Cyprus (Greek: Κύπρος, Turkish: Kıbrıs) is an island in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, south of Turkey. It is one of the world’s oldest civilisations, with a history of over 11,000 years. Cyprus offers lots of archaeological sites, hiking trails through cedar forests, kilometres and kilometres of gorgeous beaches, and 300 days of sun a year.

The Republic of Cyprus, a member of the European Union, holds international recognition and governs the southern territory. Meanwhile, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (covered in a separate article) functions as a separate country.

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Map of Cyprus

Cyprus is divided into 6 provinces, each named after its provincial capital. Since 1974, the whole of Kyrenia province, most of Famagusta province, and the northern portion of Nicosia province have been under Turkish military control. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus administers those areas. The Republic of Cyprus administers the following provinces:

Cypriot cities have a variety of historical spellings and writings, all in fairly common use, and which change according to the context, whether it be Greek Cypriot, Turkish or English. The following list emphasizes traditional English spellings, that will most often be encountered by the traveller.

• 35.16666733.3666671 Nicosia (Greek: Λευκωσία or Lefkosia; Turkish: Lefkoşa) – the divided capital
• 34.98342 Ayia Napa (Greek: Αγία Νάπα or Agia Napa; Turkish: Aya Napa) – in the far east of the Republic, considered by many to be the main party town of Cyprus
• 34.91666733.6333333 Larnaca (Greek: Λάρνακα or Larnaka; Turkish: İskele)
• 34.66666733.0333334 Limassol (Greek: Λεμεσός or Lemesos; Turkish: Limasol or Leymosun)
• 34.76666732.4166675 Paphos (Greek: Πάφος or Pafos; Turkish: Baf)

• 35.0432.321 Akamas Peninsula (Greek: Ακάμας, Turkish: Akama)
• 34.91666732.8333332 Troodos Mountains (Greek: Τρόοδος, Turkish: Trodos Dağları)
• 34.86666733.3069443 Lefkara (Greek: Λεύκαρα) – The Lace village, in the foothills of the Troodos Mountains, a charming little town with lots of character, in the heart of Cyprus.
• 34.79672533.3437194 Khirokitia (Greek:Χοιροκοιτία) – A world heritage listed archaeological site from the Neolithic age.

Cyprus is committed to implementing the Schengen Agreement although it hasn't yet done so. For citizens of the European Union (EU) and Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland), an officially approved ID card (or a passport) is sufficient for entry. Other nationalities will generally need a passport.

Travel to or from any other country (Schengen or not) from or to Cyprus will result in the normal immigration checks, although customs checks will be waived when travelling to or from another EU country.

Inquire with your travel agent or with the local embassy or consulate of Cyprus.

	Note: It may be illegal for you to enter or exit Cyprus via the northern part, including all ports and the Ercan International Airport, even though you can freely purchase such tickets and board the vehicle.

Travelling to and from the north

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Prior to Cyprus's accession to European Union, evidence of entry to Northern Cyprus resulted in denial of entry to the Greek part of Cyprus at the very least. After the accession, and according to EU legislation that considers Cyprus to have been admitted in full, an entry to the Turkish part is formally an entry to whole Cyprus and must therefore not result in any disadvantage to EU citizens. Citizens of non-EU member states (as, for instance, US/UK/Turkish citizens) must enter the island via one of the legal, according to the Republic of Cyprus, entry points (i.e. entry points in the southern part of the island) regardless of whether they want to visit the southern part or not.

Different entities and web pages claim different things. There are examples (from 2012) of people entering Northern Cyprus from Turkey, crossing the border with the south without any problems, although it was noticed when leaving Cyprus. There are legends about other people (not US/UK/AU nationals) getting EU-wide entry ban or having their naturalization requests denied after entering or exiting the island via the north, regardless of whether they visited the south or not. As of 2022, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs^{[dead link]} says the following about all airports and ports: "The legal points of entry to the Republic of Cyprus are the international airports of Larnaca and Paphos and the ports of Larnaca, Limassol, Latsi and Paphos, which are situated in the area under the effective control of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus. Entry to the territory of the Republic of Cyprus via any other port or airport in the area of Cyprus in which the Government of the Republic does not exercise effective control (Turkish occupied area) is illegal."

