Overview
Cyprus is a deeply enjoyable holiday island that boasts myriad charms year round. Within one compact and sweepingly attractive island are a variety of rich landscapes and eclectic travel experiences.
Cyprus as a destination is not just about its (admittedly very attractive and impressively clean) beaches, as it also offers skiing and hiking in its voluminous mountains, charming hilltop villages and vine-blessed slopes with nearby towns where you can sample the seriously underrated Cypriot wine. Then there is the sweep of Roman and Greek remnants that scatter the island and sit dramatically amongst its coast and mountains. Moving into the towns and cities, there is a dash of Mediterranean swagger to go with the bright lights and buzzing nightlife.
The rich story of the island can be traced back over 10,000 years. Like many Mediterranean islands, Cyprus has long been seen as an important strategic base with various civilisations having swept through over the years from the Ottoman Turks to the British, the Greeks to the Romans.
While independence was achieved in August 1960, in 1974 Turkish troops arrived on the northern coast of Cyprus, having been ‘invited’ by the Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash, to intervene in order to protect the Turkish community. Since the Turkish army took control of the northern third of the island it has remained partitioned and UN peacekeeping forces maintain a truce between the two sides with all attempts to date to find a solution failing.
Despite its political problems, Cyprus is a modern country that effortlessly marries European culture with indelible links to the past. Here, visitors can discover a compact world of clean beaches and rugged mountain peaks, vineyards studded with olive trees and ancient ruins that stir the imagination, citrus groves and old stone villages where 21st-century Europe seems a very long way away indeed.
General Information
Europe, eastern Mediterranean.
Area
9,251 sq km (3,572 sq miles).
Population
748,301 (2006 estimate).
Population Density
80.9 per sq km.
Capital
Nicosia (Lefkosia). Population: 208,900 (2001, excluding Turkish-occupied portion).
Government
Republic since 1960.
Cyprus is an island in the eastern Mediterranean. The landscape varies between rugged coastlines, sandy beaches, rocky hills and forest-covered mountains. The Troodos Mountains in the centre of the island rise to almost 1,952m (6,400ft) and provide skiing during the winter. Between these and the range of hills which run eastward along the north coast and the ‘panhandle’ is the fertile Messaoria Plain. The Morphou Basin runs around the coast of Morphou Bay in the west.
Language
The majority (approximately 80%) speaks Greek and approximately 11% speak Turkish. The Greek Cypriot dialect is different from mainland Greek. Turkish is spoken by Turkish Cypriots. English, German and French are also spoken in tourist centres.
Religion
Greek Orthodox.
Time
GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).
Social Conventions
Respect should be shown for religious beliefs. It is customary to shake hands and other normal courtesies should be observed. It is viewed as impolite to refuse an offer of Greek coffee or a cold drink. It is acceptable to bring a small gift of wine or confectionery, particularly when invited for a meal. For most occasions, casual attire is acceptable. Beachwear should be confined to the beach or poolside. More formal wear is required for business and in more exclusive dining rooms, social functions etc.
Photography: Photography is forbidden near military camps or installations. A licence from the appropriate authorities is required to photograph museum artefacts - this can sometimes be purchased from the museum’s ticket desk. No flash photography is allowed in churches with murals or icons.
Electricity
240 volts AC, 50Hz. Square 13-amp three-pin plugs (UK-type) are used.
Head of State
President Tassos Papadopoulos since 2003.
Passport / Visa
YesNoNoYesNoYesYesNoYesYesNoYes1NoNo
Passport Note
(a) Nationalities with stamps or visas of the ’Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’ in their passports are only allowed to enter Cyprus after the visas/stamps are cancelled by the Immigration Authorities of the Republic of Cyprus.
Passports
Passport valid for at least three months beyond length of stay required by all nationals referred to in the chart above except:
(a) 1. EU nationals holding a valid national ID card.
