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Cyprus Practical information Cyprus

Area : 1379  sq.mi - Population 803147 hab.
Cyprus

Our expert Cyprus

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Practical information Cyprus

superficie

Area

1379  sq.mi
vol

Flights

4 hrs 30 mins.Nicosia is 2,000 miles from London.
decallage horaire

Jet Lag

population

Population

803147 hab.
aeroports proche

Airports

The international airport of Larnaca is 5 miles from the town centre, and is served by a regular shuttle bus service. In a taxi, the trip takes around 15 minutes, and will set you back about 2 euros. Coaches from the airport also serve main towns such as Nicosia, Limassol, and Paphos. 8 miles from Paphos, the island's second international airport receives mostly charter flights.
Ferries from the ports of Larnaca and Limassol go to Piraeus, Rhodes, and Heraklion in continental Greece, as well as some ports in the Middle East (Haifa, Port Said...).
The northern zone has an airport at Ercan, but it is only served by Turkish Airlines for flights to Turkey. There is also a ferry service between Turkey and Famagusta or Kyrenia. However, remember that if you arrive in Cyprus via the Turkish zone, you will not be authorised to enter the Greek part of the island.
securite

Security

The island is not thought of as dangerous, but remember not to leave valuable items in vehicles. Do not photograph the military bases or the demarcation line between the two zones. You are also advised to avoid getting too close to the "buffer zone" along the demarcation line.
langue

Languages

Greek in the south, and Turkish in the north (25% of the population). Cypriot Greek is slightly different from continental Greek. English and, to a lesser extent, French and German, are spoken in the tourist areas.
formalites

Requirements

For stays that do not exceed three months, European citizens must show an identity card or a passport valid for three months after their date of entry in the country. Since 1974, the Cypriot government forbids entry to tourists arriving from the northern zone, occupied by the Turks. Famagouste, Karavostassi, and Kyrenia are listed as "illegal ports of entry", as well as Ercan airport. Your passport must not have a stamp from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The Cypriot government does not authorise tourists to spend more than one day (from 9.00am to 5.00pm) in the occupied part of the island. It is a little short to enjoy the northern region, but it is doable for the main sites, Kyrenia and Famagouste.
religion

Religion

The population is basically Greek Orthodox in the south, and Muslim in the north. In the Greek zone, the Maronite and Armenian minorities are Catholic.
monnaie

Currency

The currency is the Euro but the exchange rate varies constantly. Credit cards are very widely accepted in shops, restaurants and in large hotels, with Visa being the most commonly used. You will have no trouble finding an ATM machine in the touristic towns.
Banks are open from 8.30am to 12.30pm from Monday to Saturday.
transports

Local transportation

There is a bus service that connects the main towns several times a day and although it is quite slow, it is a cheap means of transport and an excellent way of discovering the country and its inhabitants. Taxis accept long distance trips: from Larnaca to Limassol, allow for 15 euro (£13), and 30 euro to Paphos. There are seven-seater shared taxis that you will find in the "Taxi Service" Stations that are eight to ten times less expensive, however, they do not leave unless they are full.
To be completely independent, car hire is ideal. A UK driver's licence is sufficient to hire a vehicle, however, you need to be at least 21 years of age. Think of booking in advance if you are coming in the high tourist season. Driving is on the left, and on the main roads, sign-posting is translated from Greek into English. Having said this, on the small roads you will need a good map and plenty of patience. Larnaca is 30 miles from Nicosia, 85 miles from Paphos, and 25 miles from Ayia Napa.

sante

Health

No vaccine is required, but remember to check updates for the usual vaccines before departure (tetanus, poliomyelitis, hepatitises A and B).
electricite

Electricity

Voltage is 240 V. The electrical outlets are either of British type (three flat pins) or of Greek type (three round pins). Thus, an adaptor is not necessary.
frequentation

Flood of tourists

Cyprus receives over 2 millions tourists per year.
taxe

Taxes and tips

In hotels and restaurants, the bill is automatically increased by a 10% tax therefore tips are unneccessary unless you wish to leave one.
telephone

Telephone

To call Cyprus from the UK, dial 00 + 357 (country code) + n° of the other party.

To call the UK from Cyprus: dial 00 + 44 + the n° of the other party.