Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea located northeast, and the beauty and scenery of the island are breathtaking. Cyprus was named after the Latin for “copper” (Kuprum) a mineral discovered over 3,000 years ago, which generated great wealth. The Greeks renamed the island “Kypros”.

Cyprus is currently the “last divided country in Europe” as a result of a military invasion, by Turkey, in 1974. A breakaway state in the north was formed recognised only by Turkey who today occupies 35% of the island. There are 1,587 Greek Cypriots and approximately 500 Turkish Cypriots still “missing” since the invasion.

The southern half of the island has a population of 793,100 and Greek and Turkish are the official languages, with English widely spoken.

There are British military bases at Akrotiri, Episkopi and Dhekelia covering 2.74% of the country’s territory. Britain retained the bases under the 1960 treaty, which gave Cyprus its independence.

Since April 2003, checkpoints along the United Nations (UN) buffer zone - the “Green Line” - have opened and it is now possible to cross over to either side. The island joined the European Union on 1st May 2004 and entered ERM II in April 2005 with January 2008 as the target date to adopt the Euro. These significant events should enhance political and economic stability.

Improved efforts to achieve a settlement of the divided island have recently been proposed by the UN but no agreement has yet been reached between the two sides on a new, demilitarised state.

Airlines & Flight Information: More than 40 airlines including Cyprus Airways operate scheduled flights to and from Larnaca international airport and Paphos international airport.

Due to Cyprus’s excellent weather conditions you will see the “Red Arrows” practising their aeronautical skills in the skies above Limassol’s seafront, each spring!

Akamas Peninsula: This area is situated northwest of the island, and the European council has included it within its Mediterranean protection programme. Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace in Cyprus have campaigned for the peninsula to be declared a National Park and to prevent any widespread development.

The area has deep gorges, a wild landscape and sandy bays. It is home to 530 plant species and the variety of fauna is equally impressive with 168 birds, 12 mammals, 20 reptiles and 16 butterfly species. Lara bay is a turtle breeding site home to the green turtle and the hawks-bill turtle.

The two nature trails of the area are self-guided and start and end at the Baths of Aphrodite. They are approximately 7.5km each and walking time can vary between 2-4 hours.

Visit the coastal towns of Latsi and Polis in Chrysochou Bay above Akamas.

View of Chrysochou Bay

Banking: There is strong central bank support for the local banking sector, and domestic banks are adequately capitalised. All banks provide excellent Netbanking services. Many international banks also operate on the island.

Conferences: Cyprus is an ideal location to hold a conference, event or business meeting of any kind. The Cyprus International Conference Centre (CICC) is based in Nicosia and can accommodate over 1,000 delegates. Most 4 & 5-star hotels in Limassol and Paphos have excellent conference facilities. 

Ensure you are quoted special "group rates" for your conference guests at these hotels.

A number of "Event Management" companies operate on the island, organising conferences and events. Smirnoff Vodka recently held a high-tech conference in a 5-star hotel in Limassol.

More conference and exhibition centres are needed in the towns to increase valuable business from such services.

Cruises: A relaxing and enjoyable way to travel is by cruise ship, and there are many cruises during spring, summer & autumn from Limassol port to Egypt, the Greek islands, Israel, Lebanon and Syria.

There are also day-trip cruises around the island, and Easycruise began operating in the Mediterranean this year.

Mandraki Harbour, Rhodes

Culture: There are many art galleries in each town hosting exhibitions by local and international artists as well as exhibitions by photographers.

You can attend musical concerts and “open-air” theatrical performances at the ancient Curium amphitheatre 14km west of Limassol or at the Paphos Ancient Odeon. The annual “open-air” Opera festival is held in Paphos in September, each year.

The Nicosia Municipal Arts Centre (known as the Powerhouse) is situated close to the Green Line in the old city.

View from Curium Amphitheatre

Cyprus Stock Exchange (CSE): An informal stock market had been operating in Cyprus since 1979 and in the 1990’s the stock exchange grew steadily. The new exchange is modelled on regulations and directives of the EU, the London Stock Exchange (LSE) and the Athens Securities Exchange (ASE). In October 2000, 116 securities from 63 companies were listed.