Note: EU nationals are only required to produce evidence of their EU nationality and identity in order to be admitted to any EU Member State. This evidence can take the form of a valid national passport or national identity card. Either is acceptable. Possession of a return ticket, any length of validity on their document, sufficient funds for the length of their proposed visit should not be imposed.
Visas
Not required by all nationals of countries referred to in the chart above for the following durations:
(a) nationals of EU countries who may stay for an unlimited period;
(b) 2. Nationals of Australia, Canada and the USA for stays of up to 90 days.
Note: Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements (see Contact Addresses).
Money
Currency
Cyprus Pound (CYP; symbol C£) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of C£20, 10, 5 and 1. Coins are in denominations of 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents.
Currency Exchange
Visitors wishing to obtain non-Cypriot currency at Cypriot banks for business purposes are advised that this is only possible by prior arrangement.
Credit/Debit Cards and ATMs
All major credit cards are accepted at most places. There are ATMs in main towns and tourist areas.
Traveller's Cheques
May be cashed in all banks. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller’s cheques in Pounds Sterling or Cyprus Pounds.
Banking Hours
Generally Mon-Fri 0830-1230 in June, July and August; Mon-Fri 0815-1230 and Mon 1515-1645 rest of year. Certain central banks may also open Tues-Fri in the afternoon. Banks in Larnaca and at Pafos International Airport are open all day.
Exchange Rate Indicators
| Date | Jul 07 |
| £1.00= | C£0.87 |
| $1.00= | C£0.43 |
| €1.00= | C£0.58 |
Transport
Getting Around by Road
Traffic drives on the left.
Bus: Services connect all towns and villages on the island every day except Sunday and public holidays (limited services only). The main operators include Inter City Buses (tel: (24) 643 492; website: www.intercitybuses.com) and Nicosia Buses (tel: (22) 778 841; website: www.nicosiabuses.com.cy).
Rural buses: Limited to one or two services each day and can be slow; however, they are a good way of seeing the more remote villages.
Taxi: These run 24 hours between all the main towns on the island. Fares are regulated by the government and all taxis have meters. Rural taxis can only be hired from the base station and do not have a meter.
Car hire: Cars are one of the best ways to explore the island. They should be reserved well in advance during the summer season.
Motorcycles: Riders and pillion passengers must wear crash helmets if the motorcycle is over 50cc.
Regulations: The minimum driving age is 18, but drivers often need to be 21 years old to hire a car. The maximum speed limit is 100kph (63mph) on highways, 80kph (50mph) on most other roads and 50kph (32mph) in built-up areas. Road signs are in both Greek and English. There are strict repercussions for those not wearing seat belts or a crash helmet, or using a mobile telephone/under the influence of alcohol whilst driving.
Documentation: An International Driving Permit or national driving licence is valid for one year. Visitors wishing to bring their car to Cyprus can do so for up to three months provided the car has a valid registration licence for its country of origin.
Getting Around Towns and Cities
Nicosia Buses operates an efficient bus service in the capital. Services in Limassol are run by the Limassol Urban Bus Company (E.A.L.) Limited.Smaller operations service other Cypriot towns and cities, though few services are frequent or used often by tourists. Taxis are widely available; a 15% surcharge is in operation from 2300-0600. Tipping is expected.
Journey Times
The following chart gives approximate journey times (in hours and minutes) from Nicosia to other main towns and tourist centres in Cyprus.
| | Road |
| Limassol | 1.00 |
| Pafos | 2.15 |
| Larnaca | 0.50 |
| Ayia Napa | 1.10 |
Entertainment
Food and Drink
Major resorts have bars and restaurants of every category. At larger hotels, the cuisine tends to international although authentic local dishes may also be available. All over the island there are restaurants offering genuine Cypriot food. One of the best ways of enjoying Cypriot food is by ordering mezze (snacks), a large selection of a number of different local dishes. However, the cuisine varies according to whether the visitor eats in the North or the Republic of Cyprus. Waiter service is normal and counter service is common in bars. There are no licensing hours. The highlight of the wine year is the annual wine festival in Limassol, usually held in September, when free wine flows and local food is on offer.
