Cyprus Area Guide
Cyprus is an island of legends, which basks all year round in the warm Mediterranean sun. Its history goes back 10,000 years and it has seen civilizations come and go. Many people including Alexander the Great and Cleopatra, have all staked their claim here. Aphrodite made her home on Cyprus, and travellers throughout antiquity came here just to pay her tribute. Aphrodite's spirit still abounds in Cyprus - it is found in a red poppy or fragrant rose, both sacred to the goddess of love - and the apple of antiquity is just as tempting today.
Cyprus is still a big draw to holidaymakers and foreign residents alike. It offers sun-splashed shorelines with hidden coves and high standard resorts as well as hilltop villages surrounded by lemon and olive trees, and mountain peaks thick with pine trees and golden oak. Sunshine is a staple of life in Cyprus. There are more than 300 days of sunshine every year. The warm Cyprus sun makes swimming an enjoyable experience all the way through to November. There is a legendary warm welcome to visitors from the Cypriots themselves.
Cyprus beaches are at their hottest and best from May through October. Late autumn is like summer in the rest of Europe and still a great time to be outdoors, whether to take a dip or explore archaeological sites. Though wintertime is cooler, it's still a season of sunlight with plenty of cultural activities to enjoy. Spring is when the seductive powers of Aphrodite reach their peak, pushing clouds aside and transforming the hills and meadows into a verdant tapestry of wildflowers.
Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean. It is situated at the north east end of the eastern Mediterranean basin. It is 380km north of Egypt, 105km west of Syria and 75km south of Turkey. The Greek mainland is some 800km to the west and the nearest Greek islands are Rhodes and Carpathos 380km to the west. Cyprus is also close to Europe, Asia and Africa and it rightly claims to be a stepping stone to three Continents.
More detailed area information can be found in our sections for: Limassol region of Cyprus - Nicosia region of Cyprus - Larnaca region of Cyprus - Paphos region of Cyprus - Guide to North Cyprus
The History of Cyprus
Cyprus is an island whose rich dramatic history can be traced back over 10,000 years. Cyprus has been so coveted over the centuries that it has been invaded and claimed by a fascinating mixture of civilizations from near and far all of which have left their culture and shaped its character.
The archaeology of Cyprus can be traced from the Neolithic Age through the Ancient Greek and Roman periods to more recent history. It is where churches and monasteries still stand from Byzantine times, castles and palaces from the days of Crusaders and Frankish Lusignans and splendid city walls from Venetian days.
The mythical gods and goddesses of Ancient Greece, who indulged themselves in sport pleasure and tragedy, chose Cyprus. It is where Aphrodite, goddess of love and beauty, emerged from the Paphos foam to become a famous cult figure - center of attraction for the first visitors who flocked to the island to worship her.
With such a historic and legendary background it is hardly surprising that Cyprus has developed a character that is quite unique. It is blessed with natural beauty that ranges from golden beaches and rugged coastlines to rolling hills and forest clad mountains, dotted with picturesque villages.
Travelling to Cyprus
Flights to Cyprus are plentiful and frequent. Most budget airlines fly to either of the airports at Lanarca and Paphos. The airports have modern facilities and taxis are available for travel into the city. Car hire is available at both centers and can be reserved in advance either through travel agents or internet.
Healthcare in Cyprus
In Cyprus health inspectors of the medical and public services of the Ministry of Health and the local authorities monitor the safety of food and drinking water quality. Food and drinking water are of high quality, absolutely safe and no food or water-born diseases occur.
Water is safe to drink in Cyprus, as water pollution is negligible and every home has fresh running drinking water. All the district water boards are in constant collaboration with the government health services and the general laboratory for the prevention of any toxicological and bacteriological infection of water. Tap water in hotels, restaurants, public premises, etc., is safe to drink.
Cyprus is also free from dangerous infectious diseases. There are no vaccination requirements for anyone travelling to Cyprus.
Government general hospitals and private clinics and hospitals are mostly concentrated in urban areas, while health centers and dispensaries function in the rural areas, providing a network to meet the medical needs of the whole population, which is reassuring for any potential purchaser of property in Cyprus.
All government general hospitals as well as some private clinics have accident and emergency departments.
