The island of Cyprus lies at the North-Eastern end of the Mediterranean basin. It is the third largest island in the region, with an area of 3,572 square miles.

The latitude of the island is 34° 33’-35° 34’ North, and its longitude 32° 16’ – 34° 37’ East.

Demography:

The Population is: 946,000 (taken in 2013) and consists of:

72%: Greek Cypriots (690,900)

9.6%: Turkish Cypriots (91,000)

17.6%: Foreign residents (167,100)

Note: Prior to the Turkish invasion (July-August 1974), the two communities lived together (4 Greek Cypriots to 1 Turkish Cypriot), in all six administrative districts of the island. Since the invasion, more than 58,000 Turkish Cypriots living in the occupied area (the northern part of the island) have emigrated, meaning that today, they constitute less than 10% of the population of Cyprus as compared to 18% before July 1974.

Admission and Transit Restrictions

Entry regulations are only applicable to the areas controlled by the Government of the Republic of Cyprus.

A passport is compulsory for all travellers, except for holders of: Laissez-Passer issued by the UN.

Documents issued to stateless persons and recognized refugees.

Further to the aforementioned, EU citizens, as well as of those of Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Iceland, and Norway, may enter Cyprus with their national ID card, provided a photograph is provided.

The Government of the Republic of Cyprus will refuse admission to:

Holders of “passports” issued illegally by the internationally unrecognized secessionist entity, the so-called ‘Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’ (TRNC).

Visas

A list of countries which require a Visa to enter Cyprus are listed on the webpage:

www.mfa.gov.cy

Work Visas

For those wishing to find employment in Cyprus, the issue of an employment permit by the Civil Archive and Migration Office is required, therefore no visa is required in order to travel to Cyprus.

For detailed information on Visa Application Procedure and Documents required please contact:

The Consular Department,

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus,

Presidential Palace Avenue,

1447, Nicosia,

Cyprus.

Tel: (+357) 22406800 / (+357) 22651113

Fax: (+357) 22661881 / (+357) 22665313 / (+357) 22665778

Email: minforeign1@mfa.gov.cy

Traveller Advice Regarding the Turkish Occupied Areas of the Republic of Cyprus

The island of Cyprus lies at the North-Eastern end of the Mediterranean basin. It is the third largest island in the region, with an area of 3,572 square miles.

The latitude of the island is 34° 33’-35° 34’ North, and its longitude 32° 16’ – 34° 37’ East.

Demography:

The Population is: 946,000 (taken in 2013) and consists of:

72%: Greek Cypriots (690,900)

9.6%: Turkish Cypriots (91,000)

17.6%: Foreign residents (167,100)

Note: Prior to the Turkish invasion (July-August 1974), the two communities lived together (4 Greek Cypriots to 1 Turkish Cypriot), in all six administrative districts of the island. Since the invasion, more than 58,000 Turkish Cypriots living in the occupied area (the northern part of the island) have emigrated, meaning that today, they constitute less than 10% of the population of Cyprus as compared to 18% before July 1974.

Diplomatic Missions

Detailed information concerning Cyprus Embassies and High Commissions abroad can be found here:

www.mfa.gov.cy

Detailed information concerning foreign diplomatic missions of other countries in Cyprus can be found here:

www.mfa.gov.cy

Within the European Union

Within the EU there are no limits on what you can buy and take with you when you travel between countries of the European Union – so long as it is for personal use and not for resale.

VAT and duty are included in the price you pay. Since these vary from country to country, you may want to take advantage of low prices on selected purchases.

Shops in airports and on cruise ships may also provide some bargains. Note: Duty-Free shopping no longer exists for those travelling within the EU.