National specialities:
•Tava (a tasty stew of meat, herbs and onions).
• Dolmades (vine leaves stuffed with minced meat and rice).
• Kebabs(pieces of lamb or other meat skewered and roasted over a charcoal fire).
• Stifado (a stew of beef or hare cooked with wine, vinegar, onion and spices).
• Fresh seafood: Tsipoura (seabream), Lavraki (seabass) and Garides (prawns).
National drinks:
• Coffee is Greek-style (short, strong and unfiltered).
• Cyprus produces excellent wines, spirits and beer which can only be bought in the south. The foothills of the Troodos Mountains are home to much of the best wine, which is now of such high quality that it is increasingly exported.
Tipping: A service charge is added to all bills, but tipping is still acceptable and remains at the discretion of the individual.
Nightlife
Cyprus boasts a lively and enjoyable nightlife scene in all of the cities and resorts. The party goes on year round in the capital and Limassol, with Paphos and Agia Napa tending to be more seasonable. Venues vary from pumping discos through to chic bars in the island’s luxury hotels.
Shopping
Cypriot purchases include handmade lace, woven curtains and tablecloths, silks, basketwork, pottery, silverware and leather goods. Jewellery is an art which has been practised on the island since the Mycenean period; craftspeople working in contemporary and traditional styles produce some very fine pieces. Silver spoons and forks are a traditional symbol of Cypriot hospitality. Lefkaralace is famous throughout the world as one of the products most closely associated with Cypriot workmanship; the name originates from the village Lefkara, situated on a hill on the Nicosia-Limassol road. The local wines and brandy also make good purchases. Imported goods sell at competitive prices, including cameras, perfume, porcelain and crystal.
Shopping hours: Shops are closed Wednesday after 1400 as well as all day Sunday. Otherwise opening hours are 0800-1300 and 1600-1930 (summer, or until 1900 spring and autumn); 0800-1300 and 1430-1800 (winter). On Fridays, shops are generally open until 2000/2030.
Top things to see
• In Nicosia, the capital since the 12th century, visit the attractions of the Cyprus Museum, a storehouse of the island’s archaeological treasures; the Folk Art Museum; the new Archbishop’s Palace; St John’s Cathedral; Byzantine churches; the Byzantine Museum/Makarios Cultural Centre;and the Ömeriye Mosque.
• From Nicosia, go on an excursion to the Royal Tombs and Agios Irakleidios Monastery at Tamassos; the five-dome church and the mosque in Peristerona; and the Panagia Chrysospiliotissa Church, in a cliff-side cave near Deftera.
• In the resort town of Larnaca visit the Agios Lazaros Church and its associated Byzantine Museum; Larnaca Fort; the District Archaeological Museum; the Pierides Museum (a private archaeological museum); the Natural History Museum; the Tornaritis-Pierides Palaeontology Museum;and the scant ruins of ancient Kition.
• Near Larnaca’s airport enjoy the Hala Sultan Tekkesi, a historic mosque standing in beautiful gardens on the edge of Larnaca Salt Lake(dry in summer), a winter home of migratory flamingos.
• In the hills to the west venture to the village of Lefkara, famous for its handmade lace, and the Convent of Agios Minas. Off the Limassol-Nicosia road are the hilltop Stavrovouni Monastery, and the Crusader-era Chapelle Royal near Pyrga.
• Head for Limassol Castle which stands guard over the old harbour and houses the Cyprus Medieval Museum. There is also a Folk Art Museum, the Limassol District Archaeological Museum and, in the Municipal Gardens, a small zoo.
• In the ancient city of Kourion, on a steep hillside near Episkopi, discover a superbly sited Graeco-Roman theatre where concerts and Shakespearean plays are performed in summer. See also the House of Eustolios, which has beautiful mosaics; the Acropolis; the ruins of the Roman-era forum; and the Christian Basilica.
