Cyprus Travel Planning: Practical Guides
The unglamorous information that makes a trip run smoothly.
Cyprus Travel Guide
Cyprus works best with a hire car, one or two bases rather than five, and at least a day in the Troodos mountains.
Cyprus in Winter
Winter is a good time for sightseeing, walking and villages, not for beach holidays. Expect mild days, some rain, a green countryside and snow in the Troodos at times.
Where to Stay in Cyprus
Decide by priority, not by hotel. Stay in Paphos for history and a quieter coast, Limassol for restaurants and the easiest day trips, Ayia Napa or Protaras for sandy beaches, Larnaca for convenience, and the Troodos for a night or two of cool air.
Cyprus Without a Car
You can enjoy Cyprus without a car if you choose a walkable base (Kato Paphos, central Limassol, Larnaca or Ayia Napa), accept that the Akamas, the Troodos and most villages need a tour or a hire car for the day, and use buses only for the main intercity links.
Cyprus in Spring
Spring is the best season for walking, villages and sightseeing in Cyprus: the countryside is green, the heat has not arrived, and the main sites are comfortable.
Cyprus in Summer
Summer in Cyprus is long, dry and hot, and it is the best season for swimming: Visit Cyprus gives open-sea temperatures above 22°C from June to November, reaching 27°C in August.
Cyprus in Autumn
Autumn is a strong season for Cyprus: Visit Cyprus says September and October still suit swimming, sunbathing and watersports, with warm days and cool October evenings, and that November has pleasantly warm days with cool evenings.
Driving in Cyprus
Traffic in Cyprus drives on the left. Visit Cyprus gives the general speed limit as 80 km/h outside towns, 50 km/h in built-up areas and 100 km/h on motorways, and says seat belts are compulsory and a mobile phone must not be used while driving.
Best Time to Visit Cyprus
For swimming, summer and early autumn are best: Visit Cyprus says the open sea is above 22°C from June to November.
Cyprus Public Holidays and Opening Hours
Cyprus has fixed public holidays on 1 January, 6 January, 25 March, 1 April, 1 May, 15 August, 1 October, 28 October and 24 to 26 December, plus variable holidays tied to Greek Orthodox Easter and Pentecost.
Is Cyprus Safe? Health and Safety for Visitors
Visit Cyprus describes crime as comparatively very low and gives 112 as the number for ambulance, fire and police.
Money in Cyprus
Cyprus uses the euro. Visit Cyprus says major credit cards are widely accepted, with Visa and MasterCard the most accepted and contactless available at nearly all terminals.
Accessible Cyprus
Visit Cyprus says Larnaca and Paphos airports are fully accessible, hotels have been inspected for facilities for people with special access needs, the European Blue Badge is valid island-wide, and there are wheelchair-accessible beaches listed in an official PDF.
Language, Phones, Wi-Fi and Post in Cyprus
The official languages of Cyprus are Greek and Turkish, and Visit Cyprus says English is widely spoken, with French, German and Russian spoken in the tourism industry.