The main crossings between the south and north are:

• Astromerits/Zodhia (by car only)
• Agios Dometios/Kermia/Metehan
• Ledra Palace (by car or foot) - the oldest crossing, just outside the walls of old Nicosia to the west of the city
• Pergamos/Beyarmudu
• Strovilia near Agios Nikolaos - at the eastern part of the island
• Ledras Str. (foot only) - a pedestrian crossing at the old dead-end of the most popular street of Nicosia.

In 2012, crossing the green line was very simple. The visa form to be completed is very basic (barely usable as a souvenir!) and requires only the name, the nationality and the passport (or identity card) number to be entered. Then it is stamped, and the whole procedure should take no more than three minutes. Upon return, it is stamped again. As of 2017, passports are not stamped but still required to cross.

Public transportation in Cyprus has been revamped with all new buses in Nicosia. Still, most Cypriots drive. There are no railways in Cyprus.

Addresses in Cyprus are not very precise; locals, Google Maps, utility providers, and delivery services may all disagree and what the exact number of a house is. There may be multiple streets with the same name in the city, kilometers apart. Addresses are used for formalities only, navigation is typically done via either exact pins in Google Maps, or house names, or points of interests nearby.

By shared taxi

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Services run every half-hour or so from 06:00 or 07:00, but terminate at 17:00 or 18:00 on the dot. You can book a taxi to pick you up anywhere and ask to be dropped off anywhere in city limits; the flip side is that it will often take you longer to get in or out of the city than the journey itself! Figure on £4-6 for a taxi ride on any of these, with an increased price on Sundays and holidays. Also known as a service taxi.

• The many archaeological and antiquities sites scattered around the island, dating from the New Stone Age through to the Roman Empire
• The beautiful coastline of the island, still quite unspoilt in many places, is well worth exploring
• Nicosia, the capital as it has a wealth of history, preserved Venetian walls surrounding the city, some wonderful bars and restaurants within the old walls of the city and of course the 'green line', the dividing line with the Turkish part of Cyprus, which cuts through the centre of Nicosia, now the only divided capital
• The Troodos mountains, rising as high as 1,952 metres, offering some beautiful trail walks and also quaint little villages such as Kakopetria, Platres and Phini. In winter there is the chance to ski there and the ski resort is being developed
• Paphos harbor and archeological park. Nearby Rock of Aphrodite can be a beautiful scene for picnics

• Hamam Omerye in Nicosia is a 14th-century building restored to operate again as a hammam for all to enjoy, relax and rejuvenate. Dating back to French rule and located in the heart of Nicosia's old town is Hamam Omerye, a working example of Cyprus' rich culture and diversity, stone struggle, yet sense of freedom and flexibility. The site's history dates back to the 14th century, when it stood as an Augustinian church of St Mary. Stone-built, with small domes, it is chronologically placed at around the time of Frankish and Venetian rule, approximately the same time that the city acquired its Venetian Walls. In 1571, Mustapha Pasha converted the church into a mosque, believing that this particular spot is where the prophet Omer rested during his visit to Lefkosia. Most of the original building was destroyed by Ottoman artillery, although the door of the main entrance still belongs to the 14th-century Lusignan building, whilst remains of a later Renaissance phase can be seen at the north-eastern side of the monument. In 2003, the EU funded a bi-communal UNDP/UNOPS project, "Partnership for the Future", in collaboration with Nicosia Municipality and Nicosia Master Plan, to restore the Hamam Omerye Bath, revitalising its spirit and sustaining its historical essence. The hamam is still in use, and after a restoration project, it has become a favourite place for relaxation in Lefkosia. In 2006 it received the Europa Nostra prize for the Conservation of Architectural Heritage.
• There are over 60 churches scattered across Cyprus with wall paintings, of which the ten churches in Troodos Mountains are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as Painted Churches in the Troödos Region.

• Mixed-religion couples from countries such as Israel, Lebanon and Syria, who do not have access to non-religious marriage ceremonies at home, often choose Cyprus for wedding travel, as they can tie the knot in a same-day civil ceremony.
• The Limassol Carnival is held every year on the Sunday before Ash Monday. Thousands fill the central streets of Limassol in various costumes to join a parade, dance, drink and spray each other with string in a can. Family-friendly event worth a look if in Cyprus at the time.