Medical treatment and assistance is offered free of charge to international tourists. Outpatient and inpatient treatment is provided against payment of the prescribed fees, except in Southern Cyprus, where EU citizens can produce the E111 form, issued by their country's health care authorities.
Holidaymakers can also make use of their health insurance, which covers medical expenses, provided that this insurance covers the length of their stay on the island.
Almost all brands of manufactured medicines are available in Cyprus. However medication can be expensive. Make sure your insurance covers medicines.
Local newspapers list pharmacies that are open during the night and on weekends/holidays, as well as the names of doctors who are on call out of regular hours.
The majority of doctors have trained either in the UK or USA and consequently are English speaking.
Private doctors visiting hours (on weekdays) are typically: 09:00-13:00 hrs and 16:00-19:00 hrs.
Driving in Cyprus
The last railway system in Cyprus was dismantled in 1950, thus the road network is of great importance to the island. The South has a total area of approx. 11,000 Km of highways, of which 7,000 Km is paved. Vehicles are driven on the left hand side of the road.
The improvement and upgrading of the road network is of crucial importance, since the uniqueness of the Cyprus tourist experience lies in the ability for travelers to explore with ease and safety throughout the island. The upgrading of pavements and streets is also of high priority, as is the completion and expansion of the pedestrian paths and cycling tracks network, especially in tourist areas.
List of Main Motorways
- A1 (Nicosia-Limassol)
- A2 (A1-Larnaca)-merges with A1 near Pera Chorio
- A3 (Larnaca-Agia Napa-Paralimni)
- A5 (A1-Larnaca)-merges with A1 near Kofinou
- A6 (Pafos-Limassol)
- A9 (Nicosia-Astromeritis) - partially under construction
A good public transport system comprises various bus companies offering efficient and regular bus routes linking all main towns and small villages. For information on timetables, contact the following:
- Lefkosia: Plateia Solomou, Tel: (02) 473414
- Lemesos: A. Themistocleous, 7 Tel: (05) 370592, (05) 355273
- Larnaka: Gonia Karaoli & Dimitriou, 36A Tel: (04) 650477
- Pafos: Karavella Bus Station, Tel: (06) 234410
- Paralimni: Agiou Georgiou, 13 Tel: (03) 821318
- Agia Napa: Leoforos Makariou, III 32A Tel: (03) 721321
Reflecting former British presence, traffic in Cyprus circulates in true British fashion on the left hand side, making the adjustment upon arrival very easy for British people. Traffic signs are international as is the good road network, with high standard dual carriageways between major towns.
Be aware that Cyprus enjoys year-round tourism, so you may find slow moving traffic and lost tourists driving in a decidedly unpredictable fashion!
The Cyprus Driving License and Test - If you drive a car and are thinking of purchasing a property in Cyprus, it is advisable to obtain a Cypriot Driving License which is valid for life. To obtain a Cypriot license you will need to:
Pass the Cypriot driving test for the category of vehicle you intend to drive or surrender your existing domestic license at The Department of Transport, Mesogi Industrial Estate (off the Paphos to Polis road).
The driving test is a simple, short theory test of about five or six questions on the Highway Code. The practical test takes about 35 minutes and you will be notified of success or failure immediately after taking the test.
Importing Your Car
You can import your car into Cyprus without paying duty or tax if:
- you are the owner of the car or you have the written permission to import on the owner´s behalf
- your usual residence is in a country outside the European Union
- you are importing the car for your private use only
- you intend to use it in Cyprus for no more than six months per year*
You will need to fill in a form C.104, at Customs.
For more information, you can contact the Department of Customs and Excise in Nicosia. Email: headquarters@customs.mof.gov.cy, fax no. 22 302031
For phone enquiries contact the Temporary Importations Section at Customs Headquarters on tel: 22 601753 or 22 601748.
- you are permitted to keep the car in Cyprus for longer than six months if: you are a student, you are on a fixed duration contract of work or you have become a resident of Cyprus and will apply for relief on your vehicle.
Parking and Fines - Parking places can be found in all town centers at approx. 50 cents per half day's parking. Municipal car parks can often charge around 20 cents per hour.
Parking meters are also in operation in towns and take one 20-cent coin per hour. They charge on weekdays during office hours but not on Saturday afternoons, Sundays and public holidays.
Double yellow lines: are areas where parking is prohibited.
