Qibla direction in Limassol

How to face the Qibla in Limassol

Stand where you will pray and find north first. Then turn towards south and move a further 26.0° towards east: the result is the bearing of 154.0°. A small error of a few degrees is forgiven by most scholars, but aiming simply at south would leave you about 26° off.

The scholars distinguish two cases: the one who sees the Kaaba aims at the building itself, while the one who cannot see it, as anywhere in Limassol, aims at its direction as well as he reasonably can. Comparing with the mihrab of a local mosque is a quick way to confirm the result. If you travel or move house, check the angle again, since it changes from place to place.

Why a flat map shows a different direction

On a flat (Mercator) map, the straight line from Limassol to Mecca points to 155.8°, only 1.8° away from the true Qibla. Here the two methods practically agree, so a map gives a usable first idea, although the 154.0° bearing remains the exact one.

The value of 154.0° is the direction in which the shortest route from 34.6841° N, 33.0379° E sets off towards the Kaaba at 21.4225° N, 39.8262° E. Every accurate Qibla calculator, and the plans of well-oriented mosques, arrive at the same angle for this point.

Distance from Limassol to Mecca and Medina

Mecca is 1,617 km from Limassol as the crow flies, and Medina, the city of the Prophet ﷺ, is 1,301 km away. A direct flight would take roughly 2 h 24 min, although most pilgrims from Limassol connect through Jeddah or Medina airport.

Clocks in Limassol run 1 hour behind Mecca in winter and the same time as Mecca in summer, because of daylight saving time. Prayer times, however, depend on the sun at your own location, so always use the prayer times of Limassol rather than those of Mecca.

Finding the Qibla with the sun in Limassol

On 365 days of 2027, the sun passes exactly through the Qibla direction of Limassol while it is well above the horizon. At that moment, facing the sun means facing Mecca. The effect is most frequent in January (31 days); for example, on 1 January 2027 it happens at 10:11 local time.

The sun is never opposite the Qibla of Limassol during daylight, so the shadow method does not apply here; the left-hand column is the one to use.

Twice a year the sun passes directly over the Kaaba, on 28 May 2027 and 16 July 2027. Both moments are in daylight in Limassol: at 12:18 and 12:27 local time, face the sun and you face the Qibla exactly, anywhere in the city.

Limassol compared with other cities

Compared with Nicosia, 62 km away, the Qibla in Limassol is turned 1.9° further anticlockwise (154.0° against 155.9°), and Mecca is 37 km closer. The nearest city with its own Qibla page, Nicosia (62 km), prays towards 155.9°, a difference of 1.9°.

See all cities on the Qibla page for Cyprus.

Qibla in cities near Limassol

• Nicosia155.9° · 62 km