See also: Greek phrasebook, Turkish phrasebook

The official languages of the island are Greek and Turkish.

Greek is spoken by 80-85% of the population, serves as the mother tongue of Greek Cypriots and is mainly spoken in Southern Cyprus.

Cypriot Greek and the Greek spoken in Greece have many similarities, but there are some distinct differences between the two dialects. The Cypriot dialect includes many loanwords from Turkish, Arabic, and English.

Turkish, spoken by 15-20% of the population, is primarily spoken in Northern Cyprus and is the mother tongue of Turkish Cypriots.

The most generally taught foreign language is English, a remnant of British colonial rule, and as many as 70-80% of Cypriots can speak English - less so in Northern Cyprus. English usually serves as people's second language.

Other commonly spoken languages are Russian (especially in Limassol), as well as French and German.

• Cypriot meze (appetizers akin to Spanish tapas) are an art form, and some restaurant serve nothing but. Meze are available in a meat variety or fish variety but quite often come as a mixed batch, which is rather pleasing.
• Kleftiko roasted lamb with flavours of herbs and lemon.
• Halloumi (Hellim) is a uniquely Cypriot cheese, made from a mix of cow's and sheep's milk. Hard and salty when raw, it mellows and softens when cooked and is hence often served grilled.
• Taramosalata is traditionally made out of taramas, the salted roe of the cod or carp. The roe is either mixed with bread crumbs or mashed potatoes. Parsley, onion, lemon juice, olive oil and vinegar are added and it is seasoned with salt and pepper.
• Tahini
• Shoushoukos is a traditional sweet made out of grape juice. A series of almonds are threaded with a needle and they are then dipped into the grape juice several times until it becomes quite thick.
• Palouzes and kiofterka are both traditional sweets made out of grape juice.

Palouzes is a pudding made with grape juice, flour and different flavorings. Kiofterka are made from any leftover pudding. They cut it into pieces, dehydrate it, and the result is a hard but chewy thing.

There are countless hotels and hotel apartments of varying degrees of luxury within Cyprus. Some of the hotels are: Kefalos Beach Tourist Village, Holiday Inn, Le Meridien, Hilton, Elias Beach Hotel. Alternative self-catering accommodation is offered in restored traditional houses in picturesque villages all over Cyprus through the government Agrotourism initiative.

Cyprus' climate and natural advantages mean that there is always a steady supply of travellers seeking employment and residency on the island. Perhaps the biggest change that has occurred has been the accession of southern Cyprus to the European Union on 1 May 2004, opening up new employment opportunities for European citizens.

The burgeoning Cypriot tourism industry, however, means that there is a huge seasonal demand for temporary workers of most nationalities during the summer months, with a definite preference for English-speaking workers in order to service the very large numbers of British tourists. The Greek Cypriot south remains the best overall bet for jobs, as the South is where the majority of the tourist trade is located. The Turkish North is much harder to get work in as a traveler, as the local economy is in a precarious position and high local unemployment means competition for work is fierce.

Seasonal employment will most probably involve working in one of the countless bars, hotels and resort complexes of the south. Such work is usually poorly paid, but accommodation is often thrown in as some compensation and the Cypriot lifestyle usually makes up for low wages. Many holiday companies employ 'reps' (representatives) and marketing staff to assist their operations on the island - this work is usually more financially rewarding.

Teaching English as a Foreign Language (EFL) is another worthwhile option, well paid though often difficult to find.

Finally, Cyprus' ongoing construction boom in tourism infrastructure results in a demand for skilled builders and tradespeople.

If you are considering an extended stay on the island, there are a number of educational courses that you can take. Popular options include Greek language courses and arts courses. Most will have a tuition fee attached, and EU nationals should not have any visa problems. If you are from outside the EU, you will need to speak to individual colleges/organisations about visa requirements.

Cyprus is a remarkably safe country, with low crime rates. Cars and houses frequently go unlocked. That said however, it is wise to be careful when accepting drinks from strangers, especially in Ayia Napa, since there have been numerous occasions of muggings.

Note also that the numerous Cypriot "cabarets" are not what their name implies but rather brothels associated with organized crime.

The hunting season in Cyprus is from November till February. There are around 59,000 hunters with licences. On Sundays and Wednesdays you have to be careful when going for a walk in the countryside. Note that many hunters don't respect the areas where hunting is forbidden. Cypriot hunters are known to drink alcohol before and during hunting. Keep your dogs and children safe.

