| Cyprus ((el)Κύπρος/(tr)Kıbrıs) | |
 | |
| Flag | |
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| Information | |
| Capital city | Nicosia |
|---|---|
| Area | 9 250 km² |
| Population | 1 100 000 hab. (2010) |
| Density | 118,92 inhab./km² |
| Form of State | Republic |
| Change | euro (EUR) |
| Electricity | 230 V/50 Hz, English and European plugs |
| Telephone prefix | 357 |
| Internet suffix | .cy |
| Flow direction | Drive to the left |
| Spindle | UTC 2 |
| Location | |
 35 ° 0 ′ 0 ″ N 33 ° 0 ′ 0 ″ E | |
| Government site | |
| Touristic site | |
Cyprus is a country ofMediterranean europe and the European Union since May 2004. Climate: temperate, Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 into two zones separated by the UN buffer line. Only the Greek area to the south (known as the "Republic of Cyprus") is recognized by the international community. A passport is sufficient to access it, but access will be refused to people with a Northern Cyprus visa. The Turkish zone to the north (known as the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus") is recognized only by Turkey and a few other countries. A passport is also sufficient to access it.
Communication between the two areas is problematic, and limited to a few points that are sometimes difficult to locate, the best known of which is located at Nicosia, at the foot of the old Ledra hotel. It is forbidden to enter the southern area if you first entered the island from the north. On the other hand, people who have approached the island from the south are authorized to request a pass for a few days for the north.
Understand
Holidays
- Wine festival - Limassol
Holidays
| Dated | Last name |
|---|---|
| Sat, January 1, 2022 | New Year |
| Thursday, January 6, 2022 | Epiphany |
| Fri 25 March 2022 | Greek national holiday |
| Fri, April 1, 2022 | Cypriot resistance festival |
| Sat, May 1, 2021 | Labor Day |
| Wed 25 Aug 2021 | Dormition of the Virgin |
| Fri, October 1, 2021 | Cypriot independence day |
| Sat 25 December 2021 | Christmas |
Regions
 |
|
 | The exclusion of Northern Cyprus (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus) of this regional hierarchy can under no circumstances be considered as political support to one of the parties to the conflict relating to its sovereignty. This purely practical distinction is due to the fact that the travel conditions in this region are very different from those in the rest of the country. |
Cities
- 1 Nicosia – Since the fall of the Berlin Wall, Nicosia is the only capital of Europe to be divided into two sectors, Greek and Turkish. However, crossing points allow you to visit the other side.
- 2 Larnaca – Very touristy city, Larnaca becomes very alive after the sunset. It groups many bars, and nightclubs that attract a generally young population.
- 3 Ayia Napa – The first seaside resort in the country, Ayia Napa attracts mainly young people from countries in Europe and the Middle East.
- 4 Limassol – The second largest city in Cyprus, Limassol is also the country's main port. It is a modern city without much interest from a picturesque point of view but very lively and pleasant.
- 5 Paphos – The house of Dionysus is a world reference for floor mosaics and the tombs of kings. Nea Paphos.
- 6 Polished – Small town on a hill a short distance from the Chrysochous Gulf
- 7 Kyrenia
Other destinations
The archaeological heritage of the island is important but unfortunately not always very well presented.
- Choirokoitia – Neolithic site, occupied from the 7th to the 4th millennium BC. AD It is registered in World Heritage of UNESCO since 1998.
- 1 Kourion – Archaeological site of an important city-kingdom, famous for its magnificent Greco-Roman theater
- 2 Petra tou Romiou (The Stone of the Greek) – According to legend, the waters surrounding the rock are the site of the appearance of Aphrodite, goddess of beauty
- 3 Kykkos Monastery (Troodos massif)
- 4 Salamis
Nature lovers will be able to discover the Cypriot flora and fauna in the various reserves and national parks. The Akamas peninsula, the Troodos or Cape Greco are interesting to discover on foot or by bike.
To go
Formalities
- See as well: Traveling in the Schengen area
Although Cyprus is not yet part of theSchengen area, it has adopted the same visa policy as the rest of the Schengen area.
- Member States ofSchengen area
- Other members of theEU outside the Schengen area, but bound by the same visa policy and special territories of EU member states and the Schengen area
- Members of the European Union with an independent visa policy
- Visa-free access to Schengen states for 90 days within a period of 180 days, although some Annex II nationals may benefit from longer visa-free access under certain circumstances (EC 539/2001 Annex II)
- Visa required to enter the Schengen area (EC 539/2001 annex I)
- Visa required for transit through Schengen states (CE 810/2009 annex IV)
- Status unknown
By plane
Airport Larnaca is located at 6 km downtown.
Ercan Airport serves Northern Cyprus, but is inaccessible to international flights, except those from Turkey, and sometimes Great Britain. It can be reached by taxi exclusively from North Nicosia, Kyrenia or Famagusta.
On a boat
Possibility of reaching Limassol from Italy. From the ports of Larnaca and Limassol, ferries provide connections to Piraeus, Rhodes and Heraklion. They also connect some ports in the Middle East (Haifa, Port Said...).
Northern Cyprus is served from Turkey. A daily hydrofoil connects Kyrenia / Girne to Tasucu, near Silifke (from 2 h - 4 h, about 60 €). A daily overnight ferry connects Famagusta to Mersin (approx. 8 h, same cost).
By train
There are no trains in Cyprus.
By car
Circulate
By plane
By car
Possibility of car rental, it depends on your budget. The CTO (Cyprus Tourism Organization) can help you find rental agencies.
Some recommendations:
- Be careful, in Cyprus, you drive on the left (and quickly, be careful!)
- Pedestrians, before crossing look first to the right and then to the left!
Cars hired in the territory controlled by the Republic of Cyprus cannot be driven in the north.
