Republic of cyprus - Republik Zypern

The Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany has a special one about this country Travel and safety advice released (Web link). After the first confirmed COVID-19 In some cases, the Republic of Cyprus has decided to take quarantine measures for travelers from various countries, including Germany. All travelers from Germany have to be in isolation for 14 days after entering Cyprus, either in their own apartment or in locations assigned by the Cypriot authorities. They should avoid close contact and limit their movements, monitor their health and report any symptoms. The Republic of Cyprus is a full member of the EU, but remains in fact divided into two parts. The internationally recognized Republic of Cyprus exercises actual control only in the southern part of the island, but not in the northern part, which is separated from the southern part by a demarcation line (Green Line). Only Turkey recognizes the northern part it occupies as an independent state ("Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus") at. UN units control the buffer zone between the north and the south, which is a restricted military area and is also partially mined. Caution is advised when approaching the buffer zone and cautioned against crossing the sea-side extension of the demarcation line by swimming or by boat. Not necessarily designated as such military facilities on the whole island and the applicable photography ban should be strictly respected, signs are not always clearly visible. Due to the factual division, the German embassy in Nicosia can only provide consular protection in the northern part of the island to a limited extent. (Web link) Date of the last notification: 11/26/2019.

The Republic of cyprus is an island nation on the island of Cyprus in the eastern Mediterranean. Geographically, the island belongs to the near East. Because of its membership in the EU, it is politically a part Europe.

annotation

Even if there is only one state in Cyprus, the Republic of Cyprus, in practice, for travelers, the island is divided into two parts. Only the south of the island is controlled by the government of the Republic of Cyprus, which is also a member of the EU which is presented in this article. The northern part, however, is under the control of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, for which there is a separate entry. The separation for the purposes of this guide is for practical reasons and should not be construed as a political statement. this article describes the Republic of cyprus in the southern part of the island.

background

Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean. It was first settled in 8000 BC. In the Bronze Age Cyprus was in close contact with the eastern Mediterranean and was known to the Hittites and Canaanites. From approx. 1200 BC. BC it was then under the influence of the Mycenaean culture of Greece, but was also exposed to Assyrian, Egyptian and Persian influences in the following period. As a result, the culture of Cyprus is both Greek and Middle Eastern.

Great Britain has two large military bases in the south of the island, including a large airfield, which are completely under British control, i.e. Cypriot jurisdiction does not apply there. There are currently around 7,000 British citizens (military personnel including family members) stationed on the island.

Regions

The Republic of Cyprus comprises the southern part of the island with a predominantly Greek population. It is divided into the regions

• Famagusta (Gazimağusa, the district, not the city) on the east coast
• Larnaca on the southeast coast
• Limassol on the south coast
• Nicosia (Southern part) in the center of the island
• Paphos at the West Coast

There are also the British exclaves Akrotiri other Dekeliawhich are mainly used for military purposes, but are freely accessible outside the military facilities and with the exception of the large salt lake Alyki with rich fauna (many flamingos) and the associated Akrotiri Enviromental Education Station offer little tourist interest.

Cities

There are large cities in the southern Republic of Cyprus:

• Nicosia divided capital located in the interior of the island
• Limassol (Lemesos),, the important port city
• Larnaca with the international airport
• Paphos with another international airport.
• The bathing and party location is also relevant for tourism Ayia Napa at the Eastcoast.
• The small town is also located in the northwest Polis.

Other goals

Cyprus is particularly popular as a beach destination.

In the east of the southern part of the island you will find the largest lido, Ayia Napa. It is especially beautiful there Nissi Beach, which is considered the most beautiful beach on the island, but is unfortunately now quite crowded. But also the beaches in Protaras, south of Famagusta are very beautiful, although mostly small.