Cypriot authorities have a poor track record of informing foreign embassies, consulates and high commissions when foreigners are arrested. Assert your right to have your home country informed of your arrest or detention if necessary.

Tap water in Cyprus is potable, but can have an unpleasant taste and may give you an upset stomach at first because of the minerals content.

Generally speaking, both Greek and Turkish Cypriots have a reputation for being hospitable to foreign visitors.

The various respect tips found in the Greece and Turkey articles may be of help when communicating with Cypriots.

• Internet access is increasingly available in tourist centres in the guise of Internet cafés and side rooms equipped with monitors. Prices vary, so shop about. €2 an hour seems average, but you can do better. Many cafés now offer free wi-fi access and hotels and resorts often offer Internet access to their guests.

To remain connected while out and about, there are four mobile providers, Cyta-Vodafone, Epic, Primetel, and Cablenet. Cyta-Vodafone is the largest operator and charges the highest rates locally, while other providers are generally cheaper. Be aware before purchasing that all of these providers charge a high per-MB rate to roam in Northern Cyprus; Cyta-Vodafone, Primetel, and Cablenet charge €0.20 per MB while Epic charges €0.25 per MB. If you want one SIM to use across the whole island, look elsewhere. To avoid surprise billing, all providers require you to manually activate roaming in Northern Cyprus to use it.

Cyta-Vodafone sells physical "soeasy" SIM starter kits for €2 with €1 credit pre-loaded at their stores, or data-only eSIM QR codes are available on arrivals at Larnaca and Paphos airports.

The physical SIM comes pre-set to the "soeasy classic" rate, which charges €0.15 per MB. If you send a message with the words "soeasy plus" (no quotes) to 8000, your SIM will be set to the "soeasy plus" rate instead, which automatically purchases the following local, EU, and UK allowances for 30 days and returns €2 of credit to use for any services not included when topping up the designated amount:

• 400 minutes, 400 SMS, and 20GB for €10
• 1000 minutes, 1000 SMS, and 50GB for €20
• 2000 minutes, 2000 SMS, and 100GB for €35

Each top-up of €10 or more also extends the validity of the SIM by 1 year from date of top-up. Calls and SMS can only be used locally and in EU or UK roaming, and not for international calls to the EU or UK while in Cyprus.

If you remain on the soeasy classic rate, or if the data in the Plus allowance is insufficient, you can purchase a 7-day unlimited data pack for €4.90 for local use only by making sure you have enough balance in your account, then sending the letters "MI UNL7" (no quotes) to 8000.

The eSIM can only be loaded with 20GB for €10, and reloading does not extend validity (30 days from initial activation). No calls or SMS are allowed. In addition, no roaming is allowed.

Epic sells its SIM starter kits for €2 and includes 50MB of local data as well as €1 credit. Its prepaid SIMs have free bonuses for topping up, the option to purchase top-ups from your balance, as well as dedicated data top-ups that can be purchased.

For topping up, you get the credit you topped up as well as the following bonuses. The bonus is valid for local use for 30 days while the credit itself is valid for 365 days:

• €10: 40 minutes, 100 SMS, 30 MB
• €20: 120 minutes, 250 SMS, 60 MB
• €35: 240 minutes, 500 SMS, 90 MB
• €50: 400 minutes, 750 SMS, 150 MB

If no allowance is purchased, data is charged at a very expensive €1.02 per MB. The following data allowances can be purchased by sending the words in quotes to 6040:

• "data on day": 500 MB for 1 day for €1.50
• "data on week": 4 GB for 1 week for €4
• "data on month": 12 GB for 1 month for €10
• "data on month 2000": 25 GB for 1 month for €15

In addition, dedicated "data top-ups" can be purchased directly online (and can not be purchased from credit balance):

• €5: 5 GB for 10 days
• €10: 12 GB for 30 days
• €15: 25 GB for 30 days

Beware that Greek Cyprus celebrates Easter on different dates than Western Europe, in most years. On Easter Sunday, many museums etc. are closed, and buses run reduced services in some places even until Easter Tuesday. In August most places (including stores and pharmacies, excluding big retail stores) go on a week-two week holidays with only a written announcement on the store about the days.