Single yellow line: permits loading and unloading but parking is prohibited at all times
These yellow road markings are often accompanied by signs indicating the hours when the restrictions are in force.
If you are unlucky enough to get a fixed penalty ticket, you must pay the fine within 15 days. If not, a 50% surcharge is added and after 30 days from the issue date, payment will is not accepted and legal action will follow
Be aware that if you park on the zig zags of a pedestrian crossing you could get fined. Parking facing the flow of traffic on the right hand side of the road or in a restricted area also carries a penalty.
Traffic Accidents - If you are involved in an accident, phone the police immediately on emergency telephone number 112.
It is important to leave your car in the position it was when it had the accident until the police arrive. If you do not, you may lose the right to claim on your insurance and, as importantly, you may be deemed to be at fault even if you are not.
Cuisine in Cyprus
It is said civilization starts on the table, which therefore makes Cyprus amongst the most civilized countries of the Mediterranean. The Cypriots instinctively know what is important to good living so eating and drinking well are always high on their agenda.
Although international cuisine is widely available in Cyprus, the tavernas and best restaurants delight in serving classic Cypriot dishes that have been enjoyed here over the centuries. Like everything in Cyprus, religion is split. The northerners are mostly Muslim and the southerners are Greek Orthodox. This religious split brings about cultural differences and food, too, reflects the divide. In the north you will find more Turkish cooking, while in the south the food will be of Greek origin.
However, wherever you are in Cyprus, you will come across some duplicate south eastern Mediterranean dishes, such as Kleftiko (baked lamb) and mezes (dip appetizers).
As with most typical Mediterranean food, recipes are based on locally grown produce, namely root vegetables, citrus fruits, fresh fish, vine leaves, cheese, olives, aromatic spices and fresh herbs such as coriander.
Cyprus also produces its own very palatable wines, lager and fruit juices to accompany its gastronomic delights.
The Meze
Typical to Eastern style cooking, the Meze is a Cypriot variation consisting of up to 20 dip-like dishes. It is a sharing, sociable custom, eaten as a starter where everyone dips into the same dishes.
A Meze will feature cheeses such as halloumi, kaskavalli or feta, tomatoes, olives, celery, artichokes, smoked ham, houmous, fish roe (taramosalata), sesame dip (tahini), octopus, prawns, mullet (barbouni), chicken, green peppers, seftalia sausages and stuffed vine leaves (koupepia). This is eaten with bread, often dipped into the individual delicacies.
The Main Course
Moussaka: layers of minced beef or lamb, sliced potatoes, eggplant and courgettes, topped with a delicious white sauce
Tavas: veal, onions and herbs served in small earthenware dishes straight from the oven
Suflakia: kebabs with lamp or pork and cooked on a slow charcoal fire. It is eaten with chopped onions, salt and pepper in a flat pitta bread served with a yogurt based dip, Telattouri.
Raviolis: similar to the Italian Ravioli pasta dish
Avgolemoni: egg and lemon soup
Patcha: lamb stew served with lemon
Keftedes: spiced meat balls
Koupes: fried meat rissoles enclosed in pastry
Kleftiko: lamb roasted in a traditional oven
Fasolada: bean dish
Afelia: pork in a wine and coriander sauce
Zalatina: highly seasoned brawn
Smoked Cyprus sausages flavoured with pepper or laurel
Game, including partridge, hare and pheasant
Koupes, pourekia, kattimeria: thin semolina paste delicacies filled with meat, almonds or eggs and cheese
Fresh Fruit abounds in Cyprus and it often follows a good meal. Typical fruits are oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, melons, lemons, apples, pears, cherries, apricots, figs, pomegranates, bananas, purple plumbs, grapes, dates, almonds and walnuts. All fruits on the island are locally grown and protected by law against imports.
Sweets
Souzoukko: a favorite at Cyprus festivals and fairs, it is made by dipping strings of nuts in heated grape juice until the confection solidifies
Glyko: preserves of almond, date, apricot, cherry, quince or grapes, always served with a glass of cold water
Loucoumi: or Turkish delight
Loukoumades: similar to doughnuts with honey
Kadeifi, Baklava and Galatopureko: rich oriental honey cakes. Cyprus honey is excellent quality
Soumada: a hot drink made of almonds.
