The Island of Cyprus: Essential Information Especially For First Time Visitors

Would you like to know a few things about the island of Cyprus, before you start planning your trip?

If so, then you came to the right place.

Below you will find information about the island and answers to frequently asked questions to help you out with the planning of your trip in Cyprus.

First time visitors to the island shouldn’t ignore this.


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Information About The Island of Cyprus

Cyprus is the third largest Mediterranean island, after the islands of Sicily and Sardenia. It’s a beautiful island country located in the Eastern Mediterranean sea among three continents, Europe, Asia and Africa.

Cyprus is divided into 6 districts…

…Paphos, Limassol, Larnaca, Famagusta, Nicosia and Kyrenia.

The island has had many conquerors because of its’ geographical location.

Today it’s divided between the South (Greek Cypriots) and the North (Turkish Cypriots).

Now…

…it’s time to take a look at the information below to get to know a bit more about the island of Cyprus, especially if you are a visitor coming here for the first time.


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Cyprus: The Greek Part of The Island

For the time being, this travel guide focuses mainly on the Greek-Cypriot part of the island, the Republic of Cyprus…the South.


Cyprus: The Turkish Part of The Island

Information about the North part of the island, the Turkish-Cypriot side, will come in due course.


Brief History of Cyprus

The history of Cyprus goes back 11000 years to the 9th millennium B.C. – early Neolithic Period or Stone Age.


Cyprus Population

Today the population of the island of Cyprus is around one million.


The Island of Cyprus: Cyprus People

We are well known for our hospitality, loyalty and friendliness…and that’s part of our beautiful culture.


The Island of Cyprus: Cyprus Language

The official languages of the island are Greek and Turkish.

In the South part of the island locals, like us, speak Greek and the Cypriot Greek dialect which is a dialect of the Greek language.

Due to the fact that Cyprus was a British colony, English is widely spoken too.


Cyprus Country Code

The International code of Cyprus is 00357.

In order to call Cyprus from abroad you have to dial 00357 and then the phone number (8 digits) you wish to call.

For example…

  • Cell phone = 00357 9x xxxxxx
  • Nicosia (Lefkosia) = 00357 22 xxxxxx
  • Larnaca (Larnaka) = 00357 24 xxxxxx
  • Limassol (Lemesos) = 00357 25 xxxxxx
  • Famagusta (Ammochostos) = 00357 23 xxxxxx
  • Paphos (Pafos) = 00357 26 xxxxxx


Cyprus Currency

The official currency in Cyprus is the Euro (€). It used to be Cyprus lira (pound – CY£) but the island adopted the Euro as from 1st January 2008.

All coins and banknotes (Euro) can be used in all Eurozone countries (countries whose currency is the Euro). Some of these countries are the Netherlands, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, France, Germany, Spain, etc.

If you are traveling to either Paphos, Limassol, Larnaca, Ayia Napa, Protaras or Nicosia in the South, please note that the currency acceptable for your purchases is the Euro.

In the North, Turkish Cypriots use the Turkish Lira (TRY) as their official currency. They might accept Euros, but your change will be in Turkish Lira.

All banks in Cyprus – including most of the hotels – offer foreign currency exchange services.

Apart from cash (Euro), in Cyprus we also accept credit cards.


If you lose your credit card please contact immediately the nearest police station.

Legal Airports in Cyprus

There are two legal airports on the island…Larnaca International Airport (LCA) and Paphos International Airport (PFO). See airports in Cyprus for more information.


Visitors to our island are considered entering or exiting the Republic of Cyprus legally only if they arrive in or exit from either Larnaca (Larnaka) or Paphos (Pafos) International airports or…

… if they arrive in or sail from either Larnaca, Limassol (Lemesos) or Paphos ports.

Note: Larnaca International Airport is the biggest airport on the island and Limassol port is the biggest port on the island.

Cyprus Religion

There is no official religion in Cyprus. The Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and protects its practice. Having said that, most Greek Cypriots are Greek Orthodox Christians.


The Flag of Cyprus

The flag of Cyprus was selected as the national flag of the island after a competition. The flag was designed by a school teacher and an artist called Ismet Guney, a Turkish Cypriot.

The flag came to use on the 16th August 1960, when Cyprus was proclaimed an independent state, under the Zurich and London agreements.

Description: White background, the shape of the island in orange and two green olive branches below.


Flag of CyprusThe Flag of Cyprus

The flag represents the peace between the two communities, the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots.

The white background symbolizes peace and the two green olive branches symbolize the peace between the two communities. The color orange of the shape of the island symbolizes copper. Cyprus used to have huge quantities of copper and most probably this is how it got its name.

Today the flag of Cyprus (see the image above) is used by the Republic of Cyprus (the South).


The Weather in Cyprus

The Mediterranean climate of Cyprus makes it the best holiday island in Europe! See weather in Cyprus for more information.


The Island of Cyprus: Frequently Asked Questions

Here we give answers to the following questions...

What's The Current Time of Cyprus?

We are 2 hours ahead of the UK.

Time zone in Cyprus: Eastern European Time (EET) (UTC+02:00).


Is Cyprus a Country?

Yes it is. Cyprus is an island country.


Is Cyprus in Europe?

Yes it is.


Is Cyprus in The EU (European Union)?

Yes, Cyprus is a Member State of the European Union (EU).


Is Cyprus Part of Greece?

No, it’s not. Cyprus is a sovereign country in its own right. However, Greece is the mother land of Greek-Cypriots.


What’s the Capital City of Cyprus?

Nicosia.


Is Cyprus Expensive?

In comparison with other EU (European Union) countries and the United Kingdom, Cyprus is cheaper.


What's The Best Time to Visit Cyprus?

Cyprus is a year round island (four seasons island) so you can visit us in any season.

If, for example, you want to sunbathe and swim under the hot sun then it might be best if you visit us either in June, July or August. If you want warm weather (not hot) then you might want to visit us either in May, September or October.

For more information on this click Best Time to Visit Cyprus.


Is Cyprus Safe?

Yes, it is safe to travel to Cyprus. Crime is low here. However, you should still take care of yourself and belongings. Take extra care during late hours, especially if you are near clubs and bars where alcohol is consumed in big quantities.


Is Limassol Turkish or Greek?

Limassol is in the Greek-Cypriot side of the island, the South.


Is Paphos Turkish or Greek?

Paphos is in the Greek-Cypriot side of the island, the South. The same goes for Larnaca, Ayia Napa and Protaras.

Nicosia is the last divided capital city of Europe. It’s half Greek-Cypriot and half Turkish-Cypriot.


Is Kyrenia Turkish or Greek?

Kyrenia is in the Turkish-Cypriot side of the island, the North.


Do You Tip Waiters in Cyprus?

Yes you can tip in Cyprus. However, although tipping might be much appreciated, it’s not obligatory.


How Long Should I Stay in Cyprus?

Sunbathing and swimming at the beach and exploring the Troodos mountains and its traditional villages might take you a while. So we say approximately between 2 and 2 and a half weeks minimum if you intent to combine sea with mountains, so you can do both. Besides the island of Cyprus combines sea and mountains within 45 minutes to one hour drive – depending on the traffic.

If your intention is only sunbathing and swimming at the sea you might want to stay less days, unless you want to spend 2 weeks under the hot sun. If that’s your cup of tea, then go for it :-).

…And that’s the end of the Frequently Asked Questions section. We hope it was of help to you.


Now that you got an idea about the island of Cyprus would you like to go back to the step-by-step guide to start planning your holiday?

If so, click here.