Anyone interested in archeology will find it

• In the south of the island: especially in the area around Paphos - many remains of ancient cities and places can be visited here.
• In the north of the island (Northern Cyprus): the ancient Soloi. Soloi (Solos) is located on the western north coast and was once one of the ten ancient kingdoms of the island. It was later abandoned due to increasing Arab raids. Today an amphitheater and one of the first churches in Cyprus, the Basilica of Soli, can be visited there.

Nature lovers should definitely not get this Troodos Mountains (South Cyprus) miss, which are the green lungs of the otherwise sparsely vegetated island. They climb almost up to 2000 meters, in winter it often snows there, and on the highest mountain (Olympus, 1951 meters) there are even a few ski lifts and slopes, so that the Cypriots can make their first skiing experiences at home. In these mountains there is also the Kykkos Monastery, the spiritual center of the Orthodox Christians of Cyprus, with the tomb of Archbishop Makarios III, the first president of independent Cyprus.

Also the South Cyprus peninsula Akamas with their center Polis is known for the tranquility and nature.

The is located on the southwest coast of southern Cyprus Aphrodite rock, according to legend, the place where the goddess of love Aphrodite is said to have emerged from the sea.

getting there

Entry requirements

Citizens of the Federal Republic of Germany only need their identity card to enter the country. This must be valid for at least 6 months at the time of entry.

By plane

The southern part of Cyprus can be reached via the two airports Larnaca and Paphos. The flight time from Central Europe is around three to four hours.

From German-speaking countries, Lufthansa (from Munich), Austrian (from Vienna), Edelweiss Air (from Zurich), easyJet (from Berlin and Basel) and Germanwings (from Cologne / Bonn) offer direct connections to Larnaca all year round.

Airlines only fly to Paphos Airport from Germany with a stopover.

In summer there are additional connections from other departure airports to both airports.

East of Lefkoşa The third international airport is located in the Turkish part: Ercan (ECN). Due to the political circumstances, a stopover must be made in Turkey to fly to it.

The airports Paphos to Larnaka (€ 15) and to Nicosia (€ 8) are served by the so-called Kapnos Airport Shuttle. The bus to the city runs approximately every 30 minutes during the day, irregularly between other destinations.

By boat

Due to its proximity to the Middle East, ferry connections to / from Syria, Egypt and Israel have been suspended.

On the road from Northern Cyprus

If you are on holiday in Cyprus, you should definitely see both parts of the island, the north and the south. Crossing the Green Line and the surrounding UN buffer zone is only permitted at a few border crossings. The Green Line separates 30% of the island as an area occupied by the Turks and is not a border under international law. She is under surveillance by the UN and guarded on both sides by the Turkish, Greek and Greek Cypriot military. Cyprus as a whole was admitted to the EU in 2004, but de facto only the southern part joined. This means that the demarcation line is also the EU's external border.

There are a total of seven border crossings, five of which can be passed by car, from west to east:

1. Limnitis (near Kato Pyrgos): cars, motorcycles, cyclists, pedestrians
2. Astromeritis / Zodia: passenger car
3. Agios Dometios (west of the city center): by car
4. ) Ledra Palace: only pedestrians
5. Ledra Street: pedestrians only
6. Pyla / Pergamos: car
7. Agios Nikolaos (near Famagusta): car

An identity card or children's ID is sufficient to enter the other part of the island. You are checked by the Turkish border guards. Anyone who has not left the border station computer, which happens every now and then, will have difficulties the next time they enter the north. Although the EU border is formally exceeded, cars are never checked.

As a tourist you are usually not checked by the Greek officials. Nevertheless, it should be noted that when returning to the southern part, you may only bring goods with a value of max. 260 euros per person. Alcohol is limited to 1 liter, cigarettes are limited to 40. Furthermore, the import restrictions on brand counterfeiting must be observed (see, for example, www.zoll.de).

mobility

There is no rail traffic whatsoever.

Left-hand traffic applies in Cyprus. The signposting of destinations, be it cities or sights, is generally good, but there is often no signage in the country or on secondary roads. The signs are usually written in two languages ​​(Greek, English).