By bus
Buses operate by districts (eg Paphos, Limassol, Nicosia, etc.) The stops are not always well informed. To go from one district to another, things get complicated and it is better to resort to car rental or collective or individual taxis, always according to your budget.
Please note: it is difficult to travel by bus, most buses do not run on weekends.
Northern Cyprus is well served by a minibus network actively connecting Northern Nicosia, Kyrenia and Famagusta for a very low price. Every day, a bus leaves Famagusta around noon for Dipkarpaz.
Speak
The Kypriaka is the Cypriot dialect (mixture of Greek, Ancient Greek and Turkish) difficult to understand even if you speak Greek.
TheEnglish, language of the former colonizer is very widespread in the big cities and the tourist areas.
Make
Buy
Change
Cyprus uses theeuro. It is one of the many European countries that use this common currency. Euro banknotes and coins are legal tender throughout the country.
Countries which have the euro as official currency:
These countries are collectively referred to as the "euro area". |
One euro is divided into 100 eurocents or euro cents abbreviated cents or cents.
The official euro symbol is €, and its ISO code is EUR. There is no official symbol for Eurocents.
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- Tickets
- Euro banknotes are the same in all countries.
- Ordinary parts
- All euro area countries have issued coins with a distinctive national side on one side, and a common standard side on the other side. Coins can be used in all countries, regardless of the country of origin of the coin used, for example a one euro coin from Finland can be used in Portugal.
- Two euro commemorative coins
- They differ from normal two euro coins only on their "national" side and circulate freely as legal tender. Each country can produce a certain quantity of it as part of their normal parts production. There are also commemorative two euro coins "at European level". They are produced to commemorate special events, such as the anniversary of important treaties.
- Withdrawal of money
- Cash withdrawals from ATMs are billed at the same price as cash withdrawals in the country of origin for holders of a bank card from an account in a country in the euro zone. Money transfers between two accounts are also considered by banks as a transfer between two accounts in the same country.
Memories
Pottery, basketwork, lace, icons, silver jewelry, carved wood are all handcrafted products that you can acquire in Cyprus.
Eat
Cypriot food is quite similar to that of Greece, but with particular dishes from the Middle East like hummus (sesame paste and chickpeas), tahini (sesame sauce). A specialty in desserts is "soutzoukos", a sausage-shaped treat made from grape juice. "Halloumi" is the typical cheese of the island: white and salty, made from sheep's milk, you can eat it as it is, fry it, grill it (it does not melt).
Cyprus is a producer of some good wines, red, rosé and white (Limassol region), the best known is "Commanderia". The typical alcohol of Cyprus is "zivania", grape marc.
The island cultivates peanuts, potatoes, strawberries, bananas, watermelons, melons, cherries, apples, grapes ...
Have a drink / Go out
Cyprus has a high standard of living. Life is quite expensive.
The cost of living is lower in North Cyprus than in the South, but still higher than in Turkey. In the north, only Kyrenia has a really active nightlife.
To find an active nightlife it is better to go to the south-eastern tip of the island.
Housing
- Camping in Cyprus is not to be recommended, there are only a few that are worth considering (and without being too demanding).
- The Larnaka youth hostel is absolutely to be avoided, it is a real dump. That of Nicosia is correct.
The hotels in the North are of very diverse standing. Nevertheless, it is possible everywhere to find very good housing for about 15 € (the double room), with the possible exception of Nicosia.
Learn
To work
Communicate
European roaming
Since June 15, 2017, "European roaming" has been introduced. It allows all SIM card holders belonging to one of the European member countries to maintain the same pricing conditions as in the country of origin.
Telephone calls and Internet browsing are valid at no additional cost in all European countries, unless authorized by national authorities (generally minor operators) or when a data Gbit threshold is exceeded, which increases year by year. To use this service, simply activate the roaming option on your mobile phone.
The participating countries are those ofEuropean Union (Germany, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark, Spain, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary , Ireland , Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Romania, UK, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden), those ofEuropean Economic Area (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) and some Oversea territories (Azores, Canary Islands, Gibraltar, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Madeira, Martinique, Mayotte, The meeting, Saint-Martin).
Manage the day-to-day
Health
European citizens
Citizens ofEuropean Union (EU), who fall unexpectedly ill during a temporary stay, studies or a professional stay, are entitled to the same medical care as in their country of residence. It is always useful to take the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) which constitutes physical proof of your insurance in an EU country. However, if you do not have the card with you or if you cannot use it (as in the case of private assistance), you are still entitled to treatment, but you are obliged to pay the costs on the spot. , then you will ask for a refund on your return.
The countries in which health coverage is provided are all those that are members of theEuropean Union (Germany, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark, Spain, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary , Ireland , Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden), those ofEuropean Economic Area (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway), the Swiss, the UK and the Oversea territories member of the European Union (Azores, Canary Islands, Gibraltar, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Madeira, Martinique, Mayotte, The meeting, Saint-Martin).
security
 | Emergency telephone number: All emergency services:112 |
The island does not particularly know any problem of delinquency. On the other hand, it should be borne in mind that this is a country cut in two by a sensitive border, which crosses in particular the capital Nicosia right through; it should come as no surprise to see UN soldiers on a regular basis.
Government travel advice
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Belgium (Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation) 
Canada (Government of Canada) 
France (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) 
Swiss (Federal Department of Foreign Affairs)
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Respect
The rule of dress in churches and monasteries is as follows: no shorts, no miniskirts, no open shoulders. At the entrance of certain monasteries like Kikkos, for example, it is the police who supervise the behavior of tourists.
The Cypriot authorities go to great lengths to preserve flora and fauna, so it is recommended not to pick flowers or plants during your walks. Walks can be organized with nature guides.
