When To Visit Cyprus

Cyprus enjoys an intense Mediterranean climate, with long dry summers from mid-May to mid-October and with mild winters from December to February that are separated by short autumn and spring seasons. Summer is a season of high temperatures with cloudless skies, but the sea breeze creates a pleasant atmosphere in the coastal areas.

Getting To Cyprus

The largest international airport of Cyprus is in Larnaca. There is another one at Paphos. Limassol is about halfway between these airports. Check your flights well: some airlines fly from one city to the other on Cyprus. In that case, you may be able to save a lot of time by picking up the flight at the last stop.

Larnaca is served by Cyprus Airways, which has several flights a day to Athens. Cyprus Airways also offers daily flights to Amsterdam (code-shared with KLM), London and Paris and several flights a week to most other major European capitals. Other airlines that serve Larnaca include Aeroflot, Austrian Airlines, Czech Airlines, British Airways, Lufthansa, MALEV, Olympic and TAROM.

It may be worthwhile to look at Helios Airways, a Cypriot low-cost airline that operates flights to a number of European cities. Other low-cost airlines that go to Cyprus include Britannia Airways from major UK cities, Transavia from Amsterdam and a number of German low-cost airlines, such as Condor, Hapag-Lloyd and LTU

Getting Around Cyprus

Bus services run within and between towns every day except Sunday. Those between major cities are cheap, frequent and efficient providing a cheap and stress-free way of seeing the country. If you want to travel on a Sunday, you'll need to get a service taxi. They're good for most places, but they tend to take roundabout routes. North Cyprus has service taxis between Kyrenia and North Nicosia. It's easy to hire cars and bikes all over the country.

If you enter Cyprus from Turkey, it's not possible to cross to the Republic. You can enter the North from the Republic for day trips only. See Visas in Facts for the Traveler for more information.

Driving is on the left hand side of the road and distances between towns are not lengthy. The transurban service-taxis are shared taxis connecting all main towns (during daytime) and are very reasonably priced. There are also many car rental companies in Cyprus, and the top international names are all represented. Petrol stations in all seaside areas and major towns are equipped with automatic pumps, accepting bank notes and operating on a 24-hour basis. On Sundays and Public Holidays, petrol stations in rural areas may open.

A number of experienced tourist companies organise efficiently run tours, in modern air-conditioned coaches, with multilingual guides.

Yacht charter is available in Lemesos and Larnaka, with or without crew.

Cyprus - What to do

Cyprus is a country where the 20th century still rubs shoulders with history, where one may enjoy customs, festivals and religious fairs, whose origins stretch back into antiquity and at the same time enjoy performances of modern dance or theatre as all art forms continue to flourish on the island.

Cyprus is often referred to as the gateway to the Eastern Mediterranean. Many Cypriot cruise companies' take you through that gateway to Egypt and the Holy Land. The cruise programmes have been designed specifically to suit all varying travel requirements, including departure days and destinations by offering three types of cruises:

Two-day cruises to Egypt which include a visit to the Cairo Museum and the Pyramids.
Two-day cruises to the Holy Land, which include a visit to the Holy places in Jerusalem and Bethlehem.
Three-day combination cruises to Egypt and the Holy Land, which include the above mentioned excursions
Two-day cruises to Lebanon, which include a visit to Beirut for sightseeing

Weather in Cyprus

Cyprus ' main selling point is undoubtedly its location: situated on the eastern shores of the Mediterranean, Cyprus enjoys an enviable combination of year-round warmth and sunshine. The main summer tourist season stretches from mid-May to mid-October and you can expect high temperatures, cloudless skies and a welcome coastal breeze. Temperatures by the sea hover around the 32 ° C (90F) mark, while inland they can rise significantly higher.

Autumn is a popular time with those in the know; as days are hot and nights cool (swimming is possible well into November). You'll also find the beaches empty and the museums and monuments free of crowds. Autumn sees the Troodos Mountains lose their lush green cloak and the vineyards take on gold and crimson hues.

Spring is many holidaymakers' favourite time to visit Cyprus as the island is painted with wildflowers. The first orchids bloom in January, but it is in late February that Cyprus takes on the colours of almond blossom and fresh green meadows. It can still be cool at this time of year (daytime temperatures of around 70 ° CF drop to 45 ° C at night), but by April the island begins to warm up. May is often ideal with sunny days retaining a fresh edge and the island bursting with colour and life. This is the time for nature rambles and savouring the island's natural beauty before the summer crowds arrive.