Economy: Cyprus has an open, free market economy largely based on the system of free enterprise. The island achieved rapid economic and social development since becoming a sovereign independent republic in 1960. The current Sovereign Rating of the island assigned by an international credit analysis & rating agency, is “A+”.

From the early 1980’s Cyprus focused on further developing its infrastructure for tourism, modernising its manufacturing industry and encouraging the establishment of offshore enterprises. Cyprus is now an established international centre with many International Business Companies (IBC) operating on the island. It has also become an important shipping centre and ranks sixth in the world as a maritime nation.

Education: Standards are very good with private English-speaking schools operating in all towns. A private, Catholic French-speaking school is based in Limassol. Greek is the main language taught in the local government schools.

There are also private colleges in the towns, and the University of Cyprus is based in Nicosia with many students attending from abroad. The Cyprus International Institute of Management (CIIM) is also based in the capital.

Employment: Local companies do not pay very well so the desired jobs for the Cypriots are in banks, schools and government offices. The pay is good and working hours are 07.30 – 14:30 Monday – Friday.

International Business Companies (IBC) specialising in banking, consulting, financial services, shipping and research employ many locals and expats as do international banks based in Cyprus. Unemployment and taxation are low.

Entertainment: Cyprus has many “trendy” bars, clubs, pubs and cafes around the island. However, be prepared to pay high prices for drinks in bars and clubs compared to ordering drinks in the local pubs. Visit “Draughts” bar in the old town of Limassol (beside the Mediaeval castle), which has its own microbrewery making ale and lager.

Ayia Napa town in the southeast of the island, became the centre of the European clubbing scene a few years ago.

There are movie theatres in all towns and one of these is the KCineplex Complex, which shows all the latest movie releases.

Flora: Many beautiful wild flowers bloom on the island including a variety of Crocuses, Colchicum, Peonies, Cyclamen and Orchid which can be seen along the nature trails in the Troodos mountains. Beautiful pink and white Bougainvillaea bloom all year round, and almond and cherry blossom blanket the countryside in spring.

Archaeologists recently excavated an ancient perfumery, which operated in Cyprus and exported perfumes as long as 4,000 years’ ago.

Pink Bougainvillaea

Food: There are many family-run restaurants serving tasty, traditional, local food with music and folk dancing for entertainment. There are also stylish international restaurants in all towns.

Order a traditional meat or fish based “meze” meal (meze = a mixture, in Greek), which consists of many types of different dishes. The fresh fish is delicious and is available in most restaurants; try Seabream (Tsipoura), Seabass (Lavraki) and Prawns (Garides).

Visit a modern olive oil press and processing plant built to international ecological and hygiene standards based in Anogyra village. It is dedicated to the resuscitation of rural agricultural activity on the island.

The local, Mediterranean diet is considered one of the healthiest in the world.

Health Care: Private health care is of the highest standard and the government hospitals are also good, providing low cost medical treatment. The emergency services are improving but more paramedics and air ambulances are needed on the island.

Hiking: There are hiking trails of various levels of difficulty in the Troodos mountains, Cedar Valley in the Paphos forest, the Akamas Peninsula and Cape Greco near Ayia Napa. The best seasons for hiking are in spring and autumn.

You will enjoy the 2km Kaledonia trail in Troodos, which leads up to the Kaledonia falls. The starting point is from the top of Platres village.

The Cyprus Services Rambling Club (CSRC) organises many hikes around the island.

View of Diarizos River

History: The history of the island is one of repeated invasion and colonisation. As a result Cyprus has a rich cultural heritage, which is evident from the Venetian Walls in Nicosia, Kolossi Castle in Limassol, Hellenic temples, forts, roman amphitheatres, Byzantine churches, monasteries and archaeological sites dotted around the island.

Cyprus’s civilisation goes back 11,000 years to the 9th millennium BC (early Neolithic or Stone Age).