Tobacco and alcohol

For guidance, goods are considered to be for your own use if you have no more than:

10 liters of spirits

20 liters fortified wine, (such as sherry or port)

90 liters of wine (of which, a maximum of 60 liters of sparkling wine is permitted)

110 liters of beer

800 cigarettes

200 cigars

400 cigarillos

1 kilogram of tobacco

If you carry on your person large quantities of tobacco or alcohol – particularly where such quantities exceed the aforementioned quantitative limits – you may be asked to answer questions regarding:

Your commercial status and the reasons for possessing such goods

The place where the goods are kept

Any and all documents relating to these goods

The nature and quantity of goods

The frequency of your travel

Please note: Travellers under the age of 17 are not granted reprieve on tobacco and alcohol.

Outside the European Union

If you are coming into the EU from a non-EU country, you can bring with you goods free of VAT, import duties, and excise duties for personal use within the limits as set out below. The same applies if you come from the Canary Islands, Gibraltar, the Channel Islands, or other territories where VAT and EU excise provisions are not applicable.

Tobacco products

200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250 grams of smoking tobacco

Alcoholic beverages

1 liter of spirits over 22% vol. or ethyl alcohol of 80% vol. and 2 liters of fortified wine or sparkling wine, 4 liters of still wine 16 liters of beer

This exemption is applicable to any permeation of tobacco products, or types of alcoholic beverages, provided that the total aggregate of percentages from the individual exemptions does not exceed 100%.

Please note: For travellers under the age of 17, relief on Tobacco and Alcoholic Products does not apply.

Other goods

For goods of any other description, relief is granted for a total amount of €430. However, for travellers under 15 years old, relief is only €175.

Narcotics

According to the Law of the Republic of Cyprus, the Importation, Possession, and Use of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, is strictly prohibited.

Agricultural Restrictions

The Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment officially states that in order to protect the agriculture of the country from the danger of the introduction of new pests and diseases, the importation of agricultural products or propagating stock – such as fruit, flowers, dry nuts, vegetables, seeds, bulbs, cuttings, wood bulb-wood, sticks and other wood products, etc. – without the approval of the relevant authorities, is prohibited. According to the Diseases of Plants (Prevention) Law and the Importation of Produce (Control) Orders, the transportation of agricultural products or propagating stock from abroad is prohibited unless an appropriate license has been previously issued by the Director of the Department of Agriculture.

Upon arrival in Cyprus, such products should be declared at the Customs Offices, where they will be kept for phyto-sanitary inspection by authorized agricultural officers.

Anyone contravening the Law, and the orders made under it, is liable, in case he/she is found guilty, to a fine and/or imprisonment.

Import Restrictions

There are a number of other additional articles for which importation is prohibited or restricted such as:

Firearms, and weapons other than firearms, such as military explosive devices and projectile launchers, long-barrel semi- automatic or repeating firearms, automatic firearms, and ammunition, in accordance with the First Annex of the ‘Firearms and Weapons Other than Firearms Law’ No. 113(I) of 2004

Daggers and flick-knives

Obscene books, photographs, films and articles

Pirated or counterfeit goods such as; computer programmes, films, video and audio cassettes, CD’s, clothing, handbags, etc.)

Uncooked meat and fish and their byproducts, milk and dairy products

Nuclear, toxic, chemical, biological weapons and similar hazardous substances Items used for illegal hunting of game

Counterfeit bank notes

Goods shipped or originating from countries under embargo from the UN Security Council and the EU, such as Iraq, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Somalia and Sudan

Kimberley-processed rough diamonds

Hazardous waste (according to the Basel Convention)

All Prohibitions and Restrictions imposed on the importation of goods from Third Countries are published on the Department of Cyprus Customs and Excise website.

The appropriate catalogue, which remains unaltered, is non-exhaustive. Furthermore – as per the restrictive measures/ sanctions (embargos) against goods, individuals, entities and organizations by specific countries – you are informed that this provides traceability through the following EC website:

http://eeas.europa.eu/cfsp/sanctions/docs/measures_en.pdf.

