Limassol Wine Festival

The Limassol Wine Festival fills the Municipal Gardens near the seafront in Limassol for about ten days each year, usually from late September into early October. It was first held in 1961, which makes it one of the longest-running public events in Cyprus, and it has become a fixture of the city's autumn calendar.

The format is straightforward. Cypriot wineries and the wider industry set up stands across the leafy garden grounds, and visitors taste a range of local wines alongside grape-based products such as the boiled-must sweets soutzoukos and palouzes. Food stalls serve souvla and other Cypriot dishes, and there are nightly folk dance and music performances on the garden stage.

Planning a visit

The festival sits within easy reach of the old town and the seafront promenade, so it pairs well with a wider day in the city. If you are making a trip of it, the medieval keep at Kolossi Castle west of town carries the story of Commandaria, one of the oldest named wines in the world, and the Greco-Roman ruins of Ancient Kourion sit a short drive along the same coast.

• The Municipal Gardens lie on the eastern side of the city centre, near the sea.
• Entry is ticketed, and tasting is part of the experience rather than a separate paid extra at every stand.
• It works alongside the regional flower festival, the Anthestiria in spring, for travellers tracking Limassol's event calendar.

Evenings are the main draw, when the gardens are lit and the performances run. Check the current year's dates before you travel, as they shift with the calendar, and bring a little cash for food stands. For more of the city, see our guide to Limassol.