• Beyond Kourion to the west are the city’s ancient stadium and the Sanctuary of Apollo Ylatis. All of these sites lie within the Akrotiri-Episkopi British Sovereign Base Area.
• Do not miss Pafos, the booming main town and year-round resort in the west. Pafos is rich in ancient sites, in particular a cluster of excavated Roman villas near the harbour, among them the House of Dionysos and the Villa of Theseus, and the Tombs of the Kings.
• At the edge of the Akamas Peninsula, witness where, according to legend, the Greek goddess of love bathed at the Baths of Aphrodite, a grotto containing a freshwater pool.
• At Kouklia visit the ruins of ancient Palaia Pafos and the Temple of Aphrodite. At the coast is Petra tou Romiou (Rock of Aphrodite).
• Explore the scenery in the forested (or, more accurately, reforested) Troodos Mountains, which is spectacular. Platres, 1,200m (3,937ft) above sea level on the southern slopes, is the ideal base for excursions. It lies on the approaches to Mount Olympus, at 1,952m (6,404ft), the highest peak in Cyprus.
• Visit Omodos, a restored conservation village, which has the Stavros Monastery and a small Folk Art Museum. Foini is a centre of local craft pottery.
• Visit the nine Byzantine churches in the Troodos mountains listed by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites for their magnificently frescoed interiors.
See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.
Top things to do
• Celebrate the feast ofKataklysmos (the Greek Orthodox Whitsun); although celebrated throughout Cyprus, there is special enthusiasm in Larnaca, where crowds throng the shore for watersports, singing, dancing, eating and drinking.
• Hike through the many unspoilt areas in Cyprus. Recommended nature trails include Atalante, Kaledonia and Persephone in the Troodos area and Aphrodite and Adonisin the Akamas area, with other trails in the forests of Machairas and Limassol.
• Go skiing: both Platres and Kakopetria are conveniently placed for the skiing season on Mount Olympus, which usually lasts from January to mid March, but Troodos is actually the nearest resort to the skiing area. There are four ski lifts on Mount Olympus.
• Get wet: opportunities abound for windsurfing, paragliding and swimming. Recommended beaches include Geroskipou,Dasoudi, Larnaca, Dassoudi Beachand Germasogeia (latter two at Limassol).
• Find more sun, sea and sand: South of Limassol, on the Akrotiri Peninsula, at Lady’s Mile Beach is a long stretch of excellent sand. On the coast north of Pafos, Coral Bay is a fast-growing resort around a good beach. On the north coast, Polis is now a bustling resort.
• Take the kids to family-friendly spots: on the coast south of Famagusta lie busy resorts, speckled with golden sand beaches, that are ideal for children, like those at Fig Tree Bay and Flamingo Bay. Family-oriented Protaras and Pernera resorts have good beaches, with cafes and beach bars.
•Party hard in Agia Napa , which has an increasingly boisterous reputation as a major clubbing resort. It also attracts families to its beaches, Waterworld leisure centre and Go-Karts track.
• Around Cape Gkreko, the coastline becomes indented with rocky coves and small sandy beaches, so enjoy snorkelling and scuba-diving, explorations by boat and picnics. The Cyprus Federation of Underwater Activities (tel: (22) 754 647) and Cydive (website: www.cydive.com) can provide information.
• Practise fishing: note that a licence needs to obtained from the Department of Fisheries. Those who do not fish can still taste freshly caught fish in one of the tavernas around the harbour at the fishing port and resort of Latchi (Lakki).
• In September, enjoy free wine during Limassol’s wine festival. During the pre-Lenten Carnival, Limassol also bursts into celebration, with bands, gaily decorated floats and dancing.
• Southeast of Pafos, try some Greek Delight (like Turkish Delight) at Geroskipou village, which also has a small Folk Museum.
•Taste Cyprus’ best produce: apples from Prodromos, the highest village on Cyprus; cherries from Pedoulas in the fertile Marathasa Valley; mineral water from Moutoullas; rose water, mineral water and wine from Agros; and sweet red dessert wine made from grapes grown in the Commandaria Region.