Cyprus Food

Food in Cyprus is an important pastime all over the island. Although there are many similarities between Greek and Turkish Cypriot cuisine, such as the prevalence of such herbs and seasonings as oregano, thyme, cinnamon, pepper, cumin and garlic, there are also some striking differences. Pork is the meat used for souvla (barbecue) by Greek Cypriots, whereas Turkish Cypriots, because of their religious beliefs, prefer lamb or chicken. A Turkish Cypriot specialty is ekmek kadayif, a delicious pastry made with cream and syrup. Even if you think you don't like the candy called Turkish delight, you'll be happily surprised by just one bite (buy the pink rolled type that's crammed with walnuts). If you're looking for excellent seafood, we recommend the small (Greek) port town of Latchi, once a centre for sponge harvesting.

Every visitor should try Mezes; Meze is short for, Mezedhes, or little delicacies, and wherever you travel round the Mediterranean they appear in some form or other. Share a meze in Cyprus and you have tasted the true flavours of the island, for you may be served anything up to 30 dishes. It is a complete meal, but, beware, don't be tempted to finish every dish that arrives on the table, or you may feel as though you've eaten for a week by the end! Just take a leaf out of a Cypriot's book and enjoy your meze 'siga-siga'or slowly, slowly.

First come the olives, black and green, (elies) tsakistes with a dressing of lemon, garlic, herbs, coriander seeds and oil. Dips of tahini, skordalia, taramosalata and talattouri arrive with a basket of fresh village bread and a bowl of salata horiatiki, village salad.

Octapodi krasato, octopus in red wine, karaoli yahni, snails in tomato sauce, zalatina, brawn, and pickles of capers, kappari and pickled cauliflower, moungra, are some of the unusual meze dishes that may arrive now.

Bunches of greens, some raw, some dressed with lemon juice and salt such as carrots and kohlrabi, and some tossed in oil and bound with egg may fit into your meze at this point.

Fish of some kind could be next on the menu.

Marida tiny sardine type fish or barbouni, red mullet that are usually served very small, and kalamari or rings of squid are battered and deep fried, accompanied with chunks of fresh lemon.

Grilled halloumi cheese and lounza smoked pork, come next followed by keftedes, meat balls, the popular seftalia, grilled pork rissoles, and loukanika, smoked Cyprus sausages.

Now for the composite dishes or casseroles such as afelia, moussaka and stifado.

Towards the end of the meal come the kebabs souvlakia, the ofto kleftico (meat baked in a sealed oven), as well as pieces of chicken, arriving straight from the grill...

The local wines are good, particularly Commandaria, a sweet dessert wine, and vintages from the Pitsillia region. The local beer is called Keo. Zivania is a potent liquor that is an ideal complement to mezes.

Facts For The Traveller

Visas: Nationals of the EU, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa and the USA can stay in the Republic of Cyprus for up to three months without a visa. If you entered Cyprus in the North (ie, from Turkey), it is illegal to cross to the Republic. Travel from the Republic to the North on a day trip is legal and straightforward, but if you are late coming home your name will be placed on a black list and you will not be allowed to cross to the North again. It's also legally impossible to travel from the Republic to the North and to then continue to Turkey - you cannot take luggage with you across the Green Line, and you will be placed on the Republic's black list, which will most likely prevent you from ever entering the Republic again. Also note that Turkish-Cypriots or travelers who have a Greek family name will almost certainly be refused a day pass to visit the North. Travelers may enter the Republic only through the legal ports of entry: Larnaka and Paphos international airports, or the ports of Larnaka, Lemesos and Paphos.

Health risks: No particular risks, but you should consider vaccinations for hepatitis.
Time: GMT/UTC plus two hours.
Electricity: 240V, 50 Hz
Weights & measures: Metric

Money & Costs

• Cyprus pound (Turkish lira in the North)
• Meals
  • Budget: €5-10
  • Mid-range: €10-20
  • High: €20-30
  • Deluxe: €30+
• Lodging
  • Budget: €8-40
  • Mid-range: €40-120
  • High: €120-200
  • Deluxe: €200+

Compared with Western Europe, travel in southern Cyprus is moderately inexpensive. The costs of tourist commodities in the Republic and in the North are similar, though the North is better value when it comes to eating out. Accommodation is more expensive in July and August on both sides of the Green Line. Due to the collapse of the Turkish lira in early 2001, the North offers much better value for your hard currency.

Banks throughout Cyprus will exchange all major currencies in either cash or travellers' cheques. Most places in the North will accept Cyprus pounds and other hard currencies as well as Turkish lira. In the Republic you can get a cash advance on Visa at most banks, and in the North a couple of banks will do one for you. There are ATMs in most towns and even some villages throughout the Republic. In the North there are ATMs in Nicosia, Famagusta and Kyrenia.

In both parts of the island, a 10% charge is tacked on to most restaurant bills; if not, then a tip of similar percentage is expected. Taxi drivers also expect a tip.