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has included 9 Byzantine churches of Cyprus (11th – 17th century) in its World Cultural Heritage List, including Asinou church below, for the exquisite art depicted in their icons, frescoes and architecture.

Asinou Church

Hotels: The island offers the best in accommodation with impressive 5-star hotels – many of these based in Limassol. Keep a look out for celebrities who often stay at these hotels and have photo-shoots in the hotel grounds for Hello and OK! Magazines!

A number of “boutique hotels” can be found in Limassol and Paphos catering for the stylish traveller and for business clients who visit the island briefly for meetings. You can alternatively stay in a comfortable hotel situated in the pine forest of the Troodos Mountains. The climate of Troodos makes it an excellent health resort.

Le Meridien Limassol Spa & Resort

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Larnaca: The town is situated south east of the island, and the main international airport lies west of Larnaca. There is a large natural salt lake near the airport, which is a stopover for thousands of migrant birds in winter, a particularly flamingo.

In the centre of Larnaca are remains of the ancient city kingdom of Kition. St Lazarus who came to live in Kition after his resurrection in Palestine, also became the town’s first bishop. A Byzantine church was built over his tomb in the 9th century. The Hala Sultan Tekesi mosque near the salt lake, is an important place of Muslim pilgrimage.

On leaving Larnaca heading westwards, you will see the 18th century stone aqueduct – a long line of high stone archways running parallel to the road.

Distances from Larnaka International Airport to Major Centers:

• Limassol is 70km or 44 miles
• Nicosia is 49km or 31 miles
• Paphos is 139km or 89 miles
• Ayia Napa is 46km or 29 miles
• Larnaca town is 5km or 3 miles

Limassol: or Lemesos is the second largest town, situated south of Cyprus. It experienced rapid development after the invasion of the island in 1974, becoming the largest port in the Mediterranean transit trade. The two bays of the province are Episkopi and Akrotiri, and the town is located between the ancient cities of Amathus and Curium (or Kourion).

The Turkish Cypriot inhabitants of Limassol were transferred to the north of Cyprus in 1975 after the invasion.

Places to visit include the Amathus archaeological site, the archaeological museum, the mediaeval castle and museum, Kolossi castle and Curium’s amphitheatre and archaeological site.

A royal wedding between Richard Coeur de Lion (the Lion Heart) and Princess Berengaria of Navarre took place in Limassol, and the Princess became Queen of England on 12th May 1191.

The town has a wonderful, long foot / cycling path all along the coastline next to the beach where you can exercise and enjoy the view of the sea.

On leaving Limassol travelling eastwards, visit one of the earliest settlements in Cyprus - Chirokitia dating back to the Neolithic or Stone Age. The inhabitants of this settlement lived in circular houses shaped like beehives and made from stone.

In February / March Limassol comes alive as it is Carnival time!

Lost City of Atlantis: In 2004 an American scientist, Robert Sarmast, published a book “Discovery of Atlantis” in which he states that the “lost continent” described by Plato, the ancient philosopher, may lie submerged south of the island of Cyprus.

New, scientific data shows a stretch of sunken land off Cyprus – a mile down from the surface of the Mediterranean. Robert Sarmast hopes to obtain film footage of megalithic stone structures on the seafloor, and stone walls of the “Lost City of Atlantis”. Plato stated that the city had colossal buildings, bridges, roads and canals.

Media: There are two locally published English language newspapers, which cover local and international news. There are also a couple of English speaking Radio stations and the local CYBC radio broadcasts daily news and weather forecasts in English.

There are 6 local TV channels, which have daily news reports in English; however, most expats and immigrants buy satellite packages to view TV from the UK, Europe and the Middle East.

Motorcycling: The weather in Cyprus is ideal for motorcyclists, however, beware of dangerous drivers on the roads. At weekends, you will often see large groups of bikers touring the mountain regions, enjoying the scenery and the good food in the local village restaurants.

It is a good idea to have your headlights on during the day for safety.

Mountain biking is also popular with interesting trails to discover in the Troodos Mountains and Akamas Peninsula. This sport can be enjoyed throughout the year.