Sweet Wines
Wine in Cyprus dates back to Biblical times when the story of Solomon stated that Cyprus wines were the best in the world.
Commandaria, the rich, sweet dessert wine of the Crusaders, is the oldest wine known in the world.
Cyprus produces a wide range of red, white, sweet and dry wines as well as sherries, vermouth, and ports. Brandy is excellent in Cyprus as is the locally produced Cyprus lager, available throughout the island.
Ouzo is a strong distillation of grape juice taken with water and sometimes ice. It is high in alcohol content and tastes like an aniseed liqueur. When watered it looks like thin milk.
Zivania is another strong distillation. The pink cinnamon flavored variety is a specialty of the Kykko Monastery in the heart of the Paphos Forest.
Vegetarian Food in Cyprus
For vegetarians, Cyprus is a gastronomic paradise. With abundant fresh fruit and vegetables, and sumptuous local herbs and spices, Cyprus will not leave you hungry.
Historically, meat eating in Cypriot and Greek cuisine was always a luxury. Meat was expensive so, for many, meat was reserved for Sundays. Vegetables, pulses and grains for the rest of the week formed the bulk of the Cypriot diet and these dishes remain staple popular food to this day. A ready supply of goats' milk, cheeses, olives, wild greens, figs, raisins, capers, nuts and herbs all form the basis of many a Cypriot delicacy.
The famous Greek mathematician and philosopher, Pythagaros established an entire school of vegetarianism. He lived a long, healthy life on a diet of honey, barley, millet and raw or boiled vegetables and these remain staples in Cypriot cuisine to this day.
Crime and Police in Cyprus
Cyprus is known as a safe place in which to live. Despite past violence and the consequent division of the country to northern Turkish and southern Greek Cypriot regions, statistics for the Republic of Cyprus point to a crime rate that is lower than that of most other western European countries. In North Cyprus crime is relatively low but normal precautions should always be taken. Children and the elderly can walk the streets alone or at night and the environment is a warm, welcoming one. However, cars and properties in Cyprus should always be left secured.
Politically, hopes are higher than ever for a power-sharing deal between North and South Cyprus to settle the decades of division and unrest on the island. The catalyst is Turkey's push towards EU membership which would allow reunification in Cyprus and extend EU laws to the Turkish portion of the island.
A crime rate of 6.44 crimes per 1,000 inhabitants shows a low incidence of crime in Cyprus. This is apparently due to the closeness of family ties, a sense of honour and reputation, along with the social pressures of education and achievement.
Petty crime is not uncommon on the beach and other tourist areas, and theft is by far the most common crime on the island. Watch out for your baggage and personal belongings and never leave anything inside your car to tempt the opportunist.
Reports of violent crime are rare though you would be well advised to avoid night spots after midnight, particularly "Cabarets". Cabaret girls, also referred to as "artists," are often associated generally with organized crime groups on the island and should be avoided. Foreign visitors to Cabarets often find they are overcharged for drinks, particularly when paying by credit card. While the police do not condone this practice, they rarely sympathize with you if you fall victim to this scam.
While illegal drug activity is considered low by most countries´ standards, immigration and customs officials in Limassol and Larnaca continue to report increases in the amount of illegal drugs such as hashish, marijuana, and ecstasy being imported to the country. It is easy to smuggle drugs from the Turkish North to areas within Nicosia. Foreign visitors are the principal source of this importation. Penalties are heavy for the importation and/or sale of any quantity of illegal drugs in Cyprus.
The Cypriot police force is considered to be professional, although resources can sometimes be limited. As a result, response times from the police vary according to the time of day and the crime. For example, waits of up to one hour after a traffic accident at night is considered normal. However, response times to incidents involving life or personal safety are very good and considered to be on par with most European countries.
Information Required When Travelling to Cyprus
Visas
Citizens of the European Union countries as well as Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway may enter Cyprus with their national identify card (passports) provided there is a photo.
Vaccinations
None Required
Currency
Currency used in Cyprus is the Euro
Time Zone
Time in Cyprus is 2 hours ahead of GMT in Winter and 3 hours ahead of GMT in Summer.
Electricity
Cypriot voltage is 220 volts AC (50 cycles). Plugs are of the round two-pin continental type, while lamp fittings are of the screw type.
Weights and Measures
Metric system
Tel. Dialing Code
00 357 area code telephone number