The relevant Decisions/Press Releases/Sanctions of the United Nations Security Council can be found here: https://www.un.org/sc/suborg/

Export Restrictions

According to several Cypriot laws, the exportation of certain items is prohibited or restricted, such as all items of which the importation of which is prohibited, i.e.:

Illegal drugs

Pirated and counterfeit goods

Knives, daggers, air-rifles, hunting weapons and other illegal and dangerous weapons; as well as their components and ammunition

Antiquities and valuable artifacts

Pornographic or offensive material

Goods of precious metals destined for the Cyprus market

Precursor chemicals

Wild fauna and flora endangered by extinction and products thereof e.g. animals, birds, fowls, lizards, ivory, cactus, hides, etc. Please bear in mind that for the above restrictions on exportation, a special permit is required from the appropriate authority or body accordingly for each case.

For further information please contact:

http://www.mof.gov.cy

Cyprus has two international airports: Larnaca and Paphos International Airports.

Larnaca International Airport opened on the 6th of February, 1975, with the landing of the first aircraft (Viscount Type), which had been rented from Cyprus Airways. From the 10th of November 2009, the New Larnaca International Airport started operating with brand new ultramodern facilities, offering 100,000 square meters of covered space, and expanding its service to over 7.5 million passengers a year.

Paphos International Airport began service on November 17, 2008, with modern facilities, offering Passenger facilities include 28 check-in desks, seven gates, a bank, restaurants, cafeterias, bars, a duty-free shop and a gift shop. Other facilities include a tourist help desk, car rental, a baby/parent room and disabled access facilities. The airport serves around 3 million customers a year.

Below you can find link with all the arrivals and departures from the international airports of Larnaca and Paphos:

Take Me There

Soon after INTERCITY BUSES was inaugurated in 2009 it signed a Concession Contract for Inland Bus Services with the contracting authority – the Department of Road Transport. Its purpose is the executing of all Public Transport Bus Routes within the geographic unoccupied area of Cyprus.

For more information check the Intercity Buses link:

Take Me There

Currency

On January 01, 2008, the Republic of Cyprus adopted the Euro as its official currency, replacing the Cyprus pound as the legal currency of Cyprus, at the irrevocable fixed exchange rate of €1 = CY£ 0,585274.

There are seven denominations in our Euro banknotes: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500. They are all distinguished via different colours and sizes.

There are eight different Euro coins: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cent, and 1 and 2 Euro. The designs on one side of the coins are common to all the countries of the Eurozone (those with the Euro as their currency), whist the other side reflects the national identity of the issuing country. All Euro coins can be used in all Eurozone countries, irrespective of their national side.

Currency Exchange

All banks in Cyprus offer foreign currency exchange services and quote the exchange rates of the Euro against all major foreign currencies on a daily basis. Hotels also offer foreign currency exchange. The Central Bank of Cyprus offers more detailed information concerning exchange rates.

You could also use the currency converter.

Import/export – Banknotes, Currency, Gold

There are no restrictions on the import and export of cash or gold for travellers to and from other EU Member States.

However, according to the ‘Control of Cash Entering or Leaving the Community and the Exercise of Inter-communal Controls on Cash Law’ of 2009, travellers arriving from, and departing to, another EU Member State or a third country and carrying a sum of Euros 10,000 or more – in any currency, in cash (banknotes and bearer negotiable instruments) or gold – must be declared at Customs.

Climate

Cyprus enjoys a typical Mediterranean climate, with long, hot, dry summers from mid–May to mid–October, and mild winters from December to February, which are separated by short autumn and spring seasons.

Summer is a season of sizzling temperatures with clear skies, but the sea breeze creates a pleasant atmosphere in the coastal areas. Mountainous areas are cooler than the coastal towns. Isolated thunder showers are possible mainly over the mountains.

Winters are mild with varied rainfall, and snow falls on high altitudes, especially on the Troodos Mountains – the highest peak in Cyprus.