National Service: This continues to be compulsory for all males from the age of 18, and can last up to two years. Older immigrants of Greek Cypriot origin spend a few months only, in basic training.

Nicosia: or Lefkosia is the capital of Cyprus and is located in the north central part of the island within 16th century Venetian Walls. The people of Nicosia hope that one day this “divided” capital will be reunited. It first became the centre of administration and the island’s capital around the 9th century.

The Nicosia area emerged from the sea around 1.5 million years ago and joined the Troodos and Pendadactylos mountain ranges, and created the Mesaoria plain. The rocks of Troodos were created from ancient oceanic bark, which rose up from the seabed after volcanic activity.

North Cyprus: Greek Cypriots, tourists and expats can now visit the breakaway state where life is at a much slower pace due to its isolation since 1974. It has been described as “stepping into a time warp”. If you drive your car or hire a car you will need to purchase car insurance for the northern area. You can also cross over on foot for the day and visit the “other half” of Nicosia.

You will need a list of the names of the towns in English whilst driving, as all these have been re-named in Turkish.

On the northern coast, visit the town of Kyrenia and see the small harbour and the Castle. Also visit Bellapais Abbey and St Hilarion Castle. Apostolos Andreas Monastery is situated on the far eastern tip of the Karpass Peninsula, and efforts are in progress to restore this old monastery.

The town of Ammochostos or Famagusta on the East Coast of the island was deserted in 1974 and remains a “ghost town” to this day. Famagusta Beach was one of the most popular beaches on the island. Visit the Monastery and Museum of St Barnabas in Famagusta.

The Cyprus Government Railway operated from 1904 – 1951 from Famagusta Harbour through Nicosia, Morphou and on to Evrychou – a distance of 76 miles or 122 km.

You can visit the ancient city of Salamis, which was built in 1194 BC. It is situated in Ammochostos Bay and once had its own harbour and amphitheatre. Many kings once ruled here and their tombs are still visible.

Be wary of estate agents leasing or selling property in the breakaway state. Title deeds issued by the northern state are illegal, and can be confiscated at any time by the Greek Cypriot government. In addition, you may find that persons displaced in 1974 may challenge ownership of the property in court.

Also note that over 30,000 Turkish armed forces are stationed throughout the occupied area. Be careful crossing fields, which may have mines.

Kyrenia Harbour

Paphos: or the town of Pafos is included in UNESCO’s list of cultural and national treasures of the world heritage. Today it is a growing harbour town and was once the capital of the island, in Hellenic and Roman times.

Driving westwards along the coast towards Paphos, you will see a huge rock in the sea named “Aphrodite’s Rock” after the Hellenic goddess Aphrodite (Venus). According to Hellenic culture, Aphrodite was the goddess of love and beauty and this was her traditional birthplace. The view of the crystal, clear, blue sea as you drive down the old Paphos road is amazing.

Visit Paphos Castle in the harbour, which was built in 1592 and also explore the Tombs of the Kings. The mosaic floors of 3rd – 5th century noblemen’s villas (belonging to Aion, Dionysus and Theseus) depicting scenes from Greek mythology are also worth seeing.

The Church of Panayia Theoskepasti near the seafront was restored in 1928 and is a fine example of Byzantine architecture.

Distances from Paphos International Airport to Major Centers:

• Limassol is 63km or 39 miles
• Nicosia is 146km or 91 miles
• Larnaca is 129km or 81 miles
• Paphos town is 15km or 9 miles

Aphrodite’s Rock

Personal Safety: Crime rates are the lowest in Europe but burglaries are on the increase. It is relatively safe to be out late at night in all towns in south Cyprus.

Pets: There are Animal Shelters in Nicosia and Paphos catering for lost and abandoned pets. Cats and dogs travelling within the EU will need a passport to travel.

There is currently no animal shelter in Limassol and many abandoned puppies are found each day.

Velox

Property: Housing prices are rising to gradually compete with house prices in the EU. Europeans and other nationals have bought many new property developments as “holiday homes” and also as investments.

