to combine luxury, elegance and comfort in a beautiful beachfront location. With temperatures sitting in the high teens to low twenties from November to March, the island, lapped by the Mediterranean Sea, is an ideal escape from the British winter.
I visited in mid-November and despite being a “blue tit” cold water swimmer, I found Royal Apollonia’s outdoor swimming pool just a little bit too cold but the sea was a positively balmy 20 degrees. With swimming in the sea still possible, sunbeds a plenty to chillax on, a heated indoor pool and spa and a wealth of attractions in nearby Limassol and the Troodos Mountains, Royal Apollonia is an ideal base for a winter mini break.
Staying at Royal Apollonia
With 204 rooms and suites, my light-filled sea view room was elegantly minimalist and decorated in a neutral colour. With plenty of space, plug sockets and thankfully no complicated touch screen light panels, and even more of a bonus, a bath. However, it was the expansive sea view that got the biggest thumbs up. I’m an early riser and there was something very special to able to sit on my private balcony, watching the sun rise over the mirror-calm Mediterranean in mid-November knowing that all I needed to do was put on the fluffy bathrobe and within minutes I’d be experiencing my perfect morning ritual of a dip in the sea.
The room had all the amenities you’d expect of a 5-star hotel – tea and coffee making facilities, mini bar, hairdryer, turn down service and luxurious bath amenities. I wasn’t familiar with the latter “Eau de Magnolia” but the smell was summery and delightful.
Dining at Royal Apollonia
Aura is the main restaurant of the hotel where breakfast, lunch and dinner are served lavish buffet-style with some show cooking stations. Having spent the days prior to my visit on a wine and gastronomy tour through the island, I was pleasantly surprised to find some of my Cypriot favourites served at breakfast – spinach and feta cheese pies, delicious yoghurts and tons of different kinds of nuts.
For a light and healthy choice, lovers of Japanese cuisine can tuck into freshly prepared Sushi, Sashimi and Maki at Akakiko, the hotel’s Japanese restaurant and a popular Limassol holiday hot spot or savour authentic Greek delicacies cooked with local flair at Alati Greek Flavours. The Luna Lounge & Terrace remains open throughout the day and offers an ideal setting for an early morning coffee or an evening cocktail under the moonlight or in the summer months beat the heat with cool cocktails at the Indigo swim up bar.
A disadvantage of holidaying in the Med in the winter is sadly the shorter days with the sun setting as it does in the UK at around 4.30 pm. However, I used those extra hours of darkness wisely enjoying The Royal Spa. The spa features 7 treatment rooms, a gym and indoor pool, steam room and sauna, plus unique wellness massages including the hotel’s signature hot stone therapy, exotic Ceylon massage, candle massage and warm shell massage.
The spa uses tried and tested award-winning world-renowned products including Germaine De Capuccini & Dead Sea Premier. If you’re looking for a post-Christmas detox, the spa’s signature detoxification package in the Dead Sea Climatological room is sure to be a winner.
As much as I enjoyed the spa, outdoor swimming will always be my thing and I’ll just have to return in the summer to enjoy the lagoon-style swimming pool and catch some rays on the sumptuous beach sunbeds scattered with their signature blue and white striped umbrellas.
However, on my November visit, I still managed to make full use of the beachside location to swim in the sea and the super deep mattresses on the poolside sun loungers were some of the comfiest I’ve ever encountered, even if a tad difficult to get up from. There’s also a small kid’s pool separate from the main one with some fun water features and two floodlit tennis courts.
What to do outside of the Royal Apollonia
The hotel is situated 5 km from the centre of Limassol, a public bus service stops right outside the hotel with buses running every 20 minutes. I took the bus into town and then it is a long but pleasant walk along the palm-fringed sandy shores back to the hotel. The walk takes in the Sculpture Park where seventeen sculptures by local and foreign artists are exhibited, the products of sculpture symposiums held from 1999-2001.
Larnaca (68 km) and Paphos (65 km) Airports are both approximately an hour by taxi away. From the wedding of Richard the Lionheart to today’s carnival celebrations and wine festival, Limassol has always attracted visitors and The Royal Apollonia is a good base to experience the city’s main festivals.
When in town, Limassol Marina is a must and be sure to sample the area’s foodie delights. The Old Town still has a medieval feel to it, the winding, cobbled streets are easy to wander around and there are plenty of bargain souvenir shops (mostly aimed at the cruise market).
The heart of Limassol Old Town is the castle. Built by Byzantine rulers in around 1000AD, it’s supposed to be where King Richard the Lionheart married his sweetheart, the first royal marriage of an English king to take place outside of England. In the castle’s museum you can wander through exhibits that chart the history of the Old Town, as well as giving you a glimpse into the lives of the medieval occupants.
Further afield, I’d recommend hiring a car or taking a tour to explore The Troodos Mountains. Home to Mt Olympus (1952m), the island’s highest peak, this stunning mountain range overlooking the valleys of Limassol, Larnaca and the greater Mesaoria plain is an unexpected contrast to the Mediterranean coast less than an hour away.
This is a place to walk in pine-clad forests and explore Byzantine churches and picturesque villages. At the time of my visit, the villages of Agros, Deryneia, Fikardou, Kalopanagiotis, Kiti, Kyperounta, Laiki Geitonia (Lefkosia) and Lefkara had all opened their Christmas villages. Launched in 2021, the Christmas villages are a unique initiative, similar to Christmas markets and utterly charming and authentic.
I imagine that daily life at Royal Apollonia in the summer will centre around the pool and sipping sundowners. It’s a great hotel to just kick back and relax with super friendly and efficient staff. However, it’s always good to know that nearby there’s a plethora of historical attractions to visit and should you need a change of scene and a spot of exercise the cool pine-scented air of the Troodos Mountains is only an hour away.
Royal Apollonia by Louis Hotels
CY 4048, Georgiou ‘A 68
Limassol 4048
Cyprus