The island enjoys abundant sunshine, and even in December and January, there is an average of 6 hours of sunshine per day, whilst over the six ‘summer’ months, there is an average of 11.5 hours of sunshine per day.

Temperatures and Weather Conditions

Daily temperatures during the hottest months of July and August range between 30° C on the central plain, and 24° C on the Mountains. The average maximum temperatures for these two months range between 38° C and 27° C. In January, the coolest month, the average daily temperature is 10° C on the central plain, and 3° C in the Mountains, while the average minimum temperatures are 5° C and 0° C.

Sea Temperatures

The temperature in the open sea is an almost constant 22° C from June to November, climbing to 27° C in August. Even during the three coolest months of January to March, the average sea temperature is an acceptable ~16°C. Around the coast, the temperature of the water three or four meters deep is similar to that of the deep sea, ranging from 15° to 17°C in February and from 23° to 28° C in August. Extremely shallow waters (less than one meter deep) have even warmer temperatures.

Air Humidity

During winter, humidity ranges from average to slightly low (65% – 95%). During summer it is very low around noon, ranging from 15% to 30% on the central plain. Fog is rare and typically occurs around dawn.

Visibility ranges from very good to excellent. There is an exception during a few days in spring when the atmosphere is very hazy due to dust from the African and Arabian deserts.

Winds

Winds are variable in direction and strength, depending on the elevation of the land and the area-specific temperatures.

Weather Forecast

You can find weather forecasts for Cyprus through various sources:

Radio: Weather Forecasts in English are broadcast every day from the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation’s (CYBC) ‘Programme Two’ on FM 91-1MHZ.

TV: The weather forecast follows the news bulletin in English every day on Channel 2 (CYBC TV2) and Channel 1 (CYBC TV1).

Newspapers: The weather forecast is published daily in the ‘Cyprus Mail’, the Cyprus’ only daily English newspaper.

Cyprus thinks about everyone and provides a wide range of access and facilities for the disabled – including most of our hotels. However, accessibility facilities/infrastructure for disabled varies from accommodation to accommodation. Although the Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO) attempts to provide accurate, complete, and updated information it accepts no responsibility or liability for the content, truth, accuracy, reasonability, reliability of the given information. We strongly recommend contacting your place of accommodation to determine whether it provides the requested amenities/infrastructure, prior to any compulsory reservation.

Both Larnaca and Paphos international airports offer its visitors with all kinds of access requirements. These facilities include: ramps to allow people on a wheelchairs to enter or exit the buses and additional assistive services, accessible washrooms, charging stations for electric wheelchairs at the departure gates (which meets European Regulation 1107/2006 concerning the right of disabled travellers).

The Parliament of Cyprus approved and introduced in 2007 the use of the European Blue Badge for designated parking places for the disabled, available all over the island, in public areas including roads and public parking areas. The Blue Badge is issued by the service for the care and rehabilitation of the disabled of the Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance. The contact info is: +357 22406406. Email: info@dsid.mlsi.gov.cy

Most of Cyprus’ towns are fairly accessible with a wheelchair and the infrastructure is constantly evolving in this regard. For anyone using a wheelchair it is advised that they be accompanied by someone who is able to assist them in inaccessible areas.

Specialized buses are also available with low ramps, safety belts and air-condition as well as specialized taxis. Transportation around the island can be arranged if notice is given beforehand to the transport companies.

As of March 1st 2021, Cyprus is ready to welcome back travelers from various countries! Visit and explore our beautiful island at your earliest convenience.

To travel safely to the island, click the buttons below and get your Cyprus Flight Pass along with all the information regarding COVID -19. All you need is to fill out the questionnaire and the official declaration form, and you are ready to travel. We are waiting for you!

Find here the countries of origin divided into four categories ( Green, Orange, Red and Grey), based on the internationally available epidemiological data. The list of countries will be reviewed and revised on a weekly basis.

Cyprus Flight Pass Hermes Airport