Overview

Fall in love with Aphrodite's isle, where legend has it the goddess of love arose from the waves, and discover ancient UNESCO-listed sites, wonderful beaches and crystal clear waters. Although compact, this attractive island offers a rich variety of landscapes from pine-clad mountains to golden sandy beaches.

The best holiday beaches are found around Ayia Napa and Protaras, where warm turquoise seas lap gently shelving sands and watersports abound. Thrilling waterskiing and even kite-surfing are offered at the main resorts along with fun-filled water parks and boat trips.

There's a buzzing neon-lit nightlife scene in the main towns and a burgeoning cafe culture in Nicosia, Limassol and on Larnaca's mile-long beachfront promenade.

Cypriots are happiest when eating so join them for a mezze, a slow banquet of Cypriot delicacies such as grilled halloumi, dolmades and kleftiko, lamb slowly baked till it drops off the bone.

The stunning Troodos mountains with Mount Olympus at its peak is the place to work up an appetite. With its charming hilltop villages and vine-blessed slopes, it offers a cool relief from the intense heat in summer and a chance to enjoy hiking, cycling, bird watching and, in winter, skiing.

Meanwhile, the rugged Akamas National Park is the place to see unspoilt nature. It's here that protected loggerhead turtles return to beautiful Lara Bay each year to lay their eggs.

Venetian walls, Crusader castles and Roman mosaics, which appear at every turn, are testament to Cyprus's 10,000-year history.

The opening of the border with Northern Cyprus and removal of the barrier dividing Ledra Street in Nicosia, put in place when the Turks invaded in 1974, are reminders of its recent political past.

Cyprus has undergone significant modernisation following its entry into the European Union. A modern country with an ancient history, its stone villages, glitzy resorts, scented citrus groves and perfumed mountains are waiting to be discovered.

Passport/Visa

Passports

Passport valid for at least six months beyond intended length of stay required by all nationals referred to in the chart above except:
(a) 1. EU nationals holding a valid national ID card, provided there is a photograph.

Passport Note

(a) Nationalities with stamps or visas from 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.
(b) Nationals are only permitted to enter the Republic of Cyprus through Lamaca or Paphos airport, or the ports of Lamaca, Limassol, Latsis and Paphos, which are situated in the area under the effective control of the government of the Republic of Cyprus. Any entry into the territory of the Republic of Cyprus via any other port or airport, in the area of Cyprus in which the government of the republic does not exercise effective control (Turkish occupied area), is illegal.

Visas

Not required by all nationals of countries referred to in the chart above for stays of up to 90 days. For longer stays, nationals will need to apply for a residence permit by contacting the civil registration and migration department.

Note: Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements (see Contact Addresses).

Money

Currency

Euro (EUR; symbol €) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of €500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of €2 and 1, and 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 Euros or Pounds Sterling.

Banking Hours

Mon-Fri 0815-1330 May-September; Mon-Fri 0830-1330 and Mon 1515-1645 Oct-Apr.

Exchange Rate Indicators

Health

Vaccinations

Food and Drink

Milk is pasteurised and tap water is generally safe to drink. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.

Health Care

Free or reduced-cost necessary treatment is available to European residents, in most cases on production of a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Note: A European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is not valid in the north (Turkish) part of Cyprus.

Getting There

Getting There by Air

The national airline is Cyprus Airways (CY) (website: www.cyprusairways.com). All flights to the north are via Turkey with Turkish Airlines (TK) (website: www.thy.com) or Cyprus Turkish Airlines (YK) (website: www.kthy.net). Tourists can also now fly into the south and travel across the border in Nicosia into the north.

Approximate Flight Times

From London to Pafos and Larnaca is 4 hours 30 minutes, to Ercan, in the north, via Turkey is 5 hours 30 minutes.

Main Airports

Larnaca (LCA) (website: http://www.larnaca-airport.info/) is 5km (3 miles) south of Larnaca and 50km (31 miles) from Nicosia. To/from the airport: Taxis are available outside the airport terminal. Facilities: Duty-free shop, tourist information, bank/bureau de change, bars and restaurants, Cyprus Hotel Information and Reservation Office, car hire and post office.

Pafos (PFO) is 15km (9 miles) east of the city (journey time - 25 minutes). To/from the airport: Taxis are available outside the airport terminal. Facilities: Tourist information, duty-free shop, Cyprus Hotel Information, cafeteria and car hire.

Ercan (ECN) is 8km (5miles) east of Nicosia, in the north. To/from the airport: Hire cars, taxis and coaches are available outside the terminal. Facilities: Duty-free shops, tourist information, cafeterias and car hire.

Departure Tax

None.

Getting There by Water

Main ports: Passenger ships from the ports of Limassol and Larnaca (website: www.cpa.gov.cy) connect Cyprus with various Greek and Middle Eastern ports, including Piraeus, Rhodes, Heraklion, Haifa, Port Said, Jounieh and many Greek islands. Services are reduced during the winter months.

For detailed information on ferry boats and shipping lines, contact the Cyprus Tourism Organisation (see Contact Addresses). One-day cruises are organised from May to October, weather permitting. Several cruise lines call at Cyprus.

Note: Since 1974, the Cyprus government declared the ports of Famagusta (Ammochostos) and Kyrenia, and the airport of Ercan, all in the northern part of the island, as illegal ports of entry to Cyprus.

Climate

Warm Mediterranean climate. Hot, dry summers with mild winters during which rainfall is most likely.

Required Clothing

Lightweight fabrics during summer months; warmer medium-weight clothing and rainwear during the winter.

Contacts

High Commission of the Republic of Cyprus in the UK

13 St James's Square, London SW1Y 4LB
Tel:  0207 321 4100.
Website: www.mfa.gov.cy/highcomlondon
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0930-1700; 0930-1300 (consular section).

Cyprus Tourism Organisation in the UK

17 Hanover Street, London W1S 1YP, UK
Tel: (020) 7569 8800.
Website: www.visitcyprus.org.cy

Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus in the USA

2211 R Street, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 462 5772 or 0873.
Website: www.cyprusembassy.net

Cyprus Tourism Organisation in the USA