Rental prices are rising but it is still relatively cheap to rent property, compared to other EU countries. Cypriots have begun to migrate out of the towns and are building houses in the rural areas. Many families have a country house or a beach house for the weekends and for holidays.

All buildings in Cyprus are earthquake resistant, and planning permission is given only if the building is designed in such a way as to withstand earth tremors.

Be sure to buy property from registered property developers with building licenses.

Religion: Greek Cypriots in the south are of Christian Orthodox, Maronite, Armenian and Catholic faith and the Turkish Cypriots in the north are of Muslim faith.

The Orthodox Church of Cyprus’s foundation is attributed to the saints and apostles – Barnabas, Paul & Mark in 45 AD. The church today owns hotels, breweries, land and businesses.

Visit the many beautiful monasteries around the island (note a modest dress code is required) as well as museums within the monastery and church grounds, housing invaluable religious relics, ancient icons, consecrated vessels, manuscripts, books and Cypriot antiquities.

Church traditions continue to play an important role in the lives of the Greek Cypriot people with Easter being the focus of many church services and celebrations during Holy Week.

Sailing: You can berth your private motor or sailing yacht in the Marina of the St Raphael hotel in Limassol, which has a total of 237 berths for boats of up to 30 metres long.

The official Port of Entry in Larnaca is the Marina on the seafront, which has berthing facilities for up to 450 yachts of various sizes.

Sailing in the Mediterranean Sea

Shopping: Cypriots are very fashion conscious and love Italian designer clothes and accessories, which can be purchased from modern shops on Stassikratous Street in Nicosia as well as from shops on Archbishop Makarios III Avenue in Limassol.

Beware of fake / forged labels and accessories

You can buy good quality leather products (jackets, purses, wallets & bags) at reasonable prices, and travel luggage is not expensive. Traditional handicrafts, pottery, terracotta statues and silverware make wonderful gifts for friends and family.

Visit Ledra Street in Nicosia and St Andrew’s street in Limassol both situated in the “old parts” of each town, to buy souvenirs and gifts.

Visit Lefkara village situated halfway between Limassol and Larnaca, to buy beautiful hand-made “Lefkaritika lace”. The hand-made tablecloths can be worth up to Euros 1,500 each.

Sports: Cyprus offers most major sports and leisure activities and is an ideal place to exercise due to the excellent weather. Water sports can also be enjoyed all year round such as swimming, sailing, yachting, and surfing, diving and water-skiing.

Golf is growing in popularity and the new Aphrodite Hills Golf Course between Limassol and Paphos opened in 2005. The new Palais de Sports in Limassol will be opening soon.

The Elias Beach Hotel in Limassol has its own Country Club offering many sporting activities, including horse riding.

Snow ski tournaments are held each year in the ski resort of the Troodos Mountains. The Small European Nations (SES) championship takes place here with skiers travelling from countries such as San Marino and Luxembourg. Skiers from Lebanon and Israel also participate in tournaments.

The annual World Rally Championship includes a really tough course in the mountain regions of the island in May, each year.

Most hotels have Health Spas where you can relax and enjoy various treatments after a good workout. There are also brilliant water parks in each town for fun in the sun, but remember your sun protection!

Several private gyms operate in all towns with professional personal trainers.

Troodos Pine trees in winter

Telecommunications: Phone connections in Cyprus are very good and you can dial direct to any country in the world. NetRunner, a fast Internet broadband service is available on a fixed monthly fee basis.

You can buy pay-as-you go SIM cards (chips) for your mobile / cell phone from newsagents / kiosks around the island, if your mobile network does not have a “roaming” facility with Cyprus.

Tourism: You have the choice of spending your holiday either by the beach, on a camping site or in the countryside.

In many villages, traditional houses have been converted into accommodation establishments for tourists wishing to experience the rich traditions of the village people, the simple serene rhythms of rural life, folk customs and the authentic tastes of traditional cuisine.

Guided excursions by bus are organised around the island for full or half day trips.