See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.
Business
Statistics
•GDP: US$16.81 billion (2005).
•Main imports: Citrus fruits, wine, pharmaceuticals, clothing and footwear.
• Main exports: Consumer goods, raw materials, petroleum and lubricants, food and feed grains.
•Main trade partners: EU, Lebanon, Egypt, Libya and Russia.
Economy
Tourism is the main component of the southern service economy but, in recent years, financial services (including ‘offshore’ enterprises) have also assumed an important role.
The UK’s sovereign military bases on the southern coast and near the partition boundary are a major source of revenue for the south.
Economic development of the northern occupied part of Cyprus has been severely limited by lack of diplomatic recognition and it continues to rely heavily on economic support from Turkey. The profile of the northern occupied part of Cyprus’s agricultural sector is similar to that of the south; manufacturing is relatively insignificant; tourism relies heavily on visitors from the Turkish mainland.
Both parts of the island rely on imported raw fuels for their energy supplies.
The decision of the north to allow visits across the partition may presage the development of a cross-border economy, but these links remain problematic due to the unresolved political situation. This concession on the part of the north was driven mainly by the acceptance of the south into the European Union in 2004. Turkey, which ultimately controls the fate of the northern part of Cyprus, is an aspirant member of the EU, and a solution to the present division of the island is viewed by many as a key facilitator of Turkey’s own accession.
Commercial Information
Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry
38 Grivas Digenis Avenue, Chamber Building, PO Box 21455, 1509 Nicosia, Cyprus
Tel: (22) 889 800.
Website: www.ccci.org.cy
Conferences & Conventions
Many quality hotels have first class conference facilities; Nicosia is a popular destination for budget-priced conferences and has a number of modern facilities. Most 4- and 5-star hotels have at least basic conference and incentive facilities in what is very much a growing market, especially out of season. Advice can be obtained from the Cyprus Tourism Organisation (see Contact Addresses).
Communications
Telephone
Country code: 357. Telecard or coin-operated public telephones are installed at various central locations in towns and villages. Call Direct (cheaper than ordinary collect calls) is available to most EU countries, as well as Australia, USA and Canada.
Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage is good.
Internet
Internet cafes are located in main towns and resorts, for instance, Nicosia, Larnaca, Limassol, Pafos and Agia Napa.
Media
The Cypriot media reflects the island’s political divide, with the Turkish-controlled zone in the north operating its own press and broadcasters. State-run services compete with a large number of private TV and radio stations. Relays of Greek and Turkish stations are available across the island. Newspapers on both sides of the divide are frequently critical of the authorities.
Post
There are daily airmail services to all developed countries. Service within Europe takes three to four days.
Post office hours: (District) Mon-Fri 0730-1330 and 1500-1800 except Wednesday, Sat 0830-1030 during the winter period (1 Sep to 30 Jun); Mon-Fri 0730-1330 and 1600-1900 except Wednesday, Sat 0830-1030 during the summer period (1 Jul to 31 Aug). Other post office opening hours: Mon-Fri 0730-1330, Thurs 1500-1800 at other times.
Press
• Newspapers published in English include the Cyprus Financial Mirror, Cyprus Mail (daily), Cyprus Today (Turkish Cypriot) and Cyprus Weekly.
•Simirini is in Greek, while Kibris Gazette is in Turkish.
• Most English papers are available.
Radio
• Radio 1 (in Greek), Radio 2 (in English, Turkish and Armenian), Radio 3 (in Greek) and Love Radio are operated by CyBC.
• Commercial stations include Radio Proto and Astra 92.8.
• Bayrak Radio-TV operates Bayrak Radio 1 (in Turkish), Bayrak International (in English), Bayrak FM and Bayrak Klasik.
• In addition, the CTO sponsors programmes for tourists Mon-Sat on 603kHz (498m) and FM94.8.