Speed ​​limits in built-up areas 50 km / h, outside built-up areas 80 km / h and on motorways 100 km / h. On the island it is forbidden to use the mobile phone while driving, penalty approx. 85 euros.

The zero alcohol limit applies in Cyprus.

Rental car

Rental cars are available from major rental companies (Europcar, Avis, Sixt, Alamo, etc.) and also from numerous small rental companies. It is advisable to order the rental car when purchasing the ticket because of the airlines' special conditions. The rental cars are only insured in the south of the island. Rockfall insurance is often offered in addition to the usual insurance package; which are actually not needed. The rental car prices are around 20-25 euros per day for a small car and 25-30 euros for a Suzuki off-road vehicle (as of September 2009). In the event of an accident, for your own safety, witnesses should be found and, ideally, everything should be documented by photo / video; the police are not necessarily neutral if, for example, locals are the opponents of the accident. If a trip to the north is planned, separate insurance must be taken out directly at the border crossing. A rental car for the passage from south to north costs 20 euros for 3 days (as of 2013); however, most rental companies do not allow trips to the north.

By bus

The establishment of a uniform urban bus network OSEL is closed. A single trip cost € 1.50 in 2015, day tickets € 5, weekly tickets € 15.

Provides connections between other cities and Nicosia Intercity for the price of € 4-7. The day return ticket is around one euro cheaper than two journeys on the same route. Daily network tickets cost € 15 (as of Nov. 2015).

taxi

There are plenty of taxis available. The prices for normal taxis are at the Central European level - an inner-city trip costs around 5–10 euros, the journey from the airport to Nicosia should cost between 40 and 50 euros. Even if some taxi drivers do not like to do it with tourists: you should insist that the taximeter be set.

There is also a system of shared taxis called (Travel Express). This is a company that transports both parcels and people (in minibuses with around ten seats) back and forth between cities. Similar to the buses, they also have fixed timetables (half an hour, full hour on Sundays and a little more expensive, no operation on public holidays). The price for the shared taxis is not quite double what the buses charge. It is not faster with the shared taxis (costs approx. 9 euros Nicosia-Larnaca).

To take the shared taxi, call the central office in the Greek part of Cyprus (phone number 7777 7474). There you indicate when, where and how much you want to go where. You will then be informed about when a taxi will pass there.

language

In the south of Greece, the official languages ​​are official Greek and Turkish, but hardly any Turkish is spoken in practice. The local Greek-Cypriot dialect is usually spoken, with pronunciation and accentuation that differ significantly from mainland Greek. As a tourist, you come along English generally good looking, in the cities and tourist areas almost everyone speaks at least a little English. In the countryside, however, English skills are much less widespread.

Tourist Attractions

Selection:

• The old towns of Nicosia, Paphos and Larnaca
• The Barn churches in the Troodos-Mountains
• Chirokitia (Choirokoitia), Neolithic settlement - UNESCO World Heritage Site (between Limassol, Larnaka and Nicosia, directly on the A1)
• The temple complexes of Kourion, Remnants of an Iron Age city kingdom (17 km west of Limassol)
• The castle of Kolossi (12 km west of Limassol)
• Kakopetria - idyllic place in Troodos
• Kykkos monastery with tomb of Archbishop Makarios III. and hiking opportunities
• Larnaca Salt Flat and Mosque Hala Sultan Tekke
• See also the categories:

South Cyprus

Northern Cyprus

activities

Golf courses

• Aphrodite Hills Golf Club, Aphrodite Avenue, Kouklia, Tel. 26-828 200, Fax 26-828 201. 18-hole golf course, par 71, 6,299 yards, clubhouse, opened in 2002, location: southeast of Paphos. http://aphroditehills.com
• Minthis Hills - Tsada Golf Course, Tsada, Tel. 26-642 774, Fax 26-642 776. 18-hole golf course, par 71, 5,245 yards, 550 m above sea level, clubhouse with restaurant, bar, changing rooms and showers, outdoor pool, Tennis court. 10 km northeast of Paphos, 1 km outside the village, founded in 1994, renovated in 2006/07.
• Secret Valley Golf Club, 18 km east of Paphos, Tel. 26-274 000, Fax 26-274 001. 18-hole golf course, par 71, 5,313 yards. Restaurant, bar, pro shop.
• Vikla Golf & Country Club, Vikla Village, Kellaki, Limassol, Tel. 99-674 218, Fax 25-750 789. 18-hole golf course, par 72, 4,858 yards. By the end of 2009, the facility should be expanded into a real 18-hole facility. Location: 25 km north of Limassol.

shop

The euro has been in effect in the Republic of Cyprus since January 1st, 2008. The former Cypriot pound is no longer accepted. In many shops and restaurants you can pay with credit and debit cards. There are ATMs in every major city.

Cyprus has always been a comparatively expensive travel destination. Since practically everything has to be imported except for a few agricultural products, the cost of living in Cyprus (north and south equally) is partly higher than in Germany, especially in the tourist strongholds. Price examples: National beer, a "pint" (0.57 liter) according to the English size, glasses but without marking and at best with 0.4 liter content cost 3 - 3.50 euros, a pack of cigarettes 4 euros, hamburgers 5 - 7 Euros, squid rings over 10 euros, a steak around 20 euros. Away from the tourist hotels / beaches, the prices are much more moderate.

kitchen

The differences between north and south make the hearts of gourmets beat faster. A two-week stay around Nicosia will just be enough to get a rough overview. So please do not hold on to the hotel kitchen alone! There are some specialties in the Cypriot kitchen:

• Avgolemoni is a soup made with lime juice and egg.
• Afelia, pork braised in red wine
• Kleftiko, lamb from the oven, not always available
• Loukanika are Cypriot pork sausages marinated with coriander and red wine, then smoked.
• Lountza are thin slices of pork tenderloin, lightly marinated with red wine and coriander seeds, usually served with halloumi.
• Halloumi, cheese made from a mixture of goat and sheep milk with mint. Also offered fried or grilled.
• Tahini is a cream made from sesame seeds, olive oil and garlic.
• Taramosalata is a thick, pink dip made from fish roe, parsley, finely chopped onions, and lime juice.
• The Cypriot meze is a sequence of up to 30 different dishes in small portions, from starters to meat or fish dishes.
• A large number of good to very good wines are grown on the island. In the last 15 years, small, well-equipped family wineries have emerged directly in the vineyards, producing excellent wines: Zambartas Winery, Vlassides Winery, Kyperounda Winery, Tsiakkas Winery, Domaine Argyrides / Vasa Winery / Makkas Winery / Aes Ambelis Winery / Ezousa Winery / Kathikas Winery / Fikardos Winery. The Etko / Olympus Wineries press the best Commandarias dessert wines.
• A widespread, well-tolerated white wine: St. Panteleimon, semi-dry, in the restaurant for 10-15 euros

In the southern part of the island, dining out is affordable, if not cheap. The price for a "meze" is around 10-16 euros. The prices in the "normal" restaurants are in regions as one can expect in Germany.

See also:Cypriot cuisine at Koch-Wiki

accommodation

There are a variety of hotels on the coasts. There are three large hotels in Nicosia: the Hilton (Markarios Ave.), the Hilton Park (Engkomi, just outside the city) and the Holiday Inn (centrally located, on the edge of the old town).

Hostels start at around € 10 per night in winter. When traveling in winter, it is helpful to have some knowledge of Russian in the hostels. Alcohol is forbidden in many hostels.

public holidays

Next appointment	Surname	importance
Saturday 1st January 2022	New Year	New Years Day
Thursday, January 6, 2022	Epiphany	Epiphany
Monday, March 7, 2022		Green Monday
Friday March 25, 2022		Greek National Day
Friday April 1, 2022		Greek Cypriot National Day
Sunday May 2nd 2021		Orthodox Easter
Saturday 1st May 2021	May Day	Labor Day
Sunday June 20th 2021		Orthodox Pentecost
Friday June 18, 2021 until Monday, June 21, 2021	Cataclysm	big festival in all coastal towns
Sunday 15th August 2021		Ascension
Friday 1st October 2021	Independence day	Cyprus Independence Day
Thursday, October 28, 2021	Ochi day	Day of Greece's Refusal to surrender to Italy in World War II
Friday December 24th 2021 until Sunday, December 26, 2021		Christmas

security

Cyprus is one of the safest countries in the region. Violent crime hardly ever occurs.

In any case, crossing the Green Line is only permitted at the official crossing points. If you try to cross these elsewhere, there is a danger to life (mines)! Even unintentional crossing by boat can lead to great difficulties.

health

The traveler should find out about infection and vaccination protection as well as other prophylactic measures in good time; if necessary, medical advice on health risks should be obtained. Reference is made to general information, especially from the health authorities, travel medical information services or the Federal Center for Health Education. Tap water is generally tolerable, people with sensitive stomachs should use the bottled water that is available everywhere. Make sure you wear good footwear and legwear in the existing meadows, as the grass mites that live there at this time leave behind very lengthy and unpleasant stings. There are several species of snake, including a venomous viper, and vaccination against hepatitis A and B is always recommended, especially if trips north are planned.

Climate and travel time

The climate in Cyprus is hot and dry in summer, temperatures can rise to or above 40 ° C and rainfall is rare. The winters are rather mild (5-15 ° C) and also rainier. Snow often falls in the mountains, and skiing is usually possible in January and February.

month	J	F.	M.	A.	M.	J	J	A.	S.	O	N	D.
Rainydays	11	9	5	3	3	1	0	0	1	3	5	9
Hours of sunshine	5	6	7	8	10	12	12	12	10	8	6	5
Daytime temperatures in ° C	15	15	19	21	29	33	37	36	33	28	23	17
Sea temperatures in ° C	17	16	16	16	20	24	27	28	27	25	21	19

behaviour rules

When visiting monasteries, churches and mosques, make sure that your shoulders, stomach and knees are covered. This is also checked at monasteries! Several monasteries in the Tróodos region, such as the Machairás, are not allowed to be entered by women.

Practical advice

There is an office of the Cyprus Tourism Authority in every major city in Cyprus, as well as at the two airports in Larnaka and Paphos. There you get useful information about everything you need as a tourist, such as the current bus timetables. Often the information is also available in German. There are also city maps for all major cities and an overview map of the island.

Cyprus' former affiliation to the British Empire also affects the electrical outlets. The same power plugs are used here as in England used.

Post and Telecommunications

The prefix the country code for the Republic of Cyprus is 357.

Telephoning with the Cellphone is possible practically anywhere. Roaming with German cards is significantly cheaper in the Greek part of the island than in the Turkish part due to the legal EU price caps.^[2] Foreigners can purchase SIM cards without any problems, but registration is required.

Two providers offer their services in the Greek area: Cytamobile-Vodafoneand MTN.Cytamobile-Vodafone emerged from the state telecommunications operator (CYTA), which entered into a network partnership with Vodafone. Both providers offer prepaid products, a SIM card is available for € 10-15.

Internet cafes is found more frequently in the Turkish part of the country (from 0.50 TL per half hour) than in the south.

post

Post offices can still be found in every place and many of them offer long-forgotten services in Germany. There are still numerous letterboxes of the English pattern, but these have been painted yellow.

Operates in the Republic of Cyprus Cyprus Post the post offices, whose opening times are usually Mon.-Fri. 8.00 / 9.00-15.00 are. Saturday closes at 1 p.m.

literature

• Merian: Cyprus, ISBN 3-7742-7004-X

Web links

• Official Tourism Portal of South Cyprus

Notes and individual references