Phini Village

Transport: Driving is on the left-hand side of the road, as it is in the UK. Most families have 3-4 cars so getting around on personal transportation is most common. Parking is really cheap; however, the main problem is finding a parking space! There are plenty of taxis and buses to catch in the cities.

More multi-storey car parks are needed in all towns.

A word of warning; driving standards are not good in Cyprus but police traffic patrols are improving road safety and are issuing much higher fines for speeding and other traffic violations. The biggest challenge facing police patrols is to drop the high level of fatal accidents each year caused by excessive speeding.

Visas: EU nationals wishing to move to Cyprus need to apply for a residence permit after 3 months on the island, and this is renewed automatically. If EU nationals wish to work in Cyprus their prospective employer will apply for a work permit, which is also renewed automatically. EU nationals do not require a Visa to attend a Conference or a Seminar in Cyprus.

Non-EU nationals must apply for a Visa from their own country before travelling to Cyprus to attend a Conference or a Seminar. A “letter of invitation” will be sent to you from the company arranging the Conference or Seminar, to assist you with your Visa application.

Go to the Diplomatic & Consular Corps section of the Cyprus Ministry of Foreign Affairs website www.mfa.gov.cy to see a list of Cyprus embassies & missions in your country:

Weather: The hot, humid summers begin in June and continue to October. The autumn months are very mild with winter beginning in December and continuing to the end of March. All shops, restaurants and hotels are fully air-conditioned and it is common for houses to have air-conditioning.

Snow settles on the Troodos mountain range in January, and it is possible to snow ski in the resort for around three months, each year. Mount Olympus – the highest peak – reaches 1,952 metres.

Rainbows

Average daytime temperatures:

• March – May     25 degrees Celsius
• June – September     32 degrees Celsius
• October – November     25 degrees Celsius
• December – February    16 degrees Celsius

Weddings: Cyprus has to be at the top of the list of “most romantic places to get married”. Whether you prefer a church or a civil wedding, licenses are fairly inexpensive and can easily be arranged within a few days, providing you have the necessary documents.

The 5 star hotels have their own small chapels where a religious ceremony can be performed and then a party organised for the family. Christenings can also be held in these chapels.

Wildlife: Many beautiful migratory birds pass through the island every season and you can bird-watch in the Athalassa National Park forest south of the capital Nicosia.

Pink flamingos visit the natural salt lake in Larnaca during winter. Among the rare birds that can be seen, are the Imperial Eagle, Eleanor’s Falcon and the Griffin Vulture. You will be really lucky if you spot the beautiful, aqua blue Melissophagus or “bee-eater”, also a regular visitor to Cyprus.

Nightingales nest in the valleys of the southern mountain region and be heard in the village of Platres. Swallows can be seen gliding and nesting in the area in summer. There are also 4 species of owl resident in Cyprus.

A wild mammal of the mountain sheep family – the Moufflon – with large curved horns (belonging to the male) is protected in natural reserves in the Cedar Valley forest in Paphos and also in the Troodos Mountains. There is a camel park in Mazotos near Larnaca where you can enjoy camel rides, and a donkey sanctuary in Vouni village for a fun day out with the family!

View from Platres

Wine: The main 4 wine makers on the island are ETKO, KEO, LOEL and SODAP. Reds, whites and rose wines made from Cypriot grapes have improved considerably and have become increasingly competitive in the international market.

Visit the many wineries around the island, and also experience the sweet dessert wine of Cyprus – Commandaria - which was originally made over 800 years ago. Another traditional grape product made from highly distilled grape juice (and is almost pure alcohol) is – Zivania – which is best served straight from the freezer and in small quantities or “shots!”

Leon is the island’s original, local beer, which has recently been re-introduced and is brewed by Carlsberg. Keo beer is also a popular, local beer.

Recent headings in the papers stated that Cypriot wine was first produced on the island 6,000 years’ ago. Archaeologists have revealed details of excavations and sophisticated scientific work on wine production.

Visit the Limassol Wine Festival held at the end of the summer season, to sample the various local wines for free courtesy of the local wineries!

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For questions or queries regarding the above A-Z Guide, please email Dina